Donald Elementary School

My daughter is entering 2nd Grade this upcoming year and we could not be more thrilled with the education she is receiving at Donald. The teachers, staff and families all work together to form a great environment.
--Submitted by a parent

We moved from a Chicago suburb in 2005 to Donald Elementary. The then Assistant Principal, now Principal, walked us through every step of the way. My 3rd child just entered Kindergarten...so I have a 4th Grader, 2nd Grader and Kindergartner at Donald. Teachers are wonderful, families are wonderful and staff is wonderful. Go Donald Dolphins!
--Submitted by a parent

Wonderful teachers and administration. Donald always maintains an exemplary rating and is a Texas Blue Ribbon School.
--Submitted by a parent

Amazing staff and principal at Donald Elementary. We've been there 10 years and have a few left. Donald Elementary has provided a positive learning environment for all 3 of our children. The big bonus is that we are part of the only Blue Ribbon School in LISD!
--Submitted by a parent

My son is a third grader at Donald and we love it. The new principal has made a great school even better. Academics are fabulous and the extra activities offered are fabulous for a public school. Strong parent involvement also adds to the overall strength of Donald.
--Submitted by a parent

'Well My daughter Loves this school the teachers are nice and fantastic she is in Mrs.Wensels 5th grade class and loves her!'
--Submitted by a parent

Bullying was a huge problem. Our experiences there were awful.
--Submitted by a parent

My children attended Donald between 2004-2007. My reviews are mixed. I found it to be academically excellent, though teachers were forced to teach too much to the TAKS tests. I loved the drama and art classes, as well as the multiple extra-curricular activites, like UIL and DI. However, as a parent, I never felt particularly welcome in the school. Likewise, too much emphasis is put on proper behavior; for any number of (very minor) infractions, children are given 'checks' and made to stand on the 'yellow line' during recess. Parents (for safety reasons?) are not allowed to walk their kids to class. Fourth and fifth grade also rotate the kids through teachers, to help them prepare for middle school which I found disrupting and unnecessary. Out of the 12 teachers my kids have had, 8 were great. The middle school that the kids go to after, however, is fantastic.
--Submitted by a parent

My child attended Donald from kindergarten to fifth grade (2001-2007). She loved every year there. The teachers were caring and supportive. There were lots of fun and creative ways of learning. The drama, art and music classes are great. I only wish they offered Spanish class for fifth grade, as living in Texas I feel this would have benefited my child tremendously and made learning a foreign language easier in years to come. The principle runs a tight ship and although she is not a 'social butterfly', she has helped make Donald a National Blue Ribbon school. Security and safety is taken extremely seriously. Bullying was never a problem. Lots of parent volunteers. Lots of fun activities. I highly recommend Donald Elementary.
--Submitted by a parent

My children came to this school from an out of state school. This school was so far behind academically. We were blessed with good teachers. But even the teachers our children had expressed frustration that the principal limited the teacher to what would be on the state testing. Long division was not covered until very end of fourth grade because it was not on the fourth grade TAKs test. Writing was not done in fifth grade because it was not on the fifth grade TAKs test. The bullying at the school was very bad. The principal was beyond apathetic. She concerned herself only with the TAKs scores and not at all with the students. Many parents expressed frustration with the principal's out-of-line behavior. My family has found this school to be an academic joke.
--Submitted by a parent