Shoemaker El School

You will be impressed from start with the pleasant and helpful front office staff, hands-on principal, and sense of teamwork amongst the staff. It is obvious that not only do the children love their principal, but so do the staff! The school is structured, organized, and a wonderful educational, nuturing environment. Staff are always present at PTO functions and actively involved. The guidance counselor goes above and beyond to play an important role in this school. All staff, from the Music and Art teachers to the janitorial staff work as a team which promotes a wonderful environment for learning and growing for all children.

Many East Penn schools including Shoemaker failed the 2012 AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress - No Child Left Behind law yearly assessment test). This school is run like a daycare center with a lot of crafts and "one size fits all" teaching. Teachers say there is differentiation in the classrooms where children are divided into 4 groups according to learning speed. I've seen the work of children in 2 different groups. One who needed more help and one who needed more challenge. They were both doing the exact same work . Shoemaker is behind in what other schools, such as Jaindl elementary in Parkland SD, are currently working on in math and language arts and there doesn't seem to be any interest on the part of the administration/teachers to get up to speed. Unless something drastically changes, Shoemaker is going to fail the AYP again.

I have no wish to deride the personal experience/feelings of the parent who posted feeling "out of place". The majority of the school population is Caucasian/ Christian and that is reflected. However, that being said, and I am sorry if the person felt excluded, the school is very warm and caring from the teachers, to the front desk ladies, nurse, counseler and principal (Mrs. Brinkman is very hands-on and open to questions). From what I've experienced, everyone has been extremely helpful in nuturing and educating every child. It is a great atmosphere that welcomes parental involvement. Interestingly, I find the parent who didn't find the school had the tools for special education more problematic. This school goes out of its way to help with special needs kids.

great school... as long as your kid performs well and has no learning disabilities... if so, forget it... then you'll hear "your child doesn't need any special education".