How Do We Get These Scores?

Our Rating System
UPDATE FOR 2022: Our former “Atmosphere” and “Theme” categories have now been combined and renamed “Immersion.” Our intent with this is to give more appropriate credit to attractions that have shown a clear focus on achieving and maintaining better customer experiences (both inside and outside the attractions) and developing creative storylines.
Each of the category scores in this review are calculated using a weighted average of several questions that we rate on a scale of 1 to 10.
The following breakdown explains what these scores typically mean. All of our Teams use this as a reference for providing accurate ratings:
10: “Peak Performance”This score is treated as if it has a chastity belt on it. “10’s” are reserved for the best of the best; those that we feel could not possibly improve on what they’re doing.
9: “Innovative and Groundbreaking”It rocked! Nearly everything seemed to go as planned and it was one of the best we’ve ever seen! These guys are leaders in the industry, and attractions like this are truly hard to come by.
8: “Solid”A high score on our scale. They had a good handle on it and, overall, they knew how to use it well. Most attractions can learn from what these guys are doing.
6 to 7: “Good”We could tell that a good effort was made. However, we’ve seen this done much better at other places, or can detect areas where significant improvements can be made. This is about the top end of what we’d call “Family Friendly.”
5: “Average / Fair”Compared to the competition, they weren’t the best, but definitely not the worst. Scares and Special Effects in this range are usually considered “Family Friendly.”
3 to 4: “Below Average”We could see that a clear attempt was made, but most other professional attractions are doing a much better job at this.
1 to 2: “Poor”It appeared that very little time, thought or effort was contributed to this aspect.
0 (Zero): “Non-Existent”No apparent effort was made to make this a significant contributor to the attraction.
Afterword:This rating system is standardized across all of The Scare Factor’s official haunt review teams. However, keep in mind there will always be minor differences between Teams, as we all have varying levels of experience. Regardless, we do our best to remain true to our core values, which is to promote all haunted attractions!Perhaps the biggest thing to remember is: sometimes the score – in and of itself – doesn’t tell the whole story about an attraction’s merits. This is why we provide detailed explanations for each category… to help you better understand how and why we chose the score/s that we did.We do our best to not let feelings or emotions rule our judgement, while also viewing the attraction through the lens of the typical haunt-goer. But, because all reviews with ratings are inherently subjective, this is nearly impossible to completely prevent. Though, when in doubt, we tend to give slightly lower scores than our original “gut feelings” to account for this, and also give the attraction more room to improve over time.We also do our best to be fair and consistent across all of the haunts that we review. We know that you’ll be looking at these scores and comparing them to other attractions, so we hope this review helps you out in that aspect.Do you have some feedback about our review system? Contact Us Here to let us know what you think!
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Final Score: 6.98
How Did We Get This Score?

Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 7.08
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 8.33
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 6.4
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 4.4
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 8.2
(5% of Final Score) Theme:
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 7.1
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 6.3
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Summary:
This haunted house has been up and running since 2010, previously as a non-profit fundraiser called Skool of Terror/Fear University. Then, in 2015, The Haunted Elementary came into fruition. The fundraiser portion ended in 2017 wherein Bridgeport Gore Grounds was created and it now consists of multiple attractions, with their main attraction (the Haunted Elementary) taking place inside an actual elementary school.
Additionally, don’t lose your 3D glasses while in Fright Site 3D! It is full of black lights and UV paint! Fright Site 3D is not a haunt, but an ‘exhibit walkthrough,’ for an additional upcharge.
For purposes of this review, the scores are solely based on the main attraction haunt: the Haunted Elementary. Outbreak is also another add-on which can be purchased and you can be part of a zombie laser tag game while going through the haunt. However, this does not come without risks; be careful because you may turn into a zombie yourself!
With mostly all of the actors volunteering their time to bring you intense scares, visiting The Haunted Elementary is nothing like child’s play!
Cast: 7.08
How Did We Get This Score?

Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 4
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 7
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 8.5
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 8
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 8.5
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The cast within the Haunted Elementary had a few honorable mentions, but ultimately had around 10 actors, some we ran into more than once. The “Undertaker” as we shall call him, upon entering, was by far the most entertaining and original. From dancing with one of our team members to playing a game of throwing body parts, this man was a key actor and entertainer. He sent us away after he took our measurements for our soon-to-be coffins!
A creepy, seemingly-floating lady of death guided us through certain parts of the haunt, which set the mood. An over-zealous scientist had the most energy, and a rat-wielding woman shared her love of “pets” with us. Did I mention the rats were real and crawling on her?
There was a good variety of characters, even among the few we engaged with, and they were all original and well thought out.
Costuming: 8.33
How Did We Get This Score?

Costuming Scores (15% of Final Score):
(15% of Costuming Score) How complete / finished did the costumes appear to be?: 9
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 7.5
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 8
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: N/A
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 9
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All of the attire matched the characters being portrayed. The Undertaker had a solemn suit that fit the older gentleman as it should. The ‘lady in black’ had a black dress that glided behind her to add to the mood. The others were simple, yet expected, from the scientist’s white doctor’s coat to the lady in the doll room wearing her doll dress.
There was an occasional white-painted face with all black clothing type of hidden actor strewn about as well. Make-up was appropriate; not extreme, but simply blackened eyes, bloodied necks and some colored contacts for good measure.
Customer Service: 6.4
How Did We Get This Score?

Customer Service Scores (10% of Final Score):
(25% of CS Score) How easy was it to locate the attraction, park, and navigate the premises?: 1
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 7
(25% of CS Score) How professional, helpful and friendly were the staff members?: 8
(20% of CS Score) How easy was it to find their information before* arrival?: 9
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The only way we knew we were at the Gore Grounds was by the GPS guiding us. Not one sign was observed, or an entrance marker seen. The school was dark, and no lighting guided us to the entrance outside. We honestly did not know if we were in the right location. Being a school with multiple doors, we parked where there were other cars and followed another group of people inside. Luckily we were in the right location for the haunt! Staff told us the signage would be present for October, as we attended the second weekend after opening in September… thus, hopefully, more signage will be present in the upcoming weeks.
According to their website, the haunt is not handicap accessible. Also on the site, it lists, “The Haunted Elementary has a fully trained security staff, including on-call Bridgeport Police. We also have an off-duty EMT on staff each night.” The only concern we had was while waiting for our time to enter, the queue line representative informed us of a screw sticking out of a piece of the set which was easily accessible to everyone entering the haunt. This was not a small screw! The employee identified this danger to us so we would not harm ourselves, indicating someone would be addressing it shortly.
The staff in the ticket booth were kind and informative. The queue line staff was a younger male who mostly spoke about his day at school. Though he tried, the engagement of this staff person could have been done without, but everyone else we interacted with was professional and helpful. All of the attractions information was easily accessible online and mimicked what was presented on television screens while at the haunt. We knew what we were walking into based off of the plethora of information located on their website.
Atmosphere: 4.4
How Did We Get This Score?

Atmosphere Scores (10% of Final Score):
(60% of Atmosphere Score) How obvious was it that you were at a haunted house before entering?: 4
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 5
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The outside of the venue appeared to be closed, with very few lights – only provided by street lamps – and no additional lighting or signage anywhere. Again, we were unsure if we were in the right location because there was no indication we were at a haunted house. There was no music outside the attraction; but, once inside and in the queue line, spooky soundtracks were playing.
The queue line itself was decorated well and incorporated an “outdoor” theme with corn stalks, lattice, leaves and tree stumps. Immediately before entering the haunt was a graveyard scene with loud sounds of shoveling dirt and haunting noises. A television screen was present with the rules of the haunt and some trivia and word puzzles to keep you busy.
Special Effects: 8.2
How Did We Get This Score?

Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 8
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 8
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 9
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 8
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 8
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The special effects varied within the Haunted Elementary from a sophisticated captured alien attempting to break free from its cage to store-bought props from the local Halloween store. The meat market butcher scene was detailed, yet it was very difficult to see everything on display because the lighting was so low. The butcher took us through an extensive process from where he sells his meat at the market all the way to the cooler where the meat hung. The MOST memorable part of the Haunted Elementary would have to be the smells. Revolting, smack-you-in-the-face scents which made you feel like you were surrounded by decaying meat leaving you gasping for fresh air.
Another well-done scene was the doll playroom with the stuffed animals and dolls showcased throughout. Some of the scenes were somewhat barren, but leave room for more possibilities in the future, like the scientist directing you through a mostly empty handful of rooms. However, he told his story, and it was capturing, but the scenes could have been crafted better to support his theme.
Theme: N/A
How Did We Get This Score?

Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?:
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?:
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?:
This score is left “N/A” when we believe the haunt is trying to target a random variety of themes or phobias, rather than a single overarching “Theme” or “storyline.”
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Scare Factor: 7.1
How Did We Get This Score?

Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 7
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 8
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 8
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 6
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 6
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Haunted Elementary had many “pop scares,” but some also involved actor scares. One in particular distracted us with a game involving a light, tricking us into breaking the rules and giving us a ‘shock’ (and scare) for our inability to listen. One member of our team found the live rats as the most terrifying portion of the haunt, speaking to her fear of rodents! There were a lot of suspenseful silences and involved scenes leaving you to anticipate and prepare for the worst! These silences were then followed by unexpected loud noises to keep you on your toes.
Entertainment & Value: 6.3
How Did We Get This Score?

Entertainment & Value Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment received during the main attraction/s?: 7
(25% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment that’s available with* the ticket price, excluding the main attraction/s?: 3
(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 8
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 7
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It took our team about 15 minutes to make it through the Haunted Elementary, which is a quarter of a mile in length. Haunted Elementary is a base price of $15, resulting in a value of $1 per minute (which is about average for this area). Also, our team did walk through the 3D Fright Site, which is an “exhibit walkthrough,” but not an actual haunt. This was a quick 5-minute excursion to view. The 3D attraction is an additional $5 upgrade from the $15 general admission to the Haunted Elementary.
Another upgrade of $10 would get you the “Outbreak” feature, which is described as an Interactive Zombie Experience. While walking through the attractions, you would wear a Z-Tag and be involved in a game of laser tag with the actors. Our team did not participate in this portion, but it definitely would add another layer to the haunt experience! You can also skip the wait and purchase a Speedpass for $10. Water, soda and snack goods are available at the end of the haunt for purchase as well.
How Did We Get These Scores
Our Rating System
Each of the category scores in this review are calculated using a weighted average of several questions that we rate on a scale of 1 to 10.
The following breakdown explains what these scores typically mean. All of our Teams use this as a reference for providing accurate ratings:
10: “Peak Performance”This score is treated as if it has a chastity belt on it. “10’s” are reserved for the best of the best; those that we feel could not possibly improve on what they’re doing.
9: “Innovative and Groundbreaking”It rocked! Nearly everything seemed to go as planned and it was one of the best we’ve ever seen! These guys are leaders in the industry, and attractions like this are truly hard to come by.
8: “Solid”A high score on our scale. They had a good handle on it and, overall, they knew how to use it well. Most attractions can learn from what these guys are doing.
6 to 7: “Good”We could tell that a good effort was made. However, we’ve seen this done much better at other places, or can detect areas where significant improvements can be made. This is about the top end of what we’d call “Family Friendly.”
5: “Average / Fair”Compared to the competition, they weren’t the best, but definitely not the worst. Scares and Special Effects in this range are usually considered “Family Friendly.”
3 to 4: “Below Average”We could see that a clear attempt was made, but most other professional attractions are doing a much better job at this.
1 to 2: “Poor”It appeared that very little time, thought or effort was contributed to this aspect.
0 (Zero): “Non-Existent”No apparent effort was made to make this a significant contributor to the attraction.
Afterword:This rating system is standardized across all of The Scare Factor’s official haunt review teams. However, keep in mind there will always be minor differences between Teams, as we all have varying levels of experience. Regardless, we do our best to remain true to our core values, which is to promote all haunted attractions!Perhaps the biggest thing to remember is: sometimes the score – in and of itself – doesn’t tell the whole story about an attraction’s merits. This is why we provide detailed explanations for each category… to help you better understand how and why we chose the score/s that we did.We do our best to not let feelings or emotions rule our judgement, while also viewing the attraction through the lens of the typical haunt-goer. But, because all reviews with ratings are inherently subjective, this is nearly impossible to completely prevent. Though, when in doubt, we tend to give slightly lower scores than our original “gut feelings” to account for this, and also give the attraction more room to improve over time.We also do our best to be fair and consistent across all of the haunts that we review. We know that you’ll be looking at these scores and comparing them to other attractions, so we hope this review helps you out in that aspect.Do you have some feedback about our review system? Contact Us Here to let us know what you think!
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