Mustang Centennial Elementary School

This school was very disappointing as a parent. The principal Andrea Peterson was very condescending and demeaning. She has no care for families and offered little solutions regarding children with behavior issues. The attitudes toward children of minorities was appalling from the librarian to the teachers. My family does not feel supported at this school and does not recommend others.

I moved into this district for this school. I had heard good things about it. I have since began to regret that decision. My child is in the lower grades ( I do not wish to specify here). The beginning of the year was pure chaos. Parental directions on such things as pickup, signing folders, events, was cloudy at best. The lack of clarity in communications has made it difficult to effectively navigate the school year. I receive consistent communication, it just lacks in details that I feel is important "Bronco boogie date. We will be reciting lines and a song in front of the school." Bronco Boogie something you do regularly? Can parents come? I did the cookie dough fundraiser this year. I didn't know when the pickup was until I got a text at 3:15 from the teacher "Pick up today from 3-6". Well, I work and can't leave on such short notice. I picked up my order the next day. It was supposed to be frozen, but was left in the office to thaw. The most distressing thing has been the cliques and lack of inclusion. I have always been active in my child's education. I was hoping to be a homeroom helper or involved in the PTA. I volunteered on field trips to be assigned no groups, just my daughter. The homeroom mom in apparently the teacher's BFF and involves no one in the planning, just request parents to bring items she deems necessary for the party. I paid the PTA dues, but never received any information on any of the meetings. I started following the PTA facebook page, just to have a clue as to what was going on. The older women in the office are always talking about someone when I'm in there. If you're looking for a warm, inviting school to be active in your child's education, this is not it unless you have an "in" that I'm unaware of. My child tested at or just below average for sight words. I knew it was eventually going to "click" and it has. But until this happened, I didn't want to ruin the enjoyment of reading in order to memorize sight words. My teacher conference was about my child being just average. When I asked about social skills, ability to listen and follow directions, I got "oh, that's great". I felt like I was forcing her to say something nice. We are looking at our options to transfer out next year. Good thing I bought a house...

This is the 3rd school year my special needs daughter has attended Riverwood. We moved to Mustang from OKC mainly because of all the great things I'd hear from other special needs parents about how great this school system is. Our experience is that our daughter has thrived from day one! Her teacher communicated regularly with me and is consistent and engaged with her students (as well as the assistants in the classroom). My daughter has learned so much - far more than I would have expected her capable of - over the past couple of years. The support staff like speech, occupational and physical therapists are so invested in the kids and are also great communicators. My daughter loves going to school each morning and is a happier and more vibrant student than at our previous school district. I highly recommend this school and entire school district.