James E Williams School

This is the first year that my children have attended Williams Elementary. They like going to school and are active learners. The teachers encourage them to be active in student council and other activities. I like that the teachers communicate with me about my students strengths and weaknesses on a weekly basis. I also love that the students are exposed to a variety of programs such as 3rd graders and violin lessons and participation in the Christmas program. The 1-1 digital curriculum was hard to adjust to at first, but now we are fully adjusted and capable of meeting the expectations of the school. The PTA is active and the administration is very hands on and I can appreciate that!
—Submitted by a parent

There needs to be a distinction between the elementary school and the middle school. Both my children went to Williams Elementary and they never said the teachers cussed. The elementary does not wear uniforms or have a band. Those negative comments are from parents disgruntled with the MIDDLE school. Separate building and separate staff and administration!
—Submitted by a parent

I have 3 children that attend Williams Elementary. The teachers are dedicated and really want to help the kids succeed. I have had an issue with one of my children failing to bring homework home and I discussed it with his teacher. She immediately offered a solution of using a planner that we both sign each night. He gets rewarded at the end of the week if he uses his planner all week. Creative yet simple solution. It has really helped and he is back on track. I feel lucky to have a school where my children get to enjoy learning.
—Submitted by a parent

They have a bully problem at this school! And they don't seem to address the issue. We recently just moved here and I was so hesitant to bring my kids here after reading the reviews. My kids are doing good in school but its just that bully issue they need to work on! I am fed up with it because my kids come home sad that they did not have a good day because of bullies and their teachers aren't even talking to the kids who are doing it.
—Submitted by a parent

GREAT Principal! Mr McAllister is very involved with the students and parents! SOME teachers go above and beyond, while others just 'show up'....PTA is working to better the school for the teachers and students!
—Submitted by a parent

Overall JE Williams Elementary is an acceptable school with ratings over the 50%. However, my experience has shown that if you do not take the time to reach out to the teachers or staff, most likely they will not reach out to you. I don't see much acknowledgement of students for a job well done, which is a great morale booster for both the child and parents. The ideas, games, and overall behavior of my child has changed to something not age appropriate. Everything seems to be a big blur to me and I have opted to take my child out of this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Both of my girls attend Williams. They have had excellent teachers and have learned a lot! I am a very involved parent and feel that my children are getting a quality education. I get a quick response any time I have a question or concern. Even more telling is that my children love attending Williams.
—Submitted by a parent

I have to say I am NOT happy in any way with this school, I NEVER get any info on how my kids are doing, I never know what s going on in school at all. The Special Education is a joke! Not to mention I had to have one of my boys moved out of his classroom to another one because of how bad the teacher treated him!! They hear cussing all day not only from children but from teachers. They have learned so many bad things from other kids in this school that I DID NOT in any want to address this early with them! The office staff makes you feel like you are bothering them to even ask a question. I WILL do whatever it takes so that my children are OUT of this school next year!
—Submitted by a parent

J.E. Williams Elementary School is an excellent school. My children have attended this school for three years. Our oldest daughter was excepted into the magnet program at Williams Middle. My husband and I have been very involved with the school and staff. I am actually the PTA President for Williams Elementary. Williams offers many great programs. Our school seems to be a hidden secret to most of our surrounding communities. We opted for Williams over private school. Our children adore their teachers and have excelled scholastically.
—Submitted by a parent

The office staff is lazy and doesn't seem to care. The teacher couldn't control the kids. The kids fight, cuss and call each other names. My son was nice before he started going there, but after a month he was getting warnings. We talked to him and he said the kids pushed him, hit him and took his stuff. Every day he would complain and say how much he hates it at this school. They have a bad bully problem there because there is too little supervision and control and the teachers and staff just don't care. Now that we finally moved to another school district, my son is nice and happy again.
—Submitted by a parent

Poor communication with parents. Agressive principal with no regard for cultural differeces. Mandatory school uniforms without parents input. We weren't even allowed to ask how much the new uniforms would cost at the last meeting.
—Submitted by a parent

My kids have attended Williams for three years. For the most part, the teachers are great. There are some that simply need to go, but my kids have had great teachers that we highly support. I'm not happy with the principal of the Middle School at all and their staff. She does not involve parents in major decisions.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has attended Williams since Kindergarten and is now in second grade. She is struggling academically, but has received help from teachers, resource and other personnel in the school. The office staff has been nothing but courteous to my family and me. We have been kept informed of school activities and the parent - teacher communication is excellent. I would recommend this school to anyone.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two sons that attend Williams. I have had both good and bad experiences with faculty at this school. I feel that the some teachers challenge the students, but others tend to not venture outside the norm. I have asked repeatively about homework that I feel was not on my son's grade level. I have been told on many occassions that this was what was being taught and I had to deal with it. I checked with other parents who had students in the same grade, and found that each class was doing something different. I found it difficult to communicate with the principal. He was never available or this was not his area. I am thankful for the assistant principal. She is very proactive in trying to solve your problems.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is in 4th grade at Williams, I also have two daughters that attend.I am so dissapointed with this school.We have been here since my son started school and it has been nothing but a hassle. My son is ADHD and has an IEP.I have been so distraught by every teachers lack of concern about his lack of confidence, instead of encouraging him to try and make better choices they humiliate him to the point that he is embaressed to go to school.The principal is not involved and hardly reachable during the school day and the parent teacher comraderie is no where near what it should be.We are entrusting them with our most prized possesions and they are too busy to return a phone call or even email.This is a really sad, sad excuse for a school.Dont send your children here unless you want them to be severely shortchanged.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two daughters at J E Williams. They just finished their second year there. I feel they have gottten a wonderful education. They have been challenged and I feel they are in the safest school around.
—Submitted by a parent

Educational Environment is excellent. my two grandaughters attend this school and the 4th grade teachers have been outstanding.

I am the parent of two children at JE Williams, a 1st and 2nd grader. This is our second year at JE Williams, and I consider the teachers to be the most caring and hardworking that I have seen in many years. The school does give notice of events in a newsletter that is received before the month begins then again throughout the month. The kids are challenged and given many activities to engage them to seek healthy lives and mostly explore possibilities in their education. Many of the topics my children come home with to seek further development I would never have considered to expose them to. The principal, counselor Mr. Arrigo, and staff are approachable and responsive. This school is constructing an additional building to divide the middle school and elementary school students, and I am excited about the progress I ve witnessed since being apart of this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Our son has attended Williams for the last 3 years and has had excellent teachers. Our big complaint is the the extremely short notice for any school event, be it from award ceremonies to PTA meetings. This is the only school we have ever had this problem with.
—Submitted by a parent

My son started kindergarten this year. He loves school as well as his teacher. So far I would say I am pleased about what he has learned and I think his teacher does a great job of keeping him inspired to move forward. My only real complaint is a failure to offer details or enough notice concerning parent student functions.
—Submitted by a parent