Castlio Elementary School

1020 Dingledine Road

School District

Francis Howell R-III
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

public

School Map for Francis Howell R-III 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 April 21, 2024

Awesome school with great teachers and staff.
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2024

The Principal at this school is a joke!! He doesn't care about kids, he only cares about his power trip! He will NOT protect your children or advocate for them in anyway. He will only belittle them and make them fear him. Instead of building kids up, he breaks down their self-esteem until they no longer want to even attend school. Or until they aren't allowed to because they defend themselves!! Also if you're an office worker there, coming to a students house with your husband, to intimate and threaten a child IS allowed! They don't care, nor does the superintendent, who doesn't even return emails of concerns. So if you want your kid to get punched in the face, adults allowed to physically touch them with no reprocussions and not be allowed to protect them or they protect themselves, this is the school for you!!
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2024

Would not recommend. Had multiple very bad experiences with more than one child here that have devastated my kids. Staff using poor judgement with how they handle student situations, not notifying parents(or notifying days/weeks late). If we get notified, it's only if our child did something bad not if something bad happened to them due to other's fault of staff. Principals and staff don't keep their promises, even if making a plan with parents. This makes them loose parents and children's trust in the school. Kids are pushed to "own their actions" but the staff doesn't own their own actions any time they've done wrong, which I experienced many times. Multiple times my child got in trouble for something that wasn't their fault and staff making them "own it," multiple times staff used poor judgement and choices but never apologized or made it right.
Submitted by parent on March 18, 2017

Castlio is an amazing community school with and awesome staff and terrific leadership.The school focuses on student achievement.
Submitted by parent on August 02, 2016

The principals all take their time to get to know the children and they make such a great effort to resolve any conflicts that arise in a timely fashion. They not only have the parents of the child who go to this school supporting them, the whole surrounding community supports this school and the principals!! The teachers are top notch. Children with disabilities make tremendous strides forward due to the amazing teachers, low incidence teachers and therapist they may work with throughout their years at Castlio!! The staff is super friendly and are always willing to help whenever they can!
Submitted by parent on May 01, 2016

We had heard so many great things about the Francis Howell School District that we decided to look for our next home in the FHSD boundary. We did our research and talked with residents around several elementary schools. We absolutely loved the feedback and feeling we got after visiting Castlio. It's a excellent school with so much to do, and it's a school that is surrounded by houses. It's convenient to get to, both for school, or after hours for playground use, or field use. I have 4 children and all have had rigor education through Castlio, Bryan Middle, and Francis Howell.I think we made the right choice on where to move!
Submitted by parent on March 07, 2014

My child is a kindergartener at Castlio. The orientation night was so unorganized and no one was around to tell parents where to go. His teacher is great but I am so disappointed with the principal. The principal is NEVER available. In person she has never introduced herself, (just walks right by) never smiles, and seems very cold and unapproachable. The school is in desperate need of color and cheer. I am also sad that there are very few activities planned. I get the impression the staff is always in a hurry to get out the door. I think the school would greatly benefit by getting a new cheerful principal and some brightening of the environment. The principal is the face of the school and Bridgett Niedringhaus doesn't deserve that role from what I have observed.
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2013

Overall a good school. I had a bad impression of the principal as well. She gave me the stink eye for not knowing how things worked at the school and there were several moments last year where misunderstandings took place because of a lack of communication to newbie parents. I wish I had been given a manual of basic policies because I seemed to learn everything the hard way. As far as PTA goes, I went to one meeting and there were only about five to ten parents. The good news is, his kindergarten and first grade teachers were both stars. He seemed to really enjoy going to school every day, and he learns a lot. I see the school has top ratings, and the caliber of the teachers must be the reason. He really loves the huge playground.
Submitted by parent on May 02, 2013

The principle that I have mostly dealt with, Dr. Bridgett Niedringhaus, is very unapproachable, cold and rude. Any time I've tried talked with her, I get the sense that she is too busy to talk with someone beneath her. It's really a shame, I would like to be more involved in my childrens school, like I was at their previous one, but we just don't feel welcome here. The principle is suppose to be the face of the school, and the face is not one of warmth, care and nurturing. (There previously were more negative reviews here, mostly about the principles, it's curious they are now gone)
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2011

My special needs girls attended this school from K-3. Although the school is not bad all around, it's not great for children with special needs. The biggest issue we had was the principal. She is not supportive of anyone who doesn't come from money or doesn't bend to her every will. She needs to be more understanding of the children she is supposed to be a role model for. For the most part, the special ed teachers tried to be understanding but also did not try to become educated about my children's disabilities. They tried the best they thought they could and I am thankful for that. The school they are in now is miles ahead of Castlio.
Submitted by student on November 26, 2008

N/A