David A. Dutrow Elementary School

"My children attend this school. There's no denying that Dutrow had earned quite a negative reputation by around five years ago. I was very hesitant about sending my eldest here, but the school she was zoned for was an absolute nightmare. What you truly can't deny is that there is a serious issue in NN schools where some schools are absolute h&!!holes while a few are extraordinary... which are nearly impossible to get into with the magnet program. Deer Park and Hilton have something like 3% of magnet applicants accepted. The open grade "pod" setting isn't for every child, and it can be difficult for some children to adjust to. Other kids seem to do very well here. However, the staff and teachers have been extraordinary. There are going to be issues in school like bullying... there's no avoiding it. However, the extent to which the administration and teachers are involved is honestly the most extensive I've ever seen in any school, including the ones I went to! Dutrow has spent the past few years implementing and trying out new educational and involvement strategies. It's definitely noisier, especially since the kids are often moving, like for lessons, projects, or experiments outside. There is concern about making sure kids are prepared for standardized testing, because there has to be. This is any school in the country, whether they use the terms or not. But the teachers have more support than I've ever seen (I will not pretend to claim to have inside knowledge of this, and I'm sure there are flaws, but I have personally seen some horror stories). The administration is communicative and works to resolve issues quickly. My kids have gotten in trouble before, usually for talking or goofing off, which I have been made aware of. They have consequences, but have never been made to feel like they're "bad" or disliked. On the contrary, teachers and support staff have made extra effort to point out when kids are doing well or behaving, especially those who have more difficulty doing so. That's not to say that they don't take problems seriously... if you misbehave frequently, it will not be ignored. My child has had a few issues with other kids, and they were dealt with within hours and disciplinary procedures resulted. However, what truly impressed me was the fact that with any problem, they took the extra effort to discuss it with the kids who were around but not involved, and they try to reconcile the kids who are involved. I won't pretend it's perfect, but show me a school that is. Every kid is different and needs something different, and this school tries to work with that. Honestly, the best way I can describe the expressions on the faces of the staff is as wearing "exhausted smiles." Some days, the smiles might be more of a grimace, but I have yet to meet someone there who truly doesn't seem like they love these children, every single one. I've seen teachers at other schools talk about my child like their own and then look at a "troublemaker" like they would look at poop on their shoe, and talk to them worse. Once , I saw a kid behave in ways that made my ovaries shrivel up and die. The teacher and an administrator were both in control of the situation and handled it well. But I noticed some weeks later, the same administrator making sure to say hello and wave to the same student, and the teacher praising them for something. You couldn't tell that this was a kid capable of that kind of behavior. How do I see all this? Well, a potential downfall for some parents is that as an exclusively magnet school, parent participation and volunteer hours are required. Also, parents are welcome to come visit, and encouraged to join their children for lunch, special activities, etc. While the requirements are low, you often find yourself joining them more often than you'd expect. I truly have loved this school for my kids."

"I want to say this school prepared me for so much .Im a lot older then most of the other people that have sent in a review.Im now in the 11th grade and I can honestly say this school turned me into the honor student I am today.This school prepares students to understand there will be distractions in life but you must overcome them to succeed. I loved this school!!"

"I hate this school!!! It's the worst and corny. I've been at this school since kindergarten and I've only had 3 nice/fun teachers. This school puts pressure on u for the SOL'S just to make there school look good but really it's not!"

"Ive went to this school and its AWFUL. I was bullied and when i asked for help nothing happened. And there where people cursing but the teacher only payed attention to bad things i was doing. I never ever wannna go here again im glad im 2 hours away from this school and its negative activity. And ms.padalinio was the meanest teacher ever. I hope this school gets shut down and destroyed."

"I go here but its hard to contrate especially simce they mixed fourth grade and im in this grade hard to foucus plus theres bullying and sometimes its on annoying people but sometime there COMPLETELY innocent plus teachers treating to "deselect" its just and teachers and other staff dont do nothing it continues its bad. Four becuse even thought the problems this is kinda a goood school"