Monarch Elementary

224 Five Forks Road

School District

Greenville 01
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
Type

public

School Map for Greenville 01 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 07, 2024

I have two children that have gone to Monarch Elementary, one of which is still present at the school. For both, I have been extremely satisfied with their teachers, the staff, and the school atmosphere. Whether or not a child enjoys going to school is significant to their wanting to learn (no different than how miserable it is going to work when you don't like the atmosphere of your job). I can't think of a day my two children did not enjoy attending Monarch Elementary. I am glad they are and were able to attend this school. If your student does attend this school be active in their education. Show up for events. Get to know their teachers and staff. In addition to just providing suggestions, play an active role in volunteering. My kids have loved seeing my wife and I in the hallways, on field trips, and during functions at school. We have always felt welcomed as a part of the Monarch Family.
Submitted by parent on October 16, 2024

Heard great things about this school so was very shocked and disappointed in the experience we witnessed. Leadership is incredibly poor and teacher disatisfaction is palpable--which in turn trickles down to the students. PTA group is only a select, small group of parents managing and implemeting all events with very little staff presence or involvement and burnout. Principal is very much absent and disengaged unless he has to be for funding purposes , school is very hyper focused on test scores and test scores only, matrix driven- a very robotic and stressful atmosphere that gives no autonomy to teachers, therefore in turn destroying a child's curiosity and spirit for learning.
Submitted by teacher on July 06, 2024

If you are considering applying for a job here I would think again. The principal is completely inept at his job. He allows the parents to dictate how the school is run at the expense of his teachers. He cannot make an informed decision without throwing a teacher under the bus. He will not support the teachers with behavior, nor will he support teachers when parents are being unreasonable. He will just give the parents what they want and, more often than not, find some way to shift the blame to his teachers. He would rather put one of his teachers up as a scapegoat to keep the district off of his case. The culture among the teachers is, what I can best describe as, toxic. There is constant bullying from a select group of teachers. The principal is fully aware of this and allows the bullying to continue. In fact, the teachers that cause the most drama in the school often receive the most recognition. So many teachers have left Monarch because of this very reason. The turnover at this school is insane. Year after year it’s a revolving door. Between the lack of support with parents/behavior, and the toxicity among the staff it is no wonder. However, when people tell the principal they’re leaving he just acts completely shocked. Im quite honestly surprised the district has not started investigating the high turnover. There is a reason the staff is made of primarily younger teachers. Anyone who knows better stays far away from this place. If you are considering coming to work at this school, for the sake of your mental health, look elsewhere.
Submitted by other on December 05, 2023

Extremely disappointed in this school. Have always heard great things but since sending my child here it’s been a disaster. No structure in the classroom, the principal does not care about the children and will not give them the help they need, even when they have all the resources available at the school, he just chooses to keep sending children home. Staff communication to parents is horrible. Definitely going to try to switch my child to a new school next year because they will NOT be returning here after summer, also because they have made my child hate school and it’s a battle to get my child to school daily.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2023

Monarch aims for a well-rounded education through a variety of related arts programs and project-based learning. I enjoy the smaller classroom sizes that my child has had this year and have been impressed with weekly communication from the teacher, principal, and PTA for pertinent information about my child, and the school. Mr. Loach is approachable and empathetic, I feel like he and the administrative team care about my child. I am happy to see the school improve with new building projects and programs to enrich my child’s education and social emotional well-being like an outdoor learning center and upgraded playgrounds. As a parent who works in healthcare with persons with disabilities and special needs, I am glad that there has been a focus at Monarch on inclusivity by having a buddy-program, inclusive playground, and offering opportunities like meeting healthcare professionals and learning about how they help others in their communities. My child experienced learning difficulties, but I felt like they were met with a team effort to strategize for their success. My child also experienced one bullying incidence that was immediately resolved when I reached out to the teacher who responded with professionalism as they carefully validated feelings and prioritized my child’s physical and social-emotional well-being through supports and classroom modifications out in place. I’m happy my child is here and feel like they are not just learning the basics, but discovering who they are and how they fit in the world around them.
Submitted by teacher on September 02, 2023

If you are thinking about working here, don’t. It’s an extremely toxic teaching environment. The students and parents are great. However, administration doesn’t handle teachers that bully other teachers. The administration isn’t in charge of the school, the bullying teachers are.
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2019

Overall good experience. My kids have come through with straight As, high performance on standardized tests, have enjoyed their school, have made friends, and learned responsibility while there.
Submitted by parent on September 04, 2019

It feels that school cares more about its ratings than what kids really learn.
Submitted by student on August 12, 2019

Absolutely terrible, boring, bad, and the teachers pick favorites.
Submitted by parent on June 03, 2019

very disappointed with the school. I will be withdrawing my kids from this school.
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2018

The principle does not communicate to the parents timely. We find out our student's teacher is out on leave and we have been through 3 subsitite teachers. Horrible..... Children need a consistant teacher or subsitute in a classroom. Homework is overboard. Children do not learn from homework. Monarch, please take the approach of other schools in the area and let the children play after school(sports, outside playtime). The kids can't talk during the day so give them afterschool to be kids! Class sizes are VERY large compared to other schools in the area.
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2018

It feels like my child is only a number at this school. The school is too big, the classes are too big, the car line is ridiculous. The teacher has made very little effort to communicate with me or my student in anything other than generic mass emails about fundraisers. I'm sorry but if you have time to send out multiple daily emails about fundraisers, you should make the time to send home a weekly homework sheet or folder with the assignments WRITTEN DOWN on PAPER, so that it is clear for students and parents. Homework worksheets should be PRINTED out and sent home, it should not be the parents responsibility to print them. The only homework done on the chromebook should be assignments that can be electronically submitted. I am all for technology but if you are going to assign busy work like worksheets, please PRINT them out. Honestly, they are getting way too much homework anyway, sometimes as much as two hours worth in the 5th grade. I also don't care for the class changes, I would prefer that students have one primary teacher (at the most maybe switch classes once) for elementary school. Everyone that works here is pleasant and always smiling, so that is a plus and the students are all very respectful and kind to one another. So great job on that, that's half the battle. But please work on making the school experience more personal, it shouldn't be a one size fits all philosophy.
Submitted by parent on September 03, 2018

We aren't zoned for this school so we choose to send our kids here. It is, by far, the best school in our area. Great teachers who offer fun and educational projects to keep the kids busy and happy.Bitter people leave bitter reviews.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2018

We were definitely sold a bill of goods. Ended up taking our child, along with many many many other families who have had enough of Monarch Penetentary!
Submitted by parent on July 14, 2018

In our four years at Monarch I feel my child has received standard to above standard education for my expectations from a school. I do not support all the rules incorporated into this school but see the need for some rules to give students, parents, teachers, staff a more controlled learning curve. Because we do not attend this as our district home based school I do feel sometimes we are not getting the same treatment as we might if we were in the social clique of the community surrounding Monarch. But my child has thrived in the hands on project based learning offered at Monarch. This school does offer a lot more than some of the schools in our area but it does mean expectations of parent time and money is always at the front. The PTA has been superb in getting money raised to keep this school running in such a high standard. Although I sometimes wished we would help a struggling school instead of raising the expectations even higher with unneeded supply. This said I do think it has helped to make this school stand out but we are giving back to already privileged students. As far as administration goes, I do not see a principal being so military she isn't good for the role of elementary. She does know my child's name even if she has had little to no one on one with her. She isn't always standing over them yelling or demanding of the students she just isn't as warm as some would want. The AP is very friendly and seems to be involved in making sure things run smoothly. The office staff has been extremely friendly and helpful and have known who we were from day 1. With almost 900 students at Monarch I would say a small feat. As far as teachers go I wished more had more experience in classroom field but I understand it is part my job to teach my child what the classrooms can not. I do not expect the school, any school to give my child everything. Parents have to do some of the leg work if you want your child to be a success.. Overall I give this school 4 out of 5 stars. It has potential to do good it needs to step up in some areas to do great. But no school can do it without support. We will continue for the last 2 years at this school if possible.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2017

I just love Ms. Overman. She is the most caring and likable principal I have ever met!
Submitted by other on November 16, 2016

My children transferred from their home based school 2 years ago and they could not be happier! They are very proud of where they attend school and have flourished at Monarch. I find Teachers and Staff as well as Adminstration very approachable. Opportunities are present at Monarch that were not offered at our home based school. It is a perfect fit for our family and we feel blessed to be part of the Monarch Community.
Submitted by parent on September 14, 2016

We have been to various schools. Our child needs a calm controlled environment. But also to be challenged academically. Monarch fits the bill. No school is perfect. So expecting a school to be perfect puts pressure on everyone and skews expectations. If you have a problem, make a conference w the teacher. If that doesn't solve it, you have the option to have a school counselor mediate a discussion bt you and the teacher. If all else fails make an appt w Mrs O. She may not be bubbly bt who cares? Does that mean she does not care? I met with her several times bf this school even opened its doors. She is a wonderful person. If you meet with a teacher or an administrator with all guns out, you are going to get nowhere fast! Be calm and try to come from a place of understanding and meeting in the middle. Goes a long way to finding a solution. I am aware of several crabby teachers left here. But that is life and crabby people are everywhere we go. My son had a horrible teacher at a private school. So even if you PAY dearly for a private education, you are NOT guaranteed a perfect Mary Poppins teacher. Get in school and volunteer! Help out. They need it. Being at school helps so much. But to complain and sit at home does nothing but stir the pot. Unfortunately people who leave Monarch probably find out that life is not perfect wherever you go. Yes, there are things I dislike. The math curriculum stinks. I feel penmenship should be focused on more. But that is something we work on at home. Just my two cents. This is an excellent school filled w caring teachers and awesome families. Take the good with the bad, show your kids how to handle obstacles in a productive way and enjoy life. It is way too short.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2016

Monarch Elementary is an AWFUL school.Mrs. Overman is very unapproachable and unkind as a principal. She lacks the the ability to take comand for concerns brought to her attention. On a regular basics you can witness the staff speaking very poorly about the Administration within the school and how much they dislike their jobs. We selected Monarch for our children and regret that decision. We will be attending our zoned school for next year. The staff is very young and lacks experience. We have children in multiple grades and it's very noticeable how unaware and in touch they are with the curriculum and task at hand. If your looking for a MILITARY style school that's out of touch, not personable and then Monarch is for you! Early childhood Education should be a memorable and fun experience while learning!
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2015

There is no ideal school, however, it's always easy to complain instead of contribute and improve. I work hard with my children at home and don't ever rely on school only. Therefore, when they are at school they don't feel stressed, they love each and every day. Also, kids have fun the most in school where they see their parents contributing their time or whatever they can contribute. Anything helps:) People, stop complaining, help your children to enjoy the school, teachers always are happy to get help, in ANY school:)