Windermere Elementary School

This is a wonderful school! My daughter was in the third grade this past year. She had a wonderful teacher who was always on top of things. I received progress reports every single Friday with all her weekly work graded and stapled together. I was worried about how she would do on her first TAKS test ever. I decided that I would not pressure nor mention TAKS to my daughter and just wait to see how she would do on her own. Her teacher prepared her so well, that my daughter was COMMENDED on the TAKS test! There is a huge amount of parental involvement. The school also has very successful carnivals, talent shows, dances and many other events. The Principal keeps parents updated on school happenings through newsletters sent home and via e-mail. Receiving frequent e-mails from the Principal demonstrates that she truly cares for her students and their parents!
--Submitted by a parent

Major problems with this school, another principal, unhappy staff and students. There are alot of fights at this school between students and NO consequences for the bullies. On my walks I've noticed broken equipment on the soccer field. One of the goals is broken and has been left there of months, a student will need stiches or worse. The principal and assistant principal don't respond to anything. For award ceremonies neither principal or a.p. show up, they sit in their offices. Also the students aren't allowed to have fieldtrips because it will interfer with their education! Please, this is WHY they have a fieldtrips to add to their learning. I am extremely upset!!! This school needs an intervention asap.
--Submitted by a parent

We moved from out of state and enrolled our younger son in windermere elementary. This school was wonderful! Upon my explanation of my son's special education needs, they worked hard to meet every one of his needs immediately and to consistently address my concerns. His teacher was Mrs. Stone and she is a teacher by which the standard should be measured. She set the bar high for all other teachers. I was heartbroken when they rezoned the boundaries and our son was relocated to a new school, but they worked for him as well there. Honestly the staff and teachers are spectacular here and as long as you stay in communication, they will do their best for your child. Kudos to Mrs. Stone, she is the best teacher I've ever encountered and we have five children four of which are in school. She is terrific!
--Submitted by Tammy Allen, a parent

Good staff support. Not a lot of parental involvement.
--Submitted by a teacher

Since the new principal last year, the school has improved in just about everything. Academics are great, teachers are great. Music, art and pe are really good as well. Parent involvement that this school is really good as well. I have enjoyed my child going to this school and would suggest it to other parents.
--Submitted by Cindy, a parent

My child had a wonderful three years at Windermere Elementary School and one exceptional teacher, one good teacher, and two teachers who were just okay. The principal at this school for the year 2004-2005 is exceptional and really has good background knowledge and understanding of how to run a school with quality academic programs. He implemented before and afterschool programs with things like horse care and guitar lessons. Parents are fairly involved here and schools and teachers always welcome the parents. Bottom line for any parent, I think is the teacher. If you get a good teacher, then your child will have a great year. If your child is bright, and learns quickly, no problem here. However, if my child had special academic needs, I would do careful research on the teacher my child ends up with here.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended this school in her second semester of 2nd grade. She had a great teacher, Miss Hoenig. She was the best she ever had. The school also gave many field trips and held carnivals for the kids. There was alot of parental involvement. This school also has two buildings that seperate the k-2 from the 3-5th grades. My daughter loved this school and would have remained there if the city had not changed the school districts.
--Submitted by a parent

This school needs major help. The teachers are great, but the 5th grade classes are way too big with no teachers aide. They have a high turn-over on principles. It was a great school 3 years ago, but has gone down hill since then.
--Submitted by a parent