Willow Creek Elementary School

Our family is new this year to Willow Creek and we have been very pleased with the school. Both my kids have gotten great teachers who challenge them. The staff and families are very welcoming and warm.
--Submitted by a parent

I don't know who the last reviewer is or what their issues may be, but I do know that we have had a great experience at Willow Creek. My son is a 2nd grader there and has had excellent teachers all 3 years who have gone above and beyond the 'requirements'. I volunteer at the school as often as I can (with younger ones at home), and have always felt welcomed and appreciated by teachers & staff. This truly is the best way to get a sense for what's really going on in class. My son's grade has many children who excel academically and his teachers have made great efforts to keep them engaged and challenged. Of course there are those with special needs, too, and their teachers are excellent as well, from what those parents have told me. Like many families, we moved here mainly for the great schools and we have not been disappointed. No school is perfect - especially with all the beaurocratic requirements put upon public schools - but Willow Creek truly does excel. Don't blame the school for the NCLB nonsense forced upon them by the federal government!
--Submitted by a parent

The academics at this school are below level. We moved to this area, looking at this "perfect 10" rating only to be sorely disappointed. I feel that this school cheats on the tests by teaching ONLY to the bottom of the class and ONLY to the test. The 10 rating is only based on what the bottom students re doing. It is an awful school for advanced students. They tried to hide what they were doing by not letting parents go into the classrooms and by withholding important information. THe principal just changed. The one that left was a complete NIGHTMARE. She was not helpful at all in meeting the needs of my child. My son learned absolutely nothing in the three months that he attended this school. We finally had no choice but to pull him out. Hopefully the new principal will be more honest and will have better standards....
--Submitted by a parent

Agree w/ the Nov. 3 post. The Principal changed again and school seems a bit in flux. There is too much PTA-directed events and the increase in early-release days(!), fundraising and overall party/event-related days is disrupting the instruction time. Academics need more priority. It is a good school, better than most. But the administration needs to step in and take back the schedule!! The daily emails for volunteer parents and contributions is out of control and the amount of non-staff at the school everyday is too much. It does affect the kids' ability to concentrate and be consistent in their studies. We have three children going through WC and how the non-academic emphasis does affect their progress.
--Submitted by a parent

My sons attend WCE and overall it is a good school. Good, not great. I think the environment is very safe and secure for the kids. However, I don't think the academics are that great. There is not a strong focus on academic excellence throughout the school and the district. If you want a nice, safe average school that will support your child, great. If you want a place that will challenge your child to do their best, be prepared to supplement. All in all, I need more and my kids deserve better.
--Submitted by a parent

Grandson started there this year and said everyone is so kind. Made him feel very welcome.

We love this school! The front office staffis welcoming and friendly. Sandy is always so helpful! The principal, Mrs. Thomas, is always visible and knows all of the students. She is friendly and is available to speak to us when we need to talk to the principal. My children love going to school everyday!
--Submitted by a parent

So far so good. This is our first year at Willow Creek, & I wasn't sure what to think after reading some previous comments. I am delightfully surprised at how much this schools has to offer: experienced teachers, unbelievable parental involvement, solid curriculum. The parents & kids are friendly (though, as always, it is harder to break into a group of kids who have known each other from kindergarten). There are opportunities for everyone to be as involved with the school & PTA as they want. I have yet to see anyone in a tennis skirt, though the families could be intimidating as they are affluent & very high achieving. This is also a lesson in acceptance & respect-you can't blame people for being attractive overachievers. I am just an ordinary mom & have found these folks to be friendly & accepting. Public school with private school feel.
--Submitted by a parent

It depends what you are looking for...an excellent education, teachers who are dedicated to each child's learning, strong and involved leadership (we have a new principal, and she is wonderful), a myriad of after-school clubs and activities, a dedicated PTA that offers so many opportunities for these kids, then Willow Creek is for you. So what if someone wears a tennis skirt up to the school, let's look at the big picture. I am new to the PTA this year, and I had no one in a tennis skirt fighting me for a job. I have found everyone extremely kind, friendly and willing to go the extra mile. If you are interested in a top-quality, success-oriented education, this is it. As for teaching to the test: reading comprehension, math, problem solving, writing, hmmm...all things we need to survive in this world. Willow Creek gets an A+ from me.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a great school, with alot of dedicated parents. Yes, it's not perfect, but what school is. I feel lucky that my kids go here - and Willowcreek kids all excell at Riverwood middle school.
--Submitted by Elise Bishop, a parent