David Ellis Academy West

I must admit I fell prey to the negative reviews I read and didn't register my children at this great school until this year. Mrs. Jones, the principal, Mr. Hurd, & Ms. Hutzel are good administrators. The teachers are caring, stern and supportive. I realized the bad reviews are probably from upset parents with bad kids or kids that aren't meeting school expectations. It's time we be more supportive and less critical. Let's face teaching isn't easy and they do a good job!
--Submitted by a parent

I have a two children that attend D E A W, My daughter (1st grade) is in the Spanish program. (Teacher Sra Gardner) It was a little hard for her in the beginning but as time progressed she caught on and begin to excel and hasn't stopped. Sra Gardner does a EXCELLENT job with my daughter and I couldn't have asked for a better teacher for her. She has given us so many resources that help her to continue to learn while were at home and even to help for studying of spelling test. That alone says alot!! she is taking the time out to research and find websites that will be beneficial to the children. It shows that she truly cares about her students education. DEAW should be very proud to have someone like her as a teacher. I know I'm a proud parent and very satisfied with the education my daughter is receiving at the school. My son is in the 7th grade and has been there since the 3rd. He has had some struggles while there but its staff like Mr Hurd that try and keep him on track. Mr Hurd is another person that goes out of his way to insure that my child is successful along with following the academy's code of conduct.
--Submitted by a parent

NEW PRINCIPAL! Great changes have definitely taken affect. Although I do agree w/some of the July & June reviews left by the last 2 parents, I must say that since changes have been made (as far as administration goes) the school has been on the fast track forward. They hired a new prinicipal in January. I'm not sure what happened to the last one, but I'm glad she's gone. I feel like the school has always been a good 1, but I believe she stopped them from being great. It's almost like she was holding the school back from being all they could be. The new principal is AWESOME!! She's caring, fair, a good listener, the kids love her, & the teachers seem to have positive feedback regarding her. The communication between the school & parents is great now. It was pretty bad before. They have some type of system that calls my cell phone at least a few times a week to keep me abreast of what is happening at the school. It is a no tolerance school, meaning they don't really tolerate some of the nonsense & behavioral problems that other schools might put up with, but that's what I like in a school. I feel like my daughter is safe when she's at school & she is doing great there.
--Submitted by a parent

Do not send your children to this school!! The administration is a mess! They interrrogate children without the parents permission or knowledge. The communication between the school and the parents is horrible. The attitudes are arrogant and one sided. The administration and parents are divided. This administration treat parents like the enemy. They involve children in parent/ administration issues. The director does not seem to have a clue of what some of her staff is doing. Too much administration drama!
--Submitted by a parent

THIS SCHOOL NEEDS A CLEAN UP JOB. THE OFFICE HAS NASTY ATTITUDES AND THE PRICIPAL NEVER HAS TIME AND WHEN SHE FINALLY HAS YOUR ATTENTION SHES LOOKING AT YOU LIKE YOU NEED TO HURRY UP. STUDENTS ARE MORE SERIOUS ABOUT ACTIVITIES THAN ACADEMICS. THIS SCHOOL SHOW FAVORITES IF YOUR A MEMBER OF GREATER GRACE IN ORDER FOR THE RATINGS TO GO UP THEY NEED TO EVALUATE EACH TEACHER AND THEIR STUDENTS CUZ THEY ARE NOT PROGRESSING THE WAY THEY SHOULD NEW PRINCIPLE
--Submitted by a parent

I am a curent student at DEA-West this is my second year. I love the school and have met alot of nice people and plenty of friends, But administration does not trust students especially older ones because of things that have hapened in pass years we are segregated by gender because of maybe 1 incident. Not given recognition for the good things we do, do but only the bad also core subject teachers are the best (math,english) other teachers arent as good they once were in the begining of the year.

I will not be taking my children back to this school for many reasons. The man who runs the lunch rooms cusses at the kids and both him and the assistant principal threaten the children and use intimidation to try and get them to behave. The theme in the school this past month was CARING. They don't care or they wouldn't be treating the students the way they do and the children wouldn't be afraid to go to school. When my child tells me he is afraid to go to school there is something WRONG. The prinicipal is also rude and makes you feel like you are a bother.
--Submitted by a parent

Ask the computer teacher anything about computers and you will find that she does not have a clue. Sad but true.

i luv my school!!!!!!! we go to other states like kentucy and learn about caves and karst and water and life of animals. and mountain ranges. we learn current events and pollution and gulf of mexico problem with oil leak and plastic in pacific oceans called garbage patch. my teachers go with us on this trip was so much fun! i luv my teacher there.

I send my daughter to this school and she is learning lots. She tell me stuff I don't know about but students they learn in high school labs. It is challenging for her but she gets lots of help from her teachers. She want to be at school when it is out because she likes to hang around her teacher after school. I am impressed with her teachers and her school.
--Submitted by a parent