David A. Dutrow Elementary School

Posted: October 26, 2024

Posted: October 26, 2024

Posted: October 26, 2024

Posted: October 26, 2024

Posted: October 26, 2024

Posted: October 26, 2024

Posted: October 26, 2024

I am extremely concerned about the safety and learning environment in this school. Disruptive students are allowed to remain in the classroom to continue to disrupt. The entire class is punished for the behavior of a few. The students are made to run laps because of those who disrespect the teacher and other students. No effective classroom management techniques are utilized. Students are not issued books because all learning is now on laptops. No homework is assigned because the students are not allowed to bring the laptops home. This has been a bad year for students in one particular 4th grade class because the teacher is not in charge in her classroom. I feel sad for the students who must suffer through this on a daily basis. The administrators at this school are blind to the problems even though this is an open classroom school. All they have to do is leave the safety of their offices and walk down the hall. I predict low SOL. Scores for Dutrow. I would not recommend this school to anyone.

Posted: September 26, 2024

Posted: September 26, 2024

Posted: September 26, 2024

Posted: September 26, 2024

It’s still September and I have to post this review about Dutrow Elementary School. It pains me that my grandchild has to go to this school. Yesterday he told me that he sat under a table and cried. The children in the class yell and scream and the teacher yells and screams back at them the teacher cannot control the kids. They have 2 recesses every day and no homework ever. They are going to have difficulty's passing the SOL’s.
At dismissal time teachers bring the students outside as the busses are arriving. They walk in the street that the busses river on in front of the school. There is a sidewalk but they have the children in a line walking down the street. Why don’t they wait until the busses have arrived or call the students out as their bus has arrived? Are they that eager to get rid of their students?
I would not recommend this experience to anyone. There’s no joy of learning here.

Posted: September 26, 2024

Posted: September 26, 2024

Posted: September 26, 2024

Posted: September 26, 2024

Posted: October 31, 2023

Posted: October 31, 2023

Posted: October 31, 2023

My grandson is in the third grade at Dutrow Elementary School He has been bullied each year and no adult in the school has addressed this matter. He’s not a fighter. He’s a good kid. He’s been hit ; kicked and his food has been taken by other students at lunch time. Another child.felt his butt this week. Where are the teachers ? Who is supervising the kids? No adult has ever intervened. Either they are blind or they don’t care or they are just truly incompetent. I don’t think he is safe at Dutrow Elementary School. He’s been injured on the playground while the teachers stand around and chat with each other rather than supervise the students. Newport News schools are in decline. Dutrow have had some awful principals. We are now considering private schools and we should not have to do this.

Posted: October 31, 2023

Posted: October 31, 2023

Posted: October 31, 2023

Posted: October 31, 2023

Posted: April 27, 2022

Posted: April 27, 2022

Posted: April 27, 2022

Posted: April 27, 2022

it is a grate school so NEVER say this school is bad.;

Posted: April 27, 2022

Posted: April 27, 2022

Posted: April 27, 2022

Posted: April 27, 2022

Posted: November 18, 2015

Wonderful teachers who actually care. Like teachers were before SOLs! I don't know if they have some sort of different training but it is seriously across the board.

Posted: November 18, 2015

I would say not enough, but I appreciate the child doesn't lose their whole afternoon. I admit, I dislike games as homework... They work much better than worksheets but busy days make it hard to do them with the child. I wish they would mix it up a little.

Posted: November 18, 2015

Stuedents are punished when warranted, but the school also takes the initiative to not only make sure students know what is expected of them, but why they want to respect and treat others right. I have a "problem" child, who was made to feel unwanted and horrible at her old school. Here, she knows there are consequences to her actions, but she is valued no matter what. Her behavior has improved significantly as a result.

Posted: November 18, 2015

My child is in her second year here, and it has been wonderful... This school has an amazing team in place. Considering the past few years have involved quite a bit of shifting, they've done a great job. There is never an issue that goes unaddressed, and the kids are genuinely cared about. It honestly feels more like a family environment, at least in comparison to any other school I have dealt with. Sure, the open floor plan isn't for everyone, and because of it the school is generally more noisy, but that's also because kids are moving, working, and actively learning, not just confined to desks. So for some kids, it could be overwhelming; for others, it's a dream come true. It definitely is for my child.

Posted: July 23, 2015

As much as these kids have to "work" at this school then followed by homework is almost too much, but I understand that you still need to keep sharp and the homework does just that. Not to mention the kids still should be reading everyday when they get home as a daily (to include weekends) assignment

Posted: July 23, 2015

I see the entire administration instill honesty integrity and fairness in the students in a positive manner.

Posted: July 23, 2015

There is a new principal at the school with new visions for further success. She has wonderful ideas on how to make this school better for both teachers and students.

Posted: July 23, 2015

Overall the teachers at this school are phenomenal! You can easily see that they truly love the kids!

Posted: June 21, 2015

Need more training to meet need or a wide diversity of students. Many teachers tried hard but lacked support from administration.

Posted: June 21, 2015

More homework needed to reinforce what was taught in class. Extra credit projects that challenged students would have been nice.

Posted: June 21, 2015

Principal micro-managed too much, prohibiting many of the things that make for fond school memories, like ice cream parties and other fun times. Cafeteria food was of very poor quality and food staff was abrupt, almost rude to children on a regular basis. Very few extracurricular activities or extras. The pods were noisy on a regular basis. Discipline was very weak. Many of the troublesome students found out early that the worst behavior got them nothing more than a "talking to." Bully, fighting, name calling was a regular part of the school environment. The curriculum was not very well taught by the teachers, who appeared to have either inadequate training or didn't under stand it fully.

Posted: June 21, 2015

My experience as a parent whose child attended David Dutrow or 2 years, I found that discipline was weak. There was no consequences for bullying, fighting and name calling. I also observed that many parents did not sign agenda folder, reading calendars, attend meetings or fulfill any of the requirements of the David Dutrow contract. Nothing was said to them about their lack of participation. This is a not a good way to teach good character to children.

Posted: March 24, 2013

Pay no attention to the 3/10 GreatSchools Rating; Dutrow is an excellent school. The Principal, Mrs. Pittman, runs a tight ship, but it works well in the environment. The open-pod classrooms are not for every child, as quiet is mandatory, even during lunch since kids eat in their classrooms. What drew me to Dutrow, and what I have appreciated most, is that they do not teach to the SOL's. They encourage learning and exploration beyond standardized testing, which is hard to find in schools these days. The staff is caring, and it doesn't take long to feel like family. PTA membership is mandatory, but the members are still very involved, which helps make this school successful. There is some bullying, as is inevitable in schools these days, but it isn't tolerated by teachers or staff. I would recommend Dutrow for parents who want their children to learn to love learning!

Posted: December 4, 2012

My two children attended this school for less than a year before I moved them to another school. The open pod was noisy and disruptive with discipline being very weak. My son was a bullying victim and nothing was done to the perpetrator. The students are taught how to take a test, rather than learning to think for themselves and discover answers. The principal is very nice, but tends to be a micro-manager. She listens politely, but ends up following her own agenda. She has cracked down on snacks and parties which are an important and fun part of making good memories in school. Parental involvement is very weak, with many students coming to school with unsigned agendas and reading calendars, tired, hungry and basically unprepared for school. Attendance is very low at PTA and Parent -Teacher conferences. Teachers try hard but have to follow the IBO program which is very esoteric and hard to follow and the state SOL's, with very unsatisfactory results. The school' s profiles & attitudes is nothing more than old fashion character education, which they do little to reinforce. School was highly recommend, but I and my child came away very disappointed. Stay away!

Posted: June 19, 2012

Dutrow has been a great place to work. The other teachers, as well as the principal, have been very supportive and always try to do what is best for the children. Being able to incorporate the Magnet Program at this school (IB/PYP) can be difficult with the state SOL's, but the teachers and the principal do what they can to make the two fit together in the best way possible. In 14 years of teaching at a few different types of school, I have not ever had the chance to work with students that show as much of a caring attitude as these students. The majority of the students had been there since K, and they have learned great things about working together, as well as taking what they have learned into the communities. Although it is an open-pod type setting, the kids have been some of the most quiet and well-behaved I have seen anywhere. It was a great place to work, and I will take away many things that I learned while there.