Lowes Island Elementary School

Posted: August 18, 2026

Today was an extremely upsetting experience for a mother and her 6-year-old son. He was supposed to be dismissed as a walker, and his mother was waiting for him after school. After about 40 minutes, the school staff and management discovered that, by mistake, he had been sent on a school bus instead.

Imagine being a parent waiting for your 6-year-old child and not knowing where he is for 40 minutes. There were also police present while everyone was trying to figure out what had happened. Thankfully, he was eventually found safe, but this situation should never have happened in the first place.

I am very disappointed with the school’s dismissal procedures and management. A child’s safety must be the highest priority, and staff need to be responsible and know exactly where every child is at dismissal. This was a serious failure in supervision and communication.

The school needs to take full responsibility, investigate what happened, hold the responsible staff accountable, and make immediate changes to ensure this never happens to another family. Parents should be able to trust the school with their children’s safety.

Posted: August 18, 2026

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Posted: May 30, 2024

School is ineffective at dealing with bullying. Bullying concerns are not taken seriously and seem to be treated as a conflict rather than bullying, which makes matters worse! My kid kept getting threatened retaliation by the bully if he continued reporting incidents. It was a miserable school year.

Posted: May 30, 2024

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Posted: February 10, 2023

I am from India and my little one was born here in US. I love this school for my son 100%. From school principal to his class teacher everyone is involved in bringing out the best in him. As a first time mom I feel supported. My son loves this school and is excited to go everyday. Most importantly they are giving him ample time to learn. I proudly recommend this school to one and all!!

Posted: February 10, 2023

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Posted: September 30, 2021

Great school, Great teacher, good families, and neighborhood.

Posted: September 30, 2021

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Posted: May 24, 2021

Before moving into the area, we checked out the schools carefully since our three children were currently attending a private school in our old neighborhood in Maryland and the tuition/fees just weren't sustainable for our family. Our decision paid off as the girls had a wonderful elementary school experience right in their neighborhood. As I parent, I stayed involved in the school and had first hand knowledge of what what was happening in the classroom as well as extra curriculars. Overall, the parent involvement at this school is exceptional and that translates into teachers getting the support they need to focus on educating the children. I recommend Lowes Island Elementary and believe it to be an exceptional school.

Posted: May 24, 2021

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Posted: March 25, 2021

The school has been very attentive to my special needs children and with very hard to help them succeed.
The principal and assistant principal are kind and enthusiastic and have good relationships with the parents.
The teachers have all been wonderful in our experience over the last six years.
The volunteer parents are active in the school creating fun activities for the kids.

Posted: March 25, 2021

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Posted: July 24, 2019

Posted: July 24, 2019

The students have little cliques- that's normal.
We found the teachers developing bonds with some students and being overly critical to the rest.

Posted: July 24, 2019

Posted: July 24, 2019

It's elementary school- yet it's still an issue and the teachers have shown no sign to try and foster inclusion or acceptance.

Posted: July 24, 2019

Both of my children were often depressed. Either with how other students treated them, or how the teachers treated them.
This is not how elementary school should be.

Posted: May 17, 2019

Posted: May 17, 2019

Posted: May 17, 2019

Posted: May 17, 2019

For an entire School Year, we had a Third grade boy harass and taunt my child on the bus. While the Assistant Principal intervened on numerous occasions by speaking with the boy. The harassment would stop temporarily and start again throughout the course of the School year. The issue is there are no School Patrols in this School, not on the buses nor in the school grounds to help with simple school operations which help not only foster good work ethics from a young age but more importantly can help keep their peers maintain order, good behavior and mediate in times of discord between students and take unbiased accounts of what goes on during bus rides in order to help the Principal/Assist Principal relay accurate details of what took place in the event of a dispute in order to resolve it effectively and prevent it from re occurring. And so in the absence of Bus Patrols, it becomes a case of 'he said he said' which can be confusing and hard to resolve and that's why bullies can keep doing what they do best and terrorize anyone on the School bus.

Posted: May 17, 2019

Overall, we had an okay experience. The School has a great homework policy and a parent signature is required in most cases and they send home a packet of your child's school work at the end of every week for the parents to go through and sign which is an excellent accountability strategy for both parents and students.
Ms Verna,a second grade Teacher was excellent with my son, he learnt a lot in her class and she was very kind and communicative with us regarding anything my son needed. Most of the Front Office Staff are very friendly and very warm, although in the last few months prior to us leaving, they had this new Staff who was did not have a very warm personality and it changed the atmosphere of the front office, its funny how one person can bring down the moral of a warm office, what a shame. Overall, great school, majority of the teachers here are very hardworking, friendly, helpful and Strong parents support and involvement.
l think Recess is a tad short, only 15 minutes apparently. My boys enjoyed the school for the most part and we appreciated the positives the school had to offer.

Posted: May 1, 2018

the word study homework and reading doesn't take that much time and help reinforce what kids learn in classroom. Math computer programs are great and wish they would do more math

Posted: May 1, 2018

It all depends on the teacher. We have been lucky to have had good experiences in the past 2 years! Kids love the young teachers.

Posted: May 1, 2018

Posted: May 1, 2018

waiting to see how the new principal works out. So far he is energetic, and embraces the school traditions left from Mr. Shaeferman.

Posted: May 1, 2018

we haven't experienced this yet! They have special program for kids with varying learning differences

Posted: May 1, 2018

school and teachers take this very seriously!

Posted: May 1, 2018

We have had a great experience for the past 2 years we have attended this school. Homework is not as bad as what other parents seem it is and we haven't had any issues with the school leadership. They encourage parent involvement and create a great sense of community. PTO is awesome and have many opportunities for kids to shine such as The Variety Show to build kid's confidence, Odyssey of the Mind to enhance their creativity, fundraising and various volunteer opportunities. Teachers go out of their way to help students do well and push them to learn. So far the new Principal seems fully engaged and embraces the legacy of Mr. Shaeferman that just retired. The kids have various programs such as PE, art, music, search and other special subjects. kids are busy learning and I wish recess was longer than 15 minutes, which is the same for all of LCPS. It would solve many behavioral issues overall if kids had more time to get their energy out often.

Posted: October 16, 2017

The staff has no say, assistant principal runs the school

Posted: October 16, 2017

Couldn't be further from it, they condemn and keep them from ever getting into general education classrooms, so that their grades won't affect their scores and ratings

Posted: October 16, 2017

The assistant principle is the biggest bully followed by a couple of her close staff friends

Posted: October 16, 2017

Excessive, they handed out a packet of 5 to 10 pages of homework in 3rd grade to be completed by each Friday in addition to reading

Posted: October 16, 2017

Teachers are scared of the assistant principal and principal, they brown nose and students suffer for this

Posted: October 16, 2017

They scare the students into expected behavior

Posted: October 16, 2017

Traumatizing, honestly we had an awful experience. Were treated with no respect and even laughed at by the assistant principal. All the while we treated them properly and although it hurt us we gave them respect they did not deserve

Posted: July 7, 2017

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Posted: July 7, 2017

Great School and teachers. Our kids are doing well

Posted: July 7, 2017

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Posted: January 17, 2017

Constant disrespect towards the student and the parents from staff.

Posted: January 17, 2017

The staff does not deal effectively with bullying, a lot of the parent have complained.

Posted: January 17, 2017

Could not disagree more with that statement. This schools priority is to boost their state examination scores, not assist students with special needs.

Posted: January 17, 2017

Incompetent staff, admitted they care most about test scores.

Posted: January 17, 2017

Our experiences with our son at Lowe's Island were terrible. There is widespread bullying in the school but not from the students. It is the staff who are in charge of bullying. If your kid needs special attention, stay away. The staff only cares about test scores, they do not care about educating the students or providing a safe and harmonious environment. We were singled out from the start for having the temerity to question the principal and assistant principal’s assessment of my child. Soon after my son was suspended in what can only be characterized as retaliation. My wife was distraught when she picked up my son on that occasion and was laughed at by the assistant principal. The second time my son was suspended, the principal was rude to my wife, which prompted me to write a letter to his supervisor. Nothing was done, we were completely ignored. My son has been diagnosed with ADHD and is in the autism spectrum, so in effect he was suspended for the crime of having a learning disability. We lost count of how many days he went home crying. They went as far as complaining about him having to use the bathroom! At the end it got so bad that during one incident all the other students in his class stood between my son and the assistant principal, those brave kids were the only ones in the school that stood up for him. If I had not been able to move to Fairfax County, I’m sure I would have no choice but to send him to private school. Six months have gone by and we haven’t had a single incident at the new school in Fairfax. LIES is a horribly run school, last year was a nightmare I advise parents who are moving to this area to send their children to a private school.

Posted: January 17, 2017

My son's 3rd grade teacher was not effective. Did not understand how to deal with a child that has a learning disability, treated it as a disciplinary incident.

Posted: January 17, 2017

The school assigns an ungodly amount of homework.

Posted: September 12, 2016

Posted: September 12, 2016

Posted: September 12, 2016

Posted: September 12, 2016

My son has been going to Lowes Island since the 3rd grade (now in 5th) and we have always been very satisfied with this school. The teachers are top notch and they really care about the kids and their academic achievement. The principal is very proactive and communicative. The PTO is also very active and does a great job of raising funds to improve the school and our children's environment. We moved to this area because of Lowes Island Elementary School's stellar reputation, and we have not regretted it.

Posted: April 6, 2016

My kids were treated fairly, and encouraged to always practice kindness. They were taught that honesty is very important. My son was VERY active, but the teachers still took the time to help him slow down and treat others well.

Posted: April 6, 2016

My kids went through this school, from KG through 5th grade. EXCELLENT school, terrific teachers that pay attention to the students. They encourage parents to volunteer. We moved here because of this school and were very pleased.

Posted: February 29, 2016

Posted: February 29, 2016

Posted: February 29, 2016

Posted: February 29, 2016

Excellent school. Lowes Island is a nice, upscale community, and this school fits right in as the centerpiece of the neighborhood. Contrary to those who complain about racial prejudice and bullying, I saw nothing of the sort while I was there, except for a couple of playground bullies in third grade. Every school has its flaws, and every school should strive to be the best. Lowes Island is not content with being another average school, and their efforts to improve the school should be applauded, not lambasted. Improving the school shows that the faculty actually cares about the learning and the students, not just pushing kids through to middle school.

I guess what I'm trying to say is what makes Lowes Island different is the enthusiasm. Teachers actually have fun teaching. You don't see any weary, beat-down teachers with bags under their eyes around here, because they actually want to teach kids. For many schools that is not the case, but since it has been accepted as the social norm for schools to be like that Lowes Island is seen as an outlier and is scorned for being such.

I strongly recommend this school for anyone looking into it.

Posted: November 13, 2014

My children went there and I was so dissappointed considering it was in an "upscale" neighborhood. There was bullying as well as no help from the principal or the teachers. We moved them to a private school and were very satisfied with the result. Shame on public school these days.

Posted: October 10, 2014

Condescending staff and Lazy teachers. I have had it with the staff in this school, I've only met one person - office staff - who seems to treat parents as competent equals. I have a very bright student, and now 8 weeks into the school year, after being told the second week "a little time" was needed to get situated and have something available for my child at his level, I asked again last week (for something that should have taken an extra minute of work for the teacher, at most), and was given a very condescending "you'll have to wait" again. Also, the teacher hasn't asked for any classroom volunteers yet. If this teacher is so overwhelmed an unable to help a bright student, why aren't parents being asked to help?

Posted: May 27, 2014

My son has been going to LIES for 4 years, we have only had a great experience. This year is a bit tough, but his teacher is strict and it by now means represent the atmosphere at school. Overall we have been very happy with this school, and we are looking forward for our youngest son to start kindergarten this year!

Posted: February 21, 2014

We have very successfully been through K-5 and now in SRMS and my youngest is in his 3rd year at LIES. We have only had good experiences here. There was one year that was tough only because the teacher pushed on the weakest subject, which turned out to be his best academic year. Many of the newer teachers, despite their lack of tenure, they make up for in enthusiasm and communication to parents. They are much more apt to using email and technology in the classrooms (every class has a promethean board which kids LOVE!). I was concerned as well in seeing the turnover at LIES, but change can be good. And so far we have been very happy and my kids are thriving. And like many things, your satisfaction as a parent can be derived by what you put into it. I am not at the school very often to help with many of the classroom daily events, but make every effort into helping on field trips and special events. I work full-time outside the home and the children whose Moms and Dads stay at home and help with daily classroom activities, we are forever grateful for your volunteerism. Any issues we've had along the way were dealt with and it has prepared my son well for middle school.

Posted: August 29, 2013

I agree with previous reviews that some of the teachers are prejudiced, there is lot of teacher turnover as a result of ineffective management and a number of newly hired inexperienced teachers. Also, if you are not activitly volunteering at the school, your child maybe negelected and may not get the priviledges that the kids with stay home Moms who are practically at school almost everyday.

Posted: August 23, 2013

Administration act prematurely and sometimes disrespectful .They only care about their school rank, not students .Very bad experience.

Posted: June 20, 2013

Not clear to me why the superintendent and county haven't looked into this school. Bullying is extreme; the principal turns a blind eye. Teacher turnover is out of control. We moved out of the neighborhood because of the weaknesses of this school. Our kids are in another Loudoun school and doing great. Don't move here if you're looking for a good educational experience for your kids.

Posted: June 17, 2013

This is by far the worst experience I've had with the school system and people. This school only cares about being #1. Being #1 doesn't necessarily mean you are doing great. It's not how you start the race is how you finish. I would like to see how many children from this school end up being doctors, lawyers, noble prize winners, I can probably tell you none. A lot of teachers leave unfortunately not the that should.

Posted: May 13, 2013

Horrible, horrible school and admin. Most of the teachers are newly hired and very inexperience. Bullying is a normal norm of the students. Some teachers are very Prejudice and, discriminating the kids who don't have American parents. If you are a kind of parent who don't object schools miss-treatment and unfairness, then this is a right school for you . But if one day you break your silence and try to solve the issue peacefully with principal then get ready to be kicked out of the school for good . You have to keep your mouth shout and follow their army rules. We had our child there for 2 years .Kindergarten was not bad, but first grade was horrible experience for my child .She is finishing her second grade at one of the top Gifted and Talented private schools in Virginia and we couldn't be happier. But anyway, bottom line, we thank Lowes Island for our present satisfaction and happiness. If it wasn't for them , we would miss all the joy and happiness that she and us as the parents are experiencing right now:)

Posted: April 23, 2013

A special thanks goes to the great staff and teachers at LIES, the school is one of the best schools in this area. This is my daughters second year at the school and she loves it. The teachers are exceptional, they all work together to help the student. You find a great team spirit if the office, and they do their best to make it a fun experience for all the students. We love the school.

Posted: April 17, 2012

This is my son's 3d year at Lowes Island Elementary. We are extremely happy with his school, he is always happy to go back there, he is actually upset when he needs to miss a day even because of the sickness. The teachers are very caring, friendly and approachable, the principle and assistant principle are always friendly. We never had any issues or any concerns. The school is very technologically advanced (as far as classrom equipment, etc), very clean, inviting and bright. The front desk ladies, the nurse, councelors - every one is so exceptionally great, I can't say enough good words about them. We have been very very happy with this school!

Posted: March 25, 2012

This school is very weak in leadership, in other words the principal and assistant principal don`t treat all students and their famiies the same way, and their rules do not apply to all students the same and on a fair basis. They have very friendly appearance at first but if a student can not be perfect in a field, , they just want to get rid of her instead of helping her , just to keep their school on the TOP!! Despite having strong academic curriculum, I had the worse experience for my daughter at this school. Hope county pay attention to these matters.

Posted: October 1, 2011

The fact that I grew up myself in Loudoun County I expected this school to be one of the top notch schools in the area. My sons teacher was wonderful until there required some actual effort in assisting his education. Barely through KG we hoped the next year would be more smoother. We spent the first few months adjusting to 1st gr schedule until it became evident that they were incapable of dealing with students that required additional attention. Apparently the only thing this school IS good at is suspension for lack of ability to control a situation. My son was suspend over 6 times for inability to listen or follow rules. We were informed of a way of monitoring the students which never happened. My son was expelled from the school being told he needed to repeat the grade. Switching schools to find out that he was indeed at/above grade level was what we needed to find out that perhaps the lack of desire to deal with semi-problematic students is LIES downfall. If your child requires more attention than the average steer far away from Lowes Island. Their inability to mediate between student and parent is a disgrace to all of the Loudoun County School District.

Posted: June 22, 2011

I began my attendance at Lowes Island they year the school opened. I've been through many schools and school districts and Lowes Island and Loudin County schools are by far the best I have experienced. The teacher's involvement in their students education along with their personal investment of devotion to each and every student really sets this school apart. Every education at Lowes Island cares deeply about education and enriching the lives of young people. My teachers and Principal at Lowes Island had a deep impact on me and my education. I would not only send my children to this school, I would proudly teach and work among the faculty and staff at Lowes Island Elementary.