Gator Run Elementary School

1101 Glades Parkway

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 August 04, 2022

The school does it's best to teach but the education is subpar. Shairin Brown the Assistant principal is rude, unprofessional and dresses provocative and not an example to children.
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2022

Gator Run Elementary is an extraordinary school. Wonderful teachers, great staff and a brilliant principal make of this school the best elementary in Weston!
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2019

After moving from a private school to Gator Run, we are thoroughly impressed. My daughter is thriving and loves attending school everyday. The school is not only beautiful and well appointed, but the teachers are amazing. The principal at this school is like none other. He is constantly engaging the students, creating a positive moral, and he knows every student’s name! The parental involvement at this school is incredible. This is a very well organized PTA, that works so well with the teachers. The tests scores speak for themselves. This is an academically challenging school, with 40+ extracurriculars, an outstanding principal, and very engaging and caring teachers. This school is truly a gem.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2018

Great, one child done one starts next year, looked at private, but this school was better, don't understand the negative reviews. Our experience was wonderful.
Submitted by parent on January 16, 2018

Great school, excellent teachers and awesome Principal! My daughter is in love with this school.
Submitted by other on March 31, 2017

I have two children at Gator Run Elementary. Both are happy at the school. Happy, but not in love with the school. Wide range of teachers from excellent to those that should retire. A lot of foul language from the students and some inappropriate behavior. The car line is INSANE, and parents have complete lack of consideration or common courtesy. There IS HOMEWORK at this school, although not as much as other schools. There is NOT YET a no home work policy. Overall a good experience.
Submitted by parent on June 29, 2016

Great school, excellent teachers and highly involved parents. I could not have imagined a better kindergarten experience for my child. Initially, I was skeptical given the size of the school, but my child's class had a very intimate feel. The teachers were very accessible via email and kept parents posted on school activities via social media. There was always a way to participate in parent volunteer opportunities. The introduction of coding apps and STEM on half days was excellent.
Submitted by parent on December 10, 2015

Great school and staff. The kids get a well-rounded education and not only the concepts needed to ace the FCAT. My daughter loves her teachers and the staff is very caring including the principal...
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2015

What an responsive administration and dedicated teachers! You can tell that this school puts the children FIRST.
Submitted by parent on August 13, 2015

My child was struggling along with more than 50% of the class. Nothing was being done about it. Met with the principle, Mr. Peters- waste of time. I tried getting my child moved to another class and he didn't give it two thoughts. Answer was a straight up no. Apparently Mr. Peters does not support giving homework either. THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE! Teachers walk around on the phones all day and the only communication was through this phone app "Dojo." Assignments were always sent home late. Materials were never given for the projects as told. When my husband and I would request graded tests, we wouldn't receive them until WEEKS later when we were told they would be sent home the following Monday. And along with the teachers and the principle, the front office staff was extremely unfriendly and unhelpful. This school had such high ratings- Why? I took my child to a private school and we're not having any issues. I will never recommend this school to anyone. Sadly, I don't have anything good to say about Gator Run Elementary. My child loved school in general, loves to learn. However, it got to the point where she didn't even want to return to the school. Her self-esteem dropped completely. It was so upsetting to see her go through this. Everything changed when I pulled her and put her into a new school.
Submitted by parent on April 14, 2015

My son loves his school, his teachers and everything that relates to it. I'm happy when is it!!
Submitted by parent on November 05, 2014

Incredible school! My children love going to school everyday. Principal, teachers, and staff care about all the students. If you are considering an elementary school in Weston, this is by far an incredible school!
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2014

This school has some major problems that doesn't seem to get fixed! If you are in gifted than this is the school for you! If not I would not bother moving to this district. The parents are nice but the only some of the teachers actually teach. I just found out that that the new principal does not believe in homework! Wow! That is crazy!
Submitted by parent on August 07, 2014

Excelent Elementary Excelent Teachers Excelent Staff!!! Excelent PRINCIPAL Pretty nice environment, the ESOL system is very hepful, I don't have any complaint about it...
Submitted by parent on June 22, 2014

Gator Run has been a rewarding experience for both of my kids. Parents are very involved and the school is challenging, safe and friendly. I am surprised and sad to see when others don't have a good experience. Hopefully there are only a couple bad seeds in this school because I would love for my kids to keep thriving the way they have the past two years. They come home with smiles and they are learning so much. The principal is outside greeting families with a huge smile and he updates everyone by phone. I'm happy.
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2014

Shame on you Gator Run. We had a mediocre first grade teacher. I requested my son to be switched to a different classroom at the beginning of the year but the principal did not accomodate. My son who used to be a super involved enthusiastic student has now lost all interest in learning due to the lack of teacher guidance and involvement. Now the teacher "took a vacation leave" and left her class 10 days before the end of the school year. What kind of teacher does that?! Shame on you :(
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2013

I am happy with the school. I moved from California two years ago and comparing schools, Gator Run is better organized, safety is excellent (nobody can enter the school if not approved as a volunteer - checked background, and must sign in in the forgot office) ,the new principal amazing, he is so involved in everything: he is everywhere, greets all students and parents, even run in the Boosterthon race and attended with his family a local restaurant to help collect funds for the school. My sons are happy at this school. Both teachers are excellent. Just in first grade I was not satisfied with the teacher, she was not aware of things she did not notice my son being a potential for the gifted program and even suggested he would not succeed. Totally wrong, I had him tested and he is doing wonderful in the gifted program for 2 years and had excellent teachers.
Submitted by parent on September 03, 2013

I have really nothing good to say about my daughter's experience at this school other than making friends. There are some bad things about this school and i will mention just two of them. 1. Car traffic in the mornings is horrible. You wait almost 30 minutes in line and staff at gator run dont seem to care to adress the problem. 2. The Teacher that my daughter had was terrible. Teacher was lack of all good qualities a good caring devoted teacher should have. I dont want to give details but my daughter learned more in pre-k than kindergarden. One thing i will say the parents seem more enthusiastic helping the kids than the own teacher.
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2012

My son started Kindergarten in this school this year and we are now beginning our second semester here. For 2 years prior, he attended the Montessori school in Weston. I find that the curriculum is far behind what he was studying in the Montessori, though it rivals other high-ranking public elementary schools. Parent involvement is really what makes this school great. In kindergarten, students have plenty of individualized attention with parents volunteering in the classroom daily. I do love the fact that there is an advanced reading program in Kindergarten. There is a LOT of diversity (mainly White, Latino and Chinese) though many cultures and religions are represented and the district is highly affluent and worldly; the cultures seem to get along very well. The school could improve on the following: playground equipment, time spent outside (currently approximately 2 recesses per week), foreign language offering (none at the moment), and some staffers' attitudes toward students and parents (oftentimes condescending; the principal and staff will yell at classes at lunch and in the hallways, and staff scolds parents instead of patiently explaining.)