Swallow Elementary School

W299N5614 County Road E

School District

Swallow
Grade

PK, K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
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 December 27, 2021

Swallow Elementary is amazing. They should change the school name to Swallow Academy. The staff is top notch, the academic rigor is top notch, the facilities are top notch and the surrounding area is amazing - best place I can think of to raise a family. The school prepares students well for Arrowhead High School. The combination of Swallow Academy (Swallow Elementary) and the University of Arrowhead (Arrowhead High School) will truly prepare your son or daughter to be anything they want to be in life.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2020

We’ve been at Swallow for 2yrs and we are very happy with the staff and leadership’s attention to developing well rounded students. They do a great job at engaging with parents. Far better than other school my and I attended when we were in school, and we attended great schools as well.
Submitted by parent on October 03, 2016

My child has attended Swallow School the full 9 years and was placed into special education while in 1st grade. I will say that the first couple of years were rough not only for us but for our child. Trying to figure out how to education them, but also give my child the same experiences. I will say that Swallow is in a MUCH better place then it ever has been. The last couple of year the special education staff has been consistent and have met the needs of my child. The expanded Hawks Nest that allows not only special education children a place to have one on one help, but also allows other children that need assistance to come down to a room that helps focus on their needs. I see the special education at Swallow getting better and better. Thank you to all of the staff there for your hard work and dedication.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2016

Our student is special needs, non-verbal, not fully potty trained and needs medications administered at school. When we considered moving into the district, we read the reviews here with concern. We contacted them about it. We did not take for granted the good situation he had. They came to his school to observe him to determine his level of need, agreed he would still need his own special aid and special transportation arrangement. He is mainstream, but pulled out for speech, extra gym and OT. His doctor recommended Summer school due to transitional issues and they agreed to it. The teachers and staff have exceeded our expectations at every level. This program has been a step up from his prior school. The faces in the program have been stable for two years. It is abundantly clear to us the special needs children are a priority for them. Most of all, he is happy and loves going to school.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2016

I cannot say enough wonderful things about our school. I have two children and one with special needs. After reading several reviews knocking the support of these kids, I felt compelled to share my experience. While Swallow has had some turnover in their special education department over the years, they now have a SOLID and CONSISTENT group in place. My child is entering 8th grade this year and has been at Swallow since Kindergarten. This is by far the best this department has ever been. The school has listened to parents and concerns and made a tremendous effort in this area. My son would not have made the adjustment to middle school without the amazing efforts of this special education staff and their constant support. My son has never been bullied and actually been guided by the staff how to navigate certain difficult social situations. Both of my children are happy, well adjusted and thriving kids being well prepared for the next stages of their lives.
Submitted by parent on July 14, 2016

My children have attended Swallow for 4 years now and continue to receive a stellar education with many opportunities. The staff and administration are welcoming and helpful and work diligently to provide an inclusive and top notch learning environment. I would recommend Swallow to any parent.
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2015

I agree with the reviews written. If your child is average or above-average, without any special needs, this school will meet your needs just fine. If you have a child with special needs, this is not the school for you. The special education department turned over in the past 2 years. My child has emotional needs and a high IQ, and he is difficult to manage. The school's MO was to suspend him repeatedly. When I expressed my concern about the suspensions, he was moved to a classroom by himself for most of the day. The role of principal also turned over every year for the past few years. The principal we dealt with most recently was only concerned about "protecting other children... all children deserve to be in a safe environment." I agree with this statement, however, 9 times our of 10, the reason my child was acting out was because he was being bullied by other children. Yes, even at these young ages, most of my child's peers had learned how to aggravate him on purpose. Of note, we ran into the parents of another child with special needs at the OT's, and that family had also changed districts the same time we did. Coincidence? I say probably not.
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2013

If your kids are average, or above average, you'll say it is great school. But Swallow School is not good place for special needs. Special needed kids become the target for bullying and mocking. The principal and teacher do not support the special needs kids.
Submitted by parent on July 09, 2013

Overall, really great school! We've been enrolled at Swallow for 5 years now. The primary school teachers (K-5) are really amazing. They care about the kids and work hard to balance the demands from the administration, parents and their students. Of course we've had years where we think one teacher has been better than another, but they have all been good. We moved from an area where public schools weren't even an option and have been really impressed with the quality of the school and the community involvement. I'm shocked at the review from 2/16/13 accusing parents of bullying and being uneducated...I've never once seen that and I volunteer a lot in the classroom. Parents are well-educated and support each other and each other's kids. Our biggest problem is turnover at the administrative level, but as long as the teachers choose to stay, we will stay because they do an amazing job.
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2013

This school is by far the worst school imaginable. Individualized education doesn't exist. The administration is seriously lacking, and teachers aren't held accountable. The best way I can describe Swallow Elementary School is psychologically damaging. Children are bullied by other parents as soon as they enter kindergarten. Many of the moms are uneducated, and have literally nothing better to do than sit at home, speak poorly about open-enrolled students, and fail to be productive members of society- not exactly the role model you want for your daughter! I finally switched my child to another school in the area and found out that my child was seriously underperforming. My child finished their homework every night in seconds, making me feel like there was no reason to be concerned. Well, the school had no reason to be concerned because my child was on an IEP, making them ineligible for standardized testing. The school brags about their test scores, but they only have higher scores because they intentionally exclude children that should be allowed to test. Children on IEPs are left to fend for themselves. I'm so disgusted this happened, & hope to warn other parents by posting this.
Submitted by parent on April 15, 2012

We made the decision to move to Hartland so we could have our children educated by Swallow School. Big mistake on our part. While they provide an education, the atmosphere where they provide it is poor. Staff and students alike are part of a serious bullying problem. They can't keep administrators or principals in for a long time, so the issue does not get addressed. Their policy on bullying is non existent though they will tell you otherwise. They blame the victim for being the target of bullying, especially if your child is out of the norm. Depending on who you are, the children are held to different standards. Definitely a sense of entitlement and privilege for many. If you have a child in need of an IEP, look elsewhere. They are slow moving and hesitant to say the least, in getting the appropriate help for children in need of those services. There is no accountability of administration or staff for that matter. Parental concerns go unheard and the children suffer because of it. The school needs a wake up call on their policies and need to live by the motto "no child left behind". Think long & hard b/4 making your decision on having your child attend school here.