Laurel Mountain Elementary School

Posted: April 1, 2024

Concerns persist about the safety of the playground at Green Belt, where children often play amidst potential hazards. The area is known for its population of poisonous snakes and lizards, posing a significant risk to young adventurers. Compounding the issue, supervision by teachers is notably lax, leaving children vulnerable to accidents and injury.

Incidents are frequently addressed re-actively, with emergency services summoned only after an unfortunate event occurs. The playground itself is strewn with stones and rocks, creating a hazardous environment where children are left unsupervised. This lack of oversight increases the likelihood of accidents, whether through falls or the actions of other students, who may inadvertently or intentionally cause harm.

Despite repeated concerns raised by parents and caregivers, the school remains steadfast in its reluctance to amend its policies regarding supervision and playground safety. While advocating for independence in play, the current setup jeopardizes the well-being of young learners, potentially resulting in severe injuries such as eye damage from errant stones or getting bitten by a poisonous snake. Since my kids have been in the school I have heard of 4-5 serious stone injuries.

Addressing these safety concerns is paramount to ensuring a secure and nurturing environment for all students. Proactive measures, including enhanced supervision and the removal of hazardous materials from the playground, are essential steps towards safeguarding the well-being of our children.

Posted: April 1, 2024

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Posted: December 3, 2022

It's not that good of a school because of bullying.The Teachers sorta care but not really.

Posted: December 3, 2022

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Posted: August 18, 2022

I don't know why the previous reviewer was complaining about the principal. We love Ms. Marvel! She is a caring, compassionate leader, who is accessible to the parents and students and very focused on the social/emotional needs of her student body. The staff did a great job helping my son overcome some behavioral difficulties last year.

Posted: August 18, 2022

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Posted: February 21, 2022

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Posted: February 21, 2022

Posted: February 21, 2022

Posted: February 21, 2022

The teachers are great, but unfortunately the climate is going downhill under the new principal. Worried that lots of tenured teachers are leaving, so the school may not stay great for much longer.

Posted: February 21, 2022

Posted: April 21, 2021

the best school in the world an extremely good school

Posted: April 21, 2021

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Posted: October 28, 2019

Excellent I love it all the staff and students are great

Posted: October 28, 2019

Posted: October 28, 2019

Posted: October 28, 2019

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Posted: October 28, 2019

My son it’s doing excellent since he started

Posted: October 28, 2019

Posted: December 5, 2018

Posted: December 5, 2018

Posted: December 5, 2018

Posted: December 5, 2018

Posted: December 5, 2018

Posted: December 5, 2018

Posted: December 5, 2018

The students that attend LME are a very lucky bunch! The school is under great leadership with Jan Richards. She has encouraged the growth of the whole child through by implementing a model where the children are encouraged to try new things and figure out their passions. The teachers work many many many hours making the magic happen. Where else do you get to raise trout and chickens, fix bicycles, build bird houses, take data on the animals that live in the nearby preserve?! Incredible things are happening at LME!!!!

Posted: December 7, 2016

I must say I do agree with the person who posted about the lack of diversity among the staff. It has improved a smidgen, with more male teachers, but yes they are Caucasian.
Laurel Mountain has many traditions & events which create a familiar community feeling to the school. Parents are never discouraged from being involved.
The school staff-- from teachers to office staff to housekeeping-- is led by the much revered Principal, Jan RIchards. Mrs. Richards creates a positive learning environment for the children and a neighborliness among families.
"LME" is in our hearts forever.

Posted: June 2, 2014

Our experience at LME has been very mixed. Kindergarten and 1st grade were wonderful. In 2nd grade my daughter didn'tseem to learn as much, and in 3rd & 4th grades there was a heavy emphasis on testing. It's hardly surprising the campus tests so well: the students mostly are from affluent and well-educated Asisan and Anglo families. My daughter has never had a non-white teacher, or an African-American classmate (we are white, too), so it's not really diverse:(. She would have benefited from more hands-on learning and fewer worksheets in grades 2 - 4. The Friday morning enrichment program, on the other hand, is very good. So it's a toss-up.

Posted: September 24, 2013

We love LME. We moved to Austin from Seattle two years ago, started school after the year had begun and the teachers, counselor and administration made every effort to ease the transition for my boys. Accommodations are made for kids who need help socially, academically and otherwise. The school wants children to succeed and to be empowered. It's a strong community. We love it.

Posted: August 29, 2013

Excellent school, with very motivated teachers and exceptional involvement by parents via the PTA. Very high academic standards, racially diverse and a good foundation for middle school. The parent funded "enrichment clusters" are great and provide a level of customization that helps keeps children interested in school. They have a very strong chess club. Several hundred (!) participate in their chess practices every Friday at 6:45am!.