Chimney Lakes Elementary School

9353 Staples Mill Drive

School District

Duval County Public Schools
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

School Map for Duval 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 other on January 25, 2025

I'm very disappointed at the staff of this school . My grandson was rejected on attending his first school dance. My daughter was a day late turning in the permission slip and told her that my grandson couldn't attend because they already ordered the food for the kids who were attending the dance. My daughter called and offered to order a pizza for my grandson and she explained to them that my grandson was really looking forward to attending and they didn't care. They said it was a corporate thing. Yes I know that my daughter should of turned in the permission slip on time, but we were dealing with a family matter. Now I'm not looking for special treatment, but no one had to deal with my grandson crying because he was turned away after we offered a solution to the issue they told us about.
Submitted by parent on March 24, 2022

I have an absolutely the worst experience with the school especially when it comes to the faculty of how they speak to the parents with upmost Disrespect. A lot of the faculty doesn’t show the principal respect. Teachers are marking students completely absent when that student is sitting in the class. Wrongfully trying to put attendance contract on students. And 100% giving nothing but worry to the parents if they made the right decision sending the kids that school in particular I’m moving out of Jacksonville because I refuse to have my kid go to another school like this this will never happen again.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2019

Were new here. They seem to care a whole lot about safety which makes me feel great! Alot of parents are annoyed with it but I can wait 5 extra minutes for my kids to come out if I know it is for their wellbeing and safety.
Submitted by parent on April 24, 2018

Horrible. Alot of parents I know have left and went elsewhere or decided to homeschool.
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2018

My daughter has gone to this school K-3. We do like the school and her teachers have all been great. I have noticed teachers yelling at the kids at lunch but those kids can get noisy and there has to be some kind of control. They do allow the kids to talk during lunch however if the noise level gets to high they control the situation by turning off the lights to let the kids know it’s a voice level 0. The teachers hold the children accountable and yes they use the students to clean off the tables after the children eat lunch. It’s more of on a volunteer basis it’s not mandatory for children to clean lunch tables. They want to be the “helper!” My daughter could use more of a challenge with her IEP. I feel like she no longer receives the services she should receive because they’re trying to say she’s close to meeting her IEP when she hasn’t. I still see struggles with her learning. I’m beginning to think they’re keeping her in the program to receive money but not actively pushing her to work harder to achieve her goals because they’re ready to phase her out. I do love the school and the teachers so far and hopeful to see what the next 2 years are going to be like. The transportation issues are worse and worse every year I used to take my daughter to school every year but this year I have let her ride the bus. I cannot deal with the atrocious mess that they have every morning and afternoon at that school. The city should consider road widening to help alleviate some traffic concerns. I suggest allowing drop off in the bus loop after 8:15 am and again in the afternoon when buses leave as well as in the parent pick up area/drop off area to help the influx of traffic go through faster. The DCPS officers have tried to come up with a better solution but it has little to no effect to the issues. You need more than one place with one line to pick up or drop off the children in the morning/afternoon. I do volunteer my time when I can and am well known at the school by faculty and staff. I think it’s important to be actively involved in your child’s learning and that includes parent involvement to help the school succeed.
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2017

My child has been going to this school for 3years it's an ok school but my only problem is the teachers, when a child is being bullied they don't do anything about it and when a child asks for help they tell the child to figure it out on your own or tell the child "well you should have been listening"..umm not sure but I think a teacher is supposed to be there for their students right.. this school is going down hill.
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2015

I had my child tested for ADHD and was told that he had borderline symptoms and it was not necessary to medicate him. The psychiatrist went on to say that he felt the teacher was uniformed and biased when it came to my son. She then pushed to have my son retested and even stated to me that she would change what she had written previously so that he would be diagnosed with this disorder. I was lied to by the assistant principal and denied a meeting with the principal on numerous occasions. After threatening to take a serious stance on the matter and refusing to back down, I was finally able to meet with the principal who then rectified the situation. This wasn't until the last week of school, during the testing, when I had threatened to remove my son from the school and move him to my mother's home in another state.Update: 3rd grade. My son was out into the same class with his kindergarten bully. I met with the new assistant principal and was reassured that this child would be removed and that is yet to happen. My son feels that he is being provoked by this child and singled out by his teacher. I'm meeting again with then this week and if there is no resolution I will enroll him in Oakleaf Elementary or he will be homeschooled.
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2015

This school has a horrible walker car rider program. Causes traffic back ups which will cause an accident in front of the school . Students are required to walk across multiple busy roads. This school needs to review its bus car and transportation policy to think about safety not dollars for buses. A child will be hurt or worse walking. Transferring to Chimney Lakes my daughter's previous school was ahead in curriculum so far ahead in the same grade that my daughter is doing the same assignments she done last year. Being this far behind my daughter hates this school. My daughter complains constantly her teacher is on cell phone and she can sing her teachers ring tone. I work a less important job than our children and know not to pull out a cell phone at work unless it is an emergency. I want my daughter to have a better quality education than this. I check out 15 books a week at the local library. The library at school does not let children take home books. Due to busy work teachers that send home to much homework but can't get it done in school hours. I watch kindergarten students and first grade come home crying. Teach them in school do what you are paid for!
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2014

My son enjoys the school over all. As a parent I disagree with the school's socialistic policy on school supplies. My child's new school supplies were taken from him and he was given someone else's old well used supplies. Parents should buy their own child's supplies. Also last year my child was given a job of cleaning lunch tables and other chores in class. I'm sure that it was to teach a I'm lesson in responsibility but i would rather him learn to expect fair pay for his labor and not to let someone take advantage of him. Let the cafeteria staff clean the tables unless they would like to stroke him a check. The school also ignores state recess and resource policies. On a more positive note most of our teachers have been wonderfull over the years and couldn't be nicer.
Submitted by other on August 01, 2014

CLE is an awesome school. They really care about every one of their students and they go the extra mile. Thanks CLE staff.
Submitted by parent on July 12, 2014

I enrolled my two children into Chimney Lakes under the impression that it is a great school from the ratings on this site. My 1st grader had the worst time with the teacher he had. She was inexperience with children who have developmental delays and very impatient towards him and others like him. The teacher is very rude, mean, and seem to single out my son. My children love school. Both stated "I hate chimney lakes"! As for my fourth grader her teacher seemed very nice at first. She was rude and sarcastic with her students. My daughter was continuously picked on by her classmates. This school has major bulling issues that are never resolved. The principal is always MIA and doesn't adhere to any issues going on in her school. Bus service for this school is horrid for the children who ride. There's uncontrolled bulling on the bus as well. I do understand every parent and child's experience is different. Since we've been on this summer break I've found many parents who have not raise their voice about this school dissatisfied with chimney lakes staff and all of the issues with bulling and the inexperience with children who have IEP's. A lot of reviews are misguiding.
Submitted by parent on April 13, 2014

This school is great. My child joined in grade 3 after coming from another country. He loves school. The teachers are caring, the school is very organized and the learning environment is awesome.
Submitted by parent on April 12, 2014

This is a fantastic school! My daughter has gone to chimney lakes elementary since kindergarten. She has an IEP for speech, she was tested numerous times for gifted and we had various meetings through the years with her teachers and the staff. All of them are nothing but helpful and informative. There was a year that my daughter did have a teacher that wasn't "warm and fuzzy" but it did not distract from her learning and succeeding. This is an amazing school and I wouldn't hesitate to send your child here. yes, they do keep the kids responsible for behavior because poor behavior is distracting to a learning environment. I have seen the principal on numerous occasions as well as the assistant principal who is Always around! Is this a perfect school? no. However, it is a great learning environment for your child. My daughter had no issues with bullying or teasing and is sad to move on to middle school. This school has an A rating every year and there is a reason. It isn't because a teacher may get loud here or there, it is because they have high expectations for your child. Expectations of learning so that your child is well equipped when they move on in their futures.
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2013

I have to agree that some of these teachers come off very rude by their tone. I have seen things that I know if it were my child the teacher would be hearing it from me! Example, my daughter had Art on Friday, and asked Ms. Phillips (The art teacher) for a apron, the teacher refused her request and told her to be careful. Lets just say they dealt with PAINT that day. Ms. Phillips had the nerve to say she doesn't do apron's because it takes 5 minutes away from doing art. How hard is it to pass my daughter a apron? Us as parents don't want to have to wash clothes with Shout Out 3 times to get paint out. If the school has it available, use it, that is what it is for. Takes 5 minutes away from doing art, yeah, lets see how your supervisors feel about that!
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2013

For the post on Aug 26th. That was my son she screamed at for walking his sister to class
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2013

My daughter had open house before school started when she was in Kindergarten, but after that no open house before school starts. Open house to meet the teacher, and get a feel of her classroom isn't till September 7th!!! School started on August 19th. They don't put the list up of what teacher your child will have until the weekend before school starts, SERIOUSLY? The principal is hard to get a hold of, and is terrible at keeping you informed when she said she will get back to you. I feel they are NOT organized. The kids are NOT even allowed to talk during lunch time. Let the kids be kids. Some of the teachers are horrible. On the first week of school, I saw a little girl looked lost, and saw a teacher yell at her and ask her where she was supposed to be, the girl looked scared, and started to cry, and the teacher rolled her eyes, yanked her book bag making the child stumble a bit, pulling out her folder to see who her teacher is. Ms. Ganey yelled at a child and said are you supposed to be in this hallway, you need to go, and the child tried to explain he was walking his first grade sister to her class. Some of these teachers tone in their voice comes off rude.
Submitted by teacher on July 09, 2013

Wonderful and true joy to work at. One great big family that truly cares about each other and is willing to help in any way. Will surely be missed this upcoming school year.
Submitted by parent on July 09, 2013

This is an excellent magnet school. Our daughter has attended there from Kindergarten to Third grade. She was afforded many opportunities at this school. The technology equipment is outstanding. She had wonderful teachers each year and we hated for the school year to end. Each were open and available for communication about our daughter. Everyone truly cares at this school from the front office staff, to the resource teachers, to the custodians, and lunch room staff. Hopefully. you will have the same wonderful experiences that we have there.
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2013

This school lacked in a few critical areas. Children with learning challenges are not likely to get the help that they need. I experienced difficulty getting accomodations and the teacher would not ensure my son received his medication and woud then punish him for the behavior that the meds were meant to treat. My son was frequently bullied. The vice principal would not address the problem. The communication and notification of events was awful. My son was in 3rd grade this year and he frequently received conflicting information on what was expected of him. Overall the school is not terrible. We had an amazing year last year. Just be prepared to struggle if your child has any type of learning challenges or if you are a working parent who is unable to be at the school at the drop of a hat.
Submitted by parent on February 21, 2013

Overall this is a good school. Most teachers are great. They do what they can to enrich your child's knowledge. But the school lacks in other areas greatly. Special Ed classes are consisted of an average of 30 students. That poor teacher can only do so much with so many students & I understand that falls mostly on the county's rules and regulations. But before you even come to realize that your child has a learning disability you get a 1st grade teacher recommending reform school because she "can't deal" with your child. Then you have a school psychologist saying that your kid is autistic because he/she wouldn't talk to her after she "observed" for 10 minutes. That's after you presented to her a full report from a child psychiatrist, that did all kinds of tests with your child over several sessions, stating he/she has a speech problem and a learning difficulty because of it, not autism. Somebody sold her that diploma on a sale...sound bitter, yes because there is not much help when it comes to problems like these or bullying that goes unnoticed & adds to the issue you are already dealing with. The staff & teachers can only do so much with the resources they have available.