Ivy Creek Elementary School

3443 Ridge Road

School District

Gwinnett County
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

School Map for Gwinnett County School District

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 August 15, 2024

The teachers have high expertise and focus 100% on teaching what kids need to know. No "woke" stuff. This is obviously safe place to send your kids to learn knowledge. I hope schoolboard will keep it this way. And No bully at all.My son loves his teachers.
Submitted by parent on December 01, 2023

So far we have had experiences where my daughter has been shoved down and kicked in her privates from a boy two grades higher than her on the bus and when I called obviously upset about the situation I was told they would do nothing about it to take it up with the bus driver not to mention 3 out of 5 teachers have been horrible they do not communicate properly or work with the children how they should if I could afford to remove my child from this school and place her in private I would
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2023

They make you retest every time you get below a 75. So that is how they are able to keep their test scores up. This school is all about ratings and less focus on education.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2023

Great school! Amazing teachers!! I love all the great opportunities the offer all the students.
Submitted by parent on May 20, 2021

We love Ivy Creek Elementary. The staff and faculty are so welcoming and friendly. Makes you feel at home and this really is a partnership. Thanks for all you are doing for your students.
Submitted by parent on December 02, 2020

I have too much affection for this great school where my daughter has learned and has been able to improve her talent and discipline. great work of the teachers and managers.
Submitted by parent on December 02, 2020

The best school for my kids with excellent teachers.
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2019

Ivy Creek is a poor place to send children for a well-rounded and effective education. The reason Ivy Creek scores so highly in testing is because the teachers only teach to the tests. There are assessments of some kind every few weeks. The kids are always testing and never actually learning. The gifted program (FOCUS) and the Accelerated Content (AC) classes do not provide additional educational challenge to the children in them. They merely serve as an opportunity for the school to pick out its best test-takers and groom them for better test performance. The work isn't more enriching in these programs, it is merely more volume. There is almost no project-based learning. The principal is the one who controls these programs at the school-level and she has made Ivy Creek a testing mill rather than a place of real education. It is an atmosphere that teaches children WHAT to think, rather than truly HOW to think. Additionally, the atmosphere is one of constant negative reinforcement. There are rules, rules, rules at every turn and children are made to obey out of fear of being punished for the slightest violation of the many arbitrary rules rather than being taught the value of order and discipline. The students are encouraged to "tattle" on each other, and are rewarded for such behavior. Good behavior and positive traits are rarely, if ever, recognized. Our kids never had discipline issues in the school we previously attended for three years in another state, but here they are getting notes sent home, almost daily, for minor infractions that should easily be handled through good classroom management skills (i.e.: "[child's name] was clipped down today for picking at a string on the carpet" and "[child] got in trouble for playing with a pencil").Before arriving at this school, our children loved going to school, they loved the gifted and advanced content classes in their previous school and were excited to learn there. After two years at Ivy Creek that joy is gone. Luckily, our oldest child will not be returning next year and we are weighing other options for our other children who currently attend or are reaching kindergarten age.
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2018

My children have both had great experiences at Ivy Creek. Excellent, devoted, and caring teachers and staff. I could not be happier.
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2017

Ivy Creek is pretty excellent. It hard to find a complaint. Recess could and probably should be longer, however they are diligent about academics and striving to keep their students not just adequate, but they strive to level students up. Testing occurs weekly, and these tests don't take long. I believe they're necessary to be certain that students have gained the necessary knowledge before moving on. If not, then some students will move on in their education with being adequetly education. Yes students beginning in 3rd grade start studying for the test, and why shouldn't they? I'm surprised that some parents don't think kids should study for tests. But, they teachers supply the necessary materials and information so that studying isn't gruesome. I think they're doing a great job!
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2017

I love Ivy Creek. I love the staff and a lot of the changes. I am disappointed on lack of exercise, clubs, and the amount of homework expected from these kids. The are just "test takers," and that is 100% the state of GA's fault. Put the kids 1st so they can succeed. Too much pressure on childen and parents worrying about failing each grade level. I would say it's an 8 for stuff I'm unhappy about and 10 for teachers and staff.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2016

I'm also shocked seeing some people gave a bad review to this school. My son's been there for three years and he has learned a lot. Academics, staff and facilities are great! We were asked to participate in one or two fundraiser throughout the year, not every other week and it is not mandatory. Best school he could have attended!
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2015

I'm shocked that people have left a negative rating for Ivy Creek. We moved at the end of my daughter's 2nd grade year and couldn't be happier with the teachers and staff! She is now in 4th grade and is doing great. We was always told she was above level in our old county and when we got to Ivy creek we find out she was actually average and in some levels borderline behind! Thankfully they got her up to where she needs to be fast and she is doing perfect. She is challenged everyday and has homework every night. She is a A and B student now instead of being all A's at her old school but I know now she is actually learning! The staff is always friendly and as parents we always feel welcomed any time. The teachers are great and I also love how involved the parents are! We all work together as a team! Ivy Creek is a great place to be!
Submitted by parent on November 10, 2014

The individual teachers are great, but unless you live in one of the affluent neighborhoods and have a limitless cash flow to send to this school, your child will be left out of many activities. I appreciate that they offer so many fun and exciting experiences, but when your child comes home every day asking for money for this fundraiser and this cause, it gets ridiculous. In this era of struggling to put food on the table, I can't send in $80 every other week for the latest (and lamest) fundraisers. Does that mean my young children come home in tears because they sit in study hall while other kids go to a carnival outside? Yes it does. Does this school care? No. It's all about the money. I'm sure the wealthier families love this school, but I don't appreciate how they make my children feel like second-rate citizens.
Submitted by parent on July 29, 2014

We love ICES!!!! My daughter has attended for three years now and have nothing negative to say. If you had a bad experience, it's probably because you handled it with the wrong attitude. You get out what you put in. STOP your complaining.
Submitted by parent on February 27, 2014

One size fits all is this school's motto and if your child does not fit their mold look out, they will be ostracized, talked about , and labeled by these teachers. From kindergarten to fourth grade my son was singled out and watched through out his time at this school. The teachers did not like him and his fourth grade teacher made sure my son's fourth grade year here was stressful and miserable. She watched him like a hawk and would write down every single action he had throughout the day. " he got up without permission" "he's going to the bathroom too much" "he's picking at his shoes" "he's sneezing a lot and I think it's on purpose and it's a distraction". And on an administrative level it's even worse. Our experience in his fourth grade year was so bad and traumatic we moved out of county to get him in a new school and since then he's flourishing and having such success it's amazing. Despite his labeling at ivy creek which was obviously wrong. Parents beware...they are a crct test score school, that's their bottom line and what they focus on
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2014

This school has alot to be desired. There are huge discrepencies between teachers abilities and skills at every grade level. let me give you an example. In third grade, my first child was given homework every day and had a strict teacher who worked with kids who needed xtra work. My second child had little to no homework each day as this teacher stated they had enough work while they were in class. My child was then behind when attending 4th grade although she was an A-B student. This teacher was then allowed to follow and teach the same class of kids the next year. I realized this and wouldn't allow my child to have this teacher again. Some teachers would rather be your kids and your best friend. They offer focus classes and amazingly all of the teachers kids have been chosen to attend. I asked about the testing procedures and was told that it was a combination of tests yet the teachers and faculty couldnt be specific as to what was needed or what my child needed to do to qualify. Somehow the teachers kids who attended Ivy Creek all qualified. Finally you will be bombarded with requests for your cash from letters, to emails to texts with nothing pertaining to your child.
Submitted by parent on May 10, 2013

My child attended this school K-5. She was involved in activities and clubs every year. She did everything from sports, arts, music, and math club. She always felt safe and comfortable at this school. She is a good student without discipline problems so I never really got to know the principal or office staff. I volunteered at the school several times each and there always several parents at every event.
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2013

This school absolutely horrible! My family moved to GA one year ago and enrolled our 1st grade daughter in ICE...from day 1 we've had nothing but setbacks, disappointments and sheer ignorance from this institution. My daughter was enrolled in private school in our previous state and we decided to take a chance on public schools based on our realtor's recommendation. The staff here for the most part are incompetent; half of them are not trained in the subject area that they are required to teach (i.e. math). The teachers here do not send home agendas therefore as parents we have no idea what our children are learning on a daliy basis, so how can we assist them at home? The teachers send home subpar homework assignments, yet test the kids on completely different subject material(it would be nice to send home relevant homework). The teachers that we've been so unfortunate to have teach our child are completely clueless as educators and need to find new professions. It is now clearly evident why the state of Georgia ranks so low in comparison to the other states when it comes to public school education. Needless to say we will be returning to private schooling and I urge others to also