Lawrenceville Elementary School

This school has received the Federal Recognition of Blue Ribbon School For 2023. This is a great achievement and only 6 elementary schools have received this honor in NJ. You can google and see yourself. It is the best. Great schools rating is way off - please correct this school’s rating.

Words cannot describe the constant disrespect the facility members and staff give to the students. This is not a pleasant working environment. Kids will not feel safe here nor welcome, the teachers have a condensing and disrespect tone when speaking to students. They ignore concerns. Wouldn’t recommend this school unless you want to feel like your in a prison.

We are extremely happy with our experience at Ben Franklin Elementary School. The school provides a warm, welcoming environment where students feel safe, supported, and encouraged to grow.The teachers are truly dedicated and go above and beyond to ensure each child succeeds academically and personally. Communication from the staff is clear and consistent, which makes it easy for parents to stay involved.We especially appreciate the strong sense of community and the focus on both education and character development. Our child looks forward to going to school every day, which says a lot!Overall, a wonderful school—we couldn’t be happier with our decision. Highly recommend to any family in the area.

I pulled my four-year-old son from the Pre-4 class at St. Ann's and know others who have pulled their children from the school, as well. My son was belittled, at *four years old* for not being able to read and write yet. He spent his time in pre-school doing worksheets instead of playing. He began telling me he did not want to go back to school, and it is no wonder. The teacher was incredibly rude and condescending to my son's grandmother, criticizing my son *in front of him.* After pulling my son from the school, all of my requests to meet with the principal were ignored. St. Ann's also kept the remainder of my tuition for the rest of the year, despite the fact that I was forced to pull him from the school because of their teacher. Do not send your preschooler to this school!!

Our daughter had just turned 3 when she started this school. After only three days, she was immediately limited to half-day attendance without prior notice, which felt developmentally inappropriate for a child adjusting to a new environment. She was doing well in all activities except potty.By the second week, she could use the school potty. By October, she was consistently potty trained at home and in public but remained reluctant to use the school’s potty. Despite very few accidents, the school suspended her for a full week during Halloween week, causing her to miss school events, including the Halloween parade. Our request for her to participate or return early was declined. On her first day back, she had no accidents, but when we asked the school to give her more patience, they replied they had “already been very patient since September.” She was still considered in violation, with no guarantee her attendance would not be limited again.The potty training policy was not shared when we signed the contract and was only provided shortly before school started, after we proactively asked.This exclusion caused our child to miss educational opportunities and made her adjustment more difficult. After a week at home, she became noticeably more shy and quiet in public, showing how the suspension affected her social confidence. The school’s inflexible policy enforcement, changing rules, and lack of support highlight a gap in understanding early childhood development. Widely accepted early childhood guidelines emphasize developmentally appropriate, supportive, and child-centered approaches for toileting, transitions, and social-emotional growth.For families considering this school, especially with younger preschoolers, it is important to ask about toileting policies, transition support, and flexibility for developmental adjustment. Based on our experience, this school may not provide the consistency, understanding, and support young children need to thrive.