Pond Gap Elementary School

4530 Papermill Drive Northwest

School District

Knox County
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:11
Type

public

School Map for Knox County 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 05, 2022

Can't say enough good things about this school and the teachers at Pond Gap! There is a family spirit at the school and we feel welcomed by everyone we interact with. The community school coordinator and their university staff have worked with my child since day 1, and having access to high-quality and free afterschool care for my child (via referral) has been a lifesaver. The university-assisted community schools program is a great amenity for a local public school. Diversity is celebrated in this environment and the administrators go above and beyond to engage with parents and the broader community!
Submitted by parent on February 23, 2022

The teachers at this school, for the most part, are absolutely fantastic. Unfortunately the front desk ladies are the rudest human beings I've ever met, and the other children at the school are just awful, mean hearted kids.
Submitted by parent on June 20, 2020

So basically this school didn't help my child at all.. ever time my child would get bullied none of the teachers did nothing. and I'm glad that me and my child had moved from this school
Submitted by teacher on July 17, 2018

Pond Gap was a wonderful place to work. The administration is very supportive and I couldn't have asked for better co-workers. They strive hard to educate students to not only be successful academically, but also in the community.
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2018

This school is great!it taught my kid everything he needs to know to go to college!
Submitted by parent on June 07, 2017

The leadership of this school has seen leaps and bounds of improvement since Principal McGill took over. The teachers are fantastic and put up with a ton of grief from parents and students alike. It is a very diverse school with a lot of low income families which makes for a tough clientele. But the staff at PGES has been stellar in their tact and discipline. I greatly appreciate the teaching that has proved to be effective as my daughter has seen tremendous improvement. She's reading at an 8th grade level and she's 8. :-)
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2016

My son is in the first grade at Pond Gap. His teacher, Brandy Miller, is one of a kind. She is truly amazing and I am so grateful that he gets to be in her class. Beyond that, I stand in awe of the diversity of the students at Pond Gap and the way that, despite their differences, it truly feels like a family there. I have interactions with the entire staff and the administration. You will not find a better team anywhere. I am so thankful that my little one gets to swim in this pond!!!!
Submitted by parent on December 22, 2015

The garden is a great addition and my daughter loves actively participating with it. The office staff and Ms. Iva are all the greatest, the nurse Ms.Jenn is top notch, and the teachers have all been wonderful with my daughter. I feel safe when I let my daughter out each morning, and she adores the security guard- he is very personable and friendly. The crossing guard is so sweet and the lunch crew is very kind. The janitors all do a great job with keeping the school clean and there is so much going on to get involved with at Pond Gap. The only reason I do not give it five stars is because parking, the morning and afternoon dismissal, and buses loading/unloading in the same lanes as car riders. It jacks up traffic and there is a need to implement a better system with that, or target funding for a new parking/loading area. Otherwise, this is a good school and I am very glad my daughter has been a part of it!!!
Submitted by teacher on March 19, 2015

The changes that have happened to the school in administration have completely turned around the school environment! There are a lot of positive, exciting things happening at Pond Gap, and the teachers and students deserve all of the wonderful changes!
Submitted by parent on June 30, 2014

New principal! Let's see it that will help! I have high hopes for this school! Will take a lot of work. I wish self reliance would be taught to the neighborhood, instead of school reliance. If we are more self reliant, we are more able to help others, that is why it is better to be responsible and be able to take care of ourselves first. If parents could only learn how to better manage their homes, they would take a great financial and stress burden off the community's shoulders. Principal needed to retire. That is ok, I rarely saw her there. Teachers are good I must say, well most of the ones my kids have had, that is why I stayed in the school, they almost made up for all the cons.
Submitted by parent on June 18, 2013

My daughter just completed Kindergarten at Pond Gap. We had a great experience...great teacher...great staff....my daughther loved it.
Submitted by parent on March 23, 2011

In kindergarten, the teacher had a meltdown. There was no kid control. My son has had adjustment issues ever since. Never knows what is expected of him. I don't know what goes wrong. Communication with the parent is spotty at best. He knew he could pull off bad behavior there, so he did things he never did anywhere else. My son got labeled. Then we got labeled. Too many kids, too many 'policies' that don't always work for every child. We just went over to private school. My pocket book is crying, but my son's grades are up and his attitude towards learning is excellent now.
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2011

Great school, my daughtor has learned a lot. The teachers are great, the students want to learn. The staff keeps a safe clean school.