Mill Creek Elementary School

13951 W 79th St

School District

Shawnee Mission Pub School
Grade

PK, K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

School Map for Shawnee Mission Pub School

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 July 20, 2023

My kids went through Mill Creek, and we had an amazing experience with the teachers, principals, and staff. The PTA works hard to make sure every student has an enriched education. The community is very supportive of the school, too. Lots of family interaction, adults sharing their careers and time with our kids.
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2018

Love the school. We are very happy here. Michelle Lord is amazing.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2017

Very poor approach to dealing with parents
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2016

My kiddos started at Mill Creek this year, and we are so impressed with this school! I'm very picky about schools because I am a teacher, and I have seen the ins and outs of some great schools and some really horrible schools. This school lives up to (and has even exceeded) my expectations. I love the culture at the school: welcoming to parents and students. The PTA, teachers, office staff, and principal have been wonderful, and I feel lucky that my family is a Mill Creek family.
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2016

Mill Creek is a fantastic school with awesome teachers and administration. The focus is always on the school community and the skills that kids need to be successful in life. We love Mill Creek!
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2016

Because we have expressed our opinions in the past.
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2016

Mill creek has an amazing principal, Michelle Lord. Since her arrival in 2013 she has been full of energy and brings a positive vibe for all who interact with her. She's always up for ideas and suggestions on ways to keep our kids and our school moving forward. Her favorite thing to say is "why not us" and uses that motto to find ways to get mill creek the best opportunities to help the kiddos. We are so lucky to have her!
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2016

I have a child that has been in this school now for several years and EVERY year we have the BEST caring and loving teachers. There is never a need to "request" or ask for a certain teacher at this school because all the teachers at Mill Creek are "in it for the students." I have seen in the past years all my child's teachers deal with different level of learning of all children and do an AMAZING job juggling all the children. I have always experienced a GREAT and inviting environment from ALL STAFF and TEACHERS within the building. Mill Creek's PTA is a HUGE help in fundraising and supporting the school with the needs for the children. PTA has worked with several of the local schools in the district and started new programs for the students this school year (i.e. Science Enrichment) and they are REALLY enjoying all the experiments that have taken place so far. Every contact that I personally have had with the PTA has been very inviting and welcoming, I have even began taking on a position within the PTA. We see child growing both educationally and socially from attending Mill Creek. We feel VERY lucky that our house is within the Mill Creek COMMUNITY. Thank you Mill Creek teachers and staff for all that you do for the students within your building.
Submitted by parent on August 02, 2016

Academically a great school! Mill Creek Elementary most certainly is a Blue Ribbon school. If all you care about is the academic aspect of your child's development, then this is the school for you. However, the teachers are just like their principal-- cold, unapproachable, unloving, uncompassionate, unemotional, & uncaring. This school is absolutely horrible for the emotional and social development of the child. The principal and her teachers only care about the numbers and making sure they attain that Blue Ribbon. One day while I was at work, I met a principal from an elementary school in the Olathe School District. I began to share with her our experience at a SMSD school and did NOT disclose the name of the school because I did not feel it was relevant. When I finished sharing our experience she said, "That was at Mill Creek Elementary!" My jaw dropped and all I could say was, "How did you know?!?!?"On a positive note, the secretary and maintenance crew at Mill Creek are super nice!
Submitted by parent on March 10, 2014

PART 2 HOMEWORK: This school has an absolutely INSANE amount of homework with 3rd graders having 1-2 hours and upper grades having 3-4 hours each night with the exception of weekends. One reason for this is to achieve the designation of Excellence In Education according to state and federal benchmarks in both reading and math. Special assistance is given to children who cannot achieve at an excelled level, as a negative other students, teachers and staff unofficially categorizes these children as subpar students. Promoting an unhealthy definition of what is an "acceptable student" and what is not. PTA/PARENTS: There is a great sense of community with PTA and parent involvement within the school, which always benefits all children. The added bonuses that the children receive due to events and fundraisers are exceptional. POLITICS: As with all schools, Mill Creek Elementary has its own opportunities of politics, therefore, navigating the diplomacy when advocating for your child or class can be quite tricky at times.
Submitted by parent on March 10, 2014

PART 1 BULLYING: Bullying is an absolute problem at this school, just as it is at every other school in America. However, I have seen a positive change from last year to this year from teacher, staff and principal. This is singularly due to a change in principals. In addition, the school defers the lead to parents as to how to solve any bullying issue that may arise and is on a case by case basis. EDUCATION: This school is one of the best, if not the best, elementary school in the Shawnee Mission School District. However, it is important to know that this school only has approximately 432 students, whereas most other Shawnee Mission Elementary Schools have 2 to 3 times that amount. One reason for this is the reorganization of boundaries during the 2011-12 school year.
Submitted by parent on March 05, 2011

We have been in Mill Creek for 7 years now with one child finishing 6th grade and one just starting, I have read the reviews of obviously some angry parents, but does not show the truth about our school at all, parent involvment is amazing and children are great, we have a few teachers that could retire even though they are still good and some incredible new teachers. If this school is as bad as some of the reviewers said before, I'd like to know why is it that we have so many transfers, everybody want to come to Mill Creek, I can only immagine that the reviews were done to stop the transfers? All the issues were always taken care of immediately and teachers really care. A bit less of homework would be great though. And for all schools I'd like to see letting small children learn at their own pace rather than pushing 5 years old kids to know as much as a 7 years old just because they were hold back and are in the same grade.
Submitted by parent on March 05, 2011

Two of my children have attended K-6 here and we have been very happy with Mill Creek. In my experience, the teachers and administration have been on top of problems. The sense of community at the school is outstanding - there are lots of excellent activities so that the whole family feels a part of the school. We have had excellent young teachers, as well as "seasoned" teachers. I hope statewide budget cutting doesn't affect the quality of teachers too much.
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2010

There IS a lot of bullying and not always by the other students. It wasn't always like that. There has been quite a lot of staff and teacher turnover in the past few years. Whether because of budget cuts and the economy or for the fact that there has been so much change in the past few years at the school, the teachers seem disgruntled, discouraged and downright angry at times. Our lives revolve around the school and working hard to help our kids make it work. My kids are very intelligent and test well, so it shouldn't be this hard for them. Homework is excessive. After being at school for seven hours, young children need to play and have family time. Our evenings are spent helping our kids calm down, do their homework, eat, bathe and go to bed. We are stressed out by this school.
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2010

Bullying is indeed an ignored problem at Mill Creek. I went so far as to talk with an Assistant Superintendent, who told me a transfer for my child was a good idea. The principal was no help and did not follow through with the corrective action that he mandated for the guilty students. For a school with high academic standards, standards for social skills of the students and staff are far below what I would consider normal.
Submitted by parent on July 24, 2010

Some of the worst bullying happens here and the teachers do absolutely nothing when they see it, or else they're completely oblivious. Kids are afraid to tell on their peers, so it's the teachers' job to notice this nonsense and put an end to it. It is true that they focus on the exceptional kids and rather ignore the average ones. That's true with most Shawnee Mission schools, though. Teachers are there for the paychecks. That said, the curriculum is better than most.
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2010

This is a wonderful school! We left a very expensive private school to come here and couldn't be more pleased! Parents are very involved and the atmosphere is very welcoming.