White Oak Elementary School

As a teacher at WOES and a parent of a special needs student at WOES I can undoubted say this is the best school I have worked at or seen. The passion for teaching is evident with every teacher from the moment you walk into the school. The students are provided with collaboration spaces at each grade level to encourage student learning partnerships. Most students do not go outside for recess everyday because many times there are exciting activities they'd rather do inside. Students are making things in the Maker Space (which is also mimicked in classrooms), programming, learning coding, exploring with robots, and many other activities that encourage collaboration skills as well as new learning. The workshop model along with inquiry and STEM are the reasons my students don't want school to end each year or two each day. Most days, I have to tell students "You can't stay here, you HAVE to go home"!

Compared to other Elementary Schools in the area, this is one of the best choices. However, there isn't any focus placed on the fact that some children learn differently but that is with just about any public school. This makes it really hard on the parents that have to re-teach them everything they didn't understand with a different approach after school each day to make sure they do not fall behind. I feel it would be a much better experience for both the students and the teachers if they could limit the class size to a max of 18 students, and have more resources for the students that need a more personalized learning approach. Side note - being an accountant it hurts my heart that they do not teach basic math anymore due to common core! To increase the chances of your child excelling in school and academics, invest in sending them to private or Christian school!

This particular school looks more like a corporate office on the inside and we feel is run like one too. There are no murals or school mascots painted on the walls. Everything is perfectly in its place and furnished beautifully. Not necessarily what these kids need to thrive. An elementary school should be centered around children! We feel it's unwelcoming for young children. Not warm, friendly and nurturing. I wish that we toured schools instead of assuming that all elementary schools were run with the whole child in mind. This one does not. Do your research and if you aren't here to tour schools in the least check out their website and Facebook pages. There are no spelling tests, basic math facts learned or handwriting. No literacy parade, cultural night or school dance. They did get to dress up this Halloween for a donation of course but I was told that kind of fun is a rarity. My son didn't even go on a field trip last year. The older kids do not have recess on the playground but a slab of concrete. Too far to walk to the grassy area with a great playground and swings. They do have a garden but not all the students get to experience it as well as the outdoor classroom but our kids have never been. I rarely ever see the principal or assistants and my kids do not feel the love here sadly. I didn't even meet any of them on our very first day. It starts at the top. We've moved around and have been fortunate to experience some amazing schools and now our kids don't enjoy school like they used to and are always looking forward to Friday each week. That is so disappointing. We'll be moving soon for these reasons. With years left of elementary school we feel our children need a better experience and they do too. I've met many others that feel the same way some have since moved already. I would give some of our teachers 5 stars as well as the music teacher who is amazing with the kids. Thank God for them!!!! I'm sad to write this as this is not a horrible school it's just not a good fit for our family especially since we've experienced such different environments with other elementary schools. I wish we did more research before relocating so that is why I'm putting this out there.

White Oak is an excellent school. My child is in kindergarden and is doing very well. His teacher is one of the best! I could not be more pleased with the school.