Blanton Elementary School

It makes me sad to have my children attend school here. It is lacking in so many ways I don't even know where to begin. This school does not encourage parents to be involved. It makes me wonder what they are hiding. I had an easier time getting into the White House than this school. It also makes me angry with the way they discipline the children. Not only do the kids who are misbehaving have to walk laps during their only recess but so do the kids who are well behaved. If one person in the class messes up the whole class is punished. What is the motivation then for the good kids to behave when they are still being punished for a classmates misbehavior. This school feels very prison like from the moment you walk thru those front doors. From the unfriendly greeting to hearing the teachers yell at the students. We moved here from a wonderful school that always opened its doors to the parents. They made school fun and enjoyable and I never once heard a teacher yell at a student. I wish Blanton would put a little faith in the parents. Let them be a part of their child's schooling. Its amazing to see how great a school can be when you involve the parents.
--Submitted by a parent

My children have been at this school since it opened. We also went to another Denton ISD school before this one due to rezoning. Overall, this school is OK. My children have all done well, however, I have to agree with other postings stating that the prinicpal needs to go! She does not like to communicate with parents directly and she does not like parents up at the school. I was a room mom one year and she required us to get our class emails "approved" yet I could never get a hold of her. I also almost got jumped by the office staff, when I tried to take my child's binder to them in their classroom. That's when I learned that parents aren't "allowed" in the school, other than lunch time! I mean, really?! I think they forget they have MY children in that school!!! Another thing, they never seem to hire enough teachers. They moved 1st graders around after 2 months of school this year! And have moved grades around every year before. I NEVER had these issues when we were at the other school for 3 years! They seem to do great on the TAKS (but that is also because they teach to the test) so I also agree that is the reason why they have such a high rating on here.
--Submitted by a parent

As a parent I would give the leadership at this school an F. I have to agree with the post from September 11, 2011. This school is a sad excuse for an education. The staff is not interested in what the parents have to say or offer. The administrative leadership is lacking and the only thing the school wants to do is keep their rating for standardized testing. Considering how nice the community is the schools should be great, but there in lies the rub. Money is not the issue. Taxes are high and when you sell your home here 50 basis points from the transaction goes to the school. This is purley an issue of poor leaderhsip. The hiring process needs to be reviewed so that poor teachers can easily be removed and good teachers allowed to thrive. The administration simply wants to sweep problems under the rug they do not want to deal with the actual problems of the staff and poor management. I can assure you if this school was set up on a pay for performance system the principal would be gone. According to this website a great school has excellent teachers. This school does have some. Strong leadership is completely missing. The academic programs are very lacking.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a great school! We're very happy with the teachers and education that our daughter has received here in the past 2.5 years.
--Submitted by a parent

The only reason why this school has a high mark from great schools is because the teachers at Blanton have taught the students how to take the standardized testing. But that is pretty much all they teach. There is a huge disconnect between teacher and parent. I have no idea what goes on in my childs classroom and when I try to ask my childs teacher they only refer me to the website which is of no help at all. You practically need a police escort to get into the school to volunteer. And seeing your child in the classroom is also discouraged, probably because they don't want you to see all the yelling that goes on from teacher to student. When I do make my way into the school halls I feel like I am walking a prison with all the yelling and controlling teachers. It is quite sad. Lantana is such a beautiful area. I only wish they could have done a better job with the schools here. You don't need to be so strict and controlling to have a successful school. Invite the parents in, get them involved, you would be amazed at what that can do. I have seen it done.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is amazing my child is going to this school and she is doing better than ever when she was in E.P. Razor I thought she was going to fail 3rd grade but she barly passed she got all c's but when we put her in Blanton she has gotten nothing but straight A's on her report card thank you Blanton for making my child as smart as she is now
--Submitted by a parent