D G Cooley Elementary School

240 Westwood Road

School District

Clarke County Public Schools
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Clarke County Public Schools

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 09, 2017

This is the second year my son is at Cooley ( now in kindergarten) and I'm couldn't be happier with this school. I am thankful that my son has so many educators that are invested in his learning. Cooley truly cares and it shows!
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2016

This school is between good and great! There are some great teachers and I have no real complaints other than the bullying seems a bit excessive.
Submitted by parent on February 14, 2015

People looking at this should know this school was completely revamped last summer. It's no longer grades 3-4-5 in a single undersized building. It's now Pre-k to 3rd at the additional Lower Campus (a former high school) with 4&5 at the Upper Campus (previously the only school). It's a great improvement. Years of underfunding and shortcuts by the anti-public-schools-Board members are visible: the lower campus playground equipment in January, provided by the PTO; classrooms equipped with improper clocks for an elementary school (should have hands); woefully outdated technology. Hopefully, new elections and an economic uptick will allow the system to catch up, and provide the excellent teachers and staff with the appropriate resources in what could be a top-level school system. We have no regrets on our decision to put our children in this system, and will stay involved to help it improve.
Submitted by parent on December 05, 2014

D. G. Cooley has been rejuvenated with the new campus and administration at the school and county offices. A few bumps are to be expected but everyone seems to finally be working together.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2013

My child is moving to the 2nd grade this fall. So, I can only comment on the lower campus. My family are local and we have live here in the county most of our lives. I am a little tired of people who have moved from larger communities complaining. We are a small county. We do not have many large industries here in the county that provide tax monies. This is a public school and with that there are going to be things you don't always agree with. My child has only had the best of experiences with the teachers and support staff as well as the principal. The school takes bullying as a serious problem and have programs to help students understand and know what to do in these situations.
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2013

Finally, I understand the vast bullying problem my child had at this school. Several teachers are secret "bullies" themselves. The school board is attempting to increase the salary scale which will hopefully attract a better caliber of teacher, but so many who are tenured are left. And there's nothing anyone can do about them. So very very sad to have such a poor performing school in such a beautiful county.
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2012

Had a not so good year 2011-12. My family moved here from the Prince William County school district. We had made the mistake of not checking into reviews of the schools before moving here. There is so much bullying and nonsense that goes on in the schools here, it's unbelievable, and NOT talked about. My older daughter was in Johnson Williams and she had a terrible time. My younger one in cooley cried everyday before and after school. We will be moving back to Northern VA this summer.
Submitted by parent on March 05, 2012

This school is a joke! Look at the test scores they really speak for themselves.
Submitted by parent on June 06, 2011

2010 saw so many changes in this school. New super in the last couple years. Old Principal out, Dr Geyer in. He has removed many problem teachers and ones riding the wave to retirement. It is no longer multi-age learning as one called it. It is now grades 2-5. Some teachers are still unrealistic about homework especially upper grades. They implemented a creative PE program and Arts program with new teachers. I have a child at Cooley now, and look forward to my other 3 kids coming up thru this school. In a year or two, this will become the prek-1 school. Cooley will relocate to the soon to be former high school. I feel our kids get a great public education because we the parents are on top of things. If my kid fails in school, it is my fault not a teachers. If my child has a bad teacher, report them and move the child. I do know of 3 less desirable teachers (one is a screamer as children see her) that is not returning. We will miss the principal Dr Geyer! He seems to have his thumb on the pulse. Clarke Schools are wonderful.
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2010

Agree with the previous poster. This is a very disorganized school. I registed my child with three staff standing around with blank looks on their faces. Her classroom teacher turned out to be a "screamer" and most of the class seemed lost while I was there. There is no FT Nurse or Principal and instruction seems at random or whim.