Pennington Elementary school (Mount Vernon, Vernon, Lincoln: house, school district, live in)

[Cool_about_it]

Hi everyone, I need some advice or suggestions on Pennington Elementary school in Mount Vernon NY? I bought a house in the Fleetwood section of Mount Vernon. Im looking into enrolling my child in Kindergarten once he turns 5. He is now in catholic school in the city (PK-3). I also work in the city but if i can save some money and place him in a good school, that'll be great. Thanks

[ld75]

I worked in MtVernon school district for a few years. Non-teacher position. Pennington school is a good school. I can say it's one if not, the better schools in MtVernon School District. I can tell you this, that after your child graduates from Pennington, you will probably have to enroll your child back into private school. Take this as a warning....DO NOT EVER, enroll your child into A.B. Davis Middle School. That place is a Zoo!!!!!!! Not going to say much about it, but that has to be ONE of the worst schools. Notice what I said...ONE of the worst schools...there are other schools that are up there in Mt Vernon.

Hope that answers your question. I would enroll in Pennington, but after your child is done with that school. For your sanity and for your child's well being, don't put them in any other school in Mt Vernon. Back to private!!!

Don't believe me? Go as a visitor to the other schools during the morning, lunch, and after school. Check out Davis between classes. It's a absolute disaster! For some reason 99% of the students have no respect for anyone in that school. I can sit here and tell you stories and stories and stories.

I can also tell you stories about how some ridiculous parents are...it's really absolutely amazing how parents make up lies for their kids, as to why they didn't do their homework and other assignments.

The staff is great...you have lots of great teachers, but they can't be an effective teacher when they are spending half the time taming those kids. I can say all this, because I was in every school, every classroom at all times of the day.

Pennington and back to private!

[Cool_about_it]

Thanks for the feedback.

[RJS5689]

I live in the Fleetwood area too. While I do not have children of my own, I have a good friend who has three children at Lincoln Elementary. I'm told this is one of the few decent elementary school in the Mount Vernon district. As accurately stated above, get ready to put your child back into private school once he graduates from elementary. That is my friend's plan as well.

[7 Wishes]

Mt. Vernon native and still very familiar with the schools.

Basically I find Pennington, Lincoln, Traphagen, Columbus and Holmes are all fine, as good as many suburban elementary schools, and definitely better than the rest in the city (though Longfellow Elementary is a bit of a "diamond in the rough", as opposed to the Middle School, which is about as bad as Davis). Many feel Pennington is the "best" elementary school in Mt. Vernon, others argue Lincoln (where I went but a long time ago like in the 1970s).

But after elementary school, you'll want to consider moving or private school. And contrary to what you may hear, at least in this day and age, it isn't racial either, Mt. Vernonites of all stripes feel this way about the middle and high schools here. One joke I've heard in Mt. Vernon is that instead of "white flight", the city now has "bright flight".

Good luck!

[Taliesan]

Hi All,

Looking at a home in Fleetwood. Would have two daughters, 7 and 4, at Pennington. Sounds like it's a good school.

Middle school is a few years out. Might one of the middle schools improve by that point?

Tal.