Venable Village Elementary School

the school is the worst ....they dont do anything to help stop or prevent the bullying on the kids...these children are not soldiers! you want the kids to respect you .how about respecting them as well as their parents...and not talk down to them (parents) like they are idots...the prinicpal also needs to just retire she is a joke...there are a couple teachers that i think are awesome ...but overall i wouldnt recommend this school for nothing

I have been very happy with this school. The exemplary rating is not due to teaching only the TAKS test. My children have experienced a well rounded educational program at Venable. The staff has always been friendly and concerned about my children and family. Venable Village is one of the best schools in the Killeen/Ft Hood area.
--Submitted by a parent

***I really don't understand what these people are talking about! Also one of the rules in this website is that you can't name teachers and personnel*** I'm a military spouse and I have moved several times, so I know a difference between a good and bad schools, and school personnel. This is the best school my children have gone to. One of my boys was in special ed, ( AUTISM) these especially are the best teachers and IEP/ ARD team you could ever dream of. Experienced, dedicated and they love children. They are so good that my son ( we moved again) got a IEP meeting to review his status and his progress was so amazing that it got dismissed = he doesn't need special education anymore. I OWE THIS TO MY SPECIAL ED TEACHER AND THE TEAM TO HELPED THIS HAPPEN. THEY MADE THIS POSSIBLE FOR MY SON, WITHOUT THEM HE WOULD NEVER SPOKE. HE IS A REGULAR STUDENT IN REGULAR CLASSROOM EDUCATION. THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF AND SINCE I CAN'T NAME, THANK YOU, MY DEAR BELOVED TEACHER, SPECIAL ED TEACHER = MRS. G*****
--Submitted by a parent

The last years I would say that I was satisfied with the school but this year I encountered a big problem. My daughters teacher was extremely rude and unkind to the children. If my daughter did her homework for the next night on accident, I stead of the teacher just giving her praise for being ahead, she would literally erase my daughters homework and make her do it again. Also, during the middle of the year, my daughter came home telling me that her teacher already told the class the three names of the students that would not be going to pass to the second grade!!! Talk about privacy! Also my husband had a car accident and my daughter was absent from school that day. When she was approached by her teacher asking how come she was absent the day before, my daughter told her and instead of showing compassion and concern to my child she said... "that is no excuse for you to stay home.". It made me sick to hear my daughter say that to me while crying her eyes out because her teacher humiliated her in front of the class. When I took her out and told the principal, she acted like nothing was wrong in her eyes with her staff... Horrible!!!
--Submitted by a parent

Office lady that signs children in and out is a complete WITCH. Very sarcastic and unfriendly. My child has many appointments for medical reasons and every time I sign her out she snickers " oh, wonder what it is for this time." Plus my child is singled out by teacher. If two kids are caught talking, only mine seems to be written up. Plus I have requested extra tutoring and my countless requests have gone unanswered. Teacher talks down to me during meetings, and says she has to bring "her class" down to my childs level once a day to get my child to work on same level as class. Worst part was it was said infront of my child. My child is denied requests to see nurse and today had a bloody nose and my child was to scared to ask teacher to see nurse. I am also not allowed to eat with my child and have been denied an observation day. DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS SCHOOL. I will be switching ASAP.
--Submitted by a parent

Awesome school !!! My kids went there from pre-k all the way through 5th grade with no problems. I miss all the wonderful teachers. couldn't ask for a better school.:)
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter went to school here in Pre-K and 1st grade and she excelled! She struggled the year before but this school has such a wonderful and caring staff and I couldnt have asked for more! My only dislike was the pick-up process at the end of the day. Its so hot there and to have to park down the street and then stand outside was horrible for not only me but the kids.
--Submitted by a parent

The parents are NOT allowed to eat meals with their children. This is the ONLY school in the entire district with this closed door policy. Parents are not allowed to have any input in their children's education. If any complaints are put forward the parent is automatically blamed. The students that are dropped off in the morning are locked outside the school and left unattended for 5 minutes every morning. The Principal has instructed that the staff is not to let them in the building until 7:30, but the drop off time in the student hand book, letters home, and the "Tuesday" folder all state drop off time is 7:25. The District has been made aware of this but refuses to do anything about it. The school has not sent home or advertised ANY change in the school policy regarding drop off times. this started in Jan. 2011. Bullying is a HUGE problem at this school and nothing is ever done about it. Some of these poor kids go home an emotional wreck everyday. If I could leave zero stars for principal leadership I would. I put 1 star for parental involvement because they are not allowed to be involved.
--Submitted by a parent

The principal is the biggest problem in this school. She s does not care about the students and parents. The teachers and staff are very disrespectful. They do not like parents with high education standards for their children. My child is learning absolute nothing but the TAKS test twice a day. I know now why the school is receiving exemplary school recognition because of grades on the TAKS test, that s all they seem to teach. We went to talk to the principal about my child not getting hardly any homework and taking any test, and the principal answers that is not important if my child is doing good at school and she always answers with We Are An Exemplary School . Parent s involvement not allowed this is very suspicious. I feel that kids are not really learning anything here at this school.
--Submitted by a parent

2010-2011 school year. We're VERY disappointed.The principle Mrs. Potvin is not up to my standards of a near adequate leader. Parent involvement here is zero because the principle and teachers discourage parent involvement, not sure why exactly. They request a background check (which is fine) but and even then after you pass you are not even allowed to eat lunch with your child or attend field trips. No PTA. My child I would say is bright but the curriculum here is a joke! Last time I checked, our children are to attend school for EDUCATION not babysitting...I want to be involved, I want my child to grow and soar academically, that is NOT going to happen at this school, I believe if we continue here! I believe the principle is the reason for this failed school and when the principle is the problem there is no luck in trying to solve it. As well as the office staff is in need of many things on being friendly, attentive and maybe they should try and check ID's more often, I mean if you wont let the parents even eat lunch or participate in class because of "SAFETY" (excuse) then maybe you should try and ID when someone picks up a child.
--Submitted by a parent