Longbranch Elementary School

6631 Farm to Market Road 1387

School District

Midlothian Independent
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
Type

public

School Map for Midlothian Independent 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 July 18, 2023

I have two children who have attended Longbranch Elementary for the past three years (1st - 4th for one and K - 2 for the other). We are coming into our 4th year at Longbranch with no plans to change schools. I have nothing but great things to say about this campus and the teachers at it. One of my children needed speech services and his IEP was handled excellently.
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2023

A+rating school. I love the teachers and staff best school in Texas!
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2022

Very mediocre compared to some of the other schools. Wish we were zoned for Baxter instead but oh well.
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2022

The principal and vice principal were ALL about compliance and inflicting disciplinary punishment on my child. She didn't fit into their "box"...aka high test score category. In school suspension iss is heavily misused. They have a restraint team that is the go to for discipline. Restraint is only supposed to be used during extreme circumstances but this school uses it for normal disruptive behavior instead of de-esculation strategies. They refused to create a b.i.p. for my child. Once that's in place they become accountable to it and they did not want to deal with that. They told us not to worry and that my child didn't need one. Ok well why did they continually physically drag my child into iss for little things like crying in class after they failed to comply with my child's 504 plan if she didn't need a bip? It's sickening and unacceptable. The principal and vp should be ashamed of themselves for their behavior and discriminative treatment of my special needs Latina child.
Submitted by parent on July 18, 2022

I would give zero stars if I could! After multiple attempts to get help for my child and trying my best to have good communication with the school they ignored me. What's worse is they ignored my child's needs. Principal B called me one day and spent 30 min talking down to me. She had NOTHING to do with my child or I until I made a complaint and then she FINALLY reached out only to insult and blame me for the schools failure in helping my child. She also talked bad about my child and said that she was failing because she didn't feel like working. Completely untrue.How can someone be the head of a school and say that a student is failing because they're lazy? The appropriate, educated, and professional response would have been to hear the parent out and work as a team to help the student be successful. Her better half, who worked at a nearby school, knew as much. He handled everything with professionalism and concern. He was not retaliatory and controlling. My conversations and emails with him were always pleasant and productive. When any issues came up he handled them quickly and was attentive to my concerns. Unfortunately I had the exact opposite experience with her. I felt that my child and I were retaliated against because of the complaint we made.
Submitted by parent on June 14, 2022

Both of my children have attended Longbranch ES. In the past 8 years I have dealt with with Principal Karena Blackwell and I have found her to be positive, professional and very caring for both my children. I have known parents with children in various stages of behavioral development and have not heard any complaints regarding Prin. Blackwell. The teachers (and asst. Prin. Nix) do their job. As with all professions and people, some teachers are better due to experience, personality and zeal. All 10-12 teachers and coaches, I have dealt with have done a good, great or fantastic job. So far, I am very pleased with the educational experience at Longbranch E.S. Even the cafeteria/ neighborhood crossing guard attendant goes the extra mile.During the first year of the COVID pandemic Prin. Blackwell personally called me (and I'm sure countless others) just to check on my children and our family adjustment to the lockdown. I highly recommend this school and am grateful that I don't have to pay private school tuition to give my children a quality education.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2022

Worst school in MISD Blackwell is the worst principal and Cass Lynn is a horrible teacher
Submitted by parent on May 18, 2022

When my child went there her 3rd grade teacher embarrassed her in front of the class by putting her assignment on the overhead projector for all to see. She wrote "refused to do work" after my child, who has learning disabilities, started crying because she didn't understand how to do the work. The class laughed at her after doing that and again as the in school suspension aide went to get her. Then the teacher denied it after I confronted her. She said that she used her desk to write her note on the assignment and not the overhead. She told me that my daughter was lying for attention and just didn't want to do the work. She showed me the paper to prove my daughter's lack of effort and on it was written, " refused to do work" just as my daughter had reported. I asked her how my child would know it said that if it 1. hadn't been put on the overhead for her and the class to see 2. Her desk was on the other side of her class away from my daughter's desk 3. She had been pulled out of class and did not receive the assignment back. She denied her actions to me and then to an administrator after I complained. The administrator sided with the teacher. This teacher continuously had my daughter sent out to the suspension class every time she got frustrated with her assignments. The school allowed it. After multiple complaints from me, the school violated that same teacher's HIPPA by telling me that because of my continuous complaints (advocating for my special needs child) that teacher had to take a mental leave of absence due to stress. While that is a luxury the teacher got, my child whom was also very distressed did not get to take "mental leave". As far as why that teacher was not in class, that was none of my business. I should not have been told about her mental breakdown. I disagreed with the schools decision to tell me that. db
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2022

BEWARE Longbranch elementary in Midlothian, TX!! We brought in an advocate when they refused our written request for testing, refused to allow for medically necessary accommodations, and continuously used restraint holds to drag my special needs child into ISS (in school suspension). Our advocate sent a cease-and-desist letter for them to stop having my child forcefully dragged into ISS. We pleaded that they try other methods of de-esculation 1st to help our child with sensory processing issues and learning disabilities to calm down. We were told that they WOULD NOT STOP because that is their preferred choice of discipline and that my child was perfectly capable of behaving but "choosing not to". My child did not feel safe at this school and was terrified of the administrative staff who inflicted the discipline on her. Use extreme caution if you send your kids to this school. The thought of this happening to another child breaks my heart.
Submitted by parent on November 12, 2021

We have three children at this school and cannot say enough GOOD things about it! The teachers are incredibly caring and create the most creative lessons. Administration is involved and truly knows their students.
Submitted by other on March 26, 2019

Very good, I loved my time here, the lessons made me excited to come back to school everyday!
Submitted by parent on November 16, 2018

All I hear from our friends who left a Longbranch is that they want to come back. It’s truly the finest school in town.
Submitted by other on August 02, 2016

I personally have not had the same experience as the last few reviewers. We moved here last year and it was the best thing that happened to my kids! My kids finally recieved the attention they deserved! My son was finally excepted into a speech program, that he desperately needed and what I'd been trying to get for him for over 3 years! My daughter finally had a teacher that worked with her on getting work done and was wonderful with communicating with me throughout the year! I came in not knowing anyone and ended the year knowing over half the staff!! Yes they focus on testing, however that is the State's doing, not the school's. I think you may think differently about them focusing too much on testing when your child doesn't pass and can't move on to the next grade.
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2014

DONT LET THE RATING FOOL YOU!!! This school is all about testing. They do not care about teaching your child. They only care about how your child is testing. The front office is a bunch of smiling white ladies sho turn into vipers when you call them on something. If your child has a learning disability do not come here. They will not help your child. They either fit into their system or not. There is no extra and what they offer is just enough to say they meet minimum. The teachers are robotic but I imagine they have no choice. Very disappointed with this move..I am stuck with these folks and their fakeness. It is going to be a long 9 years.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2014

Extreme favoritism is shown to certain students based on popularity, not achievements. Especially if you are a teacher's child. The principal and counselor actually sponsor a sorority type girl's club. They pick and choose who they want to be in this club. Good grades and behavior are supposed to be pre-requisites. However, their personal favorites are the chosen ones. Also, teacher bullies as well as student bullies exist, but the principal defends her crew regardless. The most important thing to her and the rest of the teachers is fashion. Parents are not informed about what they can do to help their kids. Most work is to be done in class so parents are not involved. I thought teachers used to want parents to help educate their kids. Strange philosophy and dictatorship going on at Longbranch. But, if you complain, you risk worse treatment for your child. What a facade!
Submitted by parent on December 09, 2013

My kids have been coming to this school 2 years now and I'm not very happy with the outcome. With the school being over 80% Caucasian and not very many Hispanic children my children seem to be treated differently. Seems like there is a lot of bullying and nothing being done about it. My son was stung by a bee came home with a knot on his head and I never received a call about it. They are good about helping the kids and trying to help about with kids who need the extra help. The teachers worry to much about fashion and ways to stand out then other things that are more important.
Submitted by parent on December 01, 2012

This is the only school system and the only area I would live in, in Midlothian due to the Smokestack Report by USA Today--it's the only area with clean air, so I am happy to report it is a wonderful school with caring teachers, involved parents, good families, good kids. High standards and great programs! If you are considering moving the Midlothian, you definitely want to stay in the Longbranch area--if you find a house for sale in this area, grab it quick!