Club Boulevard Elementary

400 West Club Boulevard

School District

Durham Public
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:12
Type

public

School Map for Durham Public 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 other on June 10, 2021

This school is truly focused on building community. I have two kids at Club and each teacher for the last 5 years has been kind, responsive, knowledgeable, respectful and energetic. The staff and principal work tirelessly to improve and respond to needs. For example, during our first or second year the parent survey asked for improvement in school and teacher communication. The staff and teachers then implemented a school-wide communication tool and stuck with it, greatly improving communication between teachers, families and leadership. And teachers were so creative and flexible when the school board kept the schools remote until March. This is a place where everyone knows your name and you are truly cared about as part of a whole. The guidance counselor is amazing, too.
Submitted by parent on May 12, 2021

Both of our children went through Club Boulevard from K-5, and we are eternally grateful for our time here. Both of my children thrived at this school, including my son with special needs. Club Blvd feels different from most elementary schools: the halls are lined proudly with kids' work; the staff is welcoming and warm; the kids in the hallways are orderly but still allowed to be children (!). After touring many schools in Durham, I can confidently say that Club is different--in the best of ways-- and is a special place. My daughter frequently remarks that she wishes she could have stayed at Club for the rest of her school years.My main points to takeaway:*The administration is spectacular. The principal is outside every morning, helping with the carpool line and engaging with families. She's been a constant source of support and creative encouragement throughout this pandemic; helping to keep my son on track. The assistant principal is the kindest, most dedicated administrator. He has a great relationship with the kids and families, and even won NC's Outstanding Vice Principal of the Year in 2020. This administration is strong, highly visible, and supportive of families and staff.*The teachers are special. In our 7 years at Club, we have cycled through a myriad of caring, dedicated, and truly talented teachers. My kids are really different, but have both been supported as individuals. We have received creativity and flexibility in helping my son to succeed and have seen tremendous growth for both kids during their tenure here.*The communication is top-notch. We receive at least weekly emails from the school, keeping us updated about what is happening. The teachers are great at partnering with parents to help their kids succeed. The school also works to ensure parents are invited to participate in celebrations of the kids' learning. Prior to the pandemic, they offered a monthly Showcase of Learning, where the kids shared their work in both academic and special areas and awards were given.*The school itself is a warm, supportive, and safe environment. My kids have wonderful relationships with all of the adults and the space is dedicated to celebrating our kids.Overall, we feel like we (literally) won the lottery with this school. We chose Club because we lived in the neighborhood, but after moving, we stayed because we couldn't imagine there being a better elementary school in Durham.
Submitted by parent on May 09, 2021

We have been at Club from Kindergarten through the 4th grade and through a pandemic. We have had such caring and wonderful teachers. The principal and vice principal are wonderful. We love the cafeteria staff and the custodian is so nice and sings! Everyone in the school knows and takes care of my child. We are so glad that we are part of the Club family and that we did online learning at Club during the pandemic.
Submitted by parent on May 09, 2021

Club is an amazing place that is truly interested in creating fun, engaging educational experiences for students. The administration is interested in developing emotional intelligence, creative thinking, and equitable academic outcomes. That is a really tall order in a state that chronically underfunds public school and chronically over-tests, but they are working really hard to make it happen. They value real literature, art, dance, cultural studies, and project based learning. In addition to PTA, there is a Parents of African American Children group and Valor, a group of Latino parents - both of which are building parent leadership. My 2 kids have really flourished and we are grateful to be a part of a school that reflects the diversity of Durham AND to invest in the public school system, which is - let's face it - THE way that we build an educated citizenry for the future.
Submitted by parent on May 09, 2021

You would have thought our son had gotten into Harvard from my reaction to the lottery results that we were selected for Club Blvd!!! I say “we” because it really feels like we are all a part of the Club Blvd family. From the diverse classrooms to the always supportive teachers and staff, we could not imagine a better place for our son’s elementary school education.
Submitted by parent on January 06, 2021

We considered charter, private, and public schools before deciding on Club and are so glad we did. There are a lot of things I like about it, and I think it starts with the teachers, staff, and administrators. From top to bottom, it’s clear that the top priority is the growth and well-being of the kids, as entire people. Everyone is committed and caring. They use responsive classroom techniques, which are really focused on social-emotional growth vs discipline. And they are willing to work with students and families to meet needs. At the same time, I’ve been impressed with how much my kid has learned and how much she enjoys learning. I also think Club has really great specials, and the addition of dance to the regular repertoire means extra time to move. I also felt like her K teacher was great about having lots of wiggle breaks, dance breaks, yoga breaks, and the like, and never kept the kids sitting at desks for long. Their Friday (in-school) clubs are also awesome. My K did everything from build a fire and make s’mores at Northgate Park to visit with animals brought by the Piedmont Wildlife Center to bake Swedish desserts. As for diversity, I think Club is a great place in this term. It’s racial breakdown mirrors that of Durham. It’s a Title I school, so you’ve got about half of the kids qualifying for free/reduced lunch and the other half filling the middle/upper middle class spectrum. And about 32% of families speak a language other than English as their first language. I feel like Club does a good job of recognizing and celebrating diversity, as well as working to address inequities. It’s not a perfect place, but it’s a really great place that’s working hard to continually become better. My daughter is very happy there and can’t wait to go back in person.
Submitted by parent on December 31, 2020

We joined the Club family in 2016 and have been truly happy with the school. My kids enjoy going to school, are connected to their teachers, and feel safe and supported. I've been pleased with the academics and elective offerings. My one complaint is that Spanish isn't offered but Cultural Studies is a huge hit with the kids. One of the best things is the racial/ethnic/socioeconomic status diversity; numbers at the school are similar to the city demographics and my kids have become friends with peers who they likely would not have met outside of school. It feels like quintessential Durham. The administration is wonderful and very supportive of both teachers and parents. 2020 has presented enormous challenges and Club has rolled with the punches. They've tried their best to communicate with parents and meet the needs of families who are struggling to make virtual learning work. If public education was properly funded, we would all be in a much better position and perhaps our children could have returned to school this year with adequate safety measures in place. There are plenty of great charter and private schools in Durham but I strongly encourage parents to consider the wonderful DPS schools like Club that have a lot to offer and need our support. Don't just look on sites like this; tour the school, ask questions, walk around the neighborhood. Keep in mind that Club is a magnet school with a lottery so it helps to do your research early and be ready to apply in January when the application period opens.
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2020

The leadership and counseling department at Club are truly outstanding. Teachers are universally caring. There's lots of stability. Limited teacher turnover and a very tight-knit community, including an engaged and supportive PTA. Like many older schools in the DPS system, the building suffers from significant neglect. The magnet focus is a little bit difficult to discern at times, although there does seem to be a genuine focus on highlighting diverse cultures, artists, etc. through specials programs like dance and cultural studies.We know that our son is well cared for at school. Even during the pandemic and almost a year of fully online instruction, he still feels connected to the teachers and to his classmates.
Submitted by parent on December 09, 2020

We love Club! This is our first year here and they’ve really impressed us with their response to COVID.
Submitted by parent on December 09, 2020

As a neighbor and parent for Club we love this school. The staff are a light to the community, the students and eachother. Mrs. Phillips and Mr. Mitchell put their all into the school and you see that on a daily basis. Staff know the names of each child, they are cared for and seen. Thank you Club!
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2020

It's bad on a good day and awful during 2020, if you want to speak to staff good luck. If you want your child to get help or real special needs assistance, good luck. If you want a school with huge classrooms, few teachers and lots of students, you are in the right place.
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2018

I currently have a Kindergartener at Club Boulevard this year and we absolutely love it! It says something about a school when a large percentage of teachers know all of the kids' first names. Even teachers that my son does not have know his name and greet him by name in the mornings. Learning consists of several different styles to keep the children engaged. Kids get to select a Friday club of their choice for exposure to even more extra-curricular activities. We chose this school due to the diversity and the community feel. It was the absolute best choice for our family.
Submitted by parent on March 28, 2018

Poorly run school. My grandchild was always coming home telling me how all the children yell at and hit each other. The classrooms are not run with any kind of order and the children are allowed to do whatever they want, whenever they want to. We will pulling my grandchild out of this school and putting her in a charter school.
Submitted by parent on March 18, 2016

This wonderfully diverse school has great teachers and a great community. Project-based learning with a focus on the humanities. Every day of the week the students go to a different special, from dance, art and music to Spanish. There is also integration of the arts into the core classes. Lots of other learning activities ranging from the annual science fair (and bi-annual science days), to fun-runs, multi-cultural night, may fair, and more!
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2013

Amazing teachers and good parent involvement! Teachers are creative, flexible, and willing to think outside the box, and the principal is supportive of that approach. e.g., when teachers had to take on the "core curriculum" requirements this year, they did not let that deter them from continuing to focus on what's important for the students -- for example, with the core's emphasis on nonfiction, the 4th grade teacher still wants to instill a love and enjoyment of books in her students, so gives them time to read novels that they choose. The teachers at Club respond to the diversity of students and their differing abilities by being MORE creative in their teaching, by coming up with projects and activities that can engage students who are at all different levels. They experiment with what works best for addressing the needs of students, but aren't afraid to give up a particular model when it no longer seems to fit. Again, the principal's support of and trust in the teachers is crucial in all of this, and the "new" principal (1 1/2 years in) seemed to quickly develop a relationship of trust and rapport with the teachers. Our kids have been at Club for 4 years - we love it!