D G Cooley Elementary School

Posted: May 13, 2026

Posted: May 13, 2026

Posted: May 13, 2026

as a student i have been here for 6 years and have had both bad and great days but overall i have had a great time and Mrs bishop the librarian definitely deserves a raise in pay she is the best librarian i have ever met

Posted: May 13, 2026

Posted: May 13, 2026

Posted: May 13, 2026

Posted: May 13, 2026

Posted: May 13, 2026

Posted: September 9, 2017

Posted: September 9, 2017

Posted: September 9, 2017

Posted: September 9, 2017

The new principal Mrs. Tinsman is amazing. She is spirited and upbeat and truly cares about the students. I had a problem and she fixed it in less than 24 hours. The office is run by Denise who is compassionate and amazingly helpful. I continue to be impressed by the leadership and staff of this elementary school and their inspiring teachers.

Posted: September 9, 2017

Posted: September 9, 2017

Posted: September 9, 2017

This is the second year my son is at Cooley ( now in kindergarten) and I'm couldn't be happier with this school. I am thankful that my son has so many educators that are invested in his learning. Cooley truly cares and it shows!

Posted: May 21, 2016

This school is between good and great! There are some great teachers and I have no real complaints other than the bullying seems a bit excessive.

Posted: May 21, 2016

Posted: May 21, 2016

Posted: May 21, 2016

Posted: February 13, 2015

People looking at this should know this school was completely revamped last summer. It's no longer grades 3-4-5 in a single undersized building. It's now Pre-k to 3rd at the additional Lower Campus (a former high school) with 4&5 at the Upper Campus (previously the only school). It's a great improvement. Years of underfunding and shortcuts by the anti-public-schools-Board members are visible: the lower campus playground equipment in January, provided by the PTO; classrooms equipped with improper clocks for an elementary school (should have hands); woefully outdated technology. Hopefully, new elections and an economic uptick will allow the system to catch up, and provide the excellent teachers and staff with the appropriate resources in what could be a top-level school system. We have no regrets on our decision to put our children in this system, and will stay involved to help it improve.

Posted: December 4, 2014

D. G. Cooley has been rejuvenated with the new campus and administration at the school and county offices. A few bumps are to be expected but everyone seems to finally be working together.

Posted: August 15, 2013

My child is moving to the 2nd grade this fall. So, I can only comment on the lower campus. My family are local and we have live here in the county most of our lives. I am a little tired of people who have moved from larger communities complaining. We are a small county. We do not have many large industries here in the county that provide tax monies. This is a public school and with that there are going to be things you don't always agree with. My child has only had the best of experiences with the teachers and support staff as well as the principal. The school takes bullying as a serious problem and have programs to help students understand and know what to do in these situations.

Posted: May 14, 2013

Finally, I understand the vast bullying problem my child had at this school. Several teachers are secret "bullies" themselves. The school board is attempting to increase the salary scale which will hopefully attract a better caliber of teacher, but so many who are tenured are left. And there's nothing anyone can do about them. So very very sad to have such a poor performing school in such a beautiful county.

Posted: May 23, 2012

Had a not so good year 2011-12. My family moved here from the Prince William County school district. We had made the mistake of not checking into reviews of the schools before moving here. There is so much bullying and nonsense that goes on in the schools here, it's unbelievable, and NOT talked about. My older daughter was in Johnson Williams and she had a terrible time. My younger one in cooley cried everyday before and after school. We will be moving back to Northern VA this summer.

Posted: March 4, 2012

This school is a joke! Look at the test scores they really speak for themselves.

Posted: June 5, 2011

2010 saw so many changes in this school. New super in the last couple years. Old Principal out, Dr Geyer in. He has removed many problem teachers and ones riding the wave to retirement. It is no longer multi-age learning as one called it. It is now grades 2-5. Some teachers are still unrealistic about homework especially upper grades. They implemented a creative PE program and Arts program with new teachers. I have a child at Cooley now, and look forward to my other 3 kids coming up thru this school. In a year or two, this will become the prek-1 school. Cooley will relocate to the soon to be former high school. I feel our kids get a great public education because we the parents are on top of things. If my kid fails in school, it is my fault not a teachers. If my child has a bad teacher, report them and move the child. I do know of 3 less desirable teachers (one is a screamer as children see her) that is not returning. We will miss the principal Dr Geyer! He seems to have his thumb on the pulse. Clarke Schools are wonderful.

Posted: December 2, 2010

Agree with the previous poster. This is a very disorganized school. I registed my child with three staff standing around with blank looks on their faces. Her classroom teacher turned out to be a "screamer" and most of the class seemed lost while I was there. There is no FT Nurse or Principal and instruction seems at random or whim.