Rockport Elementary School

34 Jerdens Lane

Rockport, MA 01966

School District

Rockport
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:12
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 February 13, 2022

Excellent, caring instruction from the best group of elementary school teachers I've ever come across.
Submitted by parent on January 09, 2021

I currently have a child in each of the three schools, elementary, middle and high school... Our experience has been exceptional at each school- even through this current pandemic. In fact, I feel that the small school environment has totally been a major plus during this pandemic. The faculty and staff are able to give so much more attention to the needs of each individual student because we are in such a small community.My highschooler started there as a kindergartner, so we have seen the elementary and middle school perspective through his experience K-9th grades thus far. With the exception of one year, every teacher he had was exceptional. One year I would classify as mediocre/above average. It was a year in which this teacher was about to go retire, and the the class was difficult with some challenging students in the group. It was still a perfectly fine school year experience, and he did not lose ground on his learning. But I know a few other students in his class made it difficult. That’s to be expected in any elementary experience! And perhaps he has even benefited/ grown from his experience that year. The other elementary/ middle school years have been so exceptional with such wonderful teachers, which made that one year feel mediocre by comparison, but not enough to cause us any worry. The superintendent of the schools at this time, in 2020, is an exceptional man with incredible experience behind him. The school does struggle with budgetary challenges and a fair amount of town resistance to bolstering the budget (many retirees living here). But every year during election period, I do have to say that the families show up to vote and our voices are heard/ counted! We moved here from the city because we like the idea of raising our children in a small school environment, and the fact that the community itself was so vibrant, with so many amazing outdoor opportunities at our doorstep, from beaches to walks in the woods. We do not regret moving here- which was partly for the school system, and we certainly do not regret moving here for the lifestyle that our children lead… They can hop on bikes, walk safely through town, Buy ice cream or candy with friends downtown, explore beaches and wilderness on their own, all very safely! Living here is very special, and we wish that more families could afford to move here! We have given our children the gift of childhood In the small community!
Submitted by parent on June 18, 2019

I know 5 friends who have pulled their kids out of this school due to bullying and another 3 who live in Rockport but chose to choice their kids to Gloucester due to being bullied there when they were kids, so it's been a problem for a long time.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2018

Overall my experience with this school is a good one.
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2016

Beautiful school, great teachers, terrible administration. Student teacher ratios in many elementary school classes are currently upwards of 22:1. Rockport is desperate for funding, due to a limited property tax base. The numbers are so bad that the town now "choices" in over 230 students. While the school offers amazing programs, including well-regarded special needs, it does not have the staff, resources or policies in place to serve the needs of their students.
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2015

Teachers at RES are amazing. Unfortunately, the Rockport School Board and Superintendent have and continue to sell out the community and students who attend RES. The school is quickly becoming the Gloucester School Annex District due to school choice. I am personally not opposed to school choice but feel when it impacts the education of those kids who reside in the district vs those who that do not, the school must act in the best interest of the children in the district. This is not the happening currently in the Rockport School District. Here are a few examples, the kindergarten and first grade class sizes ballooned to 22 this past year and as a result, RES has added an additional kindergarten class with little fanfare. Aids are not on full time leaving our teachers with 70% coverage. Kids are now eating lunch at 10am in large part to the facilities not capable of supporting the influx of students being added to the roles not to mention severe maintenance issues across all three buildings (RHS, RMS and RES). As a parent with one child in the system and one to be going into the school in the next year, if you are considering enrolling your child in RES, I would suggest taking a hard look at the future of this traditionally small community school. It seems the people in charge are happy to run the schools from spreadsheets and not in the best interest of our children's education or the community that supports them.