Oakdale Elementary

Not that bad but it could've been better. All I care about is that I'm in a great school now. (Piedmont IB Middle School)

Oakdale is not a bad school. Most of the staff and teachers are very pleasant. But unfortunately, the school lacks the funds and the ability to fully help each child reach his or her potential. There are not any teaching assistants or tutors, and substitutes are definitively not qualified to be in the classrooms. There is one teacher to almost 30 children, which is impossible to make sure each one is meeting his or her goals. Behavior from most of the children is awful, but there isn't much they can do because they lack the ability to handle each situation and sadly a lot of the parents truly don't care. But the school still tries. They offer many field trips, school wide activity days, programs for kids to join, and volunteer opportunities. I wish the school could receive more funds and resources to allow them the potential they could be. I also wish there was stronger community who wanted to help the school and the children reach their highest potential. So average rating because the school is not awful but with a lot of odds against it, its defiantly not the best either.

This school SUCKS!!!! SO unprofessional and very unorganized!!! Went and registered my daughter for school and I go to the open house and she is not even in the system yet. Then I call back on Friday and still nothing and she starts school on Monday. SO she doesn't even know who her teacher is or anything. Then I don't understand the schedule. My husband and myself have to go to work at 8:00AM but yet she cannot be to school until 8:15. What kind of elementary school don't start until 8:45. I wish my daughter did not have to go to this sorry school.

Oakdale has the potential for being an awesome school, but it definitely needs some restructuring and better leadership. The principal lacks leadership and relies a great deal on her support staff who are clearly not qualified for such responsibilities. A degree doesn't make you automatically qualified for such roles. If your child(ren) have any type of behavioral, mental or learning disabilities, please consider another school where they're willing to accommodate their needs. Last year my 6 year old son who is diagnosed with a mental disability had to experience being arrested by CMSPD upon the request of Dean Gaines-Montgomery. Her action clearly confirmed my child's future was not in her best interest. I was involved from day one but unfortunately it was like pulling teeth to receive the adequate support & effort needed for my son to be successful while at Oakdale. Parent involvement at the school is very low, therefore possibly my efforts were unexpected. Now that he is at a new school, receiving the support & encouragement needed to thrive, he's doing awesome! Never let anyone deny your child(ren) an education they deserve!