Blackburn Elementary School

17302 East R D Mize Road

School District

Independence 30
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:9
Type

public

School Map for Independence 30 School District

GreatSchools Rating

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 07, 2020

For the longest time, I was made to believe it was my fault for the way the faculty handled these situations. And I somewhat believed it was my child that was to blame, as well. After the 2nd or 3rd month here, my child started hurting himself anytime he made a small mistake. However, instead of coming up with an APPROPRIATE action plan, they asked me what I thought they should do. The principal implied my child had autism and/or ADHD, his teacher began isolating him, putting him down, not addressing the bullying from other, mostly older children, etc.. I stayed up for weeks researching & changing our entire routine & lifestyle. While his behavior improved at home, it never seemed to improve at school. The school decided to then involve the school Districts Family Services. Our home life was absolutely nothing but normal. My child was not being abused - mentally or physically, he was not left alone to care for himself, starved, ignored, living in filth, etc.. The way the district & this particular officer handled this was inappropriate, as well. I took him out of Kids Safari & school started to improve for a short period of time. I started my child in therapy & they determined the issues were brought on by stress. My child was FIVE at the time. No child, especially someone who’s only been on this earth for five years, should be under this amount of stress and it should NEVER be caused by the adults at the school. Kids Safari staff were glorified babysitters, neither experienced or qualified staff. The school counselors were in no way helpful & took little to no interest in determining, or assisting, what the cause of the issue(s) were. The only Counselor that did take an interest in my child’s mental well being worked at a different school. Once he was in daycare full time over the Summer, NONE of the issues that were happening at the school occurred. In the end, we moved & my child is THRIVING at his new school. We had some repeat issues the first 2 months of school, since his experience at Blackburn gave him PTSD, but because of the absolutely wonderful staff at his new school, he’s had an amazing 1st grade year.
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2017

My child attended Pre-K this past year, and the instructors were all wonderful. The lead teacher in his classroom did notice he seemed to be lacking in social skills, however, and recommended us for developmental screenings both through Independence School District and privately. While I'm not necessarily impressed by the school district's IEP procedures, the staff at Blackburn involved with this process - his pre-K instructor, the school councilor, and the principal (who I'm sad to say is leaving the district at the end of summer session this year), along with a potential Kindergarten teacher (that we found out is also leaving the district this year) - were completely awesome about everything from start to finish.I only hope the staff we'll be dealing with next year are half this good. I'm sure they will be, though.
Submitted by parent on March 24, 2015

The principal and teachers are amazing. Always there to help the students and parents succeed
Submitted by parent on March 02, 2014

The teacher to student ratio is incorrect. I have one child in first grade 1:27 ratio and my other child is in 3rd grade 1:26 ratio. This year we have a new principal as well as curriculum changes. If I were asked a year ago I would have rated the school a 10 this year a 3 at best. In fact, I'm currently looking to buy a house somewhere else so my children no longer have to attend this school.
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2013

I have two daughters to go to Blackburn. Ones in first grade ones in 5th grade. Blackburn Elementary is top notch from the faculty to the teacher principal everybody is great.. would not have my kids in any other elementary school.
Submitted by parent on July 10, 2013

My daughter started going here 2 months into Kindergarten and is about to start 2nd grade there. I have yet to find anything to seriously complain about. I have loved all her teachers, including summer school. They seem to really try to make each kid feel individual. We are moving after school starts this year and I'm trying very hard to stay in this school!