Woodland School

After several dismal years in our local public school, we started at Woodland this year. We could not be happier. The teachers are loving and supportive while strictly adhering to rigorous academic standards. The head and assistant head of school are actively looking to improve the curriculum and teach skills that are relevant to our evolving, global world. My daughter's work receives an amount of teacher scrutiny that justifies the time that she puts into it. We also love the focus on historical and geographical knowledge- this year she has learned about world rivers, Canada, native peoples throughout North America, and the colonization of our continent. And it is only November! My daughter wakes up in the morning and cannot wait to attend school. Every day, she thanks me for sending her there. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that her classmates are an interesting, funny, respectful group of students who have a lot to contribute regarding any topic! Not only has she gained incredible amounts of cultural knowledge, but her vocabulary and emotional development have increased by leaps and bounds. We are just so thankful that we found Woodland School!
--Submitted by a parent

This is our 9th year at Woodland School and we love it. Last year, we toured other schools (for my then 5th grader) but we decided, as a family, to stay at Woodland through 8th. We are so happy with the curriculum upgrades in Middle School and just love the new Math, Science, and Social Studies teachers. We look forward to a great 6th grade this year.
--Submitted by a parent

There are several bad reviews here about Woodland's administration & past history. I want to add a *loud* THANK YOU to Mr. Ora, the headmaster. I find him brilliant and deeply committed despite being a little odd. I can't imagine a headmaster better matched for my 11 year old son who is very smart (made 8's and 9's on the ISEE and ERBs) and has ADHD. The process of looking for a new school after graduating Trinity was horrible. I felt discriminated against bc we didn't have money, and I disclosed my son's ADHD. When we applied to Woodland, Mr. Ora asked to see me privately. He spent 90 minutes w me and talked about ADHD. He very clearly told me that "not all teacher's *get ADHD"" which had been our painful*experience the last year at Trinity despite having a committed, experienced teacher. I have an academic background and believe Mr. Ora *knows* education and how kids learn and that *not all kids learn alike!* He is eager to maximize each child's learning differences w a structured and character-building based school. I have no complaints about the teacher quality or parent involvement. I'm glad to talk off line if interested.
--Submitted by a parent

I go to this school and I love it so will you. This school is one of the best schools i have been to and my friends say the same thing.

I agree with the previous review. You should always take reviews with a grain of salt - between the extremes. There is always some semblance of reality in between ... My advice to would be parents is to ask the following: 1) Longevity of Teachers and span of control (how many grades does the teacher cover) 2) Credentials 3) Facility renewal 4) online grade system (better transparency with grades) ... Sad but true - when you have the enrollment of the school change with a big teacher turnover, what does that mean? Check the facts and draw your own conclusions. There are plenty of biases and conflict of interest. You need to look at the facts, sieve through the claims and watch out for your child.
--Submitted by a parent

I confess that I often discount extremely positive or negative reviews on the Web, similarly to Trip Advisor. Someone has a bad day and writes a scathing, yet anonymous, review--often over a specific encounter/issue. I have had children at the school for many years. As with every other school, some grades are fantastic and some need improvement. What doesn't get emphasized enough in these reviews,however, is that Woodland kids are, by and large, truly wonderful human beings. Routinely hosts for field trips report back that they had never had nicer or more well-behaved children. At Woodland, being "an idiot" is not cool (in contrast seemingly to so many other schools in the area). You get what you pay for at Woodland: it is less expensive than many other private schools in the area, yet has some incredibly dynamic teachers and a safe/caring atmosphere for your child. The school has just begun a more formalized annual fund and charitable giving program, however, unlike many other private schools in the area, you are not ostracized for failing to meet some type of "giving quota."
--Submitted by a parent

In two years at Woodland we have experienced each of the 1st through 6th grades, and it has been a perfect fit for my three children. The teachers were attentive to my children's successful adjustment to the academic program. We love that there is strong emphasis on love of learning, core virtues, academics, and balance. My children love going to school.
--Submitted by a parent

Our three children have been at Woodland School for 4 years, and we treasure the wonderful education our children receive and the amazing community of families. I cannot say enough about the perfect balance of academics, character development and play. They are all thriving, and really enjoying their experience. The school has grown and improved each and every year, and we feel we are a part of something truly special. The parent community is amazing, and everyone is so supportive. Our children are also very aware of the wonderful, safe community as well, and it means a lot to them. I think back to my own search and I nearly missed out on Woodland. I'm so very thankful that I did find it, and I recommend it be on everyone's list to visit.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of 2 children at Woodland School. Both regularly score highly in academic assessments; in addition, we are often stopped by strangers who comment on their good behavior and being 'nice' kids. I have not been thrilled with the responsiveness or openness to feedback of the head of school (as many have noted). With that said, the teachers, community, and kids at Woodland are second to none. In addition to strong academics and good study habits, the school has an active sports program and music program. We are very happy at Woodland.
--Submitted by a parent

We have two children at Woodland and we couldn't be happier. We've seen both our kids do well, both academically and socially. We love that there is a solid Core Virtues program, diversity amongst the student population, and extra-curricular activities which make it great for families with 2 working parents. The parent community is wonderful - and we have made some really great friends there. Everyone seems to truly value and support quality education. And with a class size of about 11 for the incoming Kindergarten year ... that's awesome.
--Submitted by a parent