Whittier Elementary School

I would leave a Zero Star review if I could. After repeated and constant bullying and harassment by both students and staff at this school my child was diagnosed with PTSD. I wish my child had never entered this school, it has so dramatically and drastically impacted her in such a negative way that I know she will never be the same vibrant and happy child who first entered their doors.

Our son is now starting his third year at Whittier. We were admittedly reluctant and concerned when he enrolled for the 2014-15 school year. Fast forward, we have had ZERO issues with the school and/or any member of the staff. Our son is at or above grade level in reading and math. He is eager and excited about his schoolwork. We volunteer and stay engaged. Ms. Gannon's leadership is turning this school around. Instead of being worried about our son attending, I now feel lucky that he is part of a compassionate, diverse, and engaging community.

I pulled my daughter out of this school for a couple of really big reasons. First and foremost, the bullying there is horrible. When children are getting attacked at the school the teachers say nothing and the attacker goes unpunished, parents are uninformed and it isn't referred to the principal. What good are the anti bullying rules if no one enforces it? The other big reason was the fact that my daughter was falling behind and needed help in reading and speech. I had to push to get her into speech class, and wrote several letters expressing concern about her reading skills. My answer to the letters ....sending the same three books home for months. Teachers that were there that were good have left do to issues with the school and the district. I advise everyone to seriously look into this school. I am sorry that my daughter's first two years of school were such a bad experience. I too now homeschool through a virtual public school and my daughter has excelled. I understand that not everyone can do that but there are other options and for your child's sake you should know them.

I took my children out of this school. My kids were not given a chance at a quality education in this school, so now we are a homeschooling family. This is now a normal statement from many people that I know who have removed their children from this school. When I was informed that one of my children was allowed to wander around the room or draw as long as he wasn't bothering anyone, I was livid. I had him tested and he was 2 grade levels behind. When I asked the school what we could do to hold him back and make sure he learned the basics, I was told "it would take something VERY extreme to hold him back. He'll move forward next year." As a parent, I stopped a fist fight in the hall, 4 feet away from an open door, where two female teachers were chatting, sitting on desks. The bell had rung and the day was over, but there were still children that needed supervision in the halls. I have never seen staff exit a building so quickly at the end of the day. The connection between teachers and students is just not there. It's sad. I tell everyone I can that if they have the ability to place their children elsewhere, they need to. If I could give a "0" rating, I would.