Stewart Elementary School

2750 Orchard Lane

School District

Lakeshore (Berrien)
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

public

School Map for Lakeshore School District (Berrien)

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 November 22, 2019

The staff, teachers and especially the principal are dedicated and professional.
Submitted by parent on June 01, 2017

I cannot say enough about this school. The support they show for their students and the respect displayed for one another is present daily. It truly feels like a family with one goal in mind. They are caring and considerate and love our children. My children have had wonderful experiences throughout their time at Stewart. The teachers are amazing! I am in awe of their dedication and eagerness to make learning fun yet effective. I think administration and support staff are always present and smiling and just as dedicated to our kids.I have volunteered at the school many times and have always felt welcome by everyone, from when we were new to the school and still today. Stewart school is a gem, I'm proud to say my children have gone and do go to Stewart Elementary.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2017

I have had children attending Stewart for many years and sadly it has gone from great to mediocre at best. The best thing about Stewart are the teachers. Most are solid, caring educators. Unfortunately they are micro managed by administration which makes it hard for them to really serve the children well. The atmosphere of the school is one I would compare to military school. There are zones throughout the building - and they are labeled such - and children must obey at all times. Consequences are lost recess time, lost lunch time, etc. A child talks too loud and they lose lunch time? Yes indeed. Keep in mind lunch time is already only 20 minutes so even taking off 5 minutes is 25% of their lunch. Let's starve the children as I am sure that lends itself to great learning in the afternoon. And they better behave at lunch time also or they can sit at the reflection table which is basically a table for shaming the children in front of their peers. The PTO leaves a lot to be desired. The leaders are very exclusive and you must be deemed worthy of their time for them to treat you respectfully. They think everyone is wealthy and do not respect the fact that the majority of Stewart families are not well off and consider even $5 important. Their fundraising process is horrible. They keep track of who donates what and constantly remind everyone the percentage of families who have contributed. Again, no respect for the lower income families that simply can't donate.
Submitted by parent on January 31, 2017

PTO is full of women who think they are better then every one else. They don't seem to understand that not all students come from high income families and harass families for money all the time for donations. I think they actually keep track of who donates and how much so they can keep asking the ones who havent. They pride themselves on being welcoming but shut out volunteers if they don't like them. It seems the principal likes to be a part of the cool club and does nothing to stop the behavior. But they can't get the clue to why they struggle to get volunteers. Ask around it is sad what parents at other schools have to say about Stewarts reputation. I agree with the previous reviewer who said the atmosphere is like a military school. They use these number zones all over the school so the kids have to be silent. Indoor recess is just sitting the kids in front of a tv in the media center and making them sit quietly or the whole group is punished. They dont get to play games or talk to each other. There is also a table in the cafeteria they call the reflection table which is nothing more than a table they sit the kids at who are being punished. More or less to shame them. And don't you dare talk in the lunch line, because if you do, your lunch time will get cut down to nothing. They do a lot of group punishments instead of discplining the child/children causing the issues. This school's test scores are down and I can see why. there are some good teachers at the school, but some need to remember they are teaching elementry school and not older kids. there needs to be more focus on education and less on being quiet, following zones, and being punished for stuff other kids are doing (usually talking).Also dont bother complainging about anything because even if you are in the right you will be branded as a complainer and troublemaker. If they treat parents this bad I can only imagine how the kids are treated behind closed doors.
Submitted by principal on April 10, 2016

The school staff and teachers work together as a team to help each child be successful. We love this school!
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2015

Unfortunately this school has really gone down hill. The kids are expected to act almost military/robot like, having to constantly be quiet, group punishments galore for talking, etc. Already too short Lunch and/or recess often get cut even shorter due to not being quiet. Kids don't get to sit with their friends at lunch, to keep them quiet. There used to be a great community feel to the school, now their just seems to be a lot of ill feelings towards the school. The teachers are great, but with common core being taught in full force, even the best students struggle. The school socks holds at least 50K in the account every year due to fundraising and profit, yet nickle and dimes the parents constantly. Just an overall loss of what this wonderful school used to be. Numbers in this school are down, and we will likely switch our children in the coming school year. Sad.