Southwest Elementary School

Southwest Elementary is the worst school my children have ever attended. The teachers are only concerned with teaching what the kids need to know to pass FCAT. After all, that is where the funding comes from. They have no recess for children and limited social time to interact with other children. They are only allowed to talk, even at lunch, if ALL of the kids at their table have finished eating. The secretary is rude. There is barely any homework. They only send home the exact same math fact sheet so eventually the kids memorize the answers rather than learning them...all because they have to pass the FCAT. They do not teach there. They only prepare them for the "big FCAT exam". Also, they instill fear in them at age 8 so they will surely pass. My son is an emotional wreck after 2 weeks of school because his teacher said if they don't pass the FCAT they don't move on to the next grade and they cannot have recess because they have to study for FCAT. I am pulling my 3 children from that school to home school. The school went from a C rating to an A. Please understand the increase of rating was because of the students success on FCAT, NOT THE TEACHERS success in teaching.
--Submitted by a parent

My Kids have been going to Southwest Elementary for four years. I think the A rating says it all. But if that isn't enough the principal is awesome and the teachers are great. The school provided extra in school help to ensure that my slow learner was able to pass. My other child received testing to determine qualification for advanced learning. So the school serves a wide variety of needs. There is an after school care program for working parents. The cafeteria is clean and the food is great. The office and support staff is phenomenal. I m concerned that I be able to find a middle school as good. However, if pressed for a negative, the school doesn t have enough extracurricular clubs. But bottom line is I think anyone would be hard pressed to find a better school.
--Submitted by a parent

My children have gone to SWE for 5 years. My husband and I loved this school when our children first started attending, but the atmosphere has changed over the last couple of years. We loved the principal, but her attitude has changed. This school has gone from a very warm family feeling to cold. They have forgotten that these are children that still need to have fun. There is no time for fun hands on learning and field trips anymore. The teachers are forced to treat our children like robots and all for the almighty FCAT and SAT10. My children used to be viewed as precious little people, now it seems that they have been reduced to nothing but numbers. I'm just glad that the teachers haven't given up hope yet. They are still the most loving and nuturing group I have ever met, and our family loves SWE's teachers!
--Submitted by a parent

I love this school. The teachers are one of a kind, and work very well with my child and others. They go further than any I've come to know over the years. The academics are wonderful, and the extracurricular are great also. I reccomend this school 100%!
--Submitted by Mrs Russell, a parent