Northwood Elementary School

The K - 8 school is an enormous annual expense but does a poor job of educating our children. We spend 30% more than surrounding towns and have significantly lower test scores. The school board is the problem. They are well intentioned but clueless about how to deliver good results cost effectively. And they lack willingness / have no idea how to improve. I feel bad for the kids but see no chance for improvement in the foreseeable future.

I am writing this review primarily as a parent, secondarily as a taxpayer. This school has done an injustice to both my kids to the point where I had to pull them out and homeschool them for as long as I was able in order to remove them from the hostile environment. Unfortunately the teachers and the principal (and Vice principal) contribute to this environ. They say that they have an aggressive anti-bullying policy but that simply is not enforced. I am still working to repair the damage that they have done to my children. As a parent I wish I had the choice to where my tax dollars went because I can assure you, that my tax dollars wouldn't be going to this undeserving school. In addition, the SAU in charge of this school was ineffective and the staff undeserving of their paychecks. As far as "reaching out" to parents-they make a good show of it, but when parents have a legitimate concern at the school, at BEST parents will be given lip service. Parents really need a school choice so that their taxpayer dollars are used wisely as only parents know what's best for their kids.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is awful. Absolutely awful. This school does whatever it can to avoid giving a child services he/she needs. The focus is on what is best for the bottom line and not what is best for the child. There are some in the community who vote down everything school related, even though their children went to the same school and still live in town. I want better for my children than what this school offers. I thought moving into this town would be the best because of the high school and figured the elementary school would be just as good. I was mistaken. Think long and hard before moving to this town. It has positives, but the elementary school is not one of them.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has some major issues with academics, most subjects have been cut due to towns people being concerned over taxes rather than the quality of our children's education. While some teachers may be good, there are many who teach well below average. The special education students don't get their Individualized Education Plans or 504s fulfilled, without threatening the school with legal action.
—Submitted by a parent

i have 2 children currently enrolled in NES. I am also a former employee. This school has seriously gone down hill with the new administration. Their main focus seems to be on money and legas lissues. They are running the school like a businessm not the educaitonal facility that it is. This school did not meed ayp last year. This is mainly due to the special ed childrens test scores. So what does administration do, they eliminate a special educaiton case manager position and lay off paraprofessionals. The people who lost their jobs this year did not loose them due to job performance, This means the special education children in this school, now have less help. They are hurting the children who need the most help. This decision was made by administration, and upheald by the school board. Administration gets an F from this parent.
—Submitted by a parent

I wish the teachers of Northwood Elementary were better informed on ADD and ADHD. I find there lack of education in this area disturbing.
—Submitted by a parent

As a former teacher at Northwood School, I know that Northwood teachers are some of the most dedicated and caring teachers that you'll ever find. They genuinely care about the students and always continue to soldier on for the students despite any challenges along the way. Northwood School deserves the recognition because so many of the staff and faculty have worked there for decades and are completely invested in the school and the students.

I am in and out of this school frequently and have been for years as my children grew. There is a real difference in the learning environment that has occurred within the past 3-4 years. The leadership and support of the faculty and students has deteriorated greatly to the point that I will be placing my youngest child in private school which will truly impact my financial situation. You do what you have to when it comes to protecting your child.
—Submitted by a parent

Dispite the fact that school board members write reviews for this site, the problems remain as discussed. Leadership is poor with overreaction, emotional outbursts and poor role modeling by the principal. The teachers work hard to overcome this.
—Submitted by a parent

My child entered the first grade last year and will be starting the second grade in Sept. My experience with the faculty and their values has been exceptional. My child is very bright and as he progressed quickly, his teachers kept him intellectually stimulated by offering him the opportunity to advance individually or with small excellerated groups. As far as discipline is concerned, I am a strong advocate for teaching kindness and responsibility. In response to the child who watched someone stealing shoes as a joke: that joke must have gone pretty far without the return of those shoes. Stealing anything - even as a joke, is NO joke. If tolerated, these kind of 'jokes' may get out of hand and the boundries of kindness and responsibility will become blurred or even lost. I applaud the administration for nipping that issue immediately. Sounds to me like they are doing their jobs!
—Submitted by a parent

Our new administration has been working diligently to improve the education at Northwood School. Our school is one of only 175 New Hampshire schools (of more than 500) to meet AYP this year. This year we elected three new school board members---all of whom have children in the school. These new members, combined with a very hard-working administration, are making great strides in improving the quality of education at Northwood. We have new foreign language program, a new school-wide reading curriculum, and we are in the process of selecting a new math curriculum. I have been a parent of Northwood School students for 8 years and am very happy with all of the progress we have made in the past two years.
—Submitted by a parent

There is a real air of absolute control in this school with the principal leading the charge. The kids and the parents feel it. If this were inner Boston I might be able to understand it but it's Northwood NH!
—Submitted by a parent

I think they are trying to improve this school and, while I commend them for that, the kids in this 'transition phase' are getting the short end of the stick. Neither one of my children, particularly my older child, are challenged. I think the discipline is often overly harsh, perhaps due to political correctness or fear of legal issues. Telling the older children they can't play sports out on the playground, and making them sign a contract stating as such is ludicrous, especially when they only have gym for 12 weeks out of the entire school year. Signing contracts for silly things teaches them that contracts are not really that important. The discipline should be eased up on them when it comes to minor things; come down harder on things that are more important--that will teach them more about consequences for their actions, will garner more respect & foster more consideration.
—Submitted by a parent

I do not think Northwood School has taken a positive turn with the new principal and vice principal. The rules have changed dramatically in the past few years and it is getting a little ridiculous. Having a student suspended for watching someone else do something like stealing another kids shoes for fun since they are friends is not considered bullying and suspending the kid wont really do anything but make them seam like a bad person which they are not. Also, thinking that all kids become crazy or out-of-control from being bullied, which is not a problem in the school, from a movie is bad decision on the guidence counselers part.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm in agreement with the Sept.view. This school has taken a negative turn this year thanks to the new leadership. Teachers are not happy so students are not as enthusiastic as in the past.
—Submitted by a parent

The year has been dismal with poor leadership. Parents need to be constantly on guard to make sure their child is getting what they need in this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Leadership has been good until this year. A poor decision has been made in hiring the new principal and unfortunately her influence will be felt throughout the school. A sad step backwards for the town of Northwood.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a quality school, with caring teachers and good administrative leadership. The student conduct guidelines are clearly stated and are relevant to the personal safety of all students. The extracurricular programs offered give students many opportunities to achieve in all areas of personal development. For a small school, NES offers a reasonable variety of sports, interest clubs, band, chorus, and has adequate technology facilities. The building itself is extremely well-maintained with an exceptional janitorial staff. Class sizes vary slightly, but are generally approximately twenty students. There are some truly exceptional teachers at NES. I am highly satisfied with the quality of education that my family has been receiving.
—Submitted by Becca, a parent