Sonny & Allegra Nance Elementary School

My daughter just started Kindergarten this year. We are very unhappy with the education that she is receiving at Nance. We had heard good things about the school, but we have yet to see any. The teachers are nice, but I just won't think they expect anything from the kids. In fact, we haven't received one paper that daughter has done in school. :(
—Submitted by a parent

we moved to the area this year and absolutly love Nance.... they have made it very easy for my daughter to move schools and feel as comfortable as possible. my daughter struggles in some areas and they have made it possible to help in every which way possible to help her get where she needs to be.
—Submitted by a parent

I've seen alot of posts about personality differences and social aspects of the school. The review system isn't because you 'like' or 'dislike' a school's staff. How are they doing with your child's ability to learn? How do they approach different children whose abilities aren't the same? I have friends that are teachers all over the state. Petty parents are just as bad as petty teachers. If you have a real complaint of racism or preferrential treatment, you need to take that to the school board. And, just because you like the staff doesn't mean the school deserves a good review. We should all be concerned with how are children are actually learning. Anyone have reviews based on what their children have learned or why they didn't?

My son has attended this school since kinder. The school has grown so much. Diversity is a really big concern for us. There are no African American teachers and only one or two Hispanic teachers at the school and I feel bad for those families because that can seem a bit unfair. It's very clickish and the same parents are always involved in everything. The principal has even changed over the last couple of years; I'm glad this is our last year there.
—Submitted by a parent

I guess the old saying, 'no matter what you do, you can't please everyone' is in order. In regard to these administrators BOTH of these ladies do what is best for kids and in some cases it will not please everyone, but again, it is what is best for KIDS! The Assistant Principal and Principal are very different, but that's what makes it so great at Nance. They compliment one another's strengths and serve students and support faculty as they see best benefit students. They are both devoted and in the 3 years that the assistant principal has been there it has been a great compliment to the administrative staff. If I can't get in to see one the other is always available for me and my child. They are dedicated & I am pleased!
—Submitted by a parent

I absolutely love this school and have loved it since it 1st opened! Would love for it to go back to the way it was before they added a vice principal. The school seems to have a lot of gossip and backstabbing and changes that have all happened since the vice principal arrived. Parents seem to be included in matters that should only involve staff. Wish they would hurry up and build another school so that numbers would be small enough that there would be no need for a vice principal. Need to hurry up before she divides the rest of the school!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

What a wonderful school and staff. I have been associated with the school since it opened 5 years. I am very pleased with the staff. I absolutely love the assistant principal. I believe the school has grown tremendously since she came 2 years ago. I also believe it is time for the principal to step down. I believe the parents and staff do not feel she is the leader she once was. It is a blessing to enter the building and always be greeted by the wonderful office staff. I don't believe they need any sweetner!!!
—Submitted by a parent

Ms Finley is great! But the front office needs to have some sweetner poured on them. Also too much gossip between staff & some parents.
—Submitted by a parent

Each year seems worse than the year before. I have had children in this school since the beginning and I can honestly say, thank goodness this is her last. the teachers walk around on eggshells and the principals are both way too phony for me. I had an issue that was serious enough for me to talk with both principals and was not satisfied. In fact, I was angrier. And here's the kicker: another parent told me the exact conversation I had with the principals which I thought would have been private information. Since I confronted the principals they now avoid me like the plague. In my opinion, that school needs a total makeover beginning with the prinicipals!
—Submitted by a parent

I have a 5th grader and Kinder going to Nance and we absolutely love it. The Prinicipal and staff are amazing. I would highly recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Nance was the worst school my son and I ever encountered. My son experienced isolation and rejection from his peers due to ethnic differences. They grossly lack diversity and their teachers and staff, primarily Ms. Finley, are void of the essential skills needed to effectively ensure the particular needs of children of color in a predominate white school are met. When I approached Ms. Finley with my concerns and suggestions about staff and student development in diversity, cultural awareness, she was resistant and uninterested. I pulled my son out before the end of the school year. It was the best decision I made. I would advise all parents of children of color to research and investigate a school carefully before putting your child in an unhealthy environment.
—Submitted by a parent

I love Nance Elementary and Connie Finley! I have never seen a principal so committed to her students. As a parent, I see that this school is constantly looking for innovative ways to inspire and educate the students and staff. I believe that if more parents would get involved at Nance, this school would soar off the charts of excellence!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

My son and daughter have attended Nance for the last 3 years. I have yet to have a negative experience with the school, Ms. Finley is very involved with the children, and has been nothing but responsive to all requests. Although not up to speed with many Midwest School districts, they have provided an extremely safe and positive environment for learning.
—Submitted by a parent

Ms.Finley is a wonderful principal.She is really involed and really cares the best I have ever seen.I love the Teachers and staff. I have a daughter who is a diabetic at the school and they all take great care of her.I couldnt be more pleased with this school.I am very happy my 4 children are at Nance!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is amazingly wonderful in every way!! The principle loves all the kids like her own and really cares about what's going on. The teachers are awesome! This is a great school!! My DD went there her kindergarten year and loved it!!
—Submitted by a parent

I agree the growth of this area has been misjudged tremendously! I think the school district is behind in building needed schools. A school that is in its third year should not be getting portables. On comments about the office staff at Nance, you have to realize what these people have dealt with over the last two years. That's allot of meeting and greeting (not to mention paper work!) the front office has done. I have known some of them over 5 years and I could not respect them more! Everyone has a bad day now now and then, and the negative comments must have come from someone who caught them that day. Offer to help them! :)
—Submitted by a parent

I'm surprised by the negative reviews of the office staff at Nance. Our children have attended NW schools for the last 9 years. One wonders if the negative comments come from those parents who mistaken security for rudeness. I have the utmost faith in the staff at Nance to ensure the safety of my child while he's at school. Having witnessed many situations where parents are upset by the rules and guidelines set forth by the district for the protection of all our children, it amazes me that someone would attack our school office staff for enforcing those rules. Our principle wouldn't have put in place individuals that weren't cheerful, helpful, encouraging, respectful, and completely devoted to our children. Perhaps if those unhappy parents will step back and look at the situation from another point of view they can see the situation from another view.:)
—Submitted by a parent

We recently moved here from Coppell and chose NWISD over Keller due to the ratings and test scores NWISD has shown over the past few years. However, I will agree the office staff is not very friendly and that is unfortunate as they are a reflection of a great principal. It is very discouraging to have an office staff preoccupied with their personal lives rather than the lives of the children they are paid to assist. I do not understand why a new student to the district can not receive a school calendar, bus information, or general school information from the office. Also, the pick-up procedures have me very worried. Something should be done ASAP about the poor procedures for after school pick up.
—Submitted by a parent

Nance is a caring school. Unfortunately, the office staff, being the first you encounter, is not a fair indicator of the quality of the school. The principal - Ms.Finley - is doing a wonderful job. I took a potential problem to her one morning, and by the afternoon, she had already addressed the problem and had scheduled a meeting to resolve the issue. She listens and takes your concerns seriously. I can see why parents at another elementary school want her back. I appreciate that my child comes home with flyers frequently. It helps keep me informed about what is happening when my child is at school. We came to this area because of the reputation of NWISD.
—Submitted by a parent

Nance is a good school and does what it can to educate the students. It takes more than just the teachers to educate students it is also the responsibilty of the parents to work with the kids at home to reinforce what the teachers teach. The one area that is lacking at Nance is the Gifted program, it is all but nonexistent this year. It is the one area I am disappointed with. Teachers spend the majority of their time with those who are haveing difficulties and need extra help.Students who are more advanced are left with little to no challenges. Last year they pulled the gifted students out of class this year they added that responsibility to the classroom teacher who is busy with getting all the students up to speed. They need to pull the gifted students out weekly at least.
—Submitted by a parent