Schell Elementary School

My son was bullied everyday at this school even by his Teacher

My family has been with this school in the Montessori program for five years now, and I recommend it. I can't speak for the traditional half of the school, but we LOVE the Montessori! The teachers are incredible; engaging, understanding, inspiring. Love, love, love, the Montessori. There's very little/no homework because of the MOntessori method. Ocassionally depending on the teacher you'll have "read 20 min a day" type of homework, or a child may be asked to finish some work over the weekend that they hadn't finished during school hours that week. But overall homework is minimal, hallelujah. The campus is hyper-safe. The admin are VERY careful with outsiders, to the point they don't allow afterschool clubs/sports and they don't allow people during the day to eat lunch with their child/visit classrooms/be a "room parent" and help teachers, etc, unless you are on the PTA board, because they are so concerned with keeping the school safe. I love the commitment to safety, but I do wish there were clubs/sports opportunities for the kids. Surely we could find a happy medium. Maybe a parent who was willing to be fingerprinted/background checked could coach? I would love a low-pressure sport or club opportunity. The admin overall is great, and if you are diligent about getting to know them/helping the campus, they are very easy to work with. If the principal doesn't know you, it is harder to work with her and get things done. The Principal is a little grumpy. I've been around her for five years, and I've never had a particularly warm experience with her. I've overheard her speaking harshly to kids. The Vice principal and other office staff are balanced in how they interact with kids. Sometimes warm, sometimes stern; normal. The nurse is particularly warm and inclusive. We've absolutely ADORED all the specials teachers and staff! Overall great school and we've loved our experience. We just wish there were clubs ;)

This school has been a wonderful experience for my child and for our family. From the very beginning, the school has provided the support he needed as a non-fluent English speaker. He has been consistently supported in building his English vocabulary day by day, and we have seen real progress since he started.The teachers and staff have been attentive and thoughtful in making sure he feels confident, included, and encouraged. He feels comfortable participating in classroom activities and has felt welcomed not only by his classmates, but also by students from other classes.The teachers are caring, affectionate, and truly dedicated to their students’ academic and emotional growth. Communication with families is clear, and the school environment is safe, inclusive, and welcoming.We are very grateful for the support our child has received and highly recommend this school to other families.