Richard E Miller Elementary School

We live in the neighborhood the east of the school. Everyone there ships their kids to the Madison district. We put two kids through that district and did the same for our youngest during kindergarten. Needless to say we were very disappointed this time around, so decided to try REM for 1^st grade. Ill be honest I was a little apprehensive about bringing my child here. The scores weren’t good and the past reviews left doubt in our mind. WOW REM met my expectations and more. The teachers are great and are interested and engaged with their students. The administration has their back and cares a great deal for the school. This is shown when you see the Principal Mrs Bonnette interact with the kids. I’ve heard her on many occasions address the kids by their first name! The administration takes time to know their kids and to let them know they are their for them and their best interest. My child is now in 2^nd grade and I have no reason to think about moving her. She loves her teacher Ms. Applegate and actually likes going to school. The test scores will improve as this is a fairly new administration. This doesn’t come without challenges as a lot of the students come from lower income or non English speaking families. Each one of those kids is helped on the daily and with time as the excellent teachers continue to instill book knowledge and compassion in their students there’s no reason REM cannot be a A+ school.

My child is in kindergarten at this school.
The office staff is really nice and welcoming. The principal is nice and will try to help you out with your child in any way she can.
Most of the teachers I’ve met are really nice and seem to have great connections with their students.
My only concern is the after school pick-​up system is really disorganized and flawed. It’s easy for me to just waltz past any teacher and take my child’s hand unnoticed back to my car. I have done this a few times because it takes forever having a teacher yell each student’s name individually.
I would suggest they form 2 lines along the north building. One along the wall of the north building and one along the gate. That way each student can only pass thru the middle of both those 2 lines towards the gate where the parent is waiting. It would be a lot easier and safer than the cluster of kids standing near the office. I hope Mrs. Bonnet reads this and takes it into consideration. Overall this is a great school.