Brandon Elementary School

2741 Howell Mill Road Northwest

School District

Atlanta Public Schools
Grade

PK, 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 28, 2024

Being 100% honest, I wanted my son to be in Bolton due to more equity, less discrimination and bullying (precisely due to more equity and mix of culture) and same academic scores… buuuut I ended being force to enroll him in Brandon, so I trusted God Plans and its being genuinely a life change in the best sense! My son has grow and learned so much in 2 years. The program and system in general is amazing for their academic success and happiness, yes! My son loves going to school. They make it so fun with all the activities and fun learning techniques. There is definitely discrimination and bullying (bnot super common) and we have had to teach our son ( soon as kindergarten :( but there was no other way) to speak out defend himself and defend others vulnerable by his own voice and hands if necessary after we tried reporting by email like 3 times make little meetings with teachers and directive without success. When our son stop crying and just defend himself or other vulnerable child they start to isolate my son or the little bully’s from him and everything is going wonderful now. Discrimination and segregation, oh yes. more than any different population than white would like. But I’ve seen that is all about the teachers (what I read in this reviews before enrolled him is completely true) there are 10/10 teachers that literally will change your sons life and make them love school and everything in life!! and other 3/10 (in ethic and professionalism) in a 50/50. so is a random lottery what experience your kid will have (emotionally regarding to school) next year.. My son was isolated outside the class room by his teacher, in the hall alone all day for weeks, where he just stay sitting all day and cry quiet pr moments, for being new, other race, ethnicity different than white, and coming in the middle of the year. I understand is not easy, but her lack of sensitivity ethic and humanity is not professional when working with small kids. Another teacher saw him in the Hall everyday and advocate for him, and call me to let me know what my son was living. So, is all about the teachers, and they are incredibly good and awful ones in Morris Brandon. It worth it? 100% the pros in Morris Brandon are huge! For the Cons, God gives us the people strength and wisdom to live anything if he wants us to go trough, and now our son is fully adapt and growing incredibly fast. Just be wise and extra protective if your child is outside the standard race and socio economic
Submitted by other on November 14, 2023

This is an excellent school.Teachers go above and beyond to meet the needs of their students. Families and PTA are very involved and support teachers and activities. High test scores every year. Not as much room for growth when scores are so high so that is why growth score is lower. tudents perform well above average and state averages. Been here many years through all grade levels, all teachers have been great!
Submitted by other on November 14, 2023

This is a wonderful school! Administration, teachers and other stakeholders care about the well-being of their school and students. Administration also cares about the well-being of teachers.
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2023

Unfortunately, Great Schools does not have accurate data on their rating scale. They are reporting test scores from the COVID years of 2019-2022 in which the State of Georgia did not even use 2023 milestone data to reflect accuracy. This data is NOT accurate and is falsely advertising Morris Brandon's status. They should be using 2023 data which most accurately reflects the most recent year data OUT of COVID. If you want ACCURATE data, go to APS Insights.org. Brandon has a 2023 CCRPI score of 97.1, a 70% proficiency in ELA and Math for ALL students in Milestones scores , has the highest attendance rating of all APS elementary schools and 76% average to high growth in Math. Great Schools does NOT have correct enrollment data, start times or test scores, teacher or counselor to student ratio, etc. so I would not trust this site for an actual reflection of the school's rating.
Submitted by parent on March 07, 2019

Overall, a good experience. School needs more inclusion and diversity. Sometimes it feels like this school is not a public school, but a tuition-less private school.
Submitted by parent on July 17, 2018

Great! The teachers and staff are amazing. Parents are very involved
Submitted by parent on May 10, 2018

The teachers and staff have exceeded our expectations.
Submitted by parent on May 02, 2018

Morris Brandon is a great school located in a great neighborhood in Atlanta. It has a state-of-the-art playground, technology integration, and a rigorous curriculum that keeps students challenged. The teachers are fantastic. Leadership lacks the relationship aspect needed in an elementary school. They are too much about Milestone score predictions and testing data than about child growth. I feel like admin views my child as a number.
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2018

Our two children had a good experience thus far, but I fear general APS testing obsession and poor school leadership put the school at future risk.
Submitted by parent on November 03, 2017

The primary campus is located in a fantastic neighborhood. Teachers are very friendly and very good at their jobs. Overall it is a fantastic school. The negative to the school is that I don't feel like I am able to help my children succeed as much as I would like. The ability to have more parental involvement with optional additional homework (I know some parents complain about too much, but I feel there is too little for the kids that need additional practice). Also I would prefer that tutoring with the teachers was more available, and not just 30 minutes once weekly for a couple of select students per class. Lack of individual attention is expected in classes of 21-25 kids per teacher, but it definitely does make it more difficult for those who cannot afford Kumon tutoring etc. and is the likely reason for the test score discrepancy between financially disadvantaged students and others as seen in the statistics.
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2016

Attended MB briefly, not much time to experience homework loads. Located in a nice neighborhood.
Submitted by parent on December 02, 2015

Our three daughters without exception have had a happy and successful experience with their school community - friends, teachers, classroom surroundings. We are thrilled to be living in the Brandon district.
Submitted by parent on July 06, 2015

My children just completed 2nd & 5th grade. They have both had a great experience all around. The new principal is engaged with the students, faculty and parents and is a refreshing change. The incredible support of the teachers and the Brandon community makes this school a special place.
Submitted by parent on June 22, 2014

The previous Principal was horrible. The teachers are not all that good except a chosen few. I agree with the previous parent, Mrs. Leathers is absolutely amzing. My son had her last year and she was amazing. There not too many great teachers like her. If your child is not a "typical learner", this is definitely not the school for you. teachers are not going to go above and beyond to ensure your child is learning. They teach to the test ( CRCT)not to ensure the child is learning. If you are not apart of that in crowd you are treated like an outsider. They ate getting a new Principal so hopefully things will change. It is very political and some of the room parents worry more about giving the teachers enormous gifts rather than holding them accountable.
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2014

My son (grade 2) and daughter (grade 3) attend Brandon. We moved from LA mid-year and transferred after the holiday break. My kids' teachers were so warm and accommodating in helping them get acclimated to their new school. Ms. Leathers, Ms. Bass, Ms Guttery, truly amazing teachers - simply the best! I love the academic pace of the school. Keeps the kiddos on their toes but in a way that's fun. Lots of school spirit here and great parent involvement. No tolerance for bullies either, by the kids, teachers or parents which I adore. Everyone looks out for each other. The carpool system is so well organized. Mr. Featherstone and other grown ups who help with carpool really go above and beyond. Its a happy place for a kid to be!
Submitted by other on November 16, 2013

I attended Morris Brandon for all 6 years and enjoyed everyday single second! I'm in sixth grade now, and honestly I would go back to that school in a second. The teachers are all so amazing, can't pick a favorite! Morris Brandon will always have a special place in my heart. If you're looking for a good school to send your child too, this is the place to bee.
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2013

I sent my child to Morris Brandon Primary Center for grades 1 and 2,and my 9 year old for 3rd grade at the main campus. I did not particularly like the teachers or the principals there, but I thought the principal at the Primary Center was a good one.I recently took my children out and I sent them to Pace Academy which I thing is a better fit for them. Overall I don't recommend this school to parents looking to send their children to a good elementary school.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2013

Morris Brandon is an awesome school! Sadly this is my son's last year. If you are looking for a dynamic educational foundation this is the school!!
Submitted by other on April 08, 2013

Great school, big though so parents should stay involved to know whats join on around the school and classroom.
Submitted by parent on June 06, 2012

Morris Brandon is absolutely fantastic! Our kids have loved the school, and have thrived in this very kid-focused, achievement oriented environment. The teachers do a great job of connecting with each child and sparking intellectual curiosity based on that child's individual interests and talents, in spite of the large classroom sizes noted elsewhere in the reviews. We really couldn't be any happier, and feel as though our kids are geting a better-than-private school education without the private school expense.