Ballentine Elementary

We've had a great experience at FVES. They really care about the students and put alot into making them successful.

We have been part of Lincoln Heights for 5–6 years. When we first started, the experience was great. The staff was wonderful, especially during online schooling, school events, and day-to-day interactions. Unfortunately, the last two years have been very disappointing.The staff often seem angry, disengaged, and uninterested in interacting with students. Family involvement and communication have become nearly impossible. When students struggle, there is little to no meaningful support provided. While everything may look good on paper and the required documentation is completed, the reality does not reflect that same level of care or effectiveness. I have been told multiple times they threat students on test, they will fail the grade if they don’t meet eog expectations. As a volunteer, I have seen many questionable situations. Front staff is unwelcoming and almost bothered to be there. The are not discreet with personal information and openly talk poorly about families/students. This has been extremely disappointing, and as a result, we have applied to other schools.

My son has attended HARES since he was in 1st grade and now he’s in 5th. He’s an advanced learner but he has adhd so struggles with socio-emotional and behavioral development. Every teacher he has had took great care to build a relationship with him, experiment with what worked for him to succeed, treated his misbehavior with fair consequences but didn’t shame him. The office staff is also easy to work with too. There are activities for kids and families throughout the year to create a community. I’ve also enjoyed the diversity at the school and how they honor kids and family’s various backgrounds.

South Lakes Elementary is truly a wonderful school with caring teachers and a very supportive environment. The staff are kind, patient, and genuinely focused on each child’s growth — both academically and emotionally. The teachers communicate well with parents and make sure students feel encouraged and confident.