Hellen Caro Elementary School

12551 Meadson Road

School District

Escambia
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 May 02, 2022

My daughter is medically complex. In many other schools she would've fallen through the cracks or I would've had to fight tooth & nail for services. That is not the case here. To say the teachers & staff have gone above and beyond for her is an understatement. I know they love her and do everything in their power to see her succeed. She has blossomed in this school.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2021

Great school! We’ve had great teachers for both of our children and if there are any issues the teachers are responsive. My children love it and so do we. I wish it went up to 12th grade. If you read the bad reviews, you’ll notice they look like reviews from kindergarten moms who are surprised by how real school actually works. For instance they offer breakfast before school starts so of course your kid needs to be finished by the time the bell rings. Take them earlier if they need more time or feed them at home but don’t blame it on the school because you’re kid didn’t eat in time. The principal and vice principal are also helpful if you have a bullying issue or any type concern. They welcome communication with parents because they want to help.
Submitted by parent on August 08, 2021

Avoid this school if you have the opportunity!! It is so focused on fund raising but we never saw the benefits. My kiddo came home multiple times in tears because of the fund raising “goals” they pressure onto the children. Unfair since the neighborhoods are saturated with other kids doing the same fund raising, that’s just one example. My kiddo wasn’t given enough time for breakfast and was told to throw it away if it had been opened. And had a tray thrown away due to low funds that I was never notified of. I’m so glad we got out of there!
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2021

What an awful school. Everyone brags and plays this school up as one of, if not THE best elementary in Pensacola. However, they might be if your kid fits perfectly into the box, if your child has any different type of learning style their teacher will just gather documentation to support their policies instead of trying to find ways to positively encourage a child and get better results out of them. What a sad waste of student and teachers time.
Submitted by parent on August 15, 2017

CHILDREN LITERALLY GO TO CLASS HUNGRY!. If your child eats breakfast at school. I have witnessed first hand children being told to throw their breakfast away and go to class because the bell rang. Most of these children were stuck in the car rider line or late bus, not to mention children have to walk through the cafeteria go to class drop off their bag just to go back to the cafeteria to eat breakfast. My son went three days without breakfast because they told him to throw unopened milk, cheese cube package and his scoop of fruit away and to eat his packed donut in class. Well his teacher told him to put it in his backpack and eat his breakfast at home! I watched several confused children throw their entire trays of food away and walked out of the cafeteria with nothing at all to eat!! Could you imagine being five years old having to get up at 5:50 every morning and go to school have nothing to eat til after 11 when kindergarteners eat? My Son would have to get up at 5:30 every morning to eat at home and still have to wait til lunch as his class does not do a snack. Not to mention the food WASTED!My oldest daughter, now in high school, said when she went to Caro student were eating their breakfast in the bathroom!! Why? Because teachers wouldn’t let them eat in class and they couldn’t eat in the hall on the way back to class!! Hello!! People why aren’t CHILDREN allowed to eat their breakfast!!
Submitted by parent on July 15, 2017

This school is run by the PTA and the teachers are often incompetent and ineffective at classroom management and instruction. It is very difficult to get meetings with teachers and the staff is often rude to parents. It is not a welcoming place and has a general negative vibe. The focus is on the FSA and there are weeks of preparation for the standardized tests to the point that the curriculum is not even followed. Children with disabilities are the biggest losers in this ineffective school because teachers do not in eat the time to learn the children's IEP's and are often in violation of following the IEP guidelines. Families of children with disabilities are told not to attend Hellen Caro by the principal. The rest of the children who are not lucky enough to get assigned to classrooms with one of the few good teachers are doomed to a year of non stop test prep and insincere attention. I wish I would have take. My children out of this school but I kept hoping and trying to make it better.
Submitted by parent on June 25, 2016

The best elementary school in the area hands down. Just remember what makes a school great is not the walls or fancy computers (the school has some of best in this category), but it's teachers and relationships with parents that make it go from good to great!
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2015

I sent two children and things have changed with the administration, the teachers, and the curriculum over the years
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2014

Our family moved to the area specifically for our children to attend this school and unfortunately it has been a disaster. There is no structure, no discipline, and no real learning. The staff is exceptionally rude and uncaring. There is a lack of professionalism and integrity within the administration and a blatant disregard for the safety of the students. Many of the teachers try but seem discouraged and overwhelmed. Curriculum differs widely depending on the particular teacher. Parents don t have a voice and there is a real need for a parent organization to be established to fix the Escambia County School District. They are failing our children and failing our country.
Submitted by parent on November 03, 2014

It pains me to say Hellen Caro was once a fantastic school. Sadly, this is no longer the case! After having our twins attend school there for over two years we discovered the classrooms lack structure; the environment was chaotic; the administration was largely unresponsive and unsupportive of its teachers, and the staff was in fact often rude meaning on more than one occasion. The PTA held meetings during normal banker s working hours and seemed to discourage actual participation from working parents. Yet, what s worse is that our children hated going to school. We really tried to make it work; however, after 2.5 years of frustration and banging our heads against the wall, so-to-speak, we finally dis-enrolled our children from the school and enrolled them in a private school.
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2014

My son went to school here for 3rd grade and his teacher was great in helping him get up there since we went there almost at the end of school. The only downfall about this school is that they didn't make my son feel comfortable as a new student he was teased by other kids and they did nothing. The office people are definitely rude! I transfer my child out of that school and as I walk away the ladies start talking about me and I can hear it! They need to be thought good manners and be polite..come on people this is voted one of the best school do me a favor and change your attitudes!
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2014

This school LOOKS good on paper and online, but when you actually visit the actual school it is way below par. The hallways are noisy. The staff and teachers are rude and do not give you time of day. They are not friendly at all. And then the gossip is bad. You should not be a parent and hear about what people are going through and all their problems and issues through the grapevine. Really? Are these adults in High School? Apparently they don't know how to be professional. We transferred our kids out of there. As proof of lack of professionalism, one of their Hellen Caro teachers approached my child's current teacher at a district competition and had nothing positive to say about my child. That teacher then decided to spread gossip as to why we chose to leave the school. AND if that teacher is reading this... it was YOU LADY! You did NOT give my child a safe and comforable learning environment. You could not differentiate your teaching to allow my child the opportunity to be successful. And my child was not thriving with you. Sorry, but you are not a good teacher. Done and done with that school!!!
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2014

We are a military family and came to Pensacola, FL in 2011, my son was starting 2nd grade. His 2nd grade year was great! He had a wonderful teacher, the school was always helpful. 3rd grade year was even better! Excellent teacher, even though she was new to the school, really encouraged the students. Once again, school was always there! 4th grade year was a little more difficult, but only because the teacher's style did not agree with my sons style of learning and it being a transition year, but with help from home he pulled through with A-B honor roll. Overall the teachers and faculty at this school are wonderful and he has benefited from this school tremendously!!!
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2013

My daughter attends kindergarten here this year. Overall I'm pleased with this school. There is room for improvements on the security. Also some of the front desk staff could use a refresher course on good manners. My daughter's teacher is a great teacher. My daughter loves her!!!! Also, my daughter enjoys going to school everyday. You can feel how much her teacher enjoys being with her class. I appreciate being able to have lunch with my child and I'm so happy that I can bring my two year old along with me. I would highly recommend this school. It is the best in the area. Also I would like to thank Mrs Lucero in the front office for being kind to us. Also Mrs. Arndt, thank you for being so good to my daughter.
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2012

this school is probably the best school in the Escambia County area. I cannot say enough about the teachers, and the Principal.
Submitted by parent on August 13, 2012

This will be my daughter's 4th year here, and i really enjoy the atmosphere. Every teacher she has had is very good. I love the open door policy and i can come anytime to talk with the teacher, have lunch with my daughter, and volunteer for projects. The teachers are extremely helpful and concerned if a problem arises. I only intended for her to go there for one year as i had plans for her to attend Pensacola Christian Academy. I am in awe of the wonderful staff there and their concern for anything that I may have a concern for. Great job Hellen Caro teachers!!!! Keep up the good work. :o)
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2012

My daughter attended this school in kindergarten. Although we appreciated the open door policy very much - parents can walk their children to class EVERY morning throughout the year, etc, our observations were that the school staff often yelled at students, barked orders. The car line staff yelled at my daughter on her 1st day of kindergarden causing her to cry. Terrible! Her teacher was very reactive and did not respect the children as actual human beings. The office staff are not friendly. We do not miss this school.
Submitted by parent on March 29, 2011

My son has been going to this school for 3 yrs and he has been doing fantastic. He is a special needs child and all of his teachers have been amazing. They are there for him and meet his needs. I love this school.
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2010

The school is a rich welcoming environment . The teachers are the best. My son is in K and can sit down and read a book all by himself. The school offers so many special activities and events which really help to create a sense of community. We are all very proud to be part of Hellen Caro Elem. I am wowed and in wonder any time I visit at the artwork of the students displayed inside and outside of the building. The school carnival was great fun. My son loves his school. His teacher is amazing! Hellen Caro provides a wonderful education.
Submitted by teacher on April 18, 2010

A fantastic school with some of the most energetic, professionals I have ever worked with. I have worked at this school for 14 years. The attitude and caring nature of the staff and teachers is reflected in the students themselves. Hellen Caro is a safe, fun place to go to school and learn. Our special area staff, music, art, physical education and media center are top notch as well as the facitlities!