Fruitville Elementary School

601 Honore Avenue

School District

Sarasota
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 other on April 23, 2023

I subbed for several years at this school, working almost every day. I got to be in all the classrooms many times over. This school is one of the best schools I have ever been in. I worked as a teacher for over 40 years in Special Education, in several states and several positions and can honestly say, that I loved working so much at Fruitville, I stopped subbing at other schools in the district and worked exclusively at Fruitville. There are many positives to say about Fruitville. All of the staff works very hard at making children feel valued and helping them to learn. The entire school participates developing a positive learning climate thru teams and special activities. The special education department of the school works to ensure kids can be assimilated into regular classrooms as much as possible to benefit special needs kids and to help "regular" children be more accepting of students with learning differences. The school climate is warm and nurturing. The school counselor is very involved with helping all students develop strong social and emotional coping skills. The staff makes volunteers and substitutes feel welcome and appreciated. While I worked there, it was like working with a big, extended family. I loved that school! If I had young children and I wanted them to go to a good school, I would pick Fruitville in a heartbeat!
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2022

My oldest child attended from K-5th grade, and my youngest child k-2nd. We all absolutely loved this school. The kids have fond memories, and speak fondly of Fruitville. Great teachers, great PTO, and wonderful opportunities. The students are recognized for their efforts, lots of positivity.
Submitted by parent on August 11, 2015

Fruitville is an outstanding school. The teachers really care about the students, and teach them to respect and encourage each other. A great example: As I sat in the audience of a student awards ceremony-- the student body sits in front to watch some of their peers receive various awards-- I was impressed to see many of the observing students giving high-fives and congratulating the award winners. Every child has different strengths and needs, and at Fruitville, they seem to make an honest effort to get to know each child and to accommodate them specifically, with individualized attention in the classroom, and many specialized programs on-site, including one for sensory processing, and their renowned gifted education program. It's been a wonderful experience for us.
Submitted by parent on March 16, 2015

Very disappointed in the entire school. Fortunately my son has only 2 months left and moving on to middle school. It hasn't been a good experience. He is in the Spark "the gifted program" and its been a mess. They have lost the best Spark teachers since he has attended, they even had the Principal run off in the middle of the 2015 school year. The have no clue how to run the program and its at the expense of the children. My son has been verbally abused at the school by some teachers of which is on record. The best thing that happened at the school was his first 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Johnson, you will be so fortunate to have her. As for the rest, good luck. His 3rd grade teacher was not even qualified to teach gifted yet they allowed it anyways. Don't rely on the liason there either, as she is extremely rude and I'm not really sure what she even does for the children. Anyways, that's my opinion. I would recommend any other elementary school even if not gifted.
Submitted by parent on July 30, 2014

We moved our 2 boys from the montessori school to this one. They are both in the full-time gifted (1st and 2nd grade last year and now entering 2nd and 3rd). We selected it over pineview and couldn't be more pleased. The teachers (thank you Mrs J and Mrs C) couldn't be better. Our boys have flourished and the extra activities they get to engage in are outstanding. We love it so much we 'choiced-in" for our 3rd childing entering kindergarten in 2014. Dr Kingsley is one of a kind and her love for the school and the kids remarkable. I think its the finest school in Sarasota!
Submitted by other on May 20, 2014

Very good school for learning. But the teachers see someone getting bullied they do nothing about it.
Submitted by parent on April 09, 2014

My daughter attended this school for a very short period of time I did not like how the prek kids are segregated in the trailers . The teachers and staff are not on the same page if you care about your child education I would not recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on March 07, 2014

If your child is self-motivated and a textbook learner then Fruitville would be a great school for you. However, if your child has a different style of learning then what his/her teacher was trained for, RUNaway. You will be constantly told that you are a subpar parent and any concerns you have will fall on deaf ears.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2013

This school is Amazing! we love it here, moved from a well known charter school- Suncoast Academy to Fruitville, and it has been exceptional! Can not say enough about the staff, just fantastic! Dr. Kingsley runs a great school! I am so happy there, our daughter has just flourished! I would recommend it to anyone! As for having issues with the ESE department, I love their ESE programs, and love how it is structured. They have a can do attitude and do whatever it takes to make a child successful!
Submitted by teacher on February 12, 2013

Fruitville Elementary is truly an outstanding school. I was a teacher there and then moved to a different state and I can tell you that I would go back in a heartbeat if I could. I would also be so thrilled if I could send my own children there. The teachers are phenomenal. They individualize each child's experience and encourage creativity. Dr. Kingsley only accepts excellence. She is so warm and caring and open. The teachers enjoy going to work each day and that translates into better teaching. The Spark team (gifted program) is just as good as Pineview, if not better. If you have the choice, choose Fruitville!
Submitted by parent on December 17, 2012

I really am not sure exactly who posted on 10/10/12 but they have some personal issues that have nothing to do with the quality of the school. My daughter has been part of the gifted program from kindergarden. She is so far from acting like an adult. She is very active and is by far, not the most well behaved. However, she is doing great. The program is amazing. The staff is amazing. She has never, ever had 1.5 hrs of homework and she is in her 5th year there (4th grade). So if their child had 1.5 hrs of homework, maybe they need to look at their child's work ethics during class. Dr. Kingsley could not love each of the kids more. Somehow she knows all their names and most of the parents. Not sure how, but I am amazed when I watch her interact with the students and parents. Her car is there early in the AM until late in the PM. The post from Feb 11, 2011. FV has the best Austic program in the county. They are in the portables, so they have their own pod with the own playground designed for the safety of the children in a fenced area. I guess the 2nd graders in the portables in the back "are kept away too"? Geez......
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2012

We came from out of town. We rented in Fruitville area because we heard it had a great gifted program Our son had an EP for his gifted. We were extremely disappointed when we were informed we had no say in our child's edcuation. They don't meet the whole child's needs there. If your child doesn't fit their mold of what a gifted child should be, then you are just shoved aside. If your child is not a pefect child who doesn't act like an adult and if you don't like 1.5 hours of homework a night. I would look elsewhere.
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2011

This is a fantastic school! I have a son in Miss Sharon's Pre K class and she is just fantastic, as is Fruitville's principle Dr. Laura Kingsley. We are so happy to be apart of the Fruitville Elementry Family!
Submitted by parent on February 11, 2011

I would NOT reccomend this school at all!! Especially if your child has any special needs.. they keep them away from other general ed children in portables (only children that are in portables). They basically just warehouse your child instead of educating them. Recently removed my child from this school and it was THE BEST decision I ever made. She is doing wonderful at another school and is with gen ed children w/ support!!!! PLEASE if your have a special needs child don't consider this school!! they won't give your child what they deserve.
Submitted by parent on January 25, 2011

All the teachers are excellent at this school!!!!!!!! You couldn't ask for a better principal and atmosphere!:-)
Submitted by parent on December 13, 2010

We have had such a great experience at Fruitville - I would highly recommend this school to anyone.