Benchley/Weinberger Elementary School

This is our second year at Benchley and we absolutely love it! Ms. Patton (the new principal) is communicative and energetic. She has high expectations of students and staff, sending the message that every student at the school has limitless potential. We are looking forward to our younger daughter starting kindergarten next year and both of our girls being BW Pandas. The teachers we have come across so far are wonderful and caring. A lot of effort is put into creating an educational yet nurturing atmospehere for students. The art and music classes are outstanding and the librarian and PE teacher are some of the best I've seen. There is a lot of parent and community support as well. We feel confident that our daughters are going to have a great start to their education at Benchley!
--Submitted by a parent

Our experience at BW has been nothing but great. Our Son (Kindergarten) loves his teacher. She is great to work with, and very mild mannered and patient with the kids. In less than half of a year our Son's reading and writing have grown leaps and bounds. I will agree that there are one or two crabby people in the office. But since I rarely visit the office, I don't see that as a problem. I'm more concerned about my Son's Teacher and Principal, which in my opinion are both excellent. Kindergarteners have "sharing" each week, where they get up in front of the class and talk about a given subject. We love this, as it will really help him learn to be comfortable speaking in front of others. He also has an Spanish class one day a week (costs extra) and soon will be doing an after school science class (extra). The new Principal is awesome. She knows many of the kids by name and is very approachable. We were THRILLED when we heard tha tthe old Principal was gone since that was the main knock on the school before. The before and after school care is handled by the YMCA and everyone who we have dealt with has been great. our Son enjoys the play/craft time after school.
--Submitted by a parent

The school may be great on test scores, but is seriously lacking in communication - unless it is for fund-raising. My 1st grader, along with 10 others, were placed in a kinder/1st combo class. Their classroom is a kinder classroom, on the opposite end of the school from the other 70+ 1st graders. Parents were not informed about this placement, and the principal was "surprised" that many of us were so upset. We were told how lucky our kids were because we had such a great teacher... well, no one felt it necessary at that time to inform us that she was also a "long term sub". 6 weeks into the semester, the teacher was involuntarily moved to another school. We were informed of this 1 hour before the end of class on the teacher's last day. And the kicker... no new teacher has yet been assigned. So now we have 11 1st graders, mixed in with 9 kindergarteners, and no teacher. The principal speaks like a politician instead of an academic leader. She is quick to tell you that it is not her fault and to write to congress. I will be applying to Green next year, where I hear that along with great test scores, they also have a great principal and fantastic communication with parents.
--Submitted by a parent

2010-2011Schoo Year First year at BW so dissapointed in BW! Office staff is a mix of nice and very rude personel. Principal Jacobs and teachers to busy with test scores and the distinguished status not really focusing on students real needs. Mrs. Jacobs lacks leadership and people skills needed to support this school extremely disrespectful to children, parents and staff. Great group of parents, volunteers and some nice not to burned out teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

Benchley Weinberger has an outstanding community of parents and volunteers. They help facilitate and support the programs and events for the school. The teachers are hard working and dedicated to achieving the educational standards for every child. The teachers could benefit from having more support within the classrooms. Especially, with the increase of class sizes. However, the principal and office staff are a mix of rude and pleasant personalities. The principal lacked the integrity and support that one would expect from a leader.
--Submitted by a parent

This school, is great! The staff are mostly nice. My child has been here since 3rd grade and they loved it! The principal is ok... she doesn't interact with her students enough.. But great school overall!
--Submitted by a parent

We are thrilled with the teachers our son has had. He is currently in first grade and we feel fortunate to be part of the BW family.
--Submitted by a parent

The Principle needs to step up or retire. Have been at the school for 4 years and as far as I can see the teachers and parent volunteers make the school what it is. The office staff is rude, the priciple is visible but not involved. The priciple has no clear visions to improve/update the quality of education, programs, safety of the school. She clearly does not want to "go the extra mile" for the school. Yes the school has great test scores...great teachers...great kids. But think of what could be with an awesome leader. It is a shame.
--Submitted by a parent

This is my son's first year at Benchley and he absolutely loves going to school every morning (which says a lot, due to the fact that he must get up at 5:30am to catch the bus). His teacher Ms. Trujillo is an oustanding educator as are all of the other kindergarten teachers. I am extremely satisfied with my sons school experience thus far.
--Submitted by a parent

Our family has been at B-W a few years now and I feel like we are getting an excellent public school education for our kids. The prinicipal seems to manage the school well, but she could be more progressive with curriculum that would truly make this a magnet school and by proactively incorporating emotional and social education into the classroom, the playground, and the lunch area. The school should do better in these areas. Right now they are getting by quite well because of the daily effort teachers make and because of an amazing group of dedicated families in the Foundation and PTA. I'd like to see the principal step outside of the box and push this school to measure up to its 'distinguished' status. The parents expect this type of leadership and effort, and certainly our kids deserve it.
--Submitted by a parent