Birmingham Falls Elementary School

Overall, we are very pleased with our decision to move from a private school to BFES. The great teachers, low class size, strong emphasis on academics, opportunity to receive accelerated instruction in math and reading from first grade, opportunity to receive 1 day/week of TAG instruction, safe learning environment, and very involved parents/strong PTO have made our elementary school experience memorable so far.

I plan to look into a different School. The faculty here are more concerned with cash-grab tactics than student well being.

This school is not what I had hoped or expected. The focus seems to be high test scores and bringing in money. My children are extremely stressed out and anxious after transferring to BFES, and they do not struggle with learning. The pressure put on them is a bit ridiculous for children of this age. As far as teachers go, they seem friendly enough but there is a lack of warmness and actually getting to know the children. FUNdraisers here are a joke. The biggest fundraiser is simply bugging your friends and family for money for the PTO. I understand the school needs to make money to make up for what the county doesn't provide but this is not the way to do it. We came from a much smaller school, that did family oriented, simple events and they made three times as much money over the course of the year because the kids and parents had fun. A stuffy, pretentious polo match, a fun run on Halloween, fifty dollars per chance to participate in Pumpkin Chuckin, and an outdated father daughter dance hardly appeal to the masses. Do a raffle, award incentives, silent auctions, games, etc. Try being a bit more fun and inclusive. In hindsight, I wish I had looked closer at other schools and areas before purchasing a home here.

We have 5 children. We have tried private school with the eldest and different elementary schools with the next three. BFES is a public school that can rival any private school. It is amazing - the staff, teachers and the large parent involvement make it the ideal learning environment.