Satchel Ford Elementary School

Posted: May 10, 2025

This school is unlike any other. We recently moved to the area and were skeptical about Richland 1. However from day one, our children were welcomed and well cared for. Their arts programs are amazing and there are so many opportunities for our children. I don’t know what the problem with the office staff was, but that was not our experience. The office staff had always been pleasant and courteous and the teachers are second to none. I cannot say enough great things about Satchel Ford. If I could rate it higher than 5 stars I would!

Posted: May 10, 2025

Posted: May 10, 2025

Posted: May 10, 2025

Posted: May 10, 2025

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Posted: April 4, 2025

Posted: April 4, 2025

Posted: April 4, 2025

Posted: April 4, 2025

Satchel ford is a great school all around. The only thing that hinders the school for being excellent is their office receptionist. She's very rude and doesn't welcome you when you enter the office. She huffs and puff when having to call a student to the office. She doesn't speak or even smile. Word of advice to her smiles are contagious. She could change someone life just with a smile or a hello.

Posted: April 4, 2025

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Posted: April 25, 2018

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Posted: April 25, 2018

Posted: April 25, 2018

My kids have been attending Satchel Ford school for the past 3 years. I was a little skeptical about sending my kids to a school in the downtown area. My experience has been absolutely awesome! This has school is great and only getting better. Teachers, staff and principal have been phenomenal!

Posted: April 25, 2018

Posted: November 22, 2016

My daughter is in Kindergarten and has almost completed a full semester at this time. She loves the school. The principal really cares for his students. He is out directing traffic or assisting with drop-off/pick-up every day.
Satchel Ford has a reputation as one of the best schools in Richland District One. And, by being in the Satchel Ford school district, you are eligible to enroll your child or children in the free, lottery Montessori school - Brockman Elementary. But, even if you don't get into Brockman, you are still attending a great school at Satchel Ford.

Posted: November 22, 2016

Posted: November 22, 2016

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Posted: November 22, 2016

Posted: August 8, 2016

The teachers and staff here are all incredibly helpful and supportive. My children have had a great experience with every teacher, including those in the arts and physical education. Love our school for sure! - A parent

Posted: September 2, 2015

Bear in mind that I attended Satchel Ford from 1970-1976 so my experience may have been very different than that of more recent attendees.

Posted: August 13, 2015

Posted: August 13, 2015

Staff there are horrible! The lady who registers the kids is very rude. Would not recommend this school to anyone!

Posted: June 13, 2015

Posted: June 13, 2015

I am very surprised about some of the comments people are writing. Satchel Ford has phenomenal teachers that work with each child to help them reach their potential. The school is a very clean and safe environment for the children to learn. The parents of Satchel Ford are very involved. There are many, many opportunities to volunteer in whatever capacity you are able. Our children have been challenged and encouraged every step of the way!

Posted: January 9, 2015

I know several people with children here, and they are all pleased. Mainly, I want to say (as a teacher), that parents like the ones below often make our jobs impossible. I can assure you, teachers are not in it for the money. Aside from having the summer off (which we do not get paid for, despite popular belief... Our pay is simply spread throughout the year), there are no "perks." So, teaching while "not liking children" would simply not be a viable choice. Teachers desperately try to help each student as much as we can. Mind you, this is often with a classroom of 30 students, many of them WITH special needs. Most of us do not have co-teachers to come in and help. This is the nature of public school... Free education for ALL. We must deal with parents who have unreasonable expectations of teachers, but little to no expectations for their children. It all starts at home. I can guarantee that the experience you have with your children's school has everything to do with your involvement in the education. A simple increase in parental support and involvement takes any school to a much higher level.

Posted: November 10, 2014

My child is special needs and goes to this school and it is horrible. The people who work there are very disrepectful to parents and won't listen to a thing they say. They really tie your hands as far as where your student goes, who the teacher is, and the students grade level. Also, the food their is terrible. They serve fruity cereal for breakfast and one day they had corn dogs. The quality is extremely poor with very little nutrition. My child's teacher rarely praises him and seems to focus on all his negative qualities. He is a pleasant child at home and usually obedient, but at school apparently he is a bad child. I feel like they make that out to be my fault instead of the authorities in the school. My child has been in special ed classes for the past 3.5 years at least and while he sometimes acted up. It was never on a daily basis. He has some problems behaving like every kid, but is generally a good boy, especially around his dad and I.

Posted: February 20, 2014

its good school its good school its good school its good school its good school its good school

Posted: July 14, 2013

I have two children at Satchel Ford and am delighted they're both receiving such an excellent public school education. Both have tested into the Advanced Academic Placement program thanks to excellent teachers. I really appreciate the emphasis on writing and the arts and the encouragement to be lifelong lovers of reading. This is a safe, secure, welcoming and diverse environment conducive to learning and enjoying school. The related arts program is exceptional. The grade-level performances incorporate drama, music, dancing and visual arts in relating to the curriculum. My only complaint about this school is with the PTO, which does an excellent job raising funds for the school and staging events but falls short when it comes to communicating with parents. PTO meetings are actually those grade-level performances mentioned above, and almost no actual PTO business is discussed. Decisions seem to be made by a select few in daytime executive meetings that are impossible for most parents to attend. The parent leadership is clique-ish, probably common in such excellent public schools but quite off-putting to parents who want to be involved in more than just sending money to the school.

Posted: March 31, 2013

Some of the teachers are phenomenal. Some of the teachers are horrible and honestly don't seem to even like children. The principal is on a power trip and although she claims to want parental input regarding their child, she purposely gives parents exactly the opposite of what the parents feel the child needs (in terms of type of teacher). There is way too much homework/busy work given and parents are not allowed in the classrooms ever! The children are taught "to the test" instead of according to what they need.

Posted: November 13, 2012

It's one of the worst schools ever. The teachers give students unreasonable grades. That don't try to let the student be in their comfort zone and the school clean up is filthy but the school is actually big I give them that but that's it.

Posted: June 2, 2012

Both of my children have attended here since Kindergarten (oldest going into 4th). We have had a great experience and would highly recommend this school for anyone seeking a private education for a public school price!

Posted: February 9, 2010