<p>While elementary schools are widely recognized as key settings for supporting children’s mental health, limited research has examined parents’ perspectives about how schools do this, particularly in the early years of schooling. Parents are positioned to provide unique insights into how school initiatives impact children and families. Understanding their perspectives can help shape more inclusive and effective system-level and school-based approaches and strategies. This study aimed to explore Australian parents’ views on how elementary schools can support the mental health of students. We designed an online qualitative questionnaire to explore the views of parents (<i>n</i> = 28) of lower elementary school-aged children, recruited through purposive sampling and advertised via social media. We identified four main themes in the data: Foster a school culture that prioritizes children’s mental health; Enhance staff capacity to support student mental health; Promote consistent family engagement, and a shared language around mental health; and Embed curriculum and pedagogy that supports children’s mental health. Our findings offer valuable insights into how parents perceive the role of elementary schools in supporting student mental health. They highlight opportunities for system-level and school-based approaches that go beyond individual mental health programs, instead integrating mental health into school culture, teaching and family engagement strategies.</p>