Holmes Elementary School

18 Hoyt Street

School District

Darien
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 17, 2023

I cannot say enough great things about Holmes Elementary School. Both my kids have been through this school (one boy and one girl) and both have had equally excellent experiences. The principal and vice principal are engaged, proactive, and responsive. The student body are kind, caring, and supportive of their classmates. The staff and teachers are excellent and are a testament to the excellent school district that Darien, CT has invested in.I cannot imagine them having gone anywhere else and am so thrilled with their preparation for middle school.
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2018

My daughter have attended the Holmes school. This school is below average in terms of education. The teachers do not communicate the student progress frequently. The Math study is very poor. According to me, this school (most likely Darien school) is overly hyped. The reason we moved in Darien because of the school district rating. However, we are very disappointed the quality of education and teachers skill. The classes are overcrowded. I may prefer to send my kids for the private school instead of sending at the Holmes school. Stay away from this school!
Submitted by parent on December 18, 2017

Our children's education at Holmes has been outstanding. We picked Darien primarily for the stellar reputation of its schools, but our expectations have been met and then exceeded. We also lived in the Tokeneke district prior to Holmes and found that school lacking in many ways compared to what's offered at Holmes (a lot more nanny parenting going on there). Holmes also has such a great little community of very involved parents, teachers, and students. The value you get for the tax rate here is just extraordinary, especially compared to comparable towns in Westchester where most parents are cross-shopping (Rye, Blind Brook, Bronxville, etc); as well as compared to the 3Ws (Westport, Wilton, Weston). Greenwich district was too large for us (we wanted more of the private school feel), and New Canaan was just too rural and less cosmopolitan than Darien, which is more New York connected. We are really looking forward to our kids moving up to the middle and high schools.
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2014

Holmes School is an all around great school community, students and families, teachers and administrators; everyone works together for the common good.
Submitted by parent on March 13, 2014

My two daughters have attended Holmes. My wife and I are products of NYC schools - Browning and Performing Arts - and have educators on both sides of the family. While we have had some beefs with individual teachers and/or administrative decisions, we were ultimately able to work things out. Every few years we 'check' on other area schools to make sure we made the right decisions. We still think Holmes beats Fairfield County public AND private school options hands down. New Cannan is probably on par. Despite scores, we think Darien is superior to Wilton, Westport, Ridgefield and Weston. A truly exceptional school system and value for the property-tax mil rate.
Submitted by other on August 12, 2013

I just finished up here and I liked it. I thought that the new principal was ok, I think she was different and that I would have needed some getting used to because they were very different. I like the connections between the kids and the teachers. I felt there were no "bad" teachers, some were stricter then others but they were all very nice. I thought that all the kids were nice and we all knew each other. I would recommend this school to others!
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2013

I have one child in third grade and have been thrilled with the quality of teachers and the level of commitment to the students by both the instructors as well as the administrators. Every phone call, email or other inquiry I have made is promptly responded to. The new principal has brought a fresh perspective and approach and she is well regarded by both the students and the parents.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2012

the kids are nice but the teachers seem bullied by parents who want timmy to go to harvard and demand homework in kindergarten. moved my kid out of this school after 3 years. community is more interested in low taxes than great education. private donations fund school technology and playgrounds. they teach to the top 10% and if your kid "doesn't get it" then too bad. no before or after school activities and no extra help for kids who need it. and yes - we actually moved here for the schools - go figure. wealthy and white do not equal great education.
Submitted by parent on April 25, 2010

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Submitted by parent on March 30, 2010

I've been sadly disappointed at Holmes. I have a 2nd grader here. The principal is uninterested in education & improvements. The status quo suits her fine. Don't ask for anything - no is her favorite word. Some teachers are good, but if you are unlucky - well, you'll know.... And forget about services for your child if they're LD. Those are for 'emergency' cases only (down syndrome, autism, etc). If your child has dyslexia, you are out of luck. They told me my older child was low IQ & not terribly bright, etc, when in fact he has language based learning disabilities. We are self paying for an out of district private school. Uggghhh...... You would expect better in town like Darien.
Submitted by parent on December 15, 2007

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