Parker Elementary School

500 School Street Northwest

School District

Elk River
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Elk River 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 December 01, 2021

Low rating based on experience with teacher not being supportive of IEP needs and the schools inability to match the student with the proper staff able to teach to the child’s abilities. Teacher not being responsive to parent inquiries and specific teacher unwillingness to follow the IEP. Playground and lunch monitors not attentive to children leaving those with special needs vulnerable. Overall below average educational support.
Submitted by parent on August 25, 2021

We Love Parker. I have had 2 older that went to Parker and 3 kids attending Parker now! My son who attended here years ago as hes in 10th grade now. When we moved from North Dakota and he started at Parker in 3rd grade. I had No idea how far behind he was and socially he would hide under his desk daily. As time went on his teacher noticed he Needed help and gave him the help he needed and if it wasnt for his teacher hed still be behind his peers and now he exceeds his peers and I could thank his teacher Mr. Mattees enough for what he did for my son. His teacher was Amazing with him!!! Love Parker and wouldnt want my children to go Any where else!!
Submitted by parent on September 13, 2020

Great the three years of going here my child has never had a complaint, the teachers have been great
Submitted by parent on January 18, 2019

We love Parker, all 3 of my kids have gone here and there is a reason it's a Blue Ribbon school - because teachers work really hard her and truly care!
Submitted by parent on January 03, 2019

This school, it's staff and leadership is horrible. If you have a "normal" child with no unique special needs, it would likely be an okay school for you. But if you have a child who needs extra support, documented special needs, this is not the school for you. We have since left, filed written complaints, and will never, ever return to Parker Elementary.
Submitted by parent on December 17, 2018

Teachers go above and beyond. They genuinely care about the student, they help where there is an additional need and my kids have made great friends here as well
Submitted by parent on November 01, 2018

Although test scores are good. It doesn’t tell the whole story. I would NOT recommend this school for kids that don’t fit into the sit on your hands mold. If your kid is bright and social stay away.
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2017

I attended this school 20 years ago and the experience left little to be enthusiastic about. However, my oldest daughter has attended Parker for the last three years and has been very well accommodated. She started a little behind the reading curve in kindergarten and is now reading at a 4th grade level and completing 3rd grade math assignments while in the first trimester of 2nd grade. The staff/teachers have been doing a great job keeping her engaged and helping her succeed. I'm so impressed by this elementary that I am reluctant to leave the district as I have two more daughters soon to start school. This school has really turned around in 20 years.
Submitted by parent on December 16, 2016

great school, great people. They didn't win blue ribbon for no reason!
Submitted by parent on June 03, 2013

I have been horribly disappointed with this school. My son was reading at a fourth grade level and learning how to do fractions on his own prior to starting kindergarten. We communicated with the principal and his teacher that he would need to be challenged or they would be encountering behavior problems. Two years after handing his education over to the "professionals", he is in exactly the same place academically and his behavior issues are the only thing the school ever addresses. They have only recently acknowledged that he is an advanced student and *may* need to be challenged, but have yet to actually *do* anything. This minimal response only came after we took the step of having him evaluated by a team of behavioral health doctors and included the step of IQ testing solely so present to the school. Getting a response from this school for an individual student seems to be next to impossible. Kids appear to be treated like cattle. My son's "classroom" is a large open area where all four first grade classes are separated by cubicle walls with no door. It is noisy and has to be distracting for kids and staff.
Submitted by parent on February 02, 2013

Great school. Needs to have better sound proof classroom to stop all the noise from hallways going into classrooms. Disruptive children need more supervision. Needs more help in the IEP area of school to keep disruptive children under control when needed.