Walnut Grove Elementary School

If considering this school for your child's education, run away!! The teacher turnover rate is the highest. Parents ban/click together in hopes to ensure thier child get the highly rated teachers which they tell you they do not do. The principal sits in her office daily with closed doors. Never returns phone calls or emails. The music department is run by Mr. Platt who is quite rigid, unkind and demonstrates criticism frequently to his young class. My daughter came home crying several time crying over Mr. Platt as well as content mastery teacher Ms. Gillette. In addition, my friends daughter who is severely autistic was frequently physically man handled. Her mother often volunteered in hopes to catch the teachers aide that would frequently drag her up and down hall ways because she did not walk fast enough. Educated individuals should never get physical with a child many more horrific stories & do not consider if you have any sort of 504 plan. They do not abide by the rules, or not try to get caught when they break them. Demand for a school transfer. That is what other Southlake parents are doing!!
—Submitted by a parent

This school neither has "excellent teachers" or an "awesome music program". I volunteered a lot and herd on many occasions teachers and administrators speaking negatively about parents and students which I find to be revolting and completely inappropriate. The music teacher Mr. Platt yells at students and shows no patience for teaching them. The principal is someone you can't talk to. She will ignore anything you say, its like talking to a brick wall. All things considered this school serves its purpose of keeping all of the Special Education students in one campus segregated and watched over by a very rigid individual who will not allow parents of Special Ed kids to be involved in the school at all. I happen to not have this issue but I know many other parents that do. We all need to band together somehow and make a difference. Seeing the way that some of the Special Ed kids are treated just makes my sick. Some parents appear to be wearing rose colored lenses and can't bring themselves to admit that this school has some very serious issues starting with the principal. I hope someone takes what is going on in this school seriously and launches an investigation ASAP.
—Submitted by a parent

The kids from Durham Elementary transferred to a newly built school last year (2011) -- the new school is called Walnut Grove Elementary. My kid absolutely loved her last year (the first year that it was open), primarily because of the excellent teachers. Parents are very involved in this school and I was impressed by the computer labs, physical education, and of course the awesome music programs.
—Submitted by a parent

I've got two kids in this school and have loved the experience here. What a great school.
—Submitted by a parent

I can't begin to express the vast differences in Durham and the previous school in another county our child attended. Dr. McIlvain runs a tight ship yes. but for the purpose of education, emotional stability, safety and acceptance of divercity. Our special needs child is no longer caught up in a principal only interested in her own ego and petty gossip. Our child is excelling with the wonderful teacher and staff in the Life Skills class. The openess to provide true Inclusion/not token false Inclusion is amazing. We had our first ARD without losing sleep and left wondering if it had truly been real because we did not have to fight for any of our child's rights for a good education. Our child is reading signs and has never been happier since enrolling in Durham Elementary School. I pity the parents that are still fighting other school systems.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers here are really terrific and the attitudes and atmosphere are really positive. Fund raising and volunteering is a big deal here though and you are consistantly being asked to pay into the pot or volunteer for something or other. But the bottom line - My children are flourishing here!
—Submitted by a parent

Durham Elementary teachers are great. Unfortunately, I found the administration to be a disappointment. I have 4 kids that attend 3 CISD schools. I wish Durham administration was the class act that CES administrators are.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent School! The teachers and staff are wonderful. My children are challenged and nurtured each day that they walk through the doors. The parents are very involved and have many opportunities to volunteer their time to make this school outstanding!
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent school - great teachers. I have two children that attend Durham and they have both learned at a significantly faster pace than our last school system (which was a pretty decent school system). Dr. McIlvain does leave a bit to be desired when it comes to receiving parent input but she genuinely cares about the kids. It was somewhat disappointing to see that Durham has not received some of the accolades/designations that the other Carroll ISD elementary schools have received.
—Submitted by a parent

I was not impressed with the principal. She is not truly interested in parent input, but is excellent at lipservice. Teacher quality was good. Parents are not allowed to volunteer in the classrooms. Not impressed with the safety either.
—Submitted by a parent

Durham has a very strong principal, Dr. McIlvain which is key (we had a crummy principal before). She runs a tight ship and the teachers are awesome.
—Submitted by a parent

Durham Elementary has some of the most caring and loving teachers in the state! My children attended this school and made many wonderful friends while receiving an excellent and challenging education!
—Submitted by a parent