Dobbs Elementary School

9400 EASTERN

School District

Hickman Mills C-1
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:12
Type

public

School Map for Hickman Mills C-1 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 December 01, 2024

I originally put my child here temporarily. I pulled her out of a different district for 4th quarter; she was miserable there, I moved her to Dobbs, she was okay. The school we intended her to go to in the fall was still on summer break, so she was going to attend Dobbs for a couple weeks in August. By the end of the 1st week, she was begging me to stay. My child is special-needs; she's highly gifted, but also struggles with autism, and Dobbs has honestly been a great experience for her. She hasn't been HAPPY at school since 3rd grade, and she is very, very happy with her classroom teacher, SpEd teacher, and specials teacher. It's great hearing her NOT complain about her classes at all, and share with me her art projects, stories she's written, and more. My only complaint is that there just isn't enough playground equipment; the really nice sets of multiple slides and platforms were removed about 8 years ago and replaced with a single climber and single slide. It's not enough for this many kids. There also isn't enough recess time. Not two half-hour recesses, or even ONE half-hour recess, but about 15 minutes. Kids need more than that to be physically and mentally healthy, to learn in their classes, and to grow social skills. I am very happy with the level of SEL offered; my child struggles with interactions and understanding and it seems almost every teacher there is very supporting and helps guide her. The school district has had funding yanked, great STEM programs shut down, the separate building for just kindergartners had to be done away with, and it's consistently faced funding challenges. I wasn't honestly expecting much, but my child is BLOSSOMING at Dobbs. And the level of parental involvement with the school blew me away when I went to the Pastries with Parents event. The school struggles with students that are coming in at low skill levels and with a lack of money in the area and in the schools, but they are doing an amazing job with what they have. I'm keeping my child here the rest of her 5th grade year, although we CAN move her to a private school or back into a charter. She's getting a decent education, great emotional support, and her confidence and happiness are so much better than before!
Submitted by parent on December 01, 2024

Excellent academic elementary school, where the love of learning is grown!
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2024

Dobbs is such an awesome place to send your students. Our experience at Dobbs has been beyond exceptional. The teachers are truly invested in my student's education. They make personalized adjustments as needed per student. Small class sizes have enabled my children to gain confidence in their learning abilities. The learning environment is exceptional. Children are engaged and the tutoring program has enabled my student to remain on grade level and she loves learning and coming to school. They offer families the opportunity to engage with their students outside of the traditional classroom settings and they make you feel like family. The staff is friendly and courteous and are always available and willing to talk with you and help resolve any issues you may have. The Principal, Mrs. LaToya Ragan, is the best!! She is very easy to talk to and goes out of her way to make you feel welcomed, seen and heard. She has an open door policy and runs Dobbs with so much positivity and she pours love and a sense of self worth into her students. I recommend Dobbs Elementary School to anyone looking for a school where your student will engage in learning, and bolster a sense of positivity while also forming great relationships not only with their peers but the staff as well. Thank you Dobbs Elementary School!! You ROCK!!!
Submitted by parent on October 27, 2014

Dobbs is a failing school. Do not send your child here or buy property in the area. The staff is mostly new and the principal. The behavior children run the school and the teachers are the surrounding districts non renewals. The grade card is a joke. Students only get grades based off of test and nothing else. The state needs to take over Hickman immediately I have no faith in this district. I am pulling my student out as well.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2014

We had to pull our children out of this school this year. It is totally unacceptable. There's a good reason it only has two out of ten. They've replaced (fired?) the principal, but it's too little too late. Our kids are thriving now that they don't need to worry about getting jumped by hoodlums, then ignored by the under-staffed employees who are frustrated and stretched too thin. Gifted children will be bored out of their minds at this school. The one day a week they are sent by bus, to go to enrichment classes, was the bright spot of their week. It's called pep/code/ace, and it's what passes for gifted education in this provisionally accredited school district. If you care about your children's safety, educational prospects, emotional well being, and what kind of classmates they will have to deal with, then exercise due diligence. Avoid this place like the plague.