Anyone at Westbrook ES

[Anonymous]

We're considering Westbrook ES. I'm familiar with the avg class size (on the big side), demographics (not as diverse as I would like), test scores, etc. And I know it's got to be a pretty good school since all of the elementary schools in that area are good. I'm just wondering if there's anything Earth-shattering we should know. I saw some discussion on here from a couple of years ago about the PTA and retaliation against certain families or something like that. So are there big political issues (more so than the run-of-the-mill bickering/power struggles)? Anything that should make us run for the hills? TIA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're considering Westbrook ES. I'm familiar with the avg class size (on the big side), demographics (not as diverse as I would like), test scores, etc. And I know it's got to be a pretty good school since all of the elementary schools in that area are good. I'm just wondering if there's anything Earth-shattering we should know. I saw some discussion on here from a couple of years ago about the PTA and retaliation against certain families or something like that. So are there big political issues (more so than the run-of-the-mill bickering/power struggles)? Anything that should make us run for the hills? TIA.

When you say "good school", what do you mean by that?

[Anonymous]

I am a Westbrook parent.

No complaints at all. Lovely teachers, enthusiastic new principal, just got finished with a massive remodel.

It is not diverse racially or SES at all -- it does have quite a sizable foreign population, think IMF and World Bank types. It also has a program for kids who have emotional and learning problems that draws kids from around the county, but I think those numbers are pretty small.

VERY involved parents, list serv, great PTA, I do nothing but write a check each year and they make really great things happen-- we have an artist in residence program for example. Last year my daughter's K class put on an opera.

I also heard about some PTA shenanigans from a few years ago but that was before my time, there does not seem to be any residue of that.

Teachers very approachable, my DD's has a blog and communicates with us as much as we want. Lots of opportunities to volunteer if that's your thing.

Ask me anything else you'd like!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're considering Westbrook ES. I'm familiar with the avg class size (on the big side), demographics (not as diverse as I would like), test scores, etc. And I know it's got to be a pretty good school since all of the elementary schools in that area are good. I'm just wondering if there's anything Earth-shattering we should know. I saw some discussion on here from a couple of years ago about the PTA and retaliation against certain families or something like that. So are there big political issues (more so than the run-of-the-mill bickering/power struggles)? Anything that should make us run for the hills? TIA.

When you say "good school", what do you mean by that?

Just that it's part of one of the best school systems in the country and, presumably, will provide an acceptable education. I'm trying to head-off responses like "that's like asking Yale or Princeton," or "can't go wrong with any school in Bethesda," etc. I know all of that. I'm just wondering if there's anything I'm missing about the school -- dictator of a principal, PTA full of swingers, plans to bulldoze the school and build a shopping mall, etc. (These are intentionally outrageous examples.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a Westbrook parent.

No complaints at all. Lovely teachers, enthusiastic new principal, just got finished with a massive remodel.

It is not diverse racially or SES at all -- it does have quite a sizable foreign population, think IMF and World Bank types. It also has a program for kids who have emotional and learning problems that draws kids from around the county, but I think those numbers are pretty small.

VERY involved parents, list serv, great PTA, I do nothing but write a check each year and they make really great things happen-- we have an artist in residence program for example. Last year my daughter's K class put on an opera.

I also heard about some PTA shenanigans from a few years ago but that was before my time, there does not seem to be any residue of that.

Teachers very approachable, my DD's has a blog and communicates with us as much as we want. Lots of opportunities to volunteer if that's your thing.

Ask me anything else you'd like!

Awesome, thank you!