L B Johnson Elementary School

I love this school. I have 3 children attending LBJ. Kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 5th grade. I am also on the PTA board. My 5th grader is involved in cheerleading at the school and will be in orchestra this next school year. We moved to Odessa about a year and a half ago from an awesome elementary in central Texas. I was really hoping to find a school that was similar. Well, I did. The TAKS scores have been great the past several years. The teachers are awesome and the Principal Mrs. Holmes and Vice Principal Mrs. Arneson are great! We have a lot of parent involvement at the school as well. It is a really awesome environment! I would definitely recommend this school!
--Submitted by Lisa, a parent

My son seems to really enjoy going to school here. His grades have never been beter. He gets all A's and B's. He loves his music class. There seems to be a lot of parent involvment.
--Submitted by a parent

LBJ was once a really great school, but over the years it has gone downhill. Parental envolvement is not discouraged, but it is not encouraged either. Students are frequently taken on fieldtrips without notification of parents. The Principal is kind, but lacks leadership and allows the staff to run the school as a team. LBJ does not offer computer classes or any other technology based curriculum. LBJ is extremely overcrowed with 700+ kids. Many of the schools in ECISD have 2 or 3 classes in each grade level, LBJ has twice that. While LBJ is in a nicer part of town - it does not offer the best education available in Odessa.
--Submitted by a parent

My child has gone to school at LBJ for the past 3 years. This is a very supportive school with some of the best teachers. I don't like all the homework but I guess it is necessary. The past principal was wonderful with the kids. Very supportive of other activities outside of school. The new principal seems to be someone who is all about the kids. Great school, great teachers who have our kids set goals and strive to make those goals.
--Submitted by a parent

Favoritism, classism, and prejudice. The principal engages in behaviors that demean and devalue students efforts if student is not in his circle of favorites. At the end of third quarter 2004 only his preferred students were awarded recognition for their reading efforts despite the fact that others had achieved the same or greater levels. He has provided a great disincentive for students to continue to strive towards goals or recognition. Why bother if only the principals favorites are allowed to receive recognition? Don't expect to ever see homework. I have seen fewer than 5 graded assignments in 8 months. Grades seem to be quite arbitrary. Grade inflation? Your child would have to be a complete moron not to make the B, A-B, or A honor role. Over 90% in my child s grade have been on the honor role each and every quarter for the past three years.
--Submitted by a parent