Joseph B. Lancaster Elementary School

133 Pine Creek Drive

School District

St. Tammany Parish
Grade

3-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:19
Type

public

School Map for St. Tammany Parish 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 October 15, 2024

Lots of teachers here are very rude and mean to substitutes and parent helpers. I’ve stopped subbing here for that reason. I’m a parent of a student here and I substitute on my free days off (I’m a nurse), out of the kindness of my heart to help out any way that I can (not for the money). I don’t understand it at all and I don’t think I ever will. I’m coming to help them out (on my days off) when they want to take a day off. Other schools are always so welcoming and thankful for that. They introduce themselves or atleast SMILE. Not here… I come in with kindness and a smile and the teachers look at me like I’m not wanted here or ignore me (mostly the 5th grade female teachers and 1 blonde exceptionalities teacher)… Strange because I thought we are all here for the same reason… the kids! We should all welcome each other and show a good example for them. Instead, they are rude and judge you. No smile, no “hi”, no “good morning”, just a disgusted look. Such a horrible example to set for our children at this school. We need to teach kindness and respect by giving it to each other, as the adult role models. Other than that, my child likes his school and we love his teacher he currently has. The teachers seem to treat the students with care and the principle is wonderful. I would recommend this school for a student. However, unfortunately, I would not recommend to work, substitute, or help here, due to how some teachers treat other adults.
Submitted by parent on August 24, 2022

It’s difficult to write a review because there are so many issues that stem from state and district policy. As a district the curriculum is terribly archaic. They use kill and drill worksheets, poor literature, they are not skilled in high quality teaching and learning or phonics, or mathematical understanding. It far lags the rest of the nation in every way and kids will not leave prepared or equipped. With that being said, the teachers have a positive culture and like kids and offer a positive sense of belonging. The principal is phenomenal and will listen to parents and advocate for kids and families. The teachers are undertrained and under skilled as far as effective teaching practices. Recess and cafeteria are understaffed and there is inappropriate behaviors that arise as a result from bullying, fights, and explicit/elicit happenings. Rewind the clock 40 years and it is very old school. They are quick to suspend and give punishments. Even the laptop is basic pen and pencil and there is no savvy tech integration to leverage higher order thinking. The people are good people, but the actual teaching is ineffective. I would still recommend a private school or homeschool if you have the opportunity. If not you will need to be heavily involved, advocate, question everything and go to the principal for everything. Do not assume everything is fine. The facility is beautiful and bulletin boards are picture perfect, so you must look beyond that to uncover the level of learning.
Submitted by parent on May 20, 2021

I would not recommend this school. My daughter was physically and verbally bullied and the teacher does nothing about it except agree with the bully. My daughter went from loving school to hating it. The teacher doesn't teach but puts them in groups of students to teach each other and grade each other which perpetuates the situation. My daughter has always received good grades and she is practically failing at this school. The leadership didn't even notice until the last few months. I had to hire a tutor twice a week.
Submitted by parent on January 30, 2020

I have had nothing but positive encounters with the front desk staff, my sons teacher. The only problem was with the substitute but the school took the corrective action to fire her.
Submitted by other on October 10, 2017

I would not recommend send your child here.
Submitted by parent on September 09, 2017

The principal is clueless. Seems she has some serious personal issues going on and she needs to leave them at home. When myself or other parents speak with her it seems like she is not even focused. If she is not focused while speaking to a parent what makes one think she is focused running this school. A degree does not make you a wonderful principal. I believe ifnit weren't for her teachers, the school would not be highly rated itnis today. If it was ran by her alone, no telling how bad the ratings would be. Just sad. When she stands next to these children who deserves rewards and she takes pictures with them, she always looks disgusted or like someone has inconvenienced her day. My child noticed it in one of the pics from a previous award. She needs to be reevaluated. Thank you for the rest of the Lancaster teachers. You are amazing.
Submitted by parent on July 30, 2017

I had a granddaughter who completed 2nd through 5th grade, and another granddaughter who is going into 5th grade at Lancaster. As a grandparent I could not be happier with everything this school stands for. The principle and all the teachers are very caring and want their students to excel at every level. The office staff is extremely helpful, and loves the children. I would highly recommend this school to anyone who has children attending 3rd through 5th grade in St Tammany Parish. My daughter and son-in-law agree with my opinion of Lancaster Elementary.
Submitted by parent on January 03, 2017

Lancaster Elementary is so far one of the best schools in Saint Tammany Parish. The Principal Mrs. Welch did a great job managing the school. This is the first year our child attended a school in Saint Tammany Parish, Lancaster has a great discipline system. The children behave very well. The teachers are great, always very happy, teaching advanced topic for the year level class. We came from private schools in the area and our child did not learn anything, it was a waste of money going to private schools. Lancaster Elementary curriculum is far more advanced than private schools our child attended.The teachers at Lancaster are very open mind and take care any issue immediately. There are also enrichment classes that children can taken after school. The lunches are great, the food is very tasty and the cafeteria is very clean as well as the whole school!The school is run very well by the principal and the staff, also there are weekly activities that encourage science, self-esteem and love to sports on children. We are very happy with the school!!
Submitted by parent on June 13, 2016

I would not recommend sending your child to this school. There seemed to be a lot of good teachers but with the principal, I would never recommend. No personality at all, seems to be in outer space at all times. She is just a weird one nothing seems to connect in that head of hers.
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2016

I would love to take this moment to say a huge THANKS to each and every teacher, staff, students, and parent volunteer and anyone else who has touched my daughter life and heart in the past three amazing years at Lancaster Elementary. It has been truly a blessing for us to have had such a wonderful and very educational time. Switching to Lancaster was every parents dream for what they want out of a school and then some for their child. Thank u again LOVE, Deedee and Baileigh Marcotte
Submitted by other on March 02, 2016

Lancaster is the school our Great Grandson attends. He is getting a great education there and seems to be proud of his school. Every time we have attended a program there, we have noticed how disciplined the students are and also how attentive they are to what is happening on stage. We are very delighted with the Principal and the staff.
Submitted by parent on June 24, 2015

Principal is terrible. School likes to preach anti bullying, but that is only for show, did nothing for my son when he was threatened with being stabbed. Said it would be dealt with yet child never suspended, even though child repeatedly picked on him on bus. Apparently it was a teachers child that was doing this.
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2015

My child went to this school for one year, and was constantly put down and bullied. The principal took it seriously, but the teachers didn't. As a result, she became afraid to tell anyone when it would happen because the teachers that she would tell would chew her out instead of handling it. She was harassed by a boy in an inappropriate manner, and when she told her teacher, that teacher did nothing about it except make her feel bad for reporting it. We had to go to the principal to get it dealt with. If you are moving here from a different area, I wouldn't recommend sending your child to the Madisonville schools...especially if your child is sweet, soft spoken, and/or unique. While the education is a good one, the mental distress that your child can go through isn't worth it.