Pioneer Elementary School

1655 Carlyon Avenue Southeast

School District

Olympia
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
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 July 17, 2021

Pioneer staff and teachers are warm and friendly. They genuinely care about the kids that go there.
Submitted by parent on October 03, 2017

Academically it was not the worst I have seen. However, they put my child in the pickup lane with a broken bone. No had called to let us know about the playground injury. I guess they hoped we would not notice. I would never trust the character of any child who thrived at Pioneer Elementary - it appears they taught them only to CYA.
Submitted by parent on August 08, 2017

Yes, this school looks the best if you compare all the usual data. But for our forth grade daughter her experience was uninspired and boring. Pioneer looks the best, because I suspect they teach to the tests at the expense of making learning interesting, engaging, and broad. Too little time spent on any subjects but math and ELA. The staff is stretched so thin they were never able to provide the gifted and talented services our daughter and others in her classroom should have received. Lastly, this school isn't kind to newcomers. The entire staff seems to assume all the children and families have been there since first grade and therefore know how everything works. My daughter missed an entire quarter of reading points because she was never informed...the teacher and principal's response "oh, I guess we needed to tell you that, most kids have been here and knew it..." Argh. If high test scores are your goal, this school is for you.
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2015

Our son is thriving at Pioneer. It is an outstanding school. The culture is healthy, caring, and happy. We feel fortunate to be a part of the school.
Submitted by parent on September 09, 2014

So far we love Pioneer, the staff is kind, professional, and loving. We feel lucky to be able to send our children there.
Submitted by parent on August 19, 2014

Have had 3 kids in Pioneer. No issues at all. I look at the date of the remarks beloew (2009-2011) about bullying, etc. Not in the recent past for sure. My kids have gone (2nd-5th grades) since 2012 and have had great, engaged teachers. Kids will do as well as the involvement of their parents - that's a fact. I fine school as are most in the Olympia School District. Very happy and strongly recommend it to anyone looking at moving here (we're in the military and definitely move alot and have seen alot of good and bad schools across the country).
Submitted by parent on August 05, 2014

This will be our fourth year at Pioneer. My son will be entering the third grade and my daughter will be in the second grade. As a former first grade teacher I have been overly impressed by the teachers, the principal and the office staff. I believe my children are engaged in a learning environment and truly cared for by the entire school. Pioneer is a neighborhood school, many of the teachers, the principal and the school employees live in the neighborhoods where the students live. There are days where over a hundred bikes are parked in the school bike racks. As for the comments about lack of structure at recess... The playground is staffed and has rules and limitations but Isn't that what recess is for? As for bullying we have not experienced any bullying but I feel the teachers and principal are easily accessible and would be open to discussing parent concerns.
Submitted by parent on April 12, 2013

We love Pioneer now. Our kindergarden teacher is great! I admit, I was disillusioned over the summer before we began, as there was no contact from the school during the summer after the Sneak Peek. I had hoped for a welcome letter (or postcard, or e-mail...) with a bit of info for us about our new school and where/how to get information. As first-time parents of an elementary-schooler, we were sort of waiting to receive a supplies list or something. Turns out it's all on the website. Maybe a letter, postcard, or e-mail with this tidbit would be helpful to the parents of new kids... It's quite a change after the over-informational style of preschool! As for the bullying comments below, my child hasn't experienced anything, but I do see a missed opportunity in that the kids aren't taught how to interact on the playground at recess; it's sort of a free-for-all. It seems like there could be some structured/active teaching going on with the kindergarteners during which some bullying prevention education could occur to prep them for how to behave for the rest of their time there. "An ounce of prevention..." Overall, we're very happy there.
Submitted by parent on May 12, 2012

We recently moved to the area and were very excited to start our 2 oldest boys at Pioneer. At first, things seemed great, but now that we have been here 6 months, they don't seem as great. Our 1st grader is doing well. He is advancing, but I don't feel he is being pushed to his highest potential. Our 4th grader is miserable here. He has had a hard time fitting in and is teased and bullied quite often. Prior to moving here, he loved school, had a lot of friends and was quite happy. Now, he hates going to school and is sad at home a lot. I have contacted his teacher and she says she doesn't see him during lunch/recess when socialization is allowed. Not sure what to do now. We are thinking of moving out of the area and finding a school that is a better fit for our family.
Submitted by other on July 07, 2011

Disgusting, horrible, unappealing. Theese are just some of the things that describe Pioneer. If your kid has a special need the teachers will NOT help at all. I seriously would rather move to a different continent than be at Pioneer. If you want your kid to be a boring, obediant, robot then I would send them to Pioneer. The kids at the school are mean, horrible and judgmental. Competition is encouraged and promoted by the staff and so they're is a lot of fighting and drama between kids. I would never ever reccomend this school... EVER!!!!
Submitted by parent on July 05, 2011

Both my boys attended Pioneer and we've had a very positive experience. We've had teachers at the kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade level (a total of 5 teachers) and they've all been excellent. Neither of my boys experience excessive competition and grew academically and socially. We found the teachers to be professional, creative, and supportive. One of my children has special medical needs and was supported and accommodated during both of his years. We've loved our time at Pioneer. PTA involvement is excellent.