George A Whitten Elementary School

First of all, the place is a dump. Kinda like a trailer park.The teacher is ok, doesn't really challenge my child. Never had homework at home all year. The older blonde lady at the front desk is less than cordial, doesn't smile, obvious doesn't like children. Really? Don't even know her name. Just rude. Have no idea who the principle is or anyone for that matter. I was never invited to the school once for anything, oh when lunch money was past due 30 cents. They playground......let's just say it goes with the theme here, what a joke. Poor kids. I would homeschool before I let my kid back in this place. And the lady who waves you car forward in the morning, we get it, we know how to drop our kids off after an entire school year. Staff looks and acts extremely unhappy. Bulldoze this dump and build a real school. 4 star rating? Yeah, that's funny.
—Submitted by a parent

As far as communication with parents in the upper grades, this does seem to be a problem. We have traveled to many place and my daughter has been to a few schools. Registration day has always been a time at other schools to get to know each of the teachers, and for the teachers to get to know each student and parent individually while they could. I took my daughter for reg day, and the teacher didn't seem interested to know about my daughter and concerns I may have had. She seemed to rush us through. I didn't like that much and still don't. But over all my daughter seems to get along well there. The kids are all really nice and she says she likes her teacher. I do like some of the programs they do as well to ensure that all the kids get along.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have been students at this school for 5 years, I have participated in the PTO and substituted as a teacher there. The staff are courteous and friendly, the principal is an amazing leader and the admosphere is a pleasant one . My two daughters have loved all of their teachers. There is a general feeling of encouragement to learn and walk above the line there. It's a no nonsense challenging school with high standards for learning and fairness for the students, teachers and parents. I love this school.
—Submitted by a parent

we just moved to the area and have been very disappointed. They score my 2nd grader as being on a 4th grade reading level. If their fourth grades are reading at my son's level, who is slightly above average in most schools, then I feel for them, The amount of time we have put into my kindergartner just to get her on the proper level she would have been had we not moved is ridiculous. that being said, its not lack of effort on the part of the teachers.its a really bad curriculum. It called 'Reading Street' and districts buy it because its cheap. It actually slows kids down on purpose so that they are all on the same level.
—Submitted by a parent

The younger grades were great,seemed to take alot of time w/ the children's learning....The upper grades(3-5) seemed to want to rush thru material,focusing more on test scores than actually seeing if the child has mastered the material. One exception was ms. Brooks in 4th grade,she's awesome!Loved her positive attitude and teachings.Also,communication seemed to drop once my child got into third grade....My child's attitude about school changed dramatically too!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter had Ms. Carlton last year and she was wonderful,A+! The school has a great staff and parents are always helping out with the school. We were planning on moving but are staying just so our daughters can attend Whitten.
—Submitted by a parent

George A. Whitten Elementary is a very family oriented elementary school with a very close faculty. Each faculty member loves their job of working with children.
—Submitted by a teacher