Everglades Elementary School

2900 Bonaventure Boulevard

School District

Broward
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
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 May 09, 2024

If your child has an IEP or a diagnosis of Autism, RUN from this school. My child was in the supported kindergarten class and the teacher lacked very basic ESE knowledge. This is my professional background so I consistently offered advice and she very quickly refused any of it and continually traumatized my child. She gave my autistic five year old 6 DISCIPLINE REFFERALS. Surprise, as soon as I got him out of that abusive classroom, I’ve received nothing but compliments about his behavior and academic growth. That teacher shouldn’t be allowed around children and I’m shocked that administration supported her through all of it.
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2023

Very disappointed with the special program for autistic students. The teachers lack compassion and love for these special need kids. The mainstream classroom teachers and the setting don’t help with the inclusion of autistic kids.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2021

Very disappointed with the autism program provided by this School, very mean teachers and instead of inclusion all I saw was separation/seclusion. The mainstream teacher is a very rude woman and instead of promotes inclusion she promotes separation from the neuro typical children toward the ESE students. Very disgusted by her behavior toward the ESE Students during a field trip which I was one of the chaperone together with all the 6 parents from one of the kindergarten classroom.Thanks God I did everything in my power to transfer/remove my child from such a disrespectful environment regarding the children with special needs.
Submitted by parent on June 02, 2017

I, as a mother, am very happy with the experience in Everglades Elementary. We moved our child from a private school during school year and his adjustment was amazing. The teachers (this class switches) and the students welcomed him and made the transition faster. Academically, I am extremely satisfied with his improvement, since we moved him because of the low academic in the private school. Also, I need to say that the front desk staff is very efficient and all the time I need support, they worked hard to help me.I am very thankful with this school.
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2017

Excellent. I have been at other schools and the leadership role this principal has blows everyone else out of the water. He's highly intelligent, kind and approachable. The office staff is professional and you are always pleasantly and professionally greeted. Students are able to learn and be challenged while still being allowed to be a kid. My kids love this school. Learning is still FUN at this school. Great job Principal Tillinger!
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2015

Everglades is extremely well organized school with great principal and good teachers. So far we had only one “bad teacher”, who tough only required minimum. “Pushy-parents” (see post below) should be careful; gifted class is A LOT of work. And if their child cannot keep up with the pace, parents will end up doing homework and a child will develop low self-esteem. Waiting till the third grade to start gifted program is a terrible idea. What will end up happening is that children who read chapter books will be forced to read picture books, children who know 4 digit subtractions with borrowing will be adding 1-2 digit numbers. Yes, proportion of gifted children will be high Weston, as residents do not make a perfect sample of population. Many of them are immigrants who came to this country as highly skilled professionals (doctors, lawyers, IT professionals, etc.).
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2015

Nobody make you aware in time that from Kindergarden 'pushy-parents' are active in integrating their kids in a 'gifting class'. I mean really? Separating the kids in such a manor at a such an early phase/stage of life? I am reading that giftedness it's so hard to measure and hard to define, only 3% of us born 'gifted' and I am still trying to figure out how come from each class 3 kids 'qualified' as gifted. Why not just 1 or none from a class. In Everglades 'gifted' is a measurable thing in kindergarden and what's really interesting is that the whole giftedness issue is a very much American obsession, rest of world the education is based on an ideal of equality-you are trying to get everyone to a similar kind of level, and it's discouraged to identify children as more able than others. It's like we would ask to separate slower kids/ down syndrome from the rest. It's sad to see that there are people who 'cheat the system', so to speak, and create 'fake' gifted children. Teachers should be aware by the fact that some kids at this early stages are from families that just started here, kids that are not at the same english level, but in fact are really smart. And please do not build a system that constantly privileges people who are already privileged. 'Pushy parents' at an early stage are trying to get their kid above other people and will monopolise the free time of the child and can afford to give their children that others can't, like extra-curricular activities, or private tutoring. It's a shame to see how in kindergarden-1st grade (for god sake the kids are 5-6 years old) the gifted industry of elitism and privileged parents is forming instead of having teacher working on raising the bar for all students. Again experts believe it's a 2-3% of gifted but now schools have this at 15-20% in 1st grade! Stop labeling 'gifted' before 3rd. People need to realize that some families just moved here recently, some kids in kindergarden have the language barier, some low-income kids are comming in with a disadvantage... and YOU HAVE the obligation to help them cath up, do not separate them so early. A teacher may not consider a child who constantly acts out or one who does not speak fluent English gifted, regardless of how smart he is!
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2015

We've been in Weston since the Summer of 2014. So far, we have had a very good experience at Everglades Elementary(grades K & 3). In fact, the school has good facilities, the teachers are competent and dedicated, and Principal Tillinger and his staff appear to be 100% committed to making of this school one of excellence. Children's achievements are recognized by most of their teachers. The special needs/ESE program appears to have good resources, but the initial process to have a child tested and evaluated is fairly slow, thus the child's parents need to be on top of the ESE staff to speed things up and need to understand their legal rights. However, the school does provide ESE services of quality. One thing that can improve is security. Entering the school from the administration office or from behind unchallenged is fairly easy. Security measures can be improved, by having a buzzer lock between the admin. office and the main hallway. It'd help to add an add'l entrance to the front parking since during drop-off and pick-up line times it would be impossible for a car to exit in case of emergency. Children seem very happy at this school and academically is very good.
Submitted by parent on January 19, 2014

Principal Tillinger is the best! He happily met with us and answered all our questions about the curriculum. We've been at 4 different schools, because of my husband's job and this is by far the best school ever! Like any good organization, quality starts at the top and Principal Tillinger has created a phenomenal learning environment where everyone works together. My three children have received a first class education and we are so grateful my realtor suggested we buy a home in the Everglades neighborhood. If you want the best school, Everglades is it!
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2013

We arrived from another country and enrolled our child in second grade two years ago. She is now in fourth grade. The quality of the leadership, particularly the principal, of the teachers and of the rest of the staff working at this school is outstanding. They offer a perfect combination of academic excellence, opportunities to develop various talents the children may have through activities they carry out during and after school, and this is done in a nurturing learning community that prepares students for the challenges of the future. Finally, an important aspect for parents coming from out of the country, they are proud of being a school were many nationalities are represented, and will make your child feel at home from day 1. We come from a prestigious private institution in another country, and we are can confirm that, being a public school, Everglades is all about excellence.
Submitted by parent on September 03, 2013

The principal is phenomenal. Excellent faculty and staff. This school has high academic standards.I highly recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2013

Outstanding! It all starts with positive leadership. Principal, teachers, office staff are all A+ As the school song goes...."Catch our spirit, catch it while you can.....Everglades spirit, it's the best school in the land!"
Submitted by parent on June 19, 2013

My son attended Everglades from Kindergarten to 5th grade. The academic level is outstanding! Teachers are highly educated and have constant communications with parents, Mr Tillinger is a great Principal, Staff is caring and loving, without no doubt I recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2013

My son attended Kindergarten with Mrs. Crowe. She is a great teacher. She is experienced and can makes sure your child is challenged.
Submitted by parent on March 07, 2013

The post by Sheri in December 2006 has been my experience also. The expectations are unrealistic. The children are pushed to far too soon. I know several other parents also have had to get tutors. We came from an excellent school system. Our previous school was able to maintain a great rating while realizing that children have limits. There is no freedom to be a child at this school. The grade level work is too advanced. We do 2 to 3 hours of homework a night. We've also had to hire a tutor.
Submitted by parent on December 21, 2012

We were hesitant to relocate with a Kindergartener, after the school year started, but everyone made our transition easy and I've been extremely impressed! It's so obvious that his teacher goes above and beyond to teach the kids in a fun way to help them learn. My son is coming home daily with tons of new knowledge. And happy!!!