Walnut Bend Elementary School

This is my sons first year ever in school he has always been home with me. His PreK teacher is wonderful he has a speech problem but she has him counting and knowing all his ABC's. Although he wasnt quite ready for school they worked with me and this semester he is going all day and doing very well. Principal is excellant and very involved and the teachers visit other schools so they can get tips on how to become better teachers which in my opinion they already are!!!
—Submitted by a parent

My oldest son went from kinder to 5th grade and now my other two littles are there also. They both enjoyed their classmates and teachers last year.The staff is very friendly and they do know most of the students name even when they are not in their class. I have teacher emails and can easily reach them that way or by phone.
—Submitted by a parent

Walnut Bend is a great school. We sent our son there last year to give it a try and we are so pleased with the quality of education that we will send our daughter there next year. The faculty is fully committed to the success of each child. My son is in the gifted and talented program. I'm continually amazed at the level of work expected of my son. It's on par and maybe even beyond the expectations of the Private School we used to attend. Don't be put off my the ranking of acceptable. In our neighborhood there are a lot of children who need extra help but this in no way diminishes the quality of the education my son is receiving. I wish more parents in the neighborhood what realize what a great bargain they have in their own backyards. I've wasted a lot of money on private schools that I should have saved for college.
—Submitted by a parent

I love Walnut Bend and wouldn't want my kids to attend any other school. This will be my daughter's third year there. She has always had an experienced, patient, and caring teacher who keeps in daily contact with me through an agenda book. My daughter loves the teachers and staff who all seem to know her by name even though she isn't in their class. I'm looking forward to sending my son to Kindergarten at Walnut Bend next year because I know he'll have a great teacher in a loving environment.
—Submitted by a parent

If a parent only cares about test scores, Walnut Bend is not the school for you. If you want a loving environment with well qualified teachers, great extra-curricular activities-tennis, orchestra, WBN Kid News, and chess (to name a few). We had amazing progress in testing this school year, but will only receive an acceptable rating again. Walnut Bend ES is so much more than just test scores. Parents really need to look closely at Walnut Bend ES. It's a great neighborhood school!
—Submitted by a parent

As the mother of a child entering kindergarten, I was very impressed with the staff, the new facility, and the equipment and activities for the kids. It's a school that has a lot to offer. In the recent past, most neighborhood homeowners have been sending their children to private school, but I believe and hope that more parents like myself will feel willing and positive about enrolling their children in this neighborhood school, because of the newly improved facility and character. I am excited to be part of the turnaround, and am looking forward to seeing my expectations met and surpassed.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is phenomenal! The kids are blessed to have a brand new campus with loving and caring teachers. My daughter is in the 5th grade and she has two teachers, Mrs Pette and Mrs Corte. They are the best. They are very into thier students and improving them not just academically but in every way they can. I get updates from them almost daily and communicate with them by email all the time. They are always there to help me with any questions or concerns I might have. I am really going to miss them when my daughter goes to middle school next year and can only pray for teachers as good as them for her middle and high school years.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school with caring teachers. I am really distressed by some of the negative reviews, particularly about Katrina refugee students. The faculty and staff at this school enrolled over 200 students after Katrina - a huge burden and massive logistical nightmare. Many local schools refused these students at all! Overall Mrs. Doyle and the teachers did an outstanding job. The schools parents banded together to give the incoming students school supplies, backpacks and clothing. I am very sorry if some parents thought they were slighted. We have found the faculty and staff here to be highly qualified, caring and reliable.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter, going in to 5th grade, has been at Walnut Bend since first grade. The quality of teaching and extracurricular activities is excellent. Even tho it is a large school (enrollment 650 - 800), there is a strong community feeling. Parent involvement is excellent; Because there are so many parent volunteers, there is a level of comfort from parents that are not able to be involved because of work or other commitments that they will be kept tuned to concerns. There is an excellent after-school program and many options for non-academic activities. My daughters favorites have been orchestra, chess club and art. Walnut Bend's TAKS ratings are not always the highest. There are a lot of non-English speaking students and low-income students who need remedial help. I am very proud that Walnut Bend provides a good education to these kids as well as the kids in the high-performing classrooms.
—Submitted by a parent

There are just no good caring teachers there, who can deal with children of all venues..
—Submitted by a parent

I enrolled my child at Walnut Bend due to displacement of Hurricane Katrina. I did not have any time to do research on this school, and I made a big mistake by sending my child here. I don't recommend anyone send their child to this school. The staff was very rude and not welcoming. The curriculum was a joke!
—Submitted by a parent

When we moved here from Louisiana, both of my children atteneded Walnut Bend; my daughter for 5th grade and my son for grades 3-5. WB is a school that focuses on the children first. The school is headed by a principal (Sylvia Doyle) who genuinely cares for the children and knows them all by name. The curriculum is structured & appropriate, the teachers dedicated, & many extracurricular & educational activities are planned. WB's PTO is active and membership seemed to be high to me. Overall this is a great school that I highly recommend.
—Submitted by Danielle Bourgeois, a parent

My daughter has learned so much at this new school.The teacher keeps me infromed of her daily progress. The agenda book is a very good idea for the children.
—Submitted by JoAnn, a parent

I have been amazed by the enthusiasm of the staff at Walnut Bend. They all truly care about the well being of the students and are always available to answer any questions or address any concerns the parents have. My daughter is in her second year there and I could not have chosen a better school.
—Submitted by a parent