Brackett Elementary School

66 Eastern Avenue

School District

Arlington Public Schools
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
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 September 15, 2023

Our experience at the Brackett was poor. We felt that the principal was unhelpful and wouldn’t respond to parents, unless they had a lawyer. My students’ needs were dismissed until we pulled her out. (My student also received a head injury by a large rock thrown at her on the playground. There shouldn’t have been such large rocks lying around.) The academic emphasis was on MCAS scores, to the detriment of subjects and skills not measured by standardized tests. There’s a new principal, I heard, which is good news and bodes well for improvement.
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2023

I had two children go through Brackett. The first found school very easy and slid through the programs without any issues. However, I would argue he wasn't challenged and didn't enjoy learning. Of the 6 years he was there, I only really liked 2-3 of his teachers. The others were not good teachers as they were focused more on test scores than anything else.My second child had to be pulled out of school there and we could not let him finish. By second grade, it was clear that the teachers and administration had no intention of helping my son learn or enjoy school. Without even evaluating my son for any issues, the principle suggested medications for him. When we moved to another district, he was evaluated and qualified for an individualized education plan (IEP); something Arlington wouldn't even consider testing him for. He was able to get the support he needed, his confidence and performance grew. Today he is an honor roll student in high school. and doing well.The bottom line is that the school only cares about test scores. Nothing else matters. If your child find school easy, they might do fine but if they need any support outside of the standard curriculum, they fail.
Submitted by parent on October 30, 2016

Really nice community school with very dedicated parents and teachers. Kids and parents are smart, so teachers do have high expectations.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2016

My child attended Brackett for two years. Both years were difficult and somewhat stressful. The school is well run, the arts are well represented and the academics are good. However, if you have a child diagnosed with ADD/ADHD or some other documented learning or developmental disability be warned that your child may be denied support services which they in fact need to succeed and be happy here. For two years we received complaints that our kindergartner then first grader fidgeted, lacked self-control and displayed inappropriate behaviors in the classroom. Twice we tried to get accommodations for our child to help them focus and despite a documented neurological disability we were denied the accommodations our child needed. We learned the hard way that this school and district have a terrible reputation for denying special education and/or 504 accommodations to its students. If you have a neurotypical child of average or better intelligence, this is a great school. If your child deviates from this norm beware. I cannot speak of the SPED program because while needed we weren't ever going to be granted access to it.
Submitted by other on August 13, 2013

Some of you crunchies may think test scores are either useless or meaningless, reality of life is that what makes the world go round. Like bashing someone in Harvard that got a perfect SAT score and bashing Harvard for not seeing the whole picture. My neighbor's kid got a perfect MCAS test score and got a perfect Math SAT score. He now is just finishing his 4 years in a school in NH with 90% academic scholarship. Can't argue with reality. Also, homes in Brackett sell on average for 20% more than other districts for the same sized house.
Submitted by parent on March 29, 2012

It's all about the MCAS at Brackett. The kindergarteners and first graders race through a dizzying number of work centers under a false presumption that this how children of age 5 and 6 learn. This despite countless studies that show that children at these young ages learn thru play and develop reading skills at their own pace. To see them so pushed is really sad. The teacher student ratio is high and apparently may get only worse. To advertise themselves as offering a true half day kindergarten is disingenuous at best. The way the half day is structured is such that nearly no one chooses it. It is not a real option but it could be,...the full day kindergarten is $3k. Yes, $3k. A mean spiritedness pervades a couple of the grade levels and while that may happen anywhere it doesn't help that the kids are not well monitored outside. The school administration and principal seem ok but I have not had much interaction so have not much input there. The school building is relatively new and well situated as it is across from Robbins Park. This may be the best aspect of the school. Just remember that MCAS scores do not tell a whole story. We will not be back next year.