Barnes Elementary School

Unless your child is lucky enough to enter in Kindergarten and be accepted to the two way immersion program the education is at a very low level. In my child's case most of the classrom was at least 80 % hispanic speakers made it hard for a english speaking child to make friends and learn at the level my child should have been at. The class was seperated into hispanic and english speaking children. My child had to leave class and go to another class for reading and vocabulary. This made it hard for me as a parent to have to navigate through two teachers and very intimidating to express differences of opinion. As for parent nights everything in spanish and then parts explained in english. As far as the first day of school, welcome to ...well could not tell you it was all in spanish and fend for yourself if you didnt know any spanish. Lunch starts around 9:50am and it is like a military op. My childs teachers both years has had to pack up the classroom and say good bye. The classroom starts dissapearing two weeks before school even ends. As for the Teachers they all care but due to the overcrowding everything is in a rush.. I wish english was something to be proud of!
--Submitted by a parent

I was disappointed at how this school handled my son's behavior problems and special ed needs. The part-time school psychologist was useless, the principal kept handling problem as disciplinary instead of providing the special ed services he needed -- she seemed clueless. I did like the teacher and other staff there, but not a good place if your child needs extra help. I really wanted to stay local in our home school but learned the hard way that other elementary schools in Beaverton offer a much better choice -- my son is now much happier in another Beaverton school.
--Submitted by a parent

Principal and most of the staff are trying their best. Some teachers are wonderful, but some Spanish Immersion teachers undermine and dismiss native English speakers, regardless of other talents kids have. My son has learned quite a bit of Spanish over the years, but his self-confidence as a learner is at zero.
--Submitted by a parent

My son is a Kindergartener at Barnes in the Dual Immersion program and we love it! Our daughter will be going to Barnes next year. The teachers are wonderful, have very open communication, have lots of parental activities, and let the parents be as involved as they want to be.
--Submitted by a parent

Barnes school is very good. As a parent i am very happy with the management and the teachers .
--Submitted by a parent

Both of my kids attended this school, and they both tell me they loved this school. My daughter says this school is her all time favorite out of all the schools she has ever attended. Awesome school... my kids were very happy here.
--Submitted by a parent

My granddaughter has been going there since 2nd grade, she loves the teachers and learns alot.

My son will be starting his 3rd year at Barnes in the fall ('09) and I am very excited about it. I actually moved out of the district and petitioned to have him stay last year. My son was diagnosed with ADHD his first year and I feel the whole staff works closely with him to help him succeed. His 1st and 2nd grade teachers kept open lines of communication with me about his progress and his needs via e-mails on a regular basis. My son loves to GO to school and has loved all of his teachers and counselors. I love the different cultural backgrounds that my son is exposed to. The only thing keeping me from giving it a 5 star rating is that there isn't a before and after school program. My actual rating would be 4 1/2 stars.
--Submitted by a parent

I am impressed on how every staff member cares for each child.
--Submitted by a parent

We have been at Barnes for 5 years. Here's my take on the good, the bad, and the thought-provoking. GOOD: all-day kindergarten for all kids (last year they had classes of 15-18 in K, 20-23 in 3rd); amazing teachers who are passionate about what they do; big building project with 10 new classrooms; music, PE, art, and library for all students; good computer lab; BIG improvements in behavior and atmosphere; Two-way-immersion program K-5; homework/afterschool programs. BAD: average kid stays at Barnes 2 years (they get them reading at level, and they move on); more transient community means less continuity in school culture/; little parent involvement; no Head Start/afterschool care. THOUGHTS: Lots of 'white flight' in this area--would love to see stats on kids who went here long-term, not just state test scores--could change school rep and recruitment! Hope this helps!
--Submitted by a parent