Yelm Prairie Elementary School

Posted: March 31, 2021

They are very against bullying. They are so great and helpful with their students and really show they care about their students and family's. They resolve any issues with grace and kindness. This school is one of the best elementary schools I've had my children in. Very happy.

Posted: March 31, 2021

Posted: March 31, 2021

Posted: March 31, 2021

Posted: March 31, 2021

Posted: March 31, 2021

Posted: March 31, 2021

Posted: March 31, 2021

Posted: February 14, 2017

Discipline at this school is very good and fair. There is no bullying at Prairie.

Posted: February 14, 2017

Yes, people have many learning differences and teachers/staff at this school are really good at handling that.

Posted: February 14, 2017

Yes, leadership at this school is effective. Prairie Panthers are great leaders and this school has a good leadership system. One thing they do is called "Prairie Pride".

Posted: February 14, 2017

Prairie kids turn out to be great leaders. Students at this school are very kind and respectful.

Posted: February 14, 2017

Teachers at this school are amazing! They really know how to connect with their students.

Posted: February 14, 2017

They have a very good and fair amount of homework.

Posted: February 14, 2017

This is the best elementary school I have ever seen. The kids and the staff members are amazing! The teachers really know what they are doing. The principal is so kind and she really knows how to run a great school! I would definitely recommend this school. They have awesome activities and assemblies that really connect with the students and make learning even more fun for them. They make kindergartners feel welcome by having a really great buddy system with the oldest grade and the youngest grade in the school. The PE, music, and tech programs are the best. I feel very good sending my child to this school.

Posted: June 4, 2016

I found the 1st - 4th grade teachers we had to be very effective. They all implemented effective techniques for improving math fact memorization, spelling test preparation, incentives for completing homework on time with "fun Friday" rewards, and very interesting themes to keep the kids motivated. Prairie has an excellent connection with numerous mushers in the Alaskan Iditarod, some even visit the school, and many write personal letters back to the children. Prairie is also unique in it's PE program! I know of no other school where all of the children learn to ride a unicycle, pogo sticks, and stilts...not just one day...a couple of months is dedicated to this each year, with an amazing talent show at the end of the season to an overflowing crowd of family members. My 9 year old who couldn't even ride a regular bicycle previously is now proficient...so fun! Really motivates the kids!

Posted: June 4, 2016

After nearly 7 hours of school, I feel like most elementary school age children have had a full day. Prairie teachers help establish good routines with daily homework that reinforces lessons learned, without it being busy work. But the children can usually finish within 10 - 15 minutes, which feels about right to me.

Posted: June 4, 2016

Posted: June 4, 2016

Prairie is known as the best elementary in Yelm. A highly patriotic and wholesome environment, that has impressed me for past three years. As a military family we have experienced everything from overseas DoDDS to the supposedly greatest schools in northern Virginia. None compared to this absolute gem in the quiet town of Yelm. Every teacher our children had was fabulous, caring, took extra time for help if needed, and easy to communicate with. The front office staff is the friendliest EVER experienced. In Virginia schools I always felt like an outsider, even when I volunteered weekly in two different classrooms. At Prairie the entire staff greets you by name, embraces new military families like we belong, and help children thrive. Bullying is never tolerated and immediately corrected. When a child laid a hand on my daughter on the bus, I was personally contacted twice within 24 hours to both explain what happened, what was being done, and the other child was suspended from bus riding privileges. Compared to other schools, this one really has it all together. I highly recommend and will miss Prairie when we move soon.

Posted: April 24, 2016

Pretty effective, my daughters seem to amazing me everyday after achool with what they are learning!

Posted: April 24, 2016

Both of my kids come home from school Monday - Thursday with homework, Its not much

Posted: April 24, 2016

They involve all the kids ... no child is left out ... so many great activities, always been my favorite school

Posted: April 24, 2016

So many activities for the kids! They involved all the kids! Awesome staff ... makes learning fun!

Posted: February 2, 2016

If you have a special needs child, this school is not ideal for that child. They do not take the suggestions of the parents, break IEP, and do not provide the accommodations the child needs. They clearly state they do not have the resources. They do not communicate incidents that regard safety and health. My review pertains strictly to Special Ed. Several parents expressed very similar experiences with special ed. This school would be fantastic for a child that is ahead of the game without any needs. I am only compelled to write this review because I do not feel as though it is worth dragging my child through the process of mediation and fighting for him to be in a better situation, meanwhile he regresses in progress. I am writing this review in hopes that it will help answer questions parents may be looking for with special ed situations. I have a lot more to say but I want to remain as professional and straight to the point as possible.

Posted: February 2, 2016

It is my personal belief that the teachers are restricted by boundaries given at the school. I think that some of the teachers are amazing and very caring. Some of them go out of their way.

Posted: February 2, 2016

My child complete's assignments within 2 days that are meant for a week. The assignments are on the easy-side.

Posted: February 2, 2016

Information regarding major safety issues were not communicated to the parent on numerous occasions and were found out later. There have been some questionable moments of honesty. Fairness, no.

Posted: September 1, 2013

I could not be happier with this school. If all of the schools in Yelm behaved as they do at Prairie, this district would flourish. I pulled my kids after three years at a different school and walked into Prairie with an extremely negative opinion of Yelm schools due to those experiences. However, after our year there, I am looking forward to the next. The assemblies every week allow parents to feel truly welcome and involved. They also help teach the kids from a very young age how to behave in mass social settings. Sixth graders are given a Kinder buddy, making the kinder feel more comfortable while teaching the sixth grader responsibility. My son, who typically cannot regulate well un medicated for his ADHD spent the entire summer with no problems. My daughter, who is typically antisocial and was targeted by people who were supposed to help her at her old school, was extremely social all summer, and numerous people who came into contact with her were amazed. Switching my children to Prairie was the best thing I could have ever done for their education and well being.