Peirce School

85 Park Avenue Ext

School District

Arlington Public Schools
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
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 July 09, 2021

Our child truly enjoys this school and has made leaps and bounds with the help of staff after returning to full-time instruction. Peirce, along with all of Arlington Public Schools, is growing. The new Principal has made a difference and the town has hired an Assistant Principal which should keep the school on good footing as it expands. In the next 2-3 years, K-5 will have 3 classes each. We did have one of the new teachers and it was an excellent experience. We have been happy with the support we were given for the subjects our child needed help in and by the end of the year they were where they should be. We look forward to another great year next year.
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2021

My child has had a wonderful experience at Peirce. we have had wonderful experiences with the teachers and other staff. The community was close before the pandemic but my daughter feels like it has gotten even closer since everyone returned back 5 days a week.
Submitted by parent on July 23, 2020

My children attended this school during the period 2018-2019. We moved to Arlington from England. If you are a foreigner, Don't even think about enrolling your children in this school. The staff at this school have multiple implicit biases. Automatically if you have foreign parents who are not native English speakers, they put you in the ELL program even if the student is a monolingual speaker - Native english speaker. School is behind the times in educational focus. Teachers completely rely on worksheets to learn. Do not use technology or teach foreign languages. Every week they ask for money for one thing or another. The students are taught ‘what 'to think and not‘ how' to think. In general, Peirce is another example of a school that could be great but falls short due to lack of effective leadership and teachers who continue to teach the way they have always done. It has been hard for all of us to accept a principal that seems content with mediocrity, and a school staff that appear to want to be unaware but there.
Submitted by parent on February 18, 2019

The school is small with a strong sense of community and lots of parent involvement. I have two children in the school and both are very happy with their experience and are thriving academically. The school is the single biggest factor for why we are choosing to stay in Arlington and our neighborhood in particular.
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2018

We made a mistake in assuming that all elementary schools in Arlington would be somewhat similar, and so purchased a home in the Peirce district. We wish we hadn't. This school is often described as having a tight knit community, which is definitely a plus, but the school is behind the times on educational approach. Our previous experience is with public and private schools that provided enough time for recess, didn't rely entirely on worksheets for learning, didn't think creativity was only about color-in pages, and could handle classroom behavioral problems. The principal is a nice person but ineffective in handling conflict or ushering in improvements - multiple parents report her usual response to any request as "no one has brought up this problem before". The classes are starting to get very large because of the uptick of families with children - they are adding a 3rd kindergarten next year - and the teachers mention the number of students as a reason for reducing what they can handle. Other families have requested additional support from the Town, but there doesn't seem to be much progress due to limited budget.
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2017

The Peirce School is a vibrant, diverse community of dedicated educators and caring, involved families. The smallest school in town, it is like having your children attend a top notch private school!
Submitted by other on April 30, 2017

There are a few great teachers that inspire the kids. On average, however, it could be so much more. Peirce is another example of how a school that could be truly great, falls short due to lack of effective leadership and teachers who continue to teach the way they have always done. It has been hard for all of us to accept the useless worksheets and mindless busy work, the many uninspiring lessons, a principal that seems content with mediocrity, and a school staff that appear to want to be unaware but there. We love the school community, but I fear that other reviewers give Peirce five stars because they have never experienced what Great education be; education where kids want to go to school everyday because they are interested in what they learn, how they learn it and understand the relevance of the content. Where education is messy and chaotic at times, but where the kids are empowered and fully engaged in their learning. In contract, students must sit at their desks which are often lined up in rows, collaboration and project based learning is the exception. Sorry for the honesty, but at best Peirce is average.
Submitted by other on May 06, 2010

The teachers are careful to their children and take care of the intellectual development of their children
Submitted by parent on May 05, 2010

The school is very good and has great teachers
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2010

A wonderful, small school where I feel my child feels very much at home.
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2010

Peirce is a diverse and exciting place for children to grow and thrive. Everyone is working towards helping students do their best!
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2010

The Peirce experience reflects a community spirit and commitment to learning. The curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities foster a sense of responsibility; pride and sense of belonging. It takes a village...and Peirce has a fabulous village with its teachers, families and staff.
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2010

The community spirit at the Peirce school is palpable. There is a way that it has been a second family. The care and dedication to learning and development of the teachers, the principal, and the families are unmatched.
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2010

The community feeling at Peirce is welcoming. Everyone knows each other , it's a wonderful feeling.
Submitted by teacher on April 28, 2010

We strive to shine - as students, as friends!
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2010

Because it's a small, diverse, happy, and smart community of parents, teachers, administrators and kids. The students are talented too - go to Peirce talent night and you'll see!
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2010

Because the community is amazing and the teachers are great!
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2010

Wonderful small community elementary school with a great staff and active parents.
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2010

At a time when most people lament the large, impersonal nature of elementary schools, the Peirce School is, as one parent from another town elementary school put it 'the best kept secret in Arlington.' The small size, wonderful supportive teachers who really get a chance to know their kids, and administrative staff that actually know your name and who your child is, all make this neighborhood school the envy of others in town. The school community feels welcome to be really involved, and truely put their efforts where their mouth is. From the volunteer landscaping to the friendly janitorial staff, the Peirce School is really a gem.
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2010

My daughter has had a good experience in kindergarten. She has learned a tremendous amount and has a very kind and thoughtful teacher. The current principal is also great. They have done many creative events in the school to engage children and help them learn.