Sandy Hook Elementary School

We have enjoyed our time at SHS. The teachers and leaders are kind and engaging. It’s still going through some transition being a new school - awkward phase. The homework was a bit excessive for a 1st grader in my opinion. The assistant principal is awesome, too bad he is leaving this year. Overall, a good school.

Our overall experience at SHS has been excellent so far. Our daughter has Aspergers / "High Functioning" Autism and though she is bright she can be very challenging, but the staff has done an excellent job meeting her needs, challenging her academically, and communicating behavior and social issues with us so that we are all on the same page. Her teacher sends a general email to all parents once a week and answers one on one email very quickly. The academics are challenging but age appropriate and there are opportunities to do extra work if you want to. The PTA and the school community are also fantastic! Lots of opportunities to volunteer. This is such a warm and welcoming community - it is truly a neighborhood school where everyone knows each other and helps each other out. We are very happy we moved here and sent our daughter to this school. Also, if anyone is wondering, the administration is very communicative this time of year with parents about how to handle potential questions about 12/14 if they come up with children. They do not discuss it at school as they believe it is the family's responsibility to decide when, if and how to bring it up. They will provide resources if we request them.

A MESSAGE FROM GREATSCHOOLS: We are deeply saddened to hear of today's tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Sandy Hook Elementary School community in Newtown, CT. Out of respect for the families, teachers, and school at large, we are temporarily suspending the publication of new comments submitted by the public about this school. You may still submit 'reviews' but please be advised that they will be held and subject to review by our editors for consideration at a later date. All reviews must adhere to our guidelines. Again, all of us here at GreatSchools, send our sincere condolences and sympathy to those affected on this tragic day.

At the time of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary is academic performance ranked in the top 10%. This ranking is a testimony of the preeminence of star teachers and administrators not just teaching but teaching what the laws of the state and regulations requires and the mandated curriculum. Moreover, they follow the appropriate textbooks, which are aligned with educational standards of the state, as well as federal regulations. The school follows the eight principles or axioms of learning and believe that the brain's function is learning and it does not know how not to learn; and that all children are capable of learning the curriculum notwithstanding how rigorous. The school reached this meritorious ranking because it does not adhere to the inferior concept of "improving," but in the superior concept of maximizing or optimizing learning.