Sligo Creek Elementary School

500 Schuyler Road

Silver Spring, MD 20910

School District

Montgomery County Public Schools
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
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 January 07, 2025

Sligo Creek is a great school with a robust and engaged PTA and community. We have a new principal, Ms. Schwartz, who is wonderful.
Submitted by parent on April 19, 2022

My son was enrolled when the principal was in her last year at Sligo. Then they got a new principal Mr. Rand. While my son was attending the French immersion program he had three teachers in kindergarten because the teacher was on leave. The substitute that they used was the beginning of an awful journey for my son. Parents called the school to tell stories of their kids being terrified to come to school because of her. I'm assuming they chose her because she was fluent in French. She was awful to the kids. So much so that a parent who was fluent took over the rest of the school year (and I am forever grateful!) First grade was ok. The teacher was stern but seemed ok. My son cried a lot but it got better. Second grade the teacher was literally the worst teacher that I have ever encountered. My son was a thumb sucker and she shamed him one day by calling him a "baby" in front of the class and threatened to send him back to kindergarten. She admitted to me that she did do this. The principal did nothing. We had a conferences where she told another parent that she should advise her son to get better friends than my son. Of course the parent came to me and told me this. Again, outraged and the principal did nothing. I wrote a letter. So did other parents. NOTHING happened. The principal lasted two years and is gone. The second grade teacher (there are only two per grade) is STILL teaching. My advice? If you have a son who doesn't just sit when commanded, who likes to talk, then this is not the right program for him. For some reason parents of boys did not jive with her. I was warmed. Another student in his class told his mom, "madame---- hates ------." "She makes him sit alone." As a teacher I am still outraged by this!The curriculum is also antiquated with its worksheets "Becky est si jolie." Zero diversity in their teaching methods. We finally took him out so he could attend 4th grade elsewhere. Worst experience. So very sad. Not all the teachers are awful but you don't get to choose their teacher so there ya go.
Submitted by parent on January 15, 2019

Most teachers are great it is the staff that is worrisome.
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2014

My kid is a first grader in Sligo Creek. So far so good. French Inmersion parents overrate the school simply because they got in this lottery program. Sure, the kids learn another language that the parents in most cases ignore, and they praise it. But it is known they do fall behind as much as kids in the Academy. We are in the Academy, my daughter is thriving, but she does speak multiple languages, so excellence has NOT to do with the FI program, but with the kids, and their extended environment. The programs are the same, but in different language, so there shouldn't be a difference in the quality of what is learned. The principal should be more receptive and sensitive to kids with learning issues. Like in any school, the quality of what your kid will learn, will depend on the teacher, and the family environment, NOT the program kids are in. This is one of the biggest failures of Sligo Creek, the bias of parents that think they are superior because they are in a lottery program, and their inability to recognize that they are praising what they do not know. If the quality of the parents was better, the school would be a total 5 stars.
Submitted by parent on June 14, 2014

It was the best of times, it was the Worst of times. For those in the french immersion and some who excel in the Academy, it was great. However, for the average to below average students in the Academy, the school is fraught with classrooms where learning is much more difficult than it should be. My child was there from K-5th grade; The older he got, the more senile the principal seemed. Her decision making was horrible. She is arrogant, stubborn, and condescending. My child was placed in a "mixed class" of fourth and fifth graders last year. When we found this out just before school started, I asked the principal if she was planning to make the mixed class a little smaller, more manageable for the teacher. No was all she said. In the Spring, when I realized my child wasn't progressing, we hired a consultant to go in and observe the class. From the feedback, we realized the teachers were working really hard, but the classroom "mix" made for an environment that was not very conducive to learning. Teachers are the saving grace there, as is the assistant principal. They are caring and dedicated.
Submitted by other on June 13, 2014

Well based on the letter regarding your policy of inclusion, appreciation, and respect of students with special needs and / or autism, it appears you should get a rating of ZERO. LETS HOPE ITS NOT POSSIBLY TRUE. You wouldn't make the cut in our school district in Canada.
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2014

MD school systems are ridiculous, I am a New Yorker, I moved into this area due to my military service obligation. My experience with this school was very unpleasant, my 5 yr old was placed on a bus, when he was supposed to go to the "in-school" aftercare program. The bus driver dropped off my child without a parent present. Luckily, while I was at work, a friend of mine saw my child wandering my apartment complex and picked him up. The teacher's response was:"a 5yr old is old enough to follow instruction" ... No apologies, but that if my child was placed on a line to attend aftercare he shouldn't have strayed; their dismissal is total kaos at that school. We moved to another district because this is only 1 of the many many issues I had with the school.
Submitted by parent on April 02, 2014

I think Sligo Creek Elementary school is great. Our child is in the French immersion and has learned so much. Last summer we enrolled our kid in an expensive French camp and were actually less impressed with their offerings than the ones at SCES. We are so pleased with the teachers, who are engaged and attentive... and even the aftercare has been wonderful.
Submitted by parent on March 09, 2014

We have been very happy at this school. Our child is in the academy program and instruction is strong. Our child excels in math and writing and he receives appropriate enrichment in math and the teacher works with him to home his writing assignments. We love the specials teachers, especially music and PE. We are very excited for the outdoor classroom and the unique And spontaneous learning opportunities it will provide. I have not noticed staff turnover or spoken to anyone who was demoralized.
Submitted by parent on February 03, 2014

I am not sure where parents are obtaining some of the data. The most recent post states that there is a high turnover. As an involved parent volunteer with children in the school for 12 years, there has been no turnover in staff for the past 4 years. The principal is responsive and caring. She is outside almost daily to greet students, even in the snow. We may not like her response and the answer may be no, but her mission is clear for the school and our children are the beneficiary of academic gains and a school that is child centered. Teachers across the board are dedicated and hard working. It is a diverse school with three programs, who are blessed with outstanding staff. My children are doing extremely well in high school, and middle school as a result of the strong foundation provided at Sligo Creek. Any child would be fortunate to be here...and PS...my child is in the Academy program.
Submitted by parent on January 28, 2014

School leadership is not responsive to needs of students with learning issues. The staff is hindered by administration in what they can do. There is regular turnover of staff and many new teachers at the school. I would not recommend this school at all.
Submitted by parent on August 06, 2013

We have found Sligo Creek to be...OK. In one of the other comments a parent in French immersion stated that "Both programs appear to be given equal attention and resources." I disagree. As a parent of an academy child the difference in attention and resources between the two is painfully apparent. The French immersion children have more cultural opportunities, without corresponding "science" or "technology" opportunities for the "Academy" children. The school could do more to make it feel like the Academy is not just a place for the kids who weren't lucky enough to get into the French program.
Submitted by parent on March 05, 2013

We have a child at Sligo Creek Elementary School. We find the school to be average. Our child's class sizes have ranged from 26 at the low end up to 28. We find most of the teachers to be wonderful, but they have expressed their frustration about the limitations put on them by the Principal in how they can teach. Forget about going outside for a spontaneous teaching moment, if going outside is permitted at all. Recess is often held indoors when the slightest of weather conditions occur. The Principal is not responsive to parents and is condescending to both parents and children. The PTA is a nightmare, social-wise -- very clicky. We were warned about it before we sent our child there and all the tales turned out to be true! The great thing about this school is the French Immersion Program. Everything else is average, but mainly due to the leadership and not the teachers.
Submitted by parent on January 15, 2013

Sligo Creek is a wonderful school. My daughter has had outstanding teachers. Class sizes have been good -- 17 to 20. The facility is well maintained. The Principal and other school leaders are doing a top notch job. There's also a very caring ethos -- lots of nice kids, good parents, healthy diversity too.