Wedgwood Elementary School

We have two children at Wedgwood. The academics are great, the parent-teacher community is warm and welcoming. We are new to WA state and prior to our move both our children attended private schools and I can say hands down the education experience at Wedgwood is as good or even better than the private school they attended. Both children have been blessed with amazing teachers who are committed and caring. The Principal is very accessible and addresses issues/concerns promptly. We are very happy here.
—Submitted by a parent

Wedgwood does not feel like a safe loving place to send your kindergartener. The focus is all about test scores and over achieving. There is little supervision on the playground (three recesses a day!) and no one-on-one time. The teachers do try, but they are stuck teaching overcrowded classes (24/26, maybe even 28 kindergarteners in a class with no aides!). Parents come in and help out, but they are not teachers or aides by any means. There is no money for arts and no science. Last year there was a kindergartener that 'escaped' out of her class and walked all the way home. The best part - the parent called Wedgwood to say she was home and they didn't even know she was missing!
—Submitted by a parent

The teaching and parent community at Wedgwood is outstanding. The principal accessible and approachable and knows each child by name. Money raised by PTSA and through other events is put to very good use and the children are not short-changed in any area of their education.

My child was in private school - but I could no longer justify the expense, especially when I realized how substandard the mathematics education was in the private school. I am very impressed with the high standard of teaching in this school. The teachers we have had so far are truly amazing and inspiring. I have found the children at Wedgwood to be smart, well-mannered and kind. They have good after-school programs for the children.
—Submitted by a parent

This was our first year at Wedgwood and we are very happy with our experience. The Principal is very accessible, he offers coffee chats with parents, is very visible in the school to both the kids and parents, and I am almost certain (in his first year) he has memorized all of the students names! Both our kids' teachers are fantastic! There are teachers out there who simply "go through the motions," who don't get to know their students and aren't creative in their approaches to teaching. I am happy to say none of them work at Wedgwood! Both my kids love the PE, art, and music teachers and come home excited to tell me of their lessons in those classes. The Librarian is also wonderful, and truly loves inspiring young readers. The building isn't the newest or the nicest in the district, but you couldn't pay me to send my kids somewhere else.
—Submitted by a parent

Wedgwood is an amazing school in a dumpy building. Although we live in the Bryant reference area, we sent our kindergartener to Wedgwood. We were extremely impressed by the principal, Veronica Gallardo. For instance, she had worked out in advance a plan for whatever math program SDS decided to adopt. The test scores and academic program at Wedgwood are also excellent. Our daughter's teacher in kindergarten is fantastic. (Class size is a concern). The children write and/or draw in a journal every morning. The teacher also emphasized 'environmental print.' I wasn't so sure about it, but it worked--our child is now reading fluently. And the teacher has dealt with potential discipline issues beautifully. She stresses positive discipline. The children believe that everyone in the class is their friend.
—Submitted by a parent

There is a lot of support at this school for art, music & P.E. (every other day). Parents are very involved in fundraising, after school activities and volunteering in the classroom. The school has 3 Spectrum (gifted) classrooms. There are a lot of high achieving students, so the staff is able to give a lot of attention to those who need extra support.
—Submitted by a staff