John Winship Elementary School

My son has been at Winship for almost 5 years and I have not been happy. The PTO is very clickish and definately needs something done so more parents will actually want participate. The administration stands behind the teachers instead of looking at the students' best interest. The cafeteria is awful and the lunches are nothing more than tv dinners...very little nutrition is being served. When I was a kid my mom was invloved in everything and the school was an open invitation but Winship feels very closed off and selective. My son is an average student and I think because he is not a 'whiz' he is looked over. I wish we could move because we would in an instant.
—Submitted by a parent

My Daughter has attend from k- 2 grade so far it has been a fun and enjoyable experience for her. She loves the teachers and there methods of teaching. She is soaking up like a sponge. She is happy with how positive reenforcement works. She enjoys the support of the other staff as well :) This school is making great memories..
—Submitted by a parent

My 3rd child will be starting Winship in the fall. I have one other who attends there now and one who went through Winship, Twin Creeks and now is starting Spring High. Overall the teachers have been great. But, the PTO people are very clickish and do make me not want to volunteer. I have noticed there is a lot of favoritism shown to employees children too.
—Submitted by a parent

Great School. It's below capacity so there's no overcrowding. No discipline problems. As far as I'm concerned it's the best elementary school in Spring ISD. Teachers are great. My only concern is there's little attention to where a student is at academically until they reach 3rd grade when they are required to start taking TAKS tests. They play catch up in 3rd grade. I expressed for K-2 that I thought my daughter was behind in math and was told she was doing well. Then at the beginning of 3rd grade, they started tutoring her to death saying she was behind in math. Parent organizations are short on volunteers but the parents in charge are very clickish and make it difficult to want to volunteer.
—Submitted by a parent

What a great staff. They really work hard with the students. They have really good test scores this year.
—Submitted by a parent

I think Winship Elementary is a great school. I have no complaints. I have two children and a nephew who attend Winship. I hope the move to the new school in Northgate will be just as great of an experience for us as Winship. I have embraced and supported Winship since my children started attending in 2004.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children who attend Winship and one that has moved on to middle school. There are many great qualities about this school, including the principal and staff, but some things that need to be improved upon, but are district controlled. TAKS should not be the main focus, there are more things that kids should learn. Problem children should not be in the main stream classes, they take too much learning time away from kids who want to learn. Tier III and Tier I should not be mixed, it takes too much time away from the more advanced children, plus they should not be sent to school to babysit needy kids.
—Submitted by a parent

I have 2 children who have or do attend Winship. I think the school is an excellent place for them to learn. They are treated with respect and are challenged appropriately. I think the principal is wonderful - very open to listen to comments or concerns. The teachers have been kind and encouraging. Although, I don't agree with everything they do, I understand that they are working with many children of various learning styles and situations and that sometimes what I would like to see happen is not practical in their situation. I respect their efforts. I do feel there is too much focus on the TAKS, but unfortunately that pressure comes from the state. I think my children have been well prepared for the state requirements by the teachers at Winship. I would like to see more technology used in the classroom but I know their resources are limited.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children who have attended Winship Elementary. My eldest was there for Kindergarten and Third Grade, my youngest was there for First. Kindergarten was fantastic, Third grade was good but had to get more challenges for bored son. Our First grade experience was a nightmare ending with a child who had to spend all summer cathcing up. I feel like I tried on numerous occasions to work with the school on my childs below average reading and I got no where. The Principal is friendly and available for paernts when needed but no action, just lip service. What there very good at is seding home an unbelievable number of papers (flyers, newsletters. med alerts, activity notices) and you can count on what seems like daily recorded messages buy phone from the administration. In my opinion they are only focused on test scores and under tremndous pressure. Resources are limited
—Submitted by a parent

Winship has been a great school for my 2 children. The principle is really great and a lot has changed from the previous years. Both of my kids have been well taken care of and are happy. I would love to see a bit more creativity in their teaching and I really wish there was more parent involvement. Although I am very pleased at the safety precautions that are taken, sometimes Winship feels a bit closed off to parents. Overall, we have had a wonderful experience there and count it as the best in Spring!
—Submitted by a parent

I have 3 children at Winship. I have to say it has been a hit or miss. My children have special needs: some of the teachers have worked very well with their needs. However, my daughter who has a learning disability, was put with a former substitute teacher. I feel that it was disastrous and that we will be going to tutoring this summer to catch her up.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has attended Winship for four years and has had excellent teachers. They have all allowed me to volunteer in her classroom and have seemed very appreciative. The school has a full-time music teacher and full-time art teacher, which is rare in our over-crowded district. While I do not always agree with the administration's philosophy of always attempting to have everything 'fair' (for instance, all class holiday parties are exactly the same so no one gets upset,) I have been very pleased with the education standards my child has been pushed to accomplish. I would not hesitate to recommend Winship.
—Submitted by a parent

I have discovered that although they have an excellent rating, there is still a little prejudice lingering at the almost all white school. I have two children at Winship and at times they have been mistreated and overlooked. My daughter was molested in the lunch room, a little boy put his hands inside my daughters pants standing in the lunch line. I have yet to receive a call to let me know what was done to discipline this young man. Other incidents have happend to my Son and nothing has ever been done to correct the matter, but if he does something , he gets punished right away. I don't have a problem with my kids getting disciplined, but I do have a problem with them getting harrased. I would rate this school a (1).
—Submitted by Carolyn Payne, a parent