Charles E. Bennett Elementary School

1 South Oakridge Avenue

Green Cove Springs, FL 32043

School District

Clay
Grade

PK, K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:12
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 other on December 26, 2024

I just moved to the area. A 16 year parent with 4 kids. Experience at two different school districts 7 different schools as a parent like I said before the last 16 years. I have solid evidence the success of the kids start with the parents and home life. As a 27 year School District Technology Support Specialist who doesn't teach the students but observes alot. The last 8 years in school behavior policies have clouded the ability for the teachers to teach efficiently. Over the last 4 years I have pushed school admin as a parent to call me immediately for any behavior issues. That's my responsibility not the teachers or admin or any of the school based positions. District learning standards are equal across all schools. The difference is the home life of the kids and the parents being responsible for their child's behavior. Once the parents hold their children accountable for behavior at school the school will be much more productive. My son was throwing chairs and acting out due to watching his mother and I acting like fools. We got that fixed. Next I realized my son was upset, and embarrassed very prideful when he came across words he couldn't read, and was irritated when the teacher tried to help him. I began reading with him at home before bed. No gaming no TV. Now 8 months later he asked to go to the public library for his own card and reads 2 books a week in addition to the one at his school. His behavior in check school hasn't had to call me in 3 months. He has been acting out since 1st grade. Two different principals, 3 different APs, multiple behavior specialists, school psychologists, and even a school SRO. Not one could help his behavior to change. In fact he came home even more aggravated. Once I stepped in told them all to back off trying to discipline my boy and they started listening to me the parent and me the parent decided to step up leaving work to calmly remove my son from school when he was having a bad day that's when positive progress started. So if you want your child's school to be the best remember it all starts with you the parent. Admin are there to run the place, teachers to teach, SRO to keep the campus safe. Parents are the key to the child's focus at school. My kids aren't in District at this time possibly next year.That's my review. Happy New Year
Submitted by parent on August 09, 2022

My children loved this school for the last 2 years! The staff was great and my children thrived there. They have changed things up quite a bit from these old reviews. I would definitely recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on July 28, 2021

I moved into the district from Ohio in mid 2020. I kept my daughter in home school until October because of these reviews. In October my daughter was really missing peer connection, so we decided to enroll and see how it went. I was pleasantly surprised! All the staff greeted me and my daughter every day and always super friendly. The principal I believe was new to CEB in 2019 and she is always kind and responsive. My daughter loves the school. We came from an extremely good school in Ohio, yet my daughter was found to be slightly behind in Math, which they spent extra time catching her up. And she had always been a fairly decent reader, but again increased her reading skills by 90%! We have also not had any experiences of bullying. As a social worker, I am very pleased with our experience at CEB. I feel these rating grossly under score the school.
Submitted by parent on July 05, 2019

Teachers are great. Unfortunately they have a very sorry leader.
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2018

Bad experiences year after year at this school with my child and other children. This school is the only school in the district for most children, that’s the only reason my child is still attending this school. I refuse to let it defeat her from her true goal.
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2018

Several times now I've had reports of my kids being bullied by colored students and nothings been done, and yet they punish my kids if they even talk to another minority
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2017

My child attended school 4 years. The first 2 years were great. She started being bullied her 3rd year. The school nothing. By the time was in 3rd grade only was being bullied students her teacher started bullying as well. She been at another Clay county school now for 6 months. She is extremely happy now.
Submitted by other on July 27, 2016

Well back in 2011 I had the best principle who cared about the students and faculty members. She always put us first! I'm sorry for all the little kids that have the new version of principle 2.0.
Submitted by other on January 28, 2016

Excellent school always awards students for their academic achievements and behavior. My granddaughter attends and is 4th grader and has achieved many awards.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2014

I am not too happy about the school or the teacher teacher my son has. The school does nothing about bullying, and the teacher just wants to put my son on medication. Instead of finding another way to help him he has not had a problem before.
Submitted by parent on November 03, 2013

It used to be good and parents and students were proud of it but now you have a principal who doesn't care about the students and doesn't care how the teachers treat the students. You go in to complain the student is not relating at all to the teachers way of treating her that she has brought an A B student down to failing because she doesn't grasp this new common core stuff and the teacher does not encourage her but finds fault with everything about her, She has not had one good thing at all to say about the student, the student comes home talking about how stupid she is and how none of the children or the teacher likes her. The school board says it is up to the principal if she wants to change the room and the principal could care less about the student only how she looks over all to the school board. I have not heard much good said about this school lately and it's a shame cause other clay country have a good reputation.
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2011

The first 2+ years were awesome. Great teachers every year - terrific staff. UNTIL!! We now have a new principal who "rules" CEB. If it's not her idea, it won't float. Parents have little input. She gives us lipservice, but truly doesn't listen. Problems brought in front of her are brushed off. Ideas brought to her are tabled until they are of little use. From a school we "loved" to a school we are "tolerating" until 6th grade graduation. Still love each and every one of the staff..... Just have a huge problem with the principal. I am not just a disgruntled parent. This is a legitimate issue. Liked: Disliked:
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2011

The way I see it, there are 3 problems with this school. 1. Principal 2. Lunch 3. Handicapped parking Let's start with lunch...... I've seen dozens of salads thrown away without being touched! Even more food simply stirred around on the tray and then tossed. Although the lunches are nutritious, they don't appeal to kids. Give them choices and they won't waste so much food. Handicapped parking. There are only 2 handicapped parking spots available at parent pickup. Very often a car without a hangtag or license permit will be parked there. Nobody enforces handicapped parking! The principal. This lady rules with an iron fist. Parents trying to be involved are blown off. She makes all the decisions, much to the frustration of the parents and faculty. She steps in and takes charge of every event and generally gets in the way. Monitor handicapped parking, change up the lunch menus to things the kids will eat and replace the principal and Charles E Bennett will be a 5 star school.