Red Mill Elementary School

This school has been rated a 10 most years. I had a fantastic experience here with my child. The staff and community here is extremely involved to a level you will not find at almost any other school in Virginia Beach.

My child has attended for three years now, and I will say the assistant principal is awesome.Teachers, however, will let you know their frustrations with your child and the classroom in general off the bat. They have no "chaos control", and blame it on COVID years. Two weeks into this school year, I picked my kid up from after school same time her teacher was coming out of school, and had the audacity to come to my car and say, Infront of my child, that "she is smart but not living up to her potential." And continued to degrade her Infront of me while telling my daughter and I how stressed she is. I work 60 hours a week as an Operations Director- if I complained to everyone how stressed I was and berated my team, my team would not be successful and I'd be fired. Teacher has made numerous comments to my kid that I find flat out rude, but the teachers paint a pretty picture when I call the assistant principle, so it's pointless. I work with a former Chesapeake principal who, when I discuss the issues I've had with the teachers here, told me to go straight to the school board and file a complaint, which was validating but sad at the same time. I've walked into that school several times and see/hear teachers have very negative discussions about their classes, which I feel perpetuates an overall justification to be desensitized to the children, harsh, overbearing and overly consequential. My daughter has called me from the nurses office several times, and when on the phone, I've heard teachers YELLING at children, obviously unaware of a parent listening. When my child has computer activities that have voice recordings, I can hear teachers yelling and being harsh with kids as well. The teachers are strict about bathroom breaks due to lack of security in the halls. They need a note from the doctor to let them go to the bathroom more than THEY think is necessary. My child has been physically bullied and the boys who have put their hands on my child faces no repercussions and my kid was still forced to sit at the same table and engage with them, even when I demanded she be moved. The teachers say "small problems should be handled by the kids" but how can you even say that with kids who are still learning emotional regulation? It was only after I told a teacher my child will hit back next time her bullies got her, that she actually listened. I worry every day how my kid is treated. At 7 years old, she is ALREADY stressed about school. Avoid if you can.

Military family and worried about yet another transition into a new school. My kids were incredibly welcomed and have had a great educational experience. Principal and teachers are so easy to work with. Have loved it!!’

So far this has been such a wonderful experience. All the staff is so friendly and helpful. The teachers are amazing and so knowledgeable.

Three Oaks is an incredibly nurturing, caring environment for my two children. The teachers really go above and beyond and it shows! School leadership is terrific and it shows in being selected as an Exemplar school. Wish my kids could stay here forever!

We are blessed to be part of the SJA community. I feel like my children are thriving socially and academically. The teachers teach at SJA because they truly believe in its core values. They teach with love and respect but hold our children accountable so they will be successful in the real world. I am forever grateful to this school and while no school is perfect, it is the perfect place for my children.

We are extremely thankful to Goddard (McComas Way) and very happy with our experience. The teachers and staff are excellent and took great care of our daughter (Mayurika). Wish every pre-school was like them!!Kudos to everyone there for doing such a great job!Neil & Sohini