Dicken Elementary School

2135 Runnymede Boulevard

School District

Ann Arbor Public Schools
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

public

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on April 05, 2022

Terrible terrible terrible school, awful with special Ed kids
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2021

I have two children at Dicken we love the community!
Submitted by other on June 21, 2020

I have had 3 children go through Dicken and each had a good experience that helped them be successful in middle school. In fact they were more prepared for middle school than kids from Lawton, Bach, Eberwhite & Lakewood. Their experience in a diverse multinational & multicultural environment helped them respect all cultures that they interacted with in at Slauson middle school
Submitted by parent on March 01, 2020

Terrible. I should have pulled my kids out sooner.
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2019

Dicken is a great community school with a caring staff and a diverse and inclusive student body! We love going to school in our own neighboorhood and appreciate how invested the school is in our student's success.
Submitted by parent on October 16, 2019

I would rate my experience at this school 8 out of 10.
Submitted by parent on March 18, 2019

We were one of MANY parents who left the school after one year. There are much better schools within a one mile radius of Dicken. The principle seems checked out and over his job, and is not very nice. Definitely wouldn't want to go to him with any problems. The music teacher is very young, overwhelmed, and constantly yells at children. The kids are often sent to the office (we're talking 5 and 6 year olds) as punishment with no one there to explain why. The teachers are visibly stressed and the kids are too, which makes things seem out of control. The building is run down and depressing inside with mice issues. My child didn't learn much and 1/3 of the class were below reading level. Teachers withhold 2pm recess for children who cannot sit still in 9am music (wouldn't recess be the solution?) Parents who seem to love this school are not there often enough to see the issues, I noticed. We were. Couldn't believe what a difference moving to another school made. Would not recommend.
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2016

Exceptional, inclusive and responsive learning environment. When my oldest son transferred (from a private school in Detroit) to Dicken in 4th grade, his transition was absolutely seamless. I was truly amazed by the altruism and warmth his teacher and fellow classmates displayed. These characteristics are demonstrated throughout Dicken s entire learning community each and every day: from the principal and staff, to the parents and volunteers.
Submitted by parent on November 24, 2016

The school is ran by a principle that shows a lot of favoritism to African American students over any other race. African American students will be defended while your child is assumed to be at fault. Black history month and other African American curriculum is held in high regard in abundance. There is a real difference in how the children are treated differently by the principal. There are a lot of good teachers. There are some issues with bullying and how the children are monitored. Their process for handling such issues could improve. School activities and parent involvement is good.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2016

We are a school of choice family and love Dicken! The teachers are warm, inviting and truly enjoy being teachers. Teachers are often seen at after school events and seen throughout the community. They freely interact with the students when seen outside of school hours. We love the positive and upbeat attitude when have seen in our first few years at Dicken. In addition to the teachers we love the extracurriculars offered at Dicken. Some of our favorite extracurriculars are the Dicken Running Club and that Dicken participates Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad.
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2016

Negatives:- Ongoing rodent problem in building; "lunch room" is makeshift area in the auditorium.- Very poor student-to-teacher ratio - 1 class had 29 kids!- Agenda regarding race very non-mainstream & biased toward African-American plight over other minorities (Principal Madison was previously in trouble for this).- Unlocked doors allow almost complete uninhibited access.- No gifted / accelerated classes.- Classes cater to non-local transplants at the expense of time of enhancing local student studies.- By 3rd or 4th grade students should be getting letter grades - but are still using Kindergarten type performance markers - makes it very hard for parents to assess child(ren)'s progress.+ Good participation by parents+ Many extra-curricular activities+ Nice school garden
Submitted by parent on January 16, 2015

I am a school of choice parent who drives from the Saline School district. The positive atmosphere, up beat teachers, family involvement, and enthusiastic Principle Mr. Madison makes every mile worth the drive. I love how each day is started with the Principle speaking to the school over the P.A. giving announcements as well as Pledge of Allegiance. This school gives my son confidence to learn new things. An opportunity to work with upper class students as reading partners which makes him feel special. My child's "Young 5's" Teacher is very talented in working with all 20 students maintaining constructive involvement and displaying class order. My son enjoys all his special's ( music class, gym, art, and library ) and excitedly shares each class with my husband and I. All in all I am happy to share my review being my son at just 5 years old enjoys going to school and proud to wear his Dicken Dolphins shirt. We are even contemplating committing more years of driving!
Submitted by parent on March 29, 2014

We are very happy with the education our daughter is getting at Dicken. The teachers, principal, staff and parents do an amazing job. Our daughter loves Dicken and loves to learn. As a parent I am thrilled that she is excelling academically and is performing well above her grade level. Even more important is that she is learning about the importance of community and how to be a thoughtful/good citizen.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2014

Dicken is a fantastic school! As a parent with 6 years invested in the school (and a few more ahead), I can say it is a great place to send my kids. What makes it special are 3 things: strong leadership by the wonderful principal and active PTO, incredibly involved parents, neighborhood school with diversity and a strong sense of community. Parents here realize that you get out what you put in, and they put in! The values at this school are outstanding. It is not snobbish or on the "fast track" culture. (Kids with iPhones Etc). Like any school, some teachers are amazing and others so-so. But the overall environment is top notch. Kids have access to so much enrichment: Amazing recess programs including gardening, chess, recycling program, choir, and some others too. Strong PTO brings funding for enriching school assembles and field trips. Students here are great kids, happy kids who feel secure knowing that Dicken is more than just their school, it is their community.
Submitted by parent on December 05, 2013

Dicken is a wonderful community that gets better every year. Our 5th year at Dicken and this learning community has great leadership of the Principal and PTO. Students are challenged to excel. The staff spends a lot of time assessing and meeting the needs of the individual child. The PTO benefits from parent and volunteer involvement that allows educational, healthy activities throughout the year (ie Dicken Dash, Dicken Garden, Community of Cultures, Super Science Day,,,the list goes on). In addition, Dicken is tucked away in a quiet neighborhood with tree lined streets and sidewalks that make walking and biking to school a snap.
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2013

I have had 3 kids at Dicken over the past 7 years. I couldn't be happier. The teachers go above and beyond to make sure that every student's needs are met. Teachers are welcoming to parents and grandparents when they come into the classrooms. I volunteer weekly in one classroom and the library and have been very impressed with the way the staff interacts with the students. There are so many parents who volunteer on a regular basis. My three kids have all enjoyed Dicken and learned so much. My oldest has made a smooth transition to Slauson Middle School. There are lunch time enrichment activities like singing, gardening, and recycling. The annual Dicken Woods Walk which takes place in February is a time for the whole Dicken neighborhood and Dicken students to interact by walking through Dicken woods lit up with hundreds of decorated vases. The art teacher at Dicken is phenomenal!
Submitted by parent on November 08, 2012

We just moved to the area, and were excited to have our kids in Ann Arbor schools. It is nice to be in a better school system than where we were previously. However, we are a bit disappointed with Dicken because the environment is not a friendly one. My kids complain every day that all they hear is teachers yelling at kids. My son's teacher has been wonderful...keeps parents informed on learning and happenings through weekly newsletters. My daughter, who is in 4th grade, used to LOVE school, but now she hates it because it is not a happy place of learning/lacks nurturing (she came home from school on her first day and cried for an hour). I am now worried that she is losing her love of learning :( I like how this is really a neighborhood school and lots of involvement from parents. The Dicken Dash was a fantastic fundraiser. I also love that the kids get to bring home fresh veggies from the school garden!
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2012

After being at Dicken for 6 years, we decided to move to another school within the Slauson cluster. Others have commented here that other schools are academically superior to Dicken- this is absolutely the case. Dicken is mediocre at best. Ask any parent who transferred from Dicken to another AAPS school - they all say the same thing. If you are in the Slauson cluster, you can do much better than Dicken.
Submitted by parent on October 17, 2012

We moved our children because they were unhappy here . There are many schools in Ann arbor that have much better learning environments .
Submitted by parent on June 06, 2012

We have been at Dicken for 6 years and the thing that I appreciate most is the diversity of the community both ethnically and socio-economically. I also appreciate the high participation rate of parent volunteers from the full range of that diversity. At our impressive Community of Cultures celebration this year, the principal shared that there are over 70 languages spoken at our school. I feel that this teaches lessons that cannot be taught from a book. The sense of community at this school is wonderful.