Woodward Elementary School

Great school!!! Administration is awesome! Dr. Haddock and Dr. Blanton know how to lead by example!!! They both genuinely care about students’ well being and stand up for their teachers!!! The students have lots of leadership opportunities in the upper grades and lots of extra curricular activities (Art club, Chorus, Beta, etc.). We even had a parade for our students during COVID-19. (It was of course socially distanced!!)

The teachers work extremely hard to help every student make as much growth as possible during the school year. Every minute of the school day is well thought out and planned to maximize teaching time. The teachers are very dedicated at this school.

My child attended this school for HALF first grade. We were transferred to another school on an emergency transfer after his life was threatened by another first grader. and sadly that was not even the worst off it...the school was required to have hearing regarding this matter, which was scheduled for 9am the following Tuesday. My husband and I showed up at 8:40am, we were immediately called into the social workers office where we were apologized to profusely because they HELD THE HEARING WITHOUT US due to the other child's mother having to be at work. I was informed that my 5 year old son was sworn in under oath without me present, which is illegal. And when I how and why none of the adults and officials present saw this as a problem or issue the principal said, "my apologies, I fumbled the football".

Woodward is home to superior faculty and great administrative leadership. That fact is the school is completely an "Unknown" to the surrounding single-family home neighborhoods due to "white flight" or, more accurately, middle class flight. While the school is as advertised on the economic demographics, it is more like a 7 or 8, not a "1." The school atmosphere is excellent with an emphasis on leadership and scholarship. As a school funded in large part by federal dollars, our school is as well-equipped, if not more so, than our wealthier neighboring schools. The primarily immigrant-origin parents are very much of "traditional" values and discipline is excellent in the classroom with deep respect for educational opportunities and educators. There is no better school in the area for my child and he has been excelling with the support of superior primary teachers, gifted certified teachers, specials (reading, music, art) and a group of highly diverse classmates. The only reason I don't see Woodward as a "5 star" school is due to the facilities which are out-dated and generally neglected by the DeKalb school system.