Roosevelt Elementary School

3205 South Ferdinand Avenue

School District

Hillsborough
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
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 April 03, 2022

If your child is on a 504 plan the teachers won't follow it. Unless things have changed, this school was very biased and prejudiced. And it wasn't just me. All my child's friends who were black and/or had learning disabilities were dismissed. It was a stressful time. I ended up having to do 5 hours a night of reteaching to my child after I got home from work. One teacher still works there that was horrible and mean. She actually followed one of the parents to the parking lot of the YMCA to "discuss" her child as she recognized her car. The mom cursed her out. I ended up hiring an attorney it got so bad.
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2021

Our daughter and son have attended Roosevelt for 7 years combined. We've never really had any issues and have found the community of parents and staff to be amazing. Our son went through a tough period at one point and the teacher and staff were supportive and helpful. Our daughter is in the gifted program and enjoys the extra activities that they do there. Most importantly our kids love their school and love going to school each day! We're going to miss Roosevelt when they are done.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2020

This school is amazing ! The teachers and staff are so attentive to student needs!
Submitted by parent on July 21, 2018

Phenomenal. Other schools could really benefit from implementing the programs that Roosevelt has started.
Submitted by parent on July 20, 2016

This neighborhood school is a gem in South Tampa. The teachers and administrators all have the best interest of the children in mind.
Submitted by parent on February 23, 2015

This school is an amazing school. The school is more of a community, all caring about the well being of students and families. Our expectations have been exceeded in all areas of academics, as well as the arts. Roosevelt has an amazing music program, which my daughters are both in chorus. They also have a drumming club (4th and fifth grade) and rock band (fifth grade) available. My children's teachers and support staff (librarian, counsellors, and front desk workers) have been amazing. It is a private school caliber education, with a public school price tag.
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2014

The school's attitude is filtered. If you aren't in the upper class, don't expect to see a smiling face, Unless you are lawyer, dentist, doctor etc. The administration office really act like Roosevelt is a private school. They basically forgot that it's still a public school.
Submitted by parent on February 04, 2014

I have many examples how the leadership can improve the school. The principal gave us a talk about a great program - conscious discipline. She says she follows this but this takes training for herself and her teachers and staff. I know that more parents would get involved if the leadership did not cater to a group of parents instead of working to include all parents. There are so many creative ways to work with kids and parents that help kids be better and learn how to be good learners and citizens. Change the culture because many of us do not feel part of the school.
Submitted by parent on October 13, 2013

Best school ever! Two boys at Roosevelt and could not ask for better teachers and staff. Everyone cares!!!
Submitted by parent on September 25, 2013

What a great school for the children. Community support is evident and the principal is approachable at all times. It is clear she is here for all children.
Submitted by parent on September 24, 2013

The school administration does not do well with diversity. They teach to a norm culturally and intellectually. While it is true that my son had a 504 for Aspergers, he still got notes home for doing things that were different. He was singled out rather than included. Inclusion is meaningless, unless students, parents, teachers and, administration know how to look at what is right with the picture rather than what is wrong with the picture. The principal is still telling people to go to Pepin Academy rather than thinking about inclusion for middle school. This kind of advice is not inclusion.
Submitted by parent on July 23, 2013

This school is great. Period. For those complaining of overbearing parents, a few exist but most are involved, caring, proactive parents. If this is an issue, move along to another school without the same level of parent commitment. Send us a letter. Let us know how it's going. The rest please volunteer in whatever manner possible so you can debunk the urban legend of the evil PTA. All hands are welcomed. We'll see you at the next opportunity. For those complaining of this mythical Camelot from principals past, I could beg to differ with both anecdotal and now statistical data. There is no talent that isn't replaceable. Only the most small minded and limited would think this way. The new principal embraces our traditional community while promoting smart and innovative ideas. I personally have no interest in teaching with dunce caps and abacus. And mean girl clicks...you can keep them. It's a great, great school. We're proud to be a part of it.
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2013

My son is graduating from Roosevelt this June after 7 years at the school. When I asked him last night what he would miss most about the school, he told me the principal because he "knew she really cared about all of the kids." What better review could you get than that?
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2013

This school is not what it used to be. It should be a neighborhood school and has potential with a good number of acting and caring parents. The teachers need more support and training and leadership from the Principals. After being here for a while I see a change with the newer principal. Things stayed stable with the assistant principal but once she left and a new assistant principal arrived, communication has dropped and emails go out without thinking about kids parents or teachers. I used to think of it as a smaller grade school that had features of a private school. Now I think of it as a school that offers one way to teach kids without looking at their learning needs.
Submitted by parent on March 29, 2013

The school needs the leaders it had 2.5 years ago. There is little to know effort to do everything possible to make education work for all kids. It is almost as if the new leadership wants a certain kind of student and is willing to let some kids fall through the cracks. It was sad when the other principal left. It got worse when the asst. principal left because the new asst. principal doesn't do much to listen to parents either. Parent involvement is high but some parents act like all parents should have the means to contribute equally.
Submitted by parent on January 24, 2013

Some schools have potential and Roosevelt is one of them. I am a mother of two boys and have repeatedly tried to work with the school to embrace learning differences. The school had high test scores under the former principal and over time they will decline because jewel schools do not just say great. It takes a conscious effort on the part of leadership to be constructive when there is a conflict and to keep the communication positive. I don' feel good recommending this school even thought the parents are active, the kids are all beautiful people and the teachers work with students as much as they are able.
Submitted by parent on January 15, 2013

I've been a parent at this school for 7 years I feel really lucky to have my kids in such a great environment. This year, they started offering a before school math program from 7:30-8 and my son gets upset if dad is running late, because he wants to get to school early and work on his fast math. That is just one example. Excellent, motivated teachers. Well run school.
Submitted by parent on December 22, 2012

I have been a parent at this school for over 8 years. After the former principal left 2 1/2 years ago, the quality of the school declined, but she was a tough act to follow. However, following the former assistant principal's departure just a few months ago, the school rapidly went downhill. As per present and former teachers, it's because it was being run by the former assistant principal. Now that she is gone, parent satisfaction has come to a screeching halt. It's #1 school status is based upon OLDER scores and performance. The current state of the school will soon be reflected in the school's future scores. SO MANY INVOLVED parents are incredibly unhappy after years of satisfaction and expectations being exceeded. The morale among faculty has taken a nosedive. People just don't smile there like they used to. Children are unhappy. Classes are overcrowded. Children are being put on buses on the wrong days. Assemblies aren't held in the auditorium because it is too small, so this childhood tradition is now conducted in individual classrooms, sacrificing the sense of school community. The once spacious playground has been replaced by new buildings. Concerns fall on deaf ears.
Submitted by parent on December 05, 2012

The school is out of touch with parents and does not want to know what they think. Many parents have expressed concerns about anxiety in their children but feel they cannot talk to the teacher for fear of "getting into conflict with the school". This is very sad and there is no forum for expressing opinion or concern without risk of conflict. The school's approach is dictatorial and punitive to both children and parents. Some teachers are very good but some leave a lot to be desired.
Submitted by parent on November 08, 2012

Teachers are great and the kids are the best. There are some great parents that help the teachers and volunteers save the school and teachers tons of time. How lucky to have parents that save the teachers time. How lucky it is to have great teachers.