Tarrallton Elementary School

Posted: May 13, 2025

The staff here is amazing. They take the time to know every student and are fully engaged. Only bad thing about this school this year is the new principle. She has no interest in learning the students or engaging the community l. If anything, she has pushed the community out of the school. He lack of respect for the staff is seen by not just staff but the parents as well. The morale has sunk since she stepped in this year and less parents and children are showing up to events due to her and the lack of care she shows. We would do anything for Mr. Swann to return or even make Mr. Graham the actual principal. Our children and staff need better leadership to bring this school back to where it has been....GREAT!

Posted: May 13, 2025

Posted: May 13, 2025

Posted: May 13, 2025

Posted: May 13, 2025

Posted: May 13, 2025

Posted: May 13, 2025

Posted: May 13, 2025

Posted: April 29, 2025

Tarrallton is one of the best schools in Norfolk. Kids love it and the community and parent participation is present here more than other places for sure.

Posted: April 29, 2025

Posted: April 29, 2025

Posted: April 29, 2025

Posted: April 29, 2025

Posted: April 29, 2025

Posted: April 29, 2025

Posted: April 29, 2025

Posted: July 4, 2023

Posted: July 4, 2023

Posted: July 4, 2023

Posted: July 4, 2023

Posted: July 4, 2023

This school is overall AMAZING! The staff is more than welcoming and their love and dedication to the student as well as their families are out of this world. I have never seen so many children cry over the last day of school. It had me in tears. The children love going to school and learning. The only bad thing is that there is no before-care program. I moved 2 streets away and that put me out of the school zone. I would do anything to allow my son to stay at Tarrallton but with no transportation and no before-care, I cannot get him to school due to having to be at work by 7am. I think that the lack of before care is what hurts a lot of families in the community for this school. Other than that, WE LOVE THIS SCHOOL. STAFF AND STUDENTS ALIKE!!

Posted: July 4, 2023

Posted: July 4, 2023

Posted: July 4, 2023

Posted: September 21, 2018

My children have been at Tarrallton for many years. I love this school and feel it has been amazing for my children. Throughout the years, my children have had some amazing teachers, some whom I will never forget because they truly cared about my children's well being, they were personable, they communicated well, and they worked hard to teach effectively to all of the children. I don't think sometimes that people understand how difficult it is to be a teacher. I give them so much credit. I couldn't do it.

Posted: September 21, 2018

This can be a tough one. Most of the time I feel the amount of homework is fair. Unfortunately, depending on your particular child the homework could take a very long time, and that just becomes frustrating for the parents and child. Most of the teachers do not want to give as much homework as they do, but my understanding is the district has a rule they need to.

Posted: September 21, 2018

Majority of teachers here are very effective.

Posted: September 21, 2018

They really do try to instill responsibility, respect and safety.

Posted: September 21, 2018

I can email the principal with any issue I have, and I will get a quick response. It may not always be the response I want, but I appreciate people getting back to me in a timely manner. I believe in life you have to choose your battles wisely. Some parents walk into this school with a chip on their shoulder from the beginning and give nothing or no one a chance, and that is not fair. You will never find a perfect school.

Posted: September 21, 2018

There are times where you seem to have to go above and beyond what you should to get your child the services they need, and they certainly could use more special education teachers and teacher assistants, but for the most part this school does well supporting children with learning differences.

Posted: September 21, 2018

I have not, thankfully, experienced this yet with my children, but I think most schools generally speaking need to do more about bullying. Seems to me there is always a "well I didn't see it" approach and that needs to change.

Posted: September 20, 2018

Posted: September 20, 2018

This school has amazing teachers who truly care about the kids.

Posted: September 20, 2018

Posted: September 20, 2018

Posted: September 20, 2018

The school has an anti bully week and the kids participate by dressing up in different outfits each day to bring awareness to ending bullying everywhere

Posted: September 20, 2018

Tarrallton has been amazing learning environment for each of my three children. The teachers and staff really care about each child that attends Tarrallton. I highly recommend this school!

Posted: August 7, 2018

There is a paw ticket system here where good character qualities are highlighted and randomly chosen to receive recognition for their achievements.

Posted: August 7, 2018

There are many opportunities to learn leadership skills through the different programs available. Leadership skills are taught to the children regularly.

Posted: August 7, 2018

This school has a great support system for learning differences and attends to the needs of each child.

Posted: August 7, 2018

Bullying is not tolerated in this school and strives to eliminate it and those who participate in bullying are disciplined.

Posted: August 7, 2018

We love this school! Several of our children have been through this school and have received a very high quality education.

Posted: August 7, 2018

The homework supports what is being taught in the classroom to strengthen their skills.

Posted: August 7, 2018

The teachers are some of the most effective teachers I have come across. The community at this school is full of people who care deeply about the education of the children.

Posted: July 1, 2018

Nothing is taken seriously in this school, at all. Everything is a free for all. Child gets threatened: “Oh they’re just kids having fun.” Child gets bullied: “They need to toughen up.” Child with special needs: “We’ll make sure your child gets everything they need to do well.” (Two weeks later child is failing and so depressed and stressed out they do nothing but cry and beg to stay at home...parents put said child in therapy and contemplate starting anxiety medication. Only to realize the child is terrified of school because of how awful the school is.)
Yes, we pulled him from this school and went back and forth about filing a civil complaint against the school and it’s staff!

Posted: July 1, 2018

I’d your child has any sort of special requirements, of any sort, I beg you not to send your child here. They violate 504s and IEPs left and right. They just want the extra funding. They won’t actually help your child. Please don’t send your child to this school. Here is where things got to the point where we pulled our child from this HORRIBLE school. And since I have human decency, I’ll leave names out. My son started kindergarten at the school which seemed to be OK. His kindergarten teacher was extremely patient and helpful throughout the year. He was an amazing teacher. My son has SPD, anxiety, and several other issues. It took us MONTHS to get meetings set up to start the IEP process. We finally got an IEP meeting set up and I was extremely hopeful. My son was falling behind in kindergarten and instead of letting him fall even further behind, I worked with him nonstop at home, even on the weekends. When we started the IEP meeting, I was told, by more than one person who attended that meeting, that he was no longer falling behind ENOUGH to qualify for an IEP. I was more or less told by the school that if I would have ignored the fact he was falling behind, he would have actually qualified for the IEP. So my child, the entire year, had to work twice as hard as all the other “normal” children because he was refused an IEP.

Posted: July 1, 2018

They don’t have a zero bullying policy. It’s a “kids will be kids, so toughen up and deal with it” policy. Don’t send your children to this school.

Posted: July 1, 2018

Please read my reviews above about our experience. My son was given a 504. At the time I was somewhat content with that decision, however I would learn at the beginning of first grade they had violated his 504 more than once. I had emailed the teacher and guidance counselor more than once regarding his 504 to double check if he was still getting extra time to finish work. (As per his 504.) They kept telling me he was fine and that I shouldn’t worry...that he was doing great. I believed them until my son had brought home a few bad grades (C,D & F) within the first 10 days of school. He brought a test home that was more than 50% blank and marked wrong. I had asked my son what had happened and he said his teacher took his test and refused to let him finish it. (Violating 504!) I asked my son all the questions on the test and he gave me the answers immediately. My son processes things slowly. Hence the “extra time” he was SUPPOSED to be given. I had picked him up that afternoon at dismissal and confronted his teacher about his 504. She not only rushed past me but told me, in a rude manner... (In front of dozens of other families waiting to pick up their child.) “You need to relax, mom. You worry too much.” At that point, it was clear to me... this school didn’t care about my child. At all. We pulled him 2 days later to homeschool. Which was just as eventful. Of course they were probably more upset at the fact they were losing school funding, than an actual student. I went to public school my entire life and I’ve never witnessed such incompetent, rude, and selfish people in a school setting. I will never subject my children to that sort of setting ever again. I promise you that!

Posted: July 1, 2018

Homework shouldn’t take 1-2 hours when they sit in school for 6 hours. And by sitting in school, I mean sitting and keeping their mouth shut. Because God forbid your child talk or blink without permission, they get in trouble and singled out in class in front of all their peers. Apparently when you’re 5-8 years old you’re expected to not move and become a mute for hours. I’d like to see an adult do that. So yeah. My child isn’t wasting his childhood doing homework for 2 hours after he was forced to sit for 6 hours with a measly 15 minute recess.

Posted: July 1, 2018

The kindergarten teachers from they 2016-2017 school year were amazing. After that, it went downhill, and fast. Teachers in higher grades are horrible and rude. Wouldn’t recommend this school for anything other than Pre-K and Kindergarten.

Posted: July 1, 2018

In order to teach children good morals and/or character, the staff and teachers need to have good morals and character... so no. I’d just find a different school or homeschool. Especially if you have a special needs child. They will make so many promises and will honestly make it sound so promising and amazing...only to let you AND your child down.

Posted: November 7, 2017

Posted: November 7, 2017

Posted: November 7, 2017

Posted: November 7, 2017

Posted: November 7, 2017

Posted: November 7, 2017

If the facility bully's the parents how can they effectively stop bullying with the children?

Posted: November 7, 2017

I have had family go to this school as have I for over 30 years different generations of my family have gone to this school so when I enrolled my child I was very excited little did I know I would be treated with such disrespect and assaulted by staff while I'm 7 months pregnant and my other two children had to watch their mother go thru this painful and traumatic experience .I now suffer with scars on my body I hope and pray that no other parent has to endorse the same experience as I did I pray my son can continue thru his school year as normally as possible after witnessing this traumatic experience and I pray this matter does not affect any other kids God Bless please don't be scared to talk to your children about speaking up if the staff bullies them as they have my child and I .

Posted: May 11, 2016

I have been very happy with this school. My children have attended the past 2 years. The staff and administration are very approachable and willing to meet with any concerns that we have had. I highly recommend this school, it is a great neighborhood school!

Posted: May 11, 2016

Posted: May 11, 2016

Posted: May 11, 2016

Posted: September 24, 2015

Posted: September 24, 2015

Posted: September 24, 2015

Posted: September 24, 2015

It's where my oldest went for 2 years and now my two youngest attend here and they're doing as best to be expected! We truly do feel the love the staff has for our children here! We feel safe and my children feel free to be the great kids they are! Thank You for the confidence.

Posted: March 29, 2015

This school is horrible!!! The teachers are great but their administrative side is horrible. My daughter has been struggling for two years with dyslexia and other issues and they refuse to give her an IEP. My husband and I have made several attempts to get them what they needed just like they asked and three meetings later they still are denying her and are saying its not enough. Even their own first grade teacher at the meeting agreed with my husband and myself. They have changed their story on several occasions and when asked several questions either became quiet or played word games especially the school phycologist. All this to get my child the help she needs and deserves. I would not live in this area or go to this school if you can avoid it. If you want whats best for your child take them to a school that cares and will give your child all the oppertunities they deserve.

Posted: March 6, 2015

This school is great. I have several children here in different grade levels. I do believe that it starts at the top and the principal, Ms. Gibson, is so wonderful. She is compassionate, caring, hands on and involved. I have met and worked with many positive and caring teachers and staff here. I am a big fan of Tarrallton elementary.

Posted: November 6, 2014

The school itself is a nice school and all the staff seems to be nice but I have an issue with the way the online services to pay the lunch is done. They cannot pull the confirmation for the payment that I made (which I have the printout and even offered to fax it), they dis-enrolled my son from my account and added a different child. Then when I tried to call them to make the changes its as if no one can do anything to fix the problem. I spoke to Tricia in the cafeteria, Ms. Jones in the office, and Robin at the downtown office. Does anyone know how to fix this. I mean seriously. What is the point of a confirmation number if you can't do anything with it. Word to the wise don't make online payments if you do they will mess up your account and you will be out and everyone acts like "OH WELL".

Posted: September 11, 2014

I work at a daycare and do before and after school care. We have a 4th grader here that is getting bullied everyday and today I picked her up and her finger was black and blue. She said a girl in her class slammed something on her finger and smiled when she did it. She told the teacher and her teacher did nothing about it. This has to change.

Posted: May 2, 2014

This school is FANTASTIC. The principal is so involved and truly cares about all of the students. The front office is always very helpful and involved. Teachers are wonderful. The music teacher is THE best with a wonderful sense of humor and makes music so fun for the kids. We will be moving this summer, but we are so grateful for the wonderful memories and caring that Tarrallton has given my family. This school is hidden gem, we will miss it.

Posted: April 2, 2014

this is school is one of the best in the area and i cannot wait to enroll my stepson to this school.

Posted: September 28, 2013

Being a military family, there is always a need to change schools come PCS season. Both my kids attended this school K-1. I was very impressed by their progress. They excelled academically, both there and in their new school. The teachers are great and involved. The environment is safe and bullying was never an issue. They have a lot of extracurricular activities that keep the students and parents engaged.

Posted: October 4, 2012

We have sent 4 children to this school over the past 4 years and it has been a great experience. All the teachers have been excellent, the principal is very involved and each child knows her and she knows them on a first name basis. Our oldest two have been in the gifted program which has served them well. We have received orders to San Diego and I can only hope to find a school as good as this one.

Posted: May 16, 2012

I have had three children go through this school. They are fantastic. Their academic and gifted services are superior. The teachers communicate well. The principal is fantastic. The nurse is also wonderful. I cannot tell you how much I love the office staff. We are a military family and have spent the last 6 years in this school. My youngest, currently in 2nd grade, is sad to leave as we are retiring. My children loved every one of their teachers here. My oldest left elementary school for a magnet middle school in NPS and was well prepared, if not above average for the program. I cannot say enough about this fine school!

Posted: May 17, 2011

My son has went to tarrallton for pre-k and kindergarden. He loves the teachers as do my husband and I. Everyone at Tarrallton is great :) The office ladies are awsome at getting you the info and help you need, and the teachers are very good with communicating with the parents. Very pleased with the whole school.

Posted: January 3, 2011

My daughter has attended this school since 3rd grade and I have never had any problems. They teacher/parent communication is great! They are willing to help all their students. My daughter adored each teacher she had. She is currently in 5th grade and she will be sad to leave. i also agree that all emails are answered promptly. Not to mention the school trips they have and fundraisers which are always fun for students & parents too. We are glad we moved into this area and found this great school!

Posted: March 20, 2010

My eldest child attended this school from 4th-5th grade. My younger son has spent 2+ years in this school. The teachers are fabulous. They have excellent relationships with the students. I love that my son's teacher will email me back in a drop of a hat. Parent-Teacher communication is wonderful! The Principal is always 'in the know' and also has excellent communication. The office ladies are fabulous. This was a great change from Willoughby Elementary. They have the only rock climbing wall in the district!

Posted: February 16, 2010

Posted: August 2, 2007