Claywell Elementary School

4500 Northdale Boulevard

School District

Hillsborough
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
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 parent on February 19, 2025

This school is wonderful. I was lucky to get my son into this school on Choice as we were not happy with our neighborhood school. The teachers and staff are just fantastic. The front office ladies are so nice and welcoming. I would recommend this school to all parents who want an engaging and supportive education for their children.
Submitted by other on April 18, 2024

Have been at school from kindergarten through this year 5th grade. The school is very engaging. The students all appear happy at drop off and pick up. The school offers tutoring and clubs including rock band, chorus. Drum
Submitted by parent on May 01, 2023

We were unimpressed by the school’s score, big figured we’d try it for our Kindergartner. The school doesn’t do the school justice! The teachers are great! Our Kindergartner has learned to read, write and understands multiplication! The school caters to all abilities. Figured out the score is low because there are a lot of kids who don’t speak English as a first language (or none at all)! They are expected to hit the same standards as everyone else. I think it’s at estimate to the teachers that those kids can learn the letter sounds and basic site words! I know I’d have a hard time learning another language!I Think the score should be updated to reflect all the school is doing to serve all of our kids!
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2022

Great school. The ladies in the front office are great and friendly. My son really likes his school and the teachers. Even the cross guards are on point and go above their expectations. Thank you all for what you do for the students and the parents!! The community is wonderful and definitely an A+ school.
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2019

Disappointing. But after handling a few issues this year we plan to finish the year due to band and chorus and change schools for fifth grade
Submitted by parent on April 24, 2018

We have had mixed results with our kids’ education here. Our oldest has been here for 5 years and our youngest has been for 4. Have no complaints about our youngest’s education. They’ve had great teachers and wonderful accommodations for adhd. My oldest’s education has been more mixed. They’ve had some terrific teachers and some not so terrific. The bullying situation here is the main problem. It reared it’s ugly head for my oldest 2 years ago, and has been bad ever since. It seems like the teachers are sympathetic and help as much as they can, but administration gives it lip service and little more.
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2016

We have completed 2 years at this school and could not be happier. The administration and teachers are warm and friendly. They really care about the students here. I feel that my daughter has received an excellent education so far. They do a great job placing children in groups that match their abilities and needs to challenge them, or to give them the help they need to improve. I also feel that the majority of the children here are very polite and nice. My daughter loves her school and looks forward to returning in August!
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2015

I agree with a previous post, the events are unorganized and the kids are even often confused about their homework. The principal uses his "power" to intimidate and invalidate concerns. They "pride themselves" on being an A+ school, yet behind closed doors contradict everything they preach they stand for. Most of the teachers are great, but there are definitely a few bad apples that seem to get away with disrespecting the children (yelling at them and being sarcastic) instead of encouraging and respectful; it's sad.
Submitted by other on July 01, 2015

I live and work in the neighborhood with the children and parents. I am a former teacher and I know what a good school looks like! Very pleased!!
Submitted by other on January 08, 2015

I babysit a child from this school. There is a serious lack of communication. I have no idea what his homework is daily, or what is expected of him for his reading homework. The staff is impersonal. The events are unorganized. I am not impressed with this school and would not send my kids there.
Submitted by other on April 18, 2014

My school is one of the best in the county! They offer so much to the students and parents to be able to be involved in the education of our students. The staff and administration are supportive, friendly, and professional. It's very hard to suggest improvements when so much is right!!!
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2014

We transferred from out of state this year and have been impressed with the warm welcome we received from other parents and staff here. I feel completely comfortable reaching out to the teachers as well as the principal and AP. I enjoy volunteering at events, which isn't the case at every school out there! Communication from the principal and AP is clear and consistent. The only area I see lacking is parent involvement...it seems to be the same few volunteers at nearly every event.
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2014

The teachers, faculty, and admin are super friendly, helpful and kind. Both my kids have been here and I wish we never had to leave!!!
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2013

Staff if great my child has been very happy at Claywell Elementary. I also feel safe when I drop off in the morning and pick up in the afternoon. They set a great environment for our children.
Submitted by parent on January 09, 2013

I have one daughter that attends and one that is now in HS that attended there all 6 years. The school is good, however, communication lacks. When my older daughter went to Claywell, there was a homeroom parent for every class that assisted with communication. My youngest is now in 4th grade, and there hasn't been a homeroom parent yet. Art class was done away with. I rarely see paperwork sent home. Nor do I see requests to assist with the class in any way. If you ask, they tell you they don't need anything. So, much for parental involvement in the school. The previous principal that retired was VERY strict and didn't allow kids extracurricular activities with the classes that might actually be beneficial. Luckily, leadership has changed for the better!
Submitted by parent on August 18, 2011

We moved from out of state and this will be our second year at Claywell. Overall, the school is good and locally has a great reputation. I would however, give them a C- in parent communication. The monthly newsletter is often late with some of the events already occurring. There is no parent-only open house going over the curriculum and covering extra-curricular opportunities for children. It was a full year before I knew what the principal and asst. principal looked like, as their pictures are not in the front office and they are 2-3 pages deep on the school website! The weekly communication between teacher and parent varies with the teacher, but when I have asked my friends for examples of what they receive it is still, very limited compared to what I am use to. As a parent I do not feel adequately informed about what my child should be learning. The PTA is very active, but there is nothing published on what they spent the money on. When I do ask questions, people tend to be helpful; but the info. actively distributed is minimal.
Submitted by parent on November 03, 2010

We transferred in from out of state, and chose our house based on the fact that it was in an A-rated school zone. However we were quite disappointed with our experience at Claywell. The office staff was not the least bit friendly when we came in with my daughter's transfer paperwork. It has been over two years now, and unfortunately my opinion has not changed. Overall, the school is very impersonal. My daughter has had good teachers, but the ESE inclusion policy there hinders the class' momentum.
Submitted by parent on June 15, 2009

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