Ft Sam Houston Elementary School

4351 Nursery Road

School District

Ft Sam Houston Independent
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

public

School Map for Ft Sam Houston Independent 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 December 10, 2024

Students with disabilities are getting Little to no support. They are being warehouse and poorly run special ed classrooms that function more like overpaid babysitters. No learning is happening there.Accommodations are not being met, and there is no accountability.
Submitted by parent on January 08, 2022

I wouldn’t send my student anywhere else than Fort Sam Elementary. It’s a hidden gem where students are loved and have endless opportunities. They invest time and money into the changing times. Our students have access to state of the art techs and more continues to purchased based on the needs and discovery of new things. The principal and his staff are present - in the cafeteria and classrooms constantly. They are seen and involved. The teachers want to be there- of course some are at different stages in their career and have teaching styles, but in my experience they go out of their way to connect and teach. I’ve been extremely happy with our time here.
Submitted by parent on January 28, 2020

It's been really bad with my kids, grades always down and when they changed schools grades went up
Submitted by parent on September 05, 2018

It's been amazing. I will be sad to leave this year.
Submitted by parent on February 20, 2018

My children have been attending this school for two months now, and so far our experience has been great! I homeschooled for four years, and thought the integration process was going to be dreadful, but the staff has made everything so easy for us. I do however think that the curriculum for my 5th grader needs to be bit more rigorous; I believe he's not challenged by the work. But, overall, the staff is very attentive and most importantly - I feel safe with my children attending this school!
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2018

This school has a very large student population, and kindergarten classes have one teacher with class sizes over 20 students. The pre-k program has two teachers per classroom and also follows the same hours as the elementary grades. There are some great teachers here, and the office staff was always welcoming. The education seemed very mediocre. The amount of time spent watching shows and movies completely surprised us. At least twice a week, the lunchroom plays non educational, sometimes even PG rated children's movies. I imagine this is an attempt to control noise, but I strongly believe the students need the social interaction and time to communicate. Computer lab special area, which also meets twice weekly, consists of minimal time on typing games and a lot of free time on sites like Nick Jr allowing more access to watching shows. Our family was used to movies in school used more seldomly and as a student reward. We were shocked to learn this and even addressed our concerns with administration. There are many studies about children not transitioning from screen time/activities easily and I can only imagine this put teaching at a disadvantage after students watch Pokemon and other related shows. If our family is stationed again at Ft Sam, I would consider an alternative for elementary school for my children to grow and learn. I think smaller class sizes, more rigor, and less tv/movie time would encourage and help them as lifelong learners. I hope this review is helpful for other families as they navigate finding an elementary school.
Submitted by other on February 04, 2016

Let me tell you about this school. Probably if you are moving here you are trying to find out great information on this school and if it is a good fit for your child. You can stop, breathe and be done. This school is incredible. Dr. Hyde is a great principal and we called before we came to let her know our needs with our 2 kids and she was amazing. We have loved all the teachers, who go out of their way to know the name of your child. There are great opportunities for fun and learning and any issue I ever had was handled swiftly and with a smile. We love this school and will be so sad to leave it this coming summer. Ms. Rios in 1st grade is a dream as is Mrs. David in 2nd. The Special Ed folks will bend over backwards for your child. We could not have been happier.
Submitted by parent on May 31, 2015

We are approaching the end of our time here at Fort Sam Houston Elementary and it brings me to tears. Each of of daughter's teachers have been amazing. We have been able to volunteer as a family, including bringing my little one who is not yet school age along for the ride. I love that there is Spirit Wear Friday every Friday. They have Read Across America Week and Red Ribbon Week that encourage children to dress up and show their school spirit. My daughter has attended Pre-K through 1st Grade and we are so sad to leave! We are so thankful to the staff that has embraced us and made us feel at home! Every school is what you make of it and we hope that we can find a school as caring as Fort Sam Houston Elementary at our next duty station.
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2015

Filthy, poor excuse for educators bully students and often lie to parents. Teachers only care about the STARR tests. A blemish on Ft Sam.
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2015

*sigh* Inmy opinion, this school is what where all of the dependent children that live on post get dumped into a mediocre, low budget learning environment. The teachers are jaded, the principal is non existent and the relationships between parents and faculty seem strained. There is no school spirit to motivate the children, instead my children are exhibiting the same stress to perform that is conveyed to them through their teachers everyday. A civilian school shows more interest in the children in my experience and possibly because these children are temporary to the area. There needs to be a complete overhaul to the staff and mission statement of this school in order to improve.
Submitted by parent on February 26, 2015

Omg I can't say enough about this school, we recently had to PCS and my second grader was so sad .both of my kids went here my son started here 4 th grade and went on to the middle school before we had to leave my daughter started in kindergarten and finish n second grade before we had to move.We love this school I have nothing bad to say about Ft Sam,the teachers are great staff are great.We are missing everyone in this school,let's jus say our new school were we moved are horrible,so it only makes us wish we were back at fort sam
Submitted by parent on September 06, 2014

Fort Sam Houston Elementary school has been such a blessing to our lives for the past three years. When we started our daughter's Pre-K year at Fort Sam she was speaking at a 3 year old level, her speech was delayed and I was so worried that she wouldn't be understood. Before school even started we met with the Speech Therapist and started the beginning phases of testing to create her Individualized Education Plan. She immediately started speech therapy and that year she grew leaps and bounds. Each staff member took the extra time to really listen to her and ensure that she was able to voice her thoughts without being left behind because of her delay. I could not be happier with this campus. The staff is so welcoming, greeting us in the hall each morning, and telling us to have a great night on the way out. My daughter's individual teachers have been wonderful as well. In three years we haven't had a single complaint, our daughter really enjoys school and her teachers. The parent involvement is Fantastic and there are many opportunities to volunteer through the classrooms, PTO and with outside groups like boy scouts and girls scouts. I would absolutely recommend FSH Elementary!
Submitted by parent on April 16, 2014

Currently three of my children attend Fort Sam Houston Elementary. The three teachers we work with are fantastic! They are willing to work with my kids when they have problems and they praise them when they are doing well. I have popped in many days, I have witnessed the lunchroom. There is absolutly no yelling going on there. The lunch staff is very kind to the kids.
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2013

My son attended 4th grade at FSH last year. His teacher was great with him. She was firm, but never resorted to yelling. Her expectations were always high. When she gave a grade that was lower than expected on Gradespeed she would put comments on why my son received the grade he did, (what the expectations were and what my son actually did). She was also quick to respond to all my questions. My son loved and respected his teacher greatly. My son was also in the GT program. His teacher was also great. She too had high expectations and did some amazing things with the students. My son learned a lot and had fun doing it. Other things I like about the school are the "Specials." There are far more choices than in other schools I've been too, including: PE, computer lab, drama, art, music and library. Finally, I feel the school is well equipped to deal with it's super special population of military children and would recommend it! The only thing keeping me from a 5 star rating is the building itself. It's definitely time for an upgrade into something more modern.
Submitted by parent on July 26, 2013

You can find great teachers at this school. My daughter did K-part of 2nd at Fort Sam Houston Elementary after which I home schooled her for the remaining part of the year. My daughter did not thrive here. Not to say that none can. My main qualm with FSHE is that kids are not allowed enough free time and are not treated like people. They are not allowed to talk at lunch and are yelled at as a group over a PA system. When they have adults visiting they are allowed to talk to them, but when I would go visit I wanted to leave because I felt so uncomfortable like I was being yelled at. The summer before 2nd grade my daughter's reading flourished and I watched her abilities digress as the school year wore on. There are teachers her who I love and think are absolutely amazing, but the hard thing is as a military parent it is you have to figure out who the best teachers and then ensure your child gets but in their class is hard. I have tried to stay objective through out this review, but I would not recommend this school. I would say find a rental in Alamo Heights their schools are great.
Submitted by parent on April 16, 2013

I enrolled my children at FSH for 5 1/2 months, while we were staying with my husband. In that time, my pre-k daughter would come home crying that she never wanted to go back and that the teacher was constantly yelling at the students. My 2nd grader developed a nervous tick from the class he was in. I went in to observe the class and left with 4 pages of notes on the teacher(s) - homeroom and music. I witnessed everything from pointing out children and comparing them (you are creative and you are not) to telling a child, who couldn't answer a question fast enough, to "just go sit down. If you can't figure this out then you don't need to participate." The final straw was the 2nd grade teacher telling my child that she thought there was "something wrong with his brain" and she was going to give him a little test to check... in front of the class. I witnessed lunch attendants yelling at children to be silent during lunch and the music teacher bait the kids to laugh and then would yell, "Do you want me to tell your teacher the way you are behaving and get your color changed?" I was mortified. We will be returning and my kids have begged to be homeschooled. We will be off post
Submitted by parent on February 20, 2012

We just moved away from this school and I am so glad we did. My daughters started pre K there and informed me of some very disapointing things after we moved. They said their teacher consistantly yelled at them to take naps and withheld afternoon snacks and treats for kids whom didn't nap. I don't think it is ever acceptable for a teacher to raise their voice at a student and espically young kids who in this case may have already given up naps prior to starting school. I have personally heard several teachers yelling at their classes just walking down the hall. My daughters also came home almost every day saying they watched movies in class (which my husband witnessed durring an early pick up) and saying they were not allowed to have recess because it was either too hot ot too cold out, even on days where the weather was nice and playing outside was possible. Perhaps the junk food they feed these kids for lunch and the fact that they have not been allowed to play outside contributed to the children being unable to take their naps. The facillity is also old and falling apart. I believe the men and women who serve our country, and their children, deserve better than this.
Submitted by parent on December 15, 2011

A little disappointed in the school. I have a child in Pre K we moved to SA a 1 yr ago. We were enrolled in a Christian Academy before moving here and was way more academically challenged. The first class there were only 4 children including our child that could write their name. We were constantly getting a color changed because of boredom with the slow atmosphere, we asked for more work to be given and it never happened. We had a meeting with Mrs Hyde ( love her ) and we got it straightened out. We were given a new teacher that challenges our child greatly, no more color changes, no more acting out, just a happy engaged child. This school needs more curriculum for the younger children, or offer a gifted program for the young ones.