Washington Elementary School

My son will be starting 1st grade this year with the same teachers!! He LOVED kindergarten and I know that the teachers are conscientious and meticulous in the work that they do with the young people there. We use the Alameda Recreation and Park Department (ARPD) aftercare & they are fantastic as well! GOOOOO TIGERS!!!!
--Submitted by a parent

My younger kid just finished K & 1st with Ms. Robillard. She was the best teacher either of my kids have ever had. Now she's in 2nd grade w/ Ms. Sussman and I'm over the moon! This school is so disrespected by the district. It's a disgrace. But inside the classrooms are excellent teachers who have been there for years. There's a lot of esl kids and this naturally brings the test scores down but they're all great kids, they're happy, and they're learning. Media center is great, office ladies are great, website is great. And the new principal is the bomb!
--Submitted by a parent

After two year at St. Joe's where my son felt his spirit was squashed by extreme structure, and more emphasis on religion than on education- we made the move to Washington. My son's reading and math improved a full grade level in the first month due to the experience of his capable teacher, and his new found personal motivation. Don't let the stats scare you, I wish we hadn't wasted 2 year because of them. Observe a class, come to a PTA meeting, talk to the parents, Washington is a great school!
--Submitted by a parent

I have found that this is the most diverse elementry school in Alameda that my 10 year old son has attended, which I love (hence the 3 stars). What I am not staisfied with is the disconnect that most of the teachers and Leaps leaders have when handling the children. Fights and fowl language are not disciplined in an effective manner at all. I walked through the hallway with my son one day and a student the same age as he called him a curse word that I would have gotten my mouth washed out with soap for. I was shocked when my son told me that the kids always talk like that and the teachers 'don't seem to care'. I scolded the boy and he simply rolled his eyes before continuing down the hallway. I loved the teacher that my son had this past year-very hands on and communicated well.
--Submitted by a parent

I have two children at Washington Elementary and have been extremely happy with their teachers, environment and progress. The school has a wonderful culture that respects everyone, and teachers are as professional as any I've worked with over the years. Some people perceive Washington as a step below other schools in Alameda -- this is a mistake. As someone with over 15 years of education experience, I have seen Washington School to be an extraordinary place for kids.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is a woderful school. The teachers are excellent The involvment with students is great this school rocks
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter started K this year and we have found the school to be really nuturing. All the K teachers are sharp and warm and from what I can tell from the other grade teachers in the hall, the others are too. Since parent involvement isn't big--a few tend to do a lot--the teachers are working a lot harder here than at the other schools. The principal is very involved and knows the kids, and I feel kind of bad for the West End parents who have opted for private schools or other schools in the district simply based on the perceived 'lower class' aspect at Washington. That's a mistake, and no way to invest in your own neighborhood. A vigilant and happy parent
--Submitted by a parent

My child started 1st grade at Washington this year, and we love the school. The teachers have been amazing, keeping us up-to-date with her progress, instilling excitement into the learning process, and providing a great education. We are so pleased. Don't be put off by the school's exterior...inside the walls are a group of outstanding educators.
--Submitted by a parent

Washington became a CA Distinguished School this year thanks to the involvement of Principal Knoth, his curriculum leaders, and a few dedicated parents. Too bad the district superintendent is replacing the principal after all his hard work of reforming the school from an underperforming K-8 to a Outstanding K-5 school. Even though the building is in need of major repairs and does not look as spiffy as most other schools in the district, the staff gives 100% of their time and energy, making the school a safe and caring environment for children to learn. Both my children love attending Washington and have enjoyed the special activities and programs there such as the P.E./music programs, African-American Read-In, the LEAPS after school program and Sport-4-Kids. My wife and I believe most of the teachers provide a balanced and child-centered curriculum while teaching to the state standards. Washington is a wonderful school.
--Submitted by a parent

I found washington to be full of well educated, thoughtful teachers. I also found that yard supervision was minimal, and a lot of foul language/behavior was happening on the playground.Parent participation is minimal in the lower grades.
--Submitted by a parent