Briarlake Elementary School

Reviews

• Submitted by parent on July 11, 2024
  We’ve had nothing but great experiences with two children at Briarlake for the last three years. Sad to see that old negative reviews about past leadership are dragging down the school rating. Very happy to have this school in our community!
• Submitted by parent on November 12, 2023
  Love our experience thus far. First grader been in the school the past 2 years. New principal seems fantastic. Club offerings and activities are wonderful from garden club to kindness club. Daughter is looking forward to girls who game club when she is older. We have had 2 fantastic teachers. Overall we love our school.
• Submitted by parent on October 15, 2023
  I wanted to alert parents that these negative reviews of our school were under past leadership and we now have a fabulous new principal who started at Briarlake in the middle of the 2022-2023 school year. She is fabulous and taking the school in exciting new directions. The parent community is very active and the PTA puts on fantastic events for the kids and families. It is a gem of a school for a lot of reasons, but one that sets it apart is it is the hub for the deaf and hard of hearing program as well as moderate to severe special needs. This brings in fabulous staff and interactions for all the students with people who are different from each other, which creates empathy. Something our world desperately needs more of. I couldn’t be more proud to be a Briarlake Beaver!
• Submitted by parent on May 14, 2022
  I’ve had my two kids at Briarlake for a combined nine years. My kids have received a great education (gifted track), taken part in enriching activities, and made great friends - notwithstanding the challenges COVID-19 presented to the kids, teachers, and the administration. In my experience, the vast majority of teachers have been exceptional and, when I had an issue with a particular teacher, the administration quickly dealt with it within the parameters made available by the county. I’ve found the administration to have a high standard and they work hard to improve testing and reading scores. The school is small and diverse and there is strong parent involvement and support via the PTA, the Foundation, and PAC. I also have not heard of any bullying issues, my children never experienced any bullying. I’ve been happy with the Briarlake Elementary experience. (I’ve had more heartburn with the approach at the district and school board levels.)
• Submitted by parent on May 12, 2022
  The teachers are fantastic but the principal fosters a negative environment that allows students, teachers, and parents to be bullied. Serious instances of bullying go unreported to parents. This could be an amazing school but desperately needs new leadership.
• Submitted by parent on May 06, 2022
  As a teacher at this school, I would not recommend working here or sending your child to school here if you have other choices. The way Jamela Lewis treats her staff is unacceptable and has led to large teacher turnover year after year. Unfortunately, because BES is a revolving door for teachers, there is no chance for consistency or momentum, which is keeping the school from reaching its full potential. It is truly an injustice to the hardworking staff, students, families, and community. Staff has voiced concerns to all levels of leadership within the county over the past several years and nothing has been done. It is because of this, that myself and many colleagues will be leaving. This trend will sadly continue until she is removed from leadership.
• Submitted by parent on May 04, 2022
  As a member of this community, Briarlake has a fabulous staff , especially the Caring Counselor. Briarlake's counselor cares for the student's and is a great advocate for the teachers. Amidst the "chaos" and the "stress" that many may be under, this counselor has endured abuse from parents because she cares and tries to help the students. In my encounter with Briarlake's counselor, she has been extremely pleasant, helpful and very resourceful. I have never seen her act unprofessionally or aggressive to parents. I have also never seen her bully any parent. She has also displayed a calm manner even when the situation has taken a different turn. Briarlake's community, staff and children are blessed to have her with them. Keep up the exemplary work Briarlake's Caring Coundelor!
• Submitted by parent on May 06, 2021
  Both of our children have had excellent experiences at Briarlake. The teachers have enabled them to become effective classmates as well as independent learners. We love the diverse community, the many events, the support from teachers, the special programs (sign language lessons, music instruction, PE, etc.). My children have learned to get along and be friends with a wider range of people than they otherwise would have, and their friendships have helped our family have more diverse friendships and acquaintances as well.
• Submitted by parent on April 25, 2021
  2020 and 2021 have been rough on everyone because of the pandemic. I don’t believe the school as a whole, faculty and leadership in particular, have taken into consideration the extreme conditions children and their families have had to operate in. Although I’ve expressed my concerns for my child’s social emotional well being, overwhelming feelings with virtual learning, lack of instruction, over assessing, an innumerable amount of lengthy assignments per subject, ancillary assignments included, faultiness in technology functioning, etc....they continue with the same behaviors with no consideration for conditions and students’ and families’ mental health. Test scores are all that appears to matter, even though data information will obviously be skewed considering students have been physically out of school for an entire year and counting, and again, virtual instruction is extremely lacking with minimal time given to support students individually and collectively. Students are directed to Google Classroom to complete an extensive amount of work, and that’s the sum total of my child’s experience at this school. He has felt sad, lonely for socialization reasons, and completely overwhelmed with assignment completion and the rushing through standards without mastery. I wish I could give this institution 5 stars, but in good consciousness, I can’t. As a former educator and parent, the neglect of student needs and consideration of conditions is disheartening, while the push for high assessment scores only is of the utmost value and importance.
• Submitted by parent on January 31, 2020
  The staff and teachers are fantastic, extremely hard working and talented. The families served by this school are culturally and economically diverse, including my own. I have felt completely welcomed as part of the Briarlake family from day one. I really believe this school offers an exceptional education and experience for my daughter and my family.
• Submitted by parent on March 24, 2018
  All of my children received a great education at this school. Very happy experiences.
• Submitted by parent on October 18, 2017
  This school that was once on par with Sagamore and Oak Grove is no longer in that same class, be prepared for your child to struggle when the move on to Henderson Middle School!
• Submitted by parent on July 19, 2017
  We recently moved from City of Decatur, where our son attended K-2 and we have been very impressed with the level of parent involvement at Briarlake and with the collaboration between faculty and parents. Our son achieved great acedemic strides in his first year there. Briarlake has a model PTA (very difficult to achieve) and also the Briarlake Education Foundation, which also supports and supplements educational funding for the school. Briarlake has a very positive vibe going on and we couldn't be happier in this close knit community!
• Submitted by parent on June 12, 2017
  My son started at Briarlake in Kindergarten. He loved his teachers and I believed they have done the best they could under the circumstances. Unfortunately, I have seen the morale of the school greatly decrease over the past two years. My son, a Gifted student, was not pushed to his potential, not because the teachers did not want to, but more so because they were unable to do so. The focus this year seemed to be on obtaining STEM certification, such is great, but not at the expense of my child's education. The turnover rate for the teachers has been ridiculous. Extraordinary teachers are leaving, which is highly disappointing. I was hoping to keep my son at Briarlake until he completed 5th grade, but feel he can no longer get what he needs with the school being the way it is now. Hopefully, something will change before more teachers ants students leave.
• Submitted by parent on April 25, 2017
  We love this school. Our kids love this school. It feels like "The Little Engine That Could" -- small, sweet and resilient. We've only been Beaver parents for a year, but couldn't be happier with our choice. Lots of opportunities to get involved, lots of ways to participate in the class. My kids never resist school or homework -- they simply love their teachers!
• Submitted by parent on January 11, 2017
  Briarlake has been exactly what we needed for our child. The faculty and administration are supportive and challenge each child beyond the best of their ability. The PTA is strong with many events for families, and the extra curricular activities are plentiful. I can't say enough great things about Briarlake!!!
• Submitted by parent on March 01, 2016
  Briarlake has a strong parental community and my child has been thoroughly engaged. He is excited to go to school each day.
• Submitted by parent on July 30, 2015
  I love this school! Excellent staff and teachers. My son has had an excellent experience at Briarlake!
• Submitted by parent on February 18, 2015
  It is a small community school but well organized and with excellent management. My kid loves Briarlake and she has been happy here since 1st grade. Testing on the very high end of all the state tests.
• Submitted by parent on May 23, 2014
  Briarlake has not been without its Dekalb County problems but once you get past that and into the classroom. It has been a a great experience for my children. They have excelled and given many opportunites and different experiences. Testing on the very high end of all the state tests.

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