Garfield Elementary School

325 Plymouth Street Northwest

School District

Olympia
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

public

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 November 06, 2021

It is very misleading to read poor scores and reviews at this school. Garfield is an amazing school. The kids get to do specialist in art, music, library and PE. every week. The specialist are an enriching wonderful part of their day and my kids find so much enrichment and joy in their experience with the specialists who clearly care and give all they have to the students. The staff are very responsive and involved in the care and well being of all the children. The principal is out regularly before and after school checking to make sure he knows the children's name and checks on their well being. I have spoken with many parents with kids at garfield and the feeling is similar with experience of appreciation and feeling fortunate to be at Garfield.
Submitted by parent on December 02, 2018

Two kids go to Garfield and they have love every minute. We also love the teachers and principal. The neighborhood is great too!
Submitted by parent on December 16, 2017

My experience at this school was a very poor one. My daughter attended kinder here and even though I like some of the kinder staff. The teachers are not supported by the principal and are left overworked and under appreciated. My daughter got bullied repeatedly by the same kid who bullied several others in their class. When it became physical bullying I went to the principal and he chose to dismiss it and seemed bothered I even came to him in the first place. If your considering this school and are readings these reviews, don't risk it, take your precious children to a school where the authority figures actually have authority and will take their jobs and your children's safety seriously.
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2017

Terrible. I shouldn't have to fear for the safety of my kid...
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2014

After a great start at Garfield with a phenom kinder teacher, I couldn't have been happier for my child to attend Garfield. The honeymoon was over and problems started. I felt so in the dark while my daughter attended 1st- and part of 2nd grade at Garfield. A common theme I recognized not only from my daughter's experience there, but from other parents is that there were so many concerning student/student & student/teacher interactions that just got swept under the rug. My daughter was pulled in the counselors office to be questioned about another child's alleged sexually explicit language in class and I was never contacted. The icing on the cake was my child's entire 1st grade year she was told by her teacher that she had "reading difficulties". I insisted that there was a disconnect somewhere because if anything my child was an ADVANCED reader. Teacher persisted, didn't listen to me, even wanted her to take a summer reading program for struggling students. We transferred to Griffin and not surprisingly my child was placed in an advanced reading group. Staff don't take parents seriously and concerns are minimized. Tara Mock, kinder, is the best thing about that school.
Submitted by other on August 19, 2012

i remember the days back in the 80s when this school was filled with fun adventure and lots to learn helpful teachrs and a pricipal that would have fun with students... but i see times have changed..
Submitted by parent on July 10, 2011

I had my daughter enrolled in this school and within a month I had to pull her back out due to her 3rd grade teacher not being a good teacher. The teacher was not able to explain things to me about my daughters school work or the school work of his classroom. He was rude to both me and my husband and treated my daughter rudely also. I also witnessed him being mean to other students and not understanding of why the child was upset. My child loved going to school and always looked forward to going until I enrolled her in this school and got that horrible teacher. I had to build up her confidence level due to this bad rude teacher
Submitted by parent on March 12, 2011

We are in our second year at Garfield and my daughter loves her second grade class! She's had the benefit of looping with the same teacher and class, and has made great progress in her reading and writing. I value the diversity in the classroom and the strong teacher that she has. Garfield also has a great many energetic volunteers and interns through partnerships with the local colleges - they've done some great afterschool programs and provided extra help in the classroom.
Submitted by other on November 05, 2010

Garfield elementary is a poorly run school. The teachers and staff are disrespectful to the students, volunteers, and other staff. Teachers seem to regard little value in the students as people. The academics are mediocre. The principal does not show strong leadership, and seems to be apathetic about what happens in the school. Though there are a few good teachers, overall, they seem to lack respect and often gossip about the students with other teachers.