Reviews of Springdale Park Elementary School (School)

Morna Francis

Springdale Park is an excellent elementary school with significant involvement from parents, community members and stakeholders. The teachers and staff care for and about the children and the Administration strives for excellence! The academic success of the school proves to be the best within it's district, Atlanta Public School and the state of Georgia. Springdale Park Elementary School also known as SPARK has also received national awards. SPARK is second to no other and provides a learning environment that has proven success for the past five years!

Denise Thomas

My son goes to this school. It's a great school though just as every place you visit you must still keep close eye on what is going in with your child at school.

Atlanta's Best

BEYOND DISAPPOINTED!!! The current principal is such a terrible leader. He has poor communication skills. He is an awful public speaker. He is divisive. He has created a hostile work environment for the faculty and staff. That hostile environment has been passed on to the students at the school. Another post says that 'the current principal is (allegedly) suspected of cheating.' I saw first hand how ineffectively he handles dealing with parents in a positive manner. If you are given the chance, please ask the principal how many new teachers they had to hire for the 2018-2019 school year. Be wary of a school with such a high turn over rate. DO NOT SEND YOUR SON TO THIS SCHOOL! The principal's weaknesses and character flaws will become your student's weaknesses and character flaws. I also hear that he alleges tries to 'pick up' guys at Blake's Bar. I know for a fact that he allegedly hit on one of the parents at a school function, but the person had to remind him that he was married. I just know that overall the students at Springdale Park deserves far better leadership. The assistant principal has no education background, so I am not sure how she got into an Assistant Principal position. Needless to say there is definitely room for improvement.

Marta R

I can't understand the negative feedback parents are posting regarding SPARK. My daughter attended SPARK from the first year it opened and is now at Inman. My son is a 3rd grader at SPARK. Our experiences for both children have been positive. SPARK has had it's share of APS inherited incompetent teachers but Ms. Brown is pretty good about weeding them out. The teachers are dedicated and work very hard for all students. Some teachers have more of a nurturing personality than others but a serious, strict teacher doesn't mean they are an incompetent teachers! The teachers however, aren't normally receptive towards parents who approach and treat them like the hired help. If you are an engaged and involved parent and remember that no public school is perfect as well as keep in mind that your child isn't as perfect (or as gifted) as you think they are then your child has the ability to succeed in this wonderful environment. Ms. Brown is the most dedicated principal. I live near the school and her car is there all day and into the evenings. I have seen her car there on the weekends. When parents get upset because the principal won't return their phone calls I have to chuckle because with a school of close to 700 students it's pretty bold to think the principal is going to return your phone call. There is a communication protocol regarding issues and talking to the principal rarely happens. That is what the teachers, grade level lead teacher, counselor and assistant principal are for. Also, this is a public school which means it isn't for everyone. If your child needs to learn in a special environment this might not be a fit for your child. Finally the only downside I have to say about SPARK is there is a lot of standardized testing but that is more of an APS issue than a school issue. The upside is there are a group of parents who want to make it a STEM certified school and the enrichment with environmental science program is pretty impressive.

Carrie Glazier

Teachers are caring. Principle Brown always happy and enthusiastic.

Carmen Coe

Best school in Atlanta! We have 3 kids in SPARK and have had an excellent experience. The teachers and staff are wonderful. When we moved here our top priorities were a walkable neighborhood with good schools. We couldn't be happier with where we landed!

Rafaela Moura

So far not so good. This is my first year at SPARK and I am disappointed. First, the teacher left for maturity leave a few months into the school year, then my daughter's Kindergarten report card shows a decline in progress despite the fact that she's reading first grade books with me at home which tells me: 1) that she is either not getting the right level of attention or 2) she is not being tested correctly. Then, the icing on the cake was dealing with SPARK's PTO. The board has absolutely no formal communication process or regulatory oversight. They seem to make decisions behind closed doors. At least in my experience, I got the sense that they were leading through manipulation and peer pressure. If you are not into cocktail parties and stocking your bar with high end liquors as a means to raising funds for an elementary school do NOT volunteer here. Overall, this school is definitely making my job a lot harder. Not only do I have to utilize supplemental programs to ensure that my daughter is on track and getting the attention she needs, but I also have to ensure that she is not being pressured into a culture that is pushed down through poor leadership decisions. This is clearly an immature organization with a lot of growing pains and not enough transparency and academic results for incoming students with strong backgrounds and parental involvement.

Demi Henderson

One word Racist! They will look at your child as a super predictor! They will question your child about where they live... let's not leave out how the staff has no interest in the important meetings they will send another teacher to relay messages Or the time I was pulling in and a child was out in the front of the school about to run into the street

Tamika Hill

Hi Love

Allyson Willner

Springdale Park is truly a great learning environment. This is our 8th year in a row with a child at SPARK. Our two oldest children, both 'graduates' of SPARK, still say today that they wish they could go to SPARK all the way through 12th grade - it's their favorite school they've been to! We've had children at some of the most elite private schools in the city, and can truly say SPARK had been wonderful for all of our children. The teachers really care about the children's success. I can recommend it highly for anyone considering this school.

Mark Rebillot

SPARK is an excellent school with wonderful facilities and one of the top principals in APS. This is our fourth year at SPARK and we have a 3rd and 1st grader this year. Our experience has been top notch so I have a tough time understanding some of the negative comments below. The PTO does an incredible amount of work and is a major reason the RESULTS at SPARK are impressive by any metric. If you are looking for a great public school then SPARK is for you.

Tina Hendricks

Spark(Springdale Park Elementary's nickname) is one of the best schools. I go there, everybody is treated fairly and, the teachers are fun. I started going there their second year open and I've had a wonderful experience. I'm in 5th grade there and through the years, I've seen all the great teachers. When the teachers teach, they try to get you to remember the facts. Each and every one of them have their own way of teaching, from strict to dancing to just playing games. There are so many new activities each year. Two years ago, Spark started doing a program called Reading Bowl. Reading Bowl is not just fun but also a teaching tool. It helps students learn to remember facts from different books, team working skills, and to just relax and have fun for the extra studious kids. Sometimes the teachers do get off track, or get on their phones, but that's usually when there is an assessment, a family or friend problem, or when there is independent work. If they do that on purpose, they might just want you to figure it out yourselves. Overall, Spark is a great school that helps it's students to not only learn, but to like going there and feel safe.

Cindy S

The teachers have all been dedicated. They work hard and care about the education of our children. I have been happy with educational program, the administration, and overall I am a proud SPARK parent.

Lara Hodson

It is an amazing school and I have learned so much. Me and my classmates love spark and to learn there. This year I am in 3rd grade with Ms. Lockwood and Ms. Clark. My sister is in 1st in Ms. Bryant’s class. This is really a great year.

Caroline Mason

Principal Harness is involved and approachable. The facility is bright and welcoming. The administration and teacher's have been great both with my son and myself. The ONLY downfall is the car line is madness.

XDark Syntax

Poor communication skills from staff & teachers. Principal has yet to return calls, yet can be found after hours exercising with the male PE coach, running the stairwells of the school as if it were her own personal fitness gym. When I informed the school that I had gone to the school superintendent. The staff suggested my child be placed in another school. What communication has occurred with the teaching staff, has been condescending and immature. My child has complained that he is not receiving enough attention from the teachers, as they are to busy on their cell phones & computers to help. After further investigation of what my son was saying. I find countless social media accounts governed by the teacher to which my son has complained. Assignments are far to confusing for the child, as the teacher cannot stay focused on a single task by single task. She provides no direct attention as needed or without complaint of doing so. In short if you want your child to actually learn, this school is probably not for you. Assignments are unclear, and failure is blamed on the parents, when the child can't keep up on their own. I and both of my sons attended APS personally & have never seen this level of unprofessional behaviors. Springdale Park I am beyond disappointed in the treatment we have received. Sincerely Dr.Flynn aka XDS

Vishwa Veeraswamy

I go to this school and it will always be my favorite. The teachers are great , the administration is great, and most of all the education is great. I always feel safe and I love my school!

alyssa monje

I am a student at Springdale and I am a rising 4th grader. The teachers have always been very nice and understanding. I have discovered some teachers that where not the best but they were okay. If you're looking for schools to send your child I would suggest Springdale.