Pound Ridge Elementary School

7 Pound Ridge Road

School District

Bedford Central
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:6
Type

public

School Map for Bedford Central 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 17, 2023

I could not be more impressed by PRES. The Principal, teachers, administrators, PTA, and the parents I have interacted with are all warm, inviting, and community focused. The school looks at all areas of student learning and development: academic, physical, and social/emotional. I love that this beautiful little elementary school!
Submitted by parent on May 30, 2023

Most of the teachers are specializing in Special Education, so if you have a child that is gifted in Math and Science and is excellent reader in 1st grade they will do nothing. Moving up in grades is impossible. Teaching is mediocre. I don't know who came up with idea learning reading through emotions. I am glad I move my kid to private school.
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2020

Outstanding experience all around. Good class sizes, engaging teachers, outstanding environment.
Submitted by parent on July 07, 2020

PRES is a hidden gem. Pound Ridge is itself a very special, tight-knit community, and that feeling is reflected in the school. The teachers and staff are incredible, and truly care about the kids. There are fantastic programs, such as the after school PRIDE program, that help distinguish PRES from other schools. My one child has moved on to the middle school, and PRES did a great job preparing her for the change. My current PRES student loves school and cannot wait to go everyday. It really is an amazing school.
Submitted by parent on June 27, 2020

We raised 2 children here, both of which went through the public school system from K-12. (One with a learning disability.) Our experience with PR Elementary was wonderful. Our kids loved going to school, loved their teachers, loved their friends. They are very different from each other, and both thrived. Teachers were dedicated and devoted to every student. We always felt we could reach out to them any time without hesitation. Our girls continued to thrive in the public school system, and went on to highly academic, rigorous colleges. I am grateful for the foundation and confidence instilled in both of them in their formative years.
Submitted by parent on June 17, 2020

My three daughters went through PRES. Great caring environment, solid academics. On most days, the kids were eager to go to school - there was always something exciting waiting for them. I am grateful to all of the teachers. After all, it is all about teachers and the absolute majority of teachers at PRES are excellent.
Submitted by teacher on June 05, 2020

Fantastic great small neighborhood school..just like the ne I went to when I was young...made friendships I still have today.Great thing is, this school feeds into a large integrated HighSchool..which I think is so important, especially in these times.Good mix
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2020

We have had a great experience at PRES for the last 4 years with our daughter. Our 2nd daughter will begin K in September. PRES has great leadership throughout the school- the principal for the last 3 years is fantastic. Our daughter has had a great teacher every year who takes the time to find out each child's needs. PRES has staff to provide extra math & literacy support. The community at PRES is awesome. They have a wonderful CARES program that is part of everything they do. The strength of PRES has only shined brighter during this pandemic. They are organized, effective and truly care about the kids & every single family. We bought our house in 2008 because we wanted to be part of a community with a strong public school district & now that we have experienced it, I believe our school, PRES, is an amazing example of what a public school should be & demonstrates the positive impact that small public schools can have.
Submitted by other on May 17, 2020

2 children who completed k-5 at PRES, now in High school. Amazing academic foundation, caring teachers, prepared by grade 4 for online learning (Google classroom-earlier and more effectively that other ESs). Community spirit, amazing enrichment opportunities. Cannot believe this is a public school. Priceless experience.
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2020

We have 2 children at Pound Ridge Elementary. Their skills and aptitudes vary greatly, but both have had wonderful experiences and receive extra help where they need it. The principal has made a big difference in the past few years. She is very positive and responsive and she goes above and beyond! The children love her and she makes it a happy place for the kids daily.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2019

My two daughters have had a great experience at this school. All of their teachers, in and out of the classroom, have been wonderful- caring and receptive. The principal is on top of things and is very approachable.
Submitted by parent on July 23, 2016

Pound Ridge Elementary exemplifies all that an elementary school should be. All three of our children (who are all different learners) have found success in learning in a safe, comfortable environment. Nothing but positive experiences from this school. We are more than satisfied with all that was provided for our children. We're lucky to have this little jewel of a public school in our town!
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2015

I'm completely unimpressed and have resorted to tutors to supplement my (average) child's education. It feels as though classes run at the pace of the slowest child. For example, in 3rd grade the kids only made it through 2 of the 6 units in the ELA Journeys program. Teacher quality is very hit/miss. Parents are extremely pushy and always in the school disrupting/distracting with their pet projects. There is a very anti-parent attitude amongst the administration--pick up was changed so that parents stand outside (regardless of weather). Security is so high it's more a prison with simple common sense being left far behind. For example, if volunteering you must sign out, walk all the way around the school to pick up then walk all the way back around to sign in again and get back to your volunteer work. There is a revolving door of Principals--2015 sees the 3rd one in 5 years. Anti-bully program is overkill on the good kids and ignored then not enforced on the problem kids.
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2014

We have had 3 children attend the PRES - we could not be happier with their education experience.
Submitted by parent on March 24, 2014

Good school. Teachers put in time/effort, doing their jobs well. Aides do more than than their job helping out with the overabundance of parent-run activities. Principal is involved--see him everyday at drop off and pick up and nearly all the special activities. Specials instructors are spectacular. Service providers could be better--my child says many times the speech instructor has the kids color while on the phone during their session. The OT specialist plays games instead of focusing on gross/fine motor skills as outlined in my child's IEP. Also this school takes all the special-ed kids in the district negatively impacting the school's performance on state tests. Is there such a thing as too much teacher involvement? Could be it's here--kids are pulled out of the classroom for a myriad of parent-run assemblies. I wish the test scores reflected the good education kids are getting here. The focus is on educating children not test-taking skills. There needs to be a better balance.
Submitted by parent on September 18, 2013

We have 3 children recently graduated from Pound Ridge Elementary school plus we are close friends with numerous neighborhood kids still there. A school is defined by the teachers that work there, and you will not find a more dedicated or experienced faculty than the teachers at PRES. It is true that standardized testing requirements have changed the nature of the curriculum, but all New York State schools are struggling to come to grips with the same issue and PRES is not alone in this problem. The teachers are responsive, the parent community is actively involved, and students of all learning levels are met with tailored learning regimens. Parents should feel fortunate to have their children attend PRES. Sadly, there are always a few individual situations in every school that do not match parent expectations to actual results. Our 3 children score in the 99th and 98th percentile in reading and math so I can assure you PRES has what it takes for those that are patient and work with their kids to get the most from a public school education.
Submitted by other on March 13, 2013

I write with sadness that our once amazing little school has deteriorated into a test-taking factory. Everything that made PRES the 5 star school you read about in posts dating back to 2010 and before are spot-on. All of the attributes they list are now gone. Like all public schools, PRES has fallen victim to NCLB and high stakes testing, which has forced more and more test prep. Beloved projects that kids did for years have been removed to make room for 'more rigorous curriculum'. The kids don't have much fun in class anymore, my kids complain they hate school now, something they never did before. But 3 hours worth of practice tests in 2 days will do that to a 9 year old. Leadership here is weak, morale is low. PRES is not the place it once was. Parents are treated as outsiders now, under the guise of improved security in the aftermath of Newtown.