Westridge Elementary: Not All It's Cracked Up To Be!

Honestly, I am disappointed with Westridge Elementary School. Before our family relocated to Prince William County, I did a great deal of research because I knew that my son would be starting kindergarten in the fall of that year. All of the reviews gave Westridge high marks as it is considered "THE BEST" elementary school in all of Prince William County.

I spoke with the director of my children's preschool, which is also located in Woodbridge and she too raved about the school. Thus, I was very excited about this school and the possibilities. Our family specifically moved into the Westridge Subdivision so that our son would be able to attend Westridge.

When it was time for Kindergarten registration, we were there on the first day. Unfortunately for us, my son was given a teacher who had just been hired only days before kindergarten orientation. The teacher, although nice, is not what I call a "hit the ground running" type of personality. She was hired late, she does not have the appropriate class that she should have nor does she have a lot of help with 24 kindergarteners as she and other teachers share an assistant.

Most of all communication from the school has been poor and even worse from the teacher. This causes me as an engaged parent to have to email the teacher quite a lot to get clarification and/or understand the communication that was sent home because it was poorly written or did not include all of the facts.

Because this was our first year, I have tried to be patient with the school and its way of doing things. However, my son had 3 more months left and I cannot wait for them to end. It has been the worst. The only good part is that my son probably doesn't realize how bad it is because he is young. He goes to school to learn, enjoys his friends and that's it. But as a parent, I see so much that is wrong or things that could be improved. I realize that Public Schools are working on a tight budget, but I really expected much more...especially from Westridge Elementary, "THE BEST" elementary in all of Prince William County.

My husband and I have found a private school in the area that we are really pleased with and we're looking forward to our son going there in the fall. The curriculum used at the private school are 2 years ahead of what he is currently learning at Westridge and I truly feel that the staff is also more enthused and ready to take on the energetic 5-6 year old versus the public school where the kids are expected to be robots....come in the class, sit down, shut up, follow all directions the first time given....do your work and go home!

I personally think that Westridge is highly overrated and since I have been there, I have been hearing stories from other mothers similar to my own. They, like me, moved their families into the area to attend this school and now we are all wondering why.