Westwood Elementary School

Westwood has excellent teachers, a strong principal/school leadership, and challenging academics. We have had a student at Westwood since the 2007-2008 school year and have been consistently happy with the education being given to our children. I do recommend getting involved and being hands-on with the education process. It helps tremendously, in my opinion, to volunteer regularly and become familiar with the staff and teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a 4 yr old that attends this school and i keep getting reports saying that she doesn't know the difference between certain things but when I ask her the same questions they ask her, she gets them. Some of the faculty is rude and like to argue with parents in front of the students. I am pulling my child out of this school and sending her some place different. I wouldn't recommend this school to any parent.
—Submitted by a parent

I have mixed emotions about Westwood Elementary. In many cases, the faculty and staff have performed in a stellar manor. In others, they have been rather brusk--with students and parents as well. This facility is tremendously over-populated while being under funded and seemingly left for naught while other, newer facilities are expanded and updated so fast that it could make one's head spin. It's not Westwood's fault that there seems to be such a lack of equity within the school district. However, they always seem to want to put education first. Well, done.
—Submitted by a parent

I have one son who just is now in middle school after attending Westwood and another who is still at Westwood, and I've loved just about every teacher both have had. The school has had lots of English as a second language students moved into the school in recent years, which is why the test scores are generally lower now than they were in the past. We picked the neighborhood we're in because of Westwood, and I have no regrets about it at all. The staff has been friendly and helpful every time I've dealt with them. Maybe some issues other reviewers have had reflect more the attitude they approached the school with more than the attitude of the faculty.
—Submitted by a parent

Our daughter just completed the Westwood Pre-K program and loved every minute of it! Her teacher was very personable. We were always warmly greeted during pick-up and drop-off. Our daughter came home every day having learned something new and was very excited about going to school the next day. We can't wait to see what the next year brings!
—Submitted by a parent

We have been at Westwood for a few years now. I really have all kinds of problems with this school. Most of the staff is very inpersomable, they most all of them walk around like they hate thier jobs. They bark at the kids, giving little to as why or what they did wrong. Lunch time is too long of a story to even submitt. The reading program is awful!! I have never seen so many kids behind in reading. We moved here because of the high scores also a few years ago. The school does not reflect those scores, I am not sure how they scored that high unless they left over half the school out.
—Submitted by a parent

We have a wait and see lukewarm oppinion of WES thus far. We have found the assistant principle very supportuve but have had difficulty with the principle. There is a bit of a closed attitude overall. I would like to see staff work on their delivery or bed side manor so to speak. One thing I dislike is that the kids that excell are recognized and the kids that are difficult get recognized- but the ones in between are not so much. I would like to see more importance placed on students doing there personal best because it is the right thing to do, rather than because they are in a contest.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been very impressed with this school. My son attended 2 years and has learned a great deal. Both years he had two teachers who were new at the school and they had great personalities and dedication to the students. There is great parent/volunteer participation. I think the school is very organized and clean. My son has enjoyed art class very much and his teacher encouraged the students who had an art talent to reach their potential. They have a great reading program. Everyone at the office always seemed cheerful and helpful. I have loved my boy to attend Westwood and we are going to miss this school when we move this summer.
—Submitted by a parent

Our son has been here for two years now. We are now thinking of taking him out and moving to a different elementry. I guess the only way to solve problems with Westwood Elementry would be by taking it to the school board. There may be a good teacher here too, we just didn't find one.
—Submitted by a parent