Rice Elementary School

5215 Old Bullard Road

School District

Tyler Independent
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Tyler Independent 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 February 17, 2023

We have 4 kids and have been at Rice for 5 years with 4 more years to go with our youngest! We have had the most amazing teachers each year that have communicated well and worked with our kids to make sure they were understanding what was being taught! The other students are also great! We have been able to make lots of friends at Rice and I’ve been able to meet other parents as well through different school events and activities! We love Rice!
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2023

My daughter is in kindergarten and she is always happy to go to school. One thing I love in this school is the family engagement through the PTA.
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2023

Rice Elementary feels like family. I am so grateful to have a school that I feel comfortable taking my child to everyday. I know she is safe, accepted, pushed academically and surrounded by leaders who show support and grace. Thanks Rice Elementary!As a bonus, I am a teacher here, and it is an awesome work environment. That’s hard to find for many educators, and I feel blessed.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2023

Excellent, attentive leadership. Any issues are dealt with quickly and directly. We feel incredibly welcome, safe, & well served academically. On top of all that, Rice manages to make school is fun! From nerf Parties with the principal to being greeted in the car line every morning by smiling faces & happy music. Best elementary in TISD, hands down.
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2022

We've been at Rice for the last 2 years and have had a very poor experience overall. Our child went from A's and B's to C's, D's , and F's. The teachers and principal use exercise-based/physical punishment (not corporal) without communicating with parents or being given permission to do so. There is no effort to have the children engage in learning or develop good study habits. Our child's previous school would send home a newsletter for the coming week with homework expectations, lesson overviews, as well as any fun projects they had planned - along with their respective deadlines; this school doesn't even make an effort to do anything remotely close to that. Our child was also snatched up by a teacher last year and was screamed at within inches of his face and they continued to employ her until this year, despite other children confirming this on several occasions. We asked Tyler ISD if he could switch schools to a more supportive environment and they told us we had to wait until February 2023 for the open enrollment period. We have had a number of other issues from students picking on our child because of race (white, yes you read that right) and weight and have not seen or heard of said children being punished in the same manner that our child has for minor things like engaging with other children in class. The school is currently using Plays (like school plays) to increase engagement amongst parents and students - when engagement really starts with the attitude and teaching structure within the classroom. Our child use to love going to school every day, that is no longer the case. His love & curiosity for learning has been diminished by this environment, which is the same for several other children after speaking with parents. This place is a prison, and the children are treated like inmates rather than being respected and appreciated for who they are and the check they provide for the teachers.
Submitted by parent on February 11, 2021

Overall it is what I expected from public school
Submitted by parent on January 28, 2020

I was optimistic and hopeful but after two years I see it's all veneer and shiny on the outside, needs a clean up and best educators to be supported and involved in retaining talent that doesn't make their hard work for naught.
Submitted by parent on June 24, 2018

My child loved Rice. She loved everything about the school but struggled with a class of some trouble makers that seemed to be always assigned to her table causing them to be in trouble also. Overall, a wonderful school, with a great staff who wants the best for the kids.
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2018

everything is good except few challenges on bullying if you are Asian.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2016

Love this school! Good teacherice school. PTA is very involve . Can't wait for my other daughter to attend next year
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2015

All three of my girls go there and they love it! The teachers work hard to make sure your child is doing his/her best, the other staff are super friendly, and the parents are nice and helpful as well. Lots of activities and my kids are learning so much! And they recently updated the school, and it looks really nice. Would highly recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on August 10, 2012

Overall, our experience with Rice Elementary has been good. Parent involvement is a definite strength for Rice. Everyone seems to cooperate well with each other, and everyone seems genuinely proud of their school. My son has had two teachers that weren't great teachers in my opinion, however I understand this would be possible at any school my son might attend.