Fernbrook Elementary School

We have had two kids at Weaver Lake and have had an amazing experience. Our first is just graduating 5th grade after being their since kindergarten, and our second is now in 2nd grade after starting in Pre-K with the 4-star program. The staff has been overwhelmingly amazing, engaged, and warm toward my students and our whole family. The STEM programming and value-added projects add such depth and overall excitement to the curriculum. Most teachers are constantly working on SEL skills in the early grades. The library/media center and media center specialist are AMAZING. The student diversity is decent for a Maple Grove area school. The school is well supported by the PTO and family engagement is valued. We have loved our time at Weaver Lake Elementary!

Ok Elm Creek also has an issue with some kids with emotional disorders being allowed to go too far resulting in classroom distractions and some bullying incidents. 2 of my 3 kids were victims of physical bullying at that school while there, BUT the principal herself got involved to mediate and resolve it. One student got expelled, regardless of the IEP and she moved another student to a different class. I think that's why I would still recommend this school. The principal, front office and most of the teachers are excellent. The teachers try hard and are dedicated to trying to help kids learn, and the ones who don't are not around long. I would love to see this school figure out what to do with all these disruptive and poorly behaved kids, and then their testing results would be a lot better. Maybe this will change with the new elementary school and boundary changes in 2026.

Rice Lake Elementary used to be a very good school that I felt good about sending my children to. The two rounds of previous principals and the interim principal saw the school through a number of changes and there were the normal growing pains, but it was still a good school. Hiring the new/current principal after covid was a huge detriment to this school and I would no longer send my children there. I would even send my child to another district before sending my child to this school now under the current leadership (or lack thereof). It speaks volumes that almost all of the experienced and long-standing teachers that helped to make Rice Lake the strong school it was, left within a year of the new/current principal. While I have nothing against the principal personally, after many conversations with staff and other parents, she seems severely lacking in leadership and management skills. The principal has a very passive-aggressive style with staff and parents alike and it is very hard to get her to confront and address most problems. She seems to run the school like a click and if you get on her 'good side' and 'butter her up', you are in the in-crowd, but if you have an issue or concern that needs addressing, you are likely to be ignored. She seems to hide from problems - unwilling to meet with people, including staff, to address things. She gives the appearance of involvement, but she hides from problems. It is truly shocking just how avoidant this principal is and how much she brushes things aside and hides under a rug. My greatest complaint with what her lack of good leadership has done to the school is the safety concerns that have developed. Because of unwillingness to confront people and deal with problems, major student safety issues have developed and bullies and poorly behaved students now dominate the school. There are too many parent reports of assault to their students by 'bullies' that will not be addressed, let alone prevented. Under this principal, students no longer feel physically safe, which makes for a difficult learning environment. There is little to no accountability for disrespectful, let alone, unsafe behavior. Since the new/current principal has also caused most of the experienced teachers to leave, much of the staff is very 'green' and don't have experienced mentors for guidance. It is truly a sad situation what this school has become.

Good school. I feel like the Special Ed staff can do a better job in some ways, however. But overall, good school

An exceptional school! Small class sizes, safe environment, quality teachers and aides, and the opportunity for sports and after school programs. Our kids have created lifelong friendships.

Absolutely amazing school! It's not often you find a school where all the teachers and staff truly care about each student as an indivual. Our education system leaves most schools flawed by their focus on only test scores. There is much more to education than that and this school gets it. They teach about communication, emotional intelligence, and community in addition to using effective methods and partnerships for the classroom education.