Longfellow Elementary School

3617 NORRIS

School District

Houston Independent
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

School Map for Houston Independent 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 April 29, 2023

This is a great school. My grandkids started to school there around the year 2010. The oldest is in his first year of college now. The second oldest granddaughter is graduating and on her way to college. I still have grandchildren there. The teachers are, for the most part, exceptional and in all my years I have never seen a Principal work so hard, so it seems to have a trickle down effect to the rest of the employees there. This is a good school to send your kids to.
Submitted by parent on May 13, 2020

This school has been a gift! We love our teachers (they truly are the best--so giving, nurturing and loving). They are passionate about teaching and care about the kids deeply. Also the fine arts--these kids are talented! Love Longfellow!
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2020

My personal experiences have been positive at the school. My children love their school and look forward to going to school, seeing their teachers, and their friends. They're academically challenged, they get to participate in a lot of good after school clubs/programs. The fine arts program is amazing. I have one child in band and one in choir. Our PTA does a good job of creating fun events for the community and they have an after school program that's helpful for working parents. I do feel when my children leave Longfellow, they will be very prepared for junior high. Most importantly, my children are happy here. As a parent, that's what counts the most.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2020

My two kids love Longfellow and the friends they have made there! As a parent, knowing my kids feel safe and cared for is extremely important to me. I feel like they are both challenged academically and that they are supported emotionally as well. I receive a lot of communication from the school, including messages from the school to keep all parents informed as well as messages from teachers with information specific to my kids' classes. The school encourages parents to get involved, which is wonderful. I'm thrilled with Longfellow's fine arts program. In an age where fine arts opportunities are often cut from various public schools, it's great that my kids are still exposed to fine arts at Longfellow. My son has been playing the clarinet for two years and has learned a lot about music. We are very happy that Longfellow is our neighborhood school.
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2019

STAY AWAY IF YOU ARE A HOMEOWNER ZONED TO THIS SCHOOL AND VALUE YOUR CHILD'S SAFETY!!!
Submitted by parent on March 29, 2019

Worst ever! I wouldn’t recommend this school to anyone.
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2015

Both of my children are in Longfellow and this is my oldest childs 4th year. For the most part my experiences with the teachers (this year is TBD) have been AMAZING. My eldest son has dyslexia, ADHD, and dysgraphia. He is under a 504 accommodation after I had him tested in Kinder. So far all of the teachers as well as staff have been very accommodating to his needs. The school also allows his private tutor to come during magnet for his dyslexia without any issue which I cannot be grateful enough for! I feel like my son can get the help he needs here while also being welcomed as an 'out of the box' creative thinker and person. My younger son has been thoroughly enjoying school as well. I think Longfellow is a hidden little gem. Not every school is perfect but I am satisfied sending my boys here.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2015

This school has little to no community involvement for the parents. The administrators and teachers control the students without parent input. They don't even want you to go on field trips with your own children! As a parent, you should be able to visit your child anytime you desire at his or her school. The school is on lock down everyday from 3 pm-3:30 pm where you cannot pickup your children at that time. LUDICROUS!!!!!! You should be able to have full and complete access to your own children at all times.
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2014

The opportunities that the children have in the fine arts are amazing. The children learn self discipline and how to accomplish a goal together through their work in band and orchestra. Mr. Gonzalez and Mrs. Snow are phenomenal teachers and role models. This is our child's 4th year at Longfellow and his self confidence has soared with the help of the arts program. The children have several opportunities to perform all over Houston. The Leader in Me Program has helped to create a school full of caring, responsible children. Bullying is not something that we see at Longfellow. As with any school, there are lots of good teachers and a few teachers that teach the test. If you find that a teacher is not dynamic, the principal is very receptive to complaints to help change this. If your child gets the rare poor teacher be sure to speak up! And if they are the majority who get a great teacher, be sure to give them praise! The teachers that have been hired in the past 5 years are outstanding.
Submitted by parent on December 20, 2013

Longfellow is a great school for your child to attend. My son was accepted into their magnet g/t program when he was in first grade. He came from Peterson elementary and it was a drastic change and the best thing I could've done. The environment is awesome , and the teaching is amazing. My child has been sculpted into another child while being at Longfellow, he is eager to learn and knows things I didn't even know in the same grade level. He is now in the 3rd grade. We live in fort bend now but I will not be switching him, I love Longfellow and have also sub,tilted an magnet app for his brother to attend this year also.
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2013

Longfellow Elementary is serving as the lighthouse for the Leader in Me Program for HISD. The children have been following the 7 habits since the program was implemented in 2010 and they are really pro-active! Our son plays in the band and has been invited to attend after school enrichment, free lessons after school. Several of the students are in All City Band or Orchestra. What an amazing opportunity.
Submitted by parent on August 08, 2013

My child attends this school. This school has great staff and faculty. It was important to me to see a mixed group of ages, experience and cultural diversity. In many of the schools, there are only young and inexperienced teachers and the failure to meet standards speaks volumes for poor, cheap leadership. This school is great, teachers are rarely absent, very patient with students, and the school makes use of tutors to help students with individual needs. There is a small problem with dealing with parents/kids that want to attend here but don't want to do the work, follow the behavior codes ...they seem to get away with bullying the staff and kids. Be the strong parent and let the district know they have your support in suspending these children into alternative programs. The way the system is now.. employees need help/ empowerment to enforce the rules. The school will be losing some great teachers because a few ignorant, low performing selfish children and parents were more concerned about getting babysitter service than educational services. The school thrives because there are volunteers, children act better when parents are around even for a few minutes.
Submitted by parent on June 04, 2012

my son just done with pk it was great experience he start the school year know the letters and little more now he can read grade one doing math and science in nice ways ..perfect teachers and principal and the after school program is so good..i am happy they accept my son for the next year and would like to thank them all specially his teacher because of her my son have very good progress and growing up ..many thanks to all the school staff...
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2012

Our two children attend Longfellow Elementary and we could not be happier. The children enjoy the academic rigor, the magnet focus on the arts and the cultural diversity. We interviewed many schools prior to our first son entering Kindergarten (including private) and chose Longfellow on a hunch as it "felt right" to us. Since then we are glad that we made this gut reaction. The teachers and adminsitrators are great and always open to parent input and help. Being encouraged to actively participate in our sons school has been very educational and rewarding for us. I would definitely recommend Longfellow Elementary School to any parent.
Submitted by other on October 11, 2011

I attended this school and had an amazing time until I was in third grade. My class, in third grade, had been split into groups based on race and I constantly witnessed teachers not being supportive to students. At one point in the school year we spent two weeks not even going into the classroom. We were told to play all the time. At the time I didn't mind much but now in middle school I realize how lax the academics are. Bullying is also another major problem. The teachers were very aware that it was happening against the minorities at the school and turned their heads away. I really appreciated Ms. Young, Ms. Barwel, who is responsible for teaching me everything I needed to know for the next four years, and the art and orchestra teacher. The school now has very nice teachers but if you aim for your child to go to a middle school with good academics, it will be a struggle to catch up.