Burnt Mills Elementary School

13313 Old Columbia Pike

Silver Spring, MD 20904

School District

Montgomery County Public Schools
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

public

School Map for Montgomery County Public Schools

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 November 21, 2023

I cannot simply ask for information from the school. If I want a copy of anything, I need to figure out where to find it (e.g. IF and where I need to log in or if it is on the website or email) and then make myself a copy. Office is no help.
Submitted by parent on May 12, 2022

Hello Im a Parent and I hate this school beacause subway surfers is blocked and they hit my child cause of bullys
Submitted by parent on September 04, 2020

I have two daughters at BMES. Both in the spanish immersion program. We are really happy with the school, teachers and school as a whole.
Submitted by parent on September 24, 2018

The teachers are very involved in the individual success of each child. The staff esp the leadership are very supportive. The PTA is very active and is doing an excellent job of mobilizing the parents.
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2018

Excellent. The adm and teachers are great
Submitted by parent on March 09, 2017

Every time I walk through the doors I feel very welcomed. I enjoy being with the staff and other parents. My children love their teachers. They always have wonderful things to say about them.
Submitted by teacher on March 02, 2017

Principal: A+Assistant Principal A+Reading Specialist A+ I've worked at a few mcps schools and this is one of the best work environments I've had. Everyone seems genuinely happy here. I have great friendships and great relationship with the principal.
Submitted by teacher on December 28, 2016

The staff try their best, but admin do not back them up. Behavior is out of control in many classrooms, and it's not due to lack of teacher management, it's because admin and parents accept the behaviors and do not give consequences. Teachers have no power, and you can tell the teachers are worn down.
Submitted by teacher on December 23, 2016

Ever since the new administration came on board, the changes have completely revitalized the school. The teachers are highly motivated and work tirelessly to meet each child's needs. The Spanish Immersion program is such a great program that puts students on the path to bilingualism. They are constantly improving and taking parent feedback and ideas to heart.
Submitted by parent on December 17, 2016

This is the worst school I saw in the area. Think twice before moving your kids to this school. A big red flag a teacher who has problems to express herself in English, plus kids with terrible behavior that punch, bulling and are very disrespectful to others without an appropriate intervention from the teachers and staff. If you thinks this is bad, we have more; a teacher who calls his students are "a shame" and they "know nothing", throwing objects and instruments in very angry form in his class. Principal and school staff didn't said nothing to parents about it and that teacher continues working as nothing happens. I can't believe it!!!
Submitted by parent on March 16, 2016

My son's in the immersion program. His teacher seems a little "old school," but genuinely cares for the students. The principal is amazing, supporting students and their families. Really tries to build a community of support. Her work's cut out for her, as it's a Title I school with its typical challenges. Teachers are great. I feel welcomed here and attribute the positive atmosphere to the principal. Unfortunately/fortunately the principal makes all the difference at a school.
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2015

We are fans of Burnt Mills Elementary knowing that the staff is super dedicated albeit the school is on the "old" side. Kids received chrome books this year and all of the classes of promethium boards. The teaching staff is on the young side and highly motivated. We love the new principal! She is warm and bubbly...everything you would expect in an elementary principal. Overall we are happy and look forward to our youngest starting kindergarten in the fall and our oldest in the fifth grade.
Submitted by teacher on September 25, 2014

Lots of changes have come to BMES this year! We have an awesome new principal who is warm and interested in every child and family. This year 2014-15, there is a new counselor, who spends the whole day helping kids be happy and successful at school. It's like BMES is a totally new school. Right when you walk in, the office staff is warm and inviting. There are new procedures for drop-off and pick-up. Everything is very organized and everyone is very caring. The kids are so excited about the "terrific tickets" program. They get a little ticket when they "do the right thing." Then we have a raffle on Fridays. Everyone is working hard to make Burnt Mills the best school for every child.
Submitted by other on June 12, 2013

I agree with the parent who said that the school is like a prison. The school is preparing the children for jail. There are no celebrations because they "don't want to take away from instruction" and the kids are badly behaved. The Spanish Immersion does not help because there is so few students that it causes the English Title 1 classes to have more students than necessary. 30 children in a 4th or 5th grade class of students is too many for this population. As a title one school they should get the numbers awarded by the state for low-income schools. BUT because they have to include the spanish immersion classes (only 30% of the school if that) the most needy students are squished into a classroom and "managed". This is the reason for the prison like feel and the stressed out yelling teachers. Administration needs to change...the whole program needs to change. Everyone is unhappy.
Submitted by parent on May 05, 2013

My son is in the BMES spanish immersion program and i have to say from K-3 has been nothing less than an A plus experience for my family - it is truly AMAZING with an even more amazing spanish immersion staff! we are hopeful their program will maintained at this high level of excellence in 4 &5 grade levels but not sure how to accomplish? The BMES immersion program truly could provide future MCPS children with wonderful opportunity!
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2013

My child is a 3rd grader in the Spanish immersion program here. Our experience with the school has been perfect so far with supper dedicated immersion teachers and great classmates. We have had fine interactions with the administrators and the entire staff as well. The 4th and 5th grade immersion classes need a few more students and to be better supported. Immersion education strengths our competitiveness in this global economy.
Submitted by parent on February 19, 2013

I ABHOR this school. It is a violent (from the students' behavior) and unsafe (regarding staff unawareness) environment. The noise levels caused by the exceptionally loud staff and badly behaved children are intolerable. The violence and poor behavior of the children is frightening. Children as young as kindergarten are treated like criminals. It is what I always imagined an inner city school would be like. The focus is not academics, but a crime and punishment approach to teaching children as young as kindergarten age. If you love your child, do not send them to this school.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2012

I do NOT like this school, and neither do my K and 3rd grader. My 3rd grader is a quiet gentle child who takes a little longer to catch on sometimes, and twice she has told me her teacher has made her cry from yelling at her. My k student told me his teacher grabbed and squeezed his hand because he was playing with a pencil when she was saying something. They put these little kids in charge with their safety patrol belts and they think they have the right to yell at the top of their lungs at other children, while the outside staff looks on. I didn't want to enroll my kids here but I got stuck doing so because of the zoning. Never have we complained about school like now. And goodness these children are loud and just about out of control (I have to blame the parents for this because I live in a building where at least 80% of the kids that go to the school live in. Im not discriminatory but this building is 95% populated by African people and they are extremely loud all over the place...I'm African-American by the way). The school is just like this building...loud, out of control, and unorganized. Please do your self a favor and enroll your kids in a school that loves them!
Submitted by parent on February 09, 2012

My daughter is finishing first grade of the Immersion program and I am very happy with the school. After thoroughly researching where in Mont County could my daughter attend while we pay less than $2000/month in housing, BMES was our top choice. We have bus transportation and my daughter is on the path to being bilingual. The class is very crowded and understaffed compared to the other 3 classes of 1st graders, but this is one of three spanish immersion programs in the county. Very diverse, very good administration overall, only good teachers thus far, and my daughter is very happy. PTO is excellent, organized and encouraging at every interaction. Go Eagles!
Submitted by parent on July 31, 2011

I am mother of student who went 3 years in Burnt Mills and got very good grades in MSA math and english. Now she is in Key MS and she got bad grades this year and did not pass her tests and needs to do remidial clases. Now I know what she tells me that teachers at Burnt Mills only teach the test not subject because if the teachers were good an advanced student in grade 5 should not be struggling in grade 6. Former parent