J. C. Parks Elementary School

3505 Livingston Road

Indian Head, MD 20640

School District

Charles County Public Schools
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Charles County Public Schools

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 February 25, 2025

New principal has zero accountability for himself or bad teachers at the school.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2023

Very supportive teachers and staff, Principal Miller was exceptional, so was very sad to learn of his retirement this year. It’s a little chaotic with an interim principal at the moment, but overall my kids love the school and are doing very well academically.
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2022

Awesome school. Teachers really stay engaged with the students. They do a real good job with my daughter
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2021

Excellent faculty. Very patient and has been providing excellent attention to every kid. During this pandemic, I have noticed their dedication to having just sky rocketed. They have been trying various innovative methods to keep the kids engaged. It has not been easy for any of us during this pandemic to keep our kids occupied and studious, whereas the teachers here are patient and have been very engaging. They have been regularly conducting drive-through events to wish and welcome kids. Every day my kid wakes up to see her teachers and spend time with the students. It has been a very engaging and healthy phase. I would recommend this school and I am very thankful to all the teachers who have been doing their best to keep the spirits of the kids high and by providing great education.
Submitted by parent on March 23, 2021

Caring and understanding teachers and good faculty. Such a great start for the kids.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2019

Very disappointed, I will be taking my child out of this school!
Submitted by parent on August 11, 2018

So bad that I’m now a homeschooling mother.
Submitted by parent on July 31, 2015

I've had two children graduate from Parks, and the experience left much to be desired. They were in private school for their first two years and unfortunately we had to move to public school. All in all I was at Parks for 6 years and I'm happy to be gone. I am a very involved parent and in the 6 years I was there I watched a great principal leave and year after year the best teachers followed her. There are still some great teachers there, but they don't get much support from the administration, and students, teachers and parents alike are handled by a drill sergeant, I mean, give me a break, "proper clapping is 3-4 polite claps". With both of my children, 5th grade was the worst year, the kids are out of control and the teachers have no power to discipline, instead the worst kids throughout the school are treated as "special friends". This year again, some of the best teachers are leaving, so the burden falls on the few strong teachers left. I've told transplants to this area that if you have the means to send your kids to private school, then do it, I do not recommend Parks at all, the kids are not well-behaved, you'll see the same involved parents at every function, and the bad experiences foreshadow the good ones by far.
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2015

The school is ok, but we moved here from out of state and came from a 10 RATED school. I am very lucky to have the best teachers at this school. Mrs Fenton 4th grade and mrs Said 1st grade for my daughters. They always communicate very well with me and sending information home on time. The down fall of this school is the zero amount of organization. Also watching other teachers with no patience at all for students. I chaperoned a field trip and by the way there is no background check ! you just sign a paper and ok good to go. That is a very bad idea , anyone could have a violent history and come into help.Anyways during my time here I watched kids get yelled at,pulled,poked at while a teacher was talking to them, and no direction what so ever coming from the sub we had that day or any other teacher around. This school definitely doesn't have the best behaved children either nor the greatest parents either. I personally think its this whole area. So to wrap it up , this school is c rated and there is way better schools out there .
Submitted by parent on June 12, 2014

I dont know why parents leave a bad review. My son is in first grade and ge comes home happy. The principal always have called me back whenevdd I had a question or needed jnformation. My son never starves and nk lunch is served before 11am. This I can vouch for. Also a little advice to parents. School lunch is served as a meat vegetable fruit and a starch. Kids are growing and their metabilism is alot faster so they will burn food off faster. Bht JC Parks does provide snacks for all kids in every age. I love JC Parks itbeats PG County Schools and definitely DC Public Schools. Charles County and St Mary's County scjools are the top two counties that jave exceeded the education for the best of all their stidents teachers and staff. So perhaps if tou get involved and not jjat semd your kids to school you can learn as well that JC Parka isnt just a school, its a place of eduucation, happiness, growth and love from all.
Submitted by parent on June 11, 2014

I was so disappointed. I moved to this area for the school. Unfortunately almost all of the schools in the area are overcrowded. It's unorganized, and the principle doesn't believe in returning phone call. My daughter was in K and I loved her teachers. But the school itself is a disappointment. Everyday my daughter comes home starving bc they feed her lunch before 11 when she doesn't get to school until 9. So we're making a move, no need trying to transfer to another school in the district bc it's not much better.
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2014

Everyone at this school is helpful and willing to work hard for each student. It has a great community feel and we are so much happier here than we were in VA!
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2012

JC Parks leaves much to be desired. The principal runs a very disorganized school. We have had nightmares ranging from them not having enrolled our children (after we went to enroll them in person) to sheer madness surrounding every school function. I've found even the school calendar is not updated. If you have any experience with organized schools and systems outside of Charles County, you will not find this school at all well run. My biggest problem is also the lack of cultural representation. 90% of the teachers (in a diverse county no less) are white women. There is 1 male teacher in the entire school, and we are still waiting to see Asian, Hispanic, etc. teachers. If there are diverse students and teachers in Charles, why not JC Parks? I have to wonder what all these other reviewers are used to. Our experience has been horrible. I've tried being a partner with the school (volunteering, etc.) but it is clear...unless you are from "old" Charles County, they would rather you stay out of their way. It really is unfortunate we were re-zoned. I miss Diggs Elementary and the staff there, and so do my children!
Submitted by parent on December 29, 2010

I have 3 children at JC Parks and a 4th that has moved on to middle school. We all have loved this school and it's staff. All of the teachers we have had an opportunity to interact with and the entire staff have been wonderful. I have 2 children with an IEP and one child who has had after hours tutoring. The teachers at JC Parks really care about the kids education. This is a great school!
Submitted by parent on July 27, 2009

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Submitted by parent on December 25, 2007

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Submitted by parent on November 18, 2007

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