Purche Avenue Elementary School

I love This school overall..we have experienced some excellent teachers who need more support from the parents

I love this school. Everyone is so nice and caring about the children. I have twins that are only in Pre-K but it's an excellent program and introduction for them to get used to the way things work in school and their teacher, Mrs. Lam, is the best, she is so nice and organized and fair. My experience has been great with all the staff there, which has changed completely from when I attended as a elementary school kid back in 1976-1982 and it was excellent then and wonderful now. I love that my kids can go to the same school I did. The parents have to rotate helping in the class everyday and I love that involvement.

I wanted to defend the principal. New ideas can be difficult because there is a learning curve for everything. Perfection in something as complex as a school won't happen overnight. This principal is always willing to listen and reflect on constructive suggestions. Whining and complaining, instead of coming up with positive solutions, is what makes a negative atmosphere... so just go talk to her and make your case. No testing this year, so how can that be the driving force? It's bad manners to speak for the entire school when something "seems" a certain way. Sounds like gossip. Purche has made great strides through the brilliant efforts of the hardest working people I have ever met, including the principal. P.S. Very happy here!

I gave this school a below average rating because of the principal and also because of a few snotty people who don't realize that simple manners like saying hello do make a difference. The school is in transition it seems. The staff seem stressed out because of the new and very inexperienced principal who has created a negative environment. Because she is new, and also because test scores are the new driving force at schools, her main focus seems to be on that. It's not a happy place for people who work there.