Elon Park Elementary

11425 Ardrey Kell Road

School District

Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

School Map for Charlotte-Mecklenburg 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 March 21, 2024

CMS appears to have a widespread problem with not providing adequate training for teachers on racial bias and its effects on students. This has led to a noticeable inconsistency in the quality of teaching, as reported by parents from a range of ethnic groups.
Submitted by teacher on January 26, 2024

I absolutely love teaching at Elon Park. Every colleague on my passionate team is fully invested in making learning fun for the students. Each grade level has unique traditions student look forward to with a lot of family/community culture building opportunities. Parents are welcomed in & although there are strict guidelines for parents (such as background checks for lunch visiting parents or needing to follow a schedule for volunteering) we LOVE having parents in to volunteer. I always think it is a beautiful thing when parents fully engage. It is easy to judge as an outsider what someone “should do” as a teacher… but once parents come in, the most common reaction in my 20 years is… “Oh my! How do you do this all day! I barely managed an hour! School was nothing like this when I was a kid!” Our school is special and the positive vibe is contagious. It speaks volumes that there nearly ALL staff members with elementary age children have their own children enrolled here at EPES. There is a focus on movement while learning throughout the day, having academic discussion as a whole class (literally paideia seminars look like a round table of adults, it’s astounding) and holding each other accountable for being there for the whole child. The administrative team has a huge school but is somehow able to respond to the needs of all stakeholders with a students first focus. Sometimes, what is BEST for kids is not what is easiest for adults (whether it be staff or parents) & over the years, this consistency has been appreciated even when large-scale decisions (predictably) cannot make everyone happy. Gr Much of the reason people would be unhappy with the school or district are actually decisions made on the state level. Unfortunately, if the community of stakeholders do not keep up with ever-changing laws & policies having impact on education? It then is not realized that so much of any complaint about any school can often be traced to the decisions made OUTSIDE school walls, causing admin’s hands to be tied. I have worked at 7 schools in my long tenure & this is my favorite by far. The freedom to keep learning fun, yet rigorous for students is a rare gem these days. I wish I could keep all of my students more than the brief year & do my best to always stay in touch. I can’t imagine anyone not loving our diverse, beautiful school full of love & inspiration representing both the Ballantyne area & the greater world beyond our borders.
Submitted by parent on August 08, 2023

Mixed Experience at Elon Park Elementary SchoolAs a concerned parent, I've had a mixed experience with Elon Park Elementary School. While some teachers exhibit genuine care and dedication, there are instances where the level of attentiveness falls short. Disturbingly, there was an incident where my daughter's safety was compromised, and the teacher failed to intervene promptly. Moreover, another unsettling occurrence involved students harassing my 6-year-old, while the teacher was preoccupied with idle conversation.Last year, my child had an unfortunate encounter with a retiring teacher whose demeanor was harsh and disrespectful. Witnessing her mistreatment of fellow students took a toll on my daughter's well-being. Regrettably, my attempts to address these concerns with Principal Ms. Dowdy were met with resistance. Despite seeking a resolution and expressing valid feedback, it was disheartening to encounter a lack of willingness to acknowledge and address these issues.Furthermore, a concerning nutritional issue persists at the school. Teachers make decisions regarding snacks, and my 6-year-old daughter's lunch at 11 am leaves her with only one item for a snack around 4 pm, just before the school bus. This raises concerns about her well-being and ability to focus. Efforts to resolve this issue with Principal Ms. Dowdy have not yielded a solution, adding to our family's frustration.Worse yet, my daughter experienced stomach pain during school hours, which I believe may have been triggered by stress and the inadequate snack schedule. It's disheartening to see a negative impact on her health and well-being due to these circumstances.On a positive note, my other daughter had the privilege of having an amazing teacher who proved to be a big blessing to her. This teacher's dedication and support significantly impacted my child's educational experience and personal growth. Amidst the challenges we faced, this teacher's commitment shone brightly.Our family endured a difficult year, and we hope for improvements moving forward. It is my sincere wish that Elon Park Elementary School addresses these concerns comprehensively and collaboratively for the well-being of all students. It's essential that a safe and nurturing environment is established, allowing our children to thrive both academically and emotionally.
Submitted by other on June 11, 2023

This school is definitely lacking in safety. When I volunteered to help at lunch last year, I went to the front desk and they asked to see my if. I had forgotten it in my car and was going to go back out, but they said it is fine and waved me through. After that, I was walking around BY MYSELF - I could have gone anywhere, there was zero oversight.The school is not fenced in, they use a public field for playing - my daughter has said there were non-school people running on the track while they were there.When my daughter has had issues, I asked “what was her teacher doing?” “She was on her phone” or “on the computer”. This is a first grade teacher who does not seem to care.This is supposed to be a good area with good schools, but I am seriously concerned for her safety
Submitted by parent on January 02, 2023

My son is the best at writing teacher and the staff are amazing
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2021

The biggest problem at this school is administration. The teachers are doing the best they can with very little support. I receive multiple emails a week from the school, yet they somehow have the most ineffective way of getting information out. Our initial teacher quit within the first 8 weeks of school. We got some crumpled letter THE DAY OF in my child's backpack. The new teacher could not be bothered (or likely, wasn't allowed by admin) to email the parents, and the communication from Ms. Dowdy fell flat. They have an excuse for everything instead of taking ownership - your teachers are leaving because of how you treat them. As for the individual who is on here giving a review as a volunteer, it's like seeing someone give their family member a 5-star review on Facebook. Us parents are not whining about some perceived inequality or misstep. I purchase things for my child's class on their Amazon list frequently, gave money to their Scholastic fund, and am now throwing more money into their "Fun Run". At what point does the financial responsibility fall on the school? I might as well pay for a private school at the rate I'm being asked for money. I have yet to hear anything about my child's progress, 10 weeks in to the school year. The one progress report we got had N/A listed for every response.
Submitted by parent on January 31, 2021

We had 4 of our kids at Elon Park and we can't be happier, the staff and teachers are supper nice. education is top notch.
Submitted by parent on October 21, 2016

Imagine a school consumed by upholding their image in the community through test scores BUT when you go through their car line to pick up your child on a rainy day, the teachers are either under awnings or umbrellas and your child is standing in the rain beside their assigned pole to be picked up a few minutes later. Teachers that care would be standing with a child under their umbrella. A school that cares about more than its image would have a better pick-up system in place for inclement weather. Thank god we live in a mild climate region. Parents, I would encourage you to have lunch in the cafeteria to better understand how your children are treated by school staff members. (Lunch ladies have serious attitude issues. If you do not like children, find a new job). The lack of genuine care for children and joy within these walls just doesn't seem present. The low teacher wages and large volume of children may be the cause but I assure you this is not a 4 or 5 star school environment. The location (Ballantyne) and test scores of the children living in this location make the school a 4/5 star rating. Not the staff or daily operations in place.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2016

I absolutely LOVE Elon Park and so does my child. We moved in the district last year and I'm so glad we did the. The teachers seem extremely friendly and care about the children's learning as opposed to test scores!
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2015

School is getting better since vice principal from last year left. New vice principal this year is much better. She seems really upbeat, and treats the parents respectfully. The Principal is better this year with engaging parents. In the past we found him quick to want to defend staff, and not give parents and children the benefit of the doubt. Teachers still need some coaching, and need to work on their professionalism, and their interaction with a parent. Seems to my wife and I that the older more seasoned teachers are the problem. No enthusiasm, and "some" very unprofessional. The younger teachers are fantastic. They're very excited about teaching, and we love to see that in our teachers. The classroom assistants are a waste of money. Some of them think they're an extension of the teacher, and try and discipline students. We should do away with the classroom assistants, and get the teachers from behind the desk playing on their Ipads, and cellphones. Devices should have never been introduced, and our kids pay for it. Time to teach. We are spending 2-3hrs every evening having to do the actual teaching so that our children keep up. Ridiculous.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2015

I have been very pleased with the principal, vp, administrative staff and counsellor as well as excellent, caring teachers. The school is large but they work hard to make it feel familiar and break it into smaller groups. I love the VP outside greeting the parents at carpool almost daily! Our old school admin would have never done that. I have a child that struggles and has been set for success partnering with both the teachers and counselor. There is a very strong PTO and great academic offerings. Talent and Development are wonderful and offer great enrichment for the academically gifted but are overstretched IMO. Sadly, I imagine this is true throughout CMS. The success of this school for my family has been the caring teachers and the staff response to my childrens' needs.
Submitted by parent on February 05, 2015

it is a great school with a principal that is strict, by the numbers and pretty matter of fact. i think that rubs some parents the wrong way, but the school's performance speaks for itself. The school has a very supportive front office and has a lot of great clubs (math, golf, computers, engineering, chess, disk golf, running, chorus, etc.) One of my son's has struggled and has gotten so much support. Love the school and believe it is preparing my 2 boys for middle school.
Submitted by parent on November 09, 2014

Hi I am one of the parent ..we faced bad situation...we are victims.Even though we did not get any support from principle . I hate the principle and assistance principle...instead of teaching good things to students they try to teach lies to students...not to get bad name to the school...I strogly support...don't send kids to this school...no safety at all..
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2014

It's all about parent involvement, and dicipline. It's a good school, and teaches kids to be organized from the beginning, yes they have plenty of homework, but if parents are involved, and kids organized they will have time to do extra curricular activities. " There is no elevator to success......they need to work hard, and take the stairs....."
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2014

I don't recommend this school . Almost 10 months back I have sent an email to the principal for an appointment but no response yet. Also went to the school and requested an appointment to discuss about my child ... But no response ... I hate their worst attitude...
Submitted by parent on July 04, 2014

Both my daughters started at Elon Park when it first opened and are now rising 7th and 6th graders. Elon Park has been an amazing foundation and I am thankful my rising 1rst grade son will get an amazing experience as well! Love Elon Park and couldn't have asked for a better elementary school for my children.
Submitted by parent on March 02, 2014

My first child was at Elon Park since the year it opened. We have had some of the best teachers who still reach out to our family years after we were in their class. The teachers do care. The administration has changed since the school opened but we have embraced the changes. Elon Park is a very big school and I feel the administration does a wonderful job in making it not seem crowded. As to the "new" Literacy programs and tests mentioned below, that is a CMS. change. Changes like that come down from state standards. Elon Park is not making these changes on a school level. Anyone who actually has a child in school, any school for that matter, would realize and understand this.
Submitted by parent on February 24, 2014

Elon Park is a very nice school by appearance only. All they care about are end of year test results for teacher raises etc They dont care about the children other than their test scores. Its like a military school and my daughter has zero fun in school anymore. Its so sad, they arent allowed to talk at lunch and her recess is at the end of the day (which her militant teacher is always late and the kids only get 10 mins). The homework is 2 hrs each night and she hasnt been able to do any extra activities after school this year. They dont allow the children to be children at all. Its sad to see the enthusiasm and joy stripped from my child. we are looking to move her next year. I have no kind words for the administration either
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2013

Elon Park Elementary is an incredible school. The faculty and staff really care and do a wonderful job keeping the parents informed.
Submitted by parent on April 23, 2013

We love Elon Park. The Teachers have been so wonderful and my daughter loves going to school.