Hermitage Elementary School

I’ve had a really good experience with my son at this school. We immigrated to the country a couple of years ago, and this was his first school here. He has grown so much, and we’ve never felt any discrimination for being immigrants. I truly recommend this school!

My daughter has been going to Pennington since Kindergarten and she is now at the end of her 2nd Grade year. Mrs. Kinzer is the Principal and she is amazing! We have had a few incidents, one where my daughter was hurt and one recently where my daughter was the one bullying another child and both times Mrs. KInzer handled the situation with grace and integrity. My daughter has always learned quickly and in December was reading at the level they want all students to be at the end of the year. She feels adequately challenged and does not get bored. I believe another reviewer was correct in stating that the lower test scores are due to a high number of children who speak English as a second language so do not let that deter you! Even though we have had 2 small incidents in the 3 years my daughter has been there, all of the kids get along and there is not really any bullying. It is definitely different than the school I went to, so much so that when my daughter goes to fun company at another school in the summer she has difficulty handling the more rambunctious atmosphere and doesn't understand why some of the kids are a little meaner, it simply isn't that way at Pennington.

This school is horrible with communication. My child has been assaulted here twice in the 4 years attended. The first assault, mine was in kindergarten and the kid who assaulted my child was in grade 5 and they did nothing but say that child couldn't ride the bus for a week. The principal will not take any action and write any kids up. The kid that assaulted him this year has been bullying him for months, should have already been suspended according to Metro schools policies and procedures. Another parent I knows child was bullied and had a concussion and the school didn't do a thing. Please, know these people are protecting the aggressive children and not protecting the victims. The teacher turn over rate is unheard of. The vice principal doesnt even tell the principal about incidents. Half the things my child has experienced with bullying they have been aware of and have not contact me to tell me. I'm very disappointed in the "upper management" failing to provide a safe environment for all students.

I do think the teachers and staff here for the most part really try. It's a great base and they work hard to overcome the issues they are faced with daily with parents and other issues. I appreciate what they do in this world and I think they deserve a good grade.