Baileywick Road Elementary

I’ve had kids at PUE from 2018 to the present, and wholeheartedly recommend it. The teachers really care about the students, and the students feel it – it’s not uncommon to see kids hugging teachers from prior years in the hallways. The teachers tend to stay for many, many years, which sends a message about this being a happy, supportive place to come to work. The principal (Mr. Tunstall) is a visionary and strong leader – since he arrived two years ago, I have seen changes in academics (more differentiated instruction in core subjects), facilities (updates and improvements), and an investment in staff professional development and morale (via conference attendance, teacher of the year recognition, and wellness & appreciation programs). He encourages his staff to participate in community building events like Spirit Nights and other PTA fundraisers, and he collaborates effectively with the PTA to ensure resources are wisely spent to maximize benefit at the school. And Mr. T even allowed himself to be dunked in green slime for the students’ enjoyment to close out the annual Fun Run!The parents are very supportive of the PTA, which is highly organized and draws on leaders’ specific expertise to make sure all students have a well-rounded experience and staff members feel appreciated. The PTA funds things for students like cultural arts programming, social-emotional resources and online subscriptions, field trip scholarships, and enrichment programs like Odyssey of the Mind, Scripps National Spelling Bee, Science Fair, First in Fitness, chorus, and safety patrol. In the past two years, the PTA has allocated $10,000 to revamp the library’s book collection, and bought water bottle refilling stations, and basketball hoops for the gym. The PTA supports teachers with annual classroom supply stipends, funds for professional development, and frequent appreciation events. The PTA also organizes annual programs like the Boosterthon Fun Run and the Scholastic Book Fair, and monthly spirit events. All around, this is a great community to be part of!

My wife and I are retired and our grandchildren have been attending Lynn Road (LRES) for a total of 11 years so far. We volunteer several days a week because we enjoy being a part of the positive and supportive atmosphere at LRES. We tutor math and reading, monitor programs for advanced students, assist students in the library, help with the annual Student Talent Show and the annual Musical Play, and enjoy beautifying the campus with flowers and bushes. The teachers and staff are top notch and truly care about each child and it definitely shows! But the biggest asset is the active PTA and parent involvement. We know most of the parents as well as the kids because of their participation. LRES is truly like one big family. I know there are a lot of other public and private schools in Raleigh, but I guarantee you won’t find a better one than LRES!

Our children attended this school years ago before recent leadership changes, and we have mixed reviews. We had some wonderful teachers and experiences, and some that were terrible. The lower school teachers were a mix of nice and some of the meanest women I have yet to encounter in a school. I had a terrible experience with one of them and they have since replaced her, thankfully, and I reported her strange and abusive behavior after the fact, and I regret not handling it swiftly at the time. There was definitely some bullying which fell on deaf ears, so I will say the experience there trained me to be a strong advocate in defense of my children. In general, many parents were unhappy with the leadership most of the time and there was a lot of gossip about that, which was tiresome. The teachers who were great kept the school running and my kids had a great time in those classes. They participated in wonderful musical shows, field trips, art classes and field days. In all, you can have a good experience here, but as a parent make sure they know that you are not going to put up with anything from the staff but completely appropriate behavior. For us, that was becoming a full time job, so we left for a school with better leadership.

Our child has attended The Montessori School of Raleigh from 1st through 3rd grade, and in those years MSR has become more than a campus to our family. It has been a kind of harbor: purposeful, humane, and quietly alive with the work of becoming or perhaps rebounding - if the stories and speculation from the internet are to be believed. What MSR has given our child is not only academic growth, though we have seen that, but a steadier sense of self. Our child has learned to choose work with intention, to meet difficulty without immediate retreat, to speak with greater care, and to understand that learning is not simply something delivered, but something a student must learn to claim.MSR offers structure of a different and valuable kind. It is less a narrow road than a compass. Across 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade, we have watched freedom and responsibility do their quiet work, shaping independence without abandoning guidance.The teachers we have known have been attentive, thoughtful, and deeply invested in our child as a whole person. They see more than assignments and progress. They see effort, temperament, friendship, frustration, confidence, and character. We have also valued the school’s emphasis on grace and courtesy, community, and conflict resolution. These are not ornamental lessons; they are foundation stones.MSR is a meaningful investment, and families should weigh that honestly. For us, the value has been clear: academics joined with independence, emotional growth, character, and the rare comfort of knowing our child is truly known.If I had one wish, it would be for the summer programs to become more robust and more learning-focused. For families who want continuity with MSR’s educational philosophy beyond the regular year, that would be a welcome addition.No school is perfect. But for our family, MSR has been a thoughtful and inspiring place, one where our child has been invited not merely to succeed, but to become. We are grateful for our years here and would gladly recommend MSR to families who value curiosity, independence, kindness, and an education that treats childhood as the first chapter of a life deliberately lived.

The school long ago was a great school. When Doreen Kelly took over it was a slow decline across the board. Many alumni’s will not send students to the school for this reason. Athletics use to be strong but have rapidly gone down hill. They are not fair at all across the board and they do not care about school bullying. If you want a loving kind place search elsewhere as this is not the place.

Neuse has a very selective and inconsistent discipline procedures. Boys are especially scrutinized and the administrator even said in a recent event that she “sets the bar low for boys”. It is also very noticeable that treatment is different for families that can donate ! The facilities are run down with the score board not working a many sporting games. Some of the teachers are really nice while others seem to just be set on automatic mode. The school board makes most major decisions even without talking with the parent or child about issues. Other families opinions steer decisions ! Nothing is kept confidential! No signs of Christian attitudes for the most part .