George Herbert Walker Bush Elementary School

3939 Spring Valley Road

School District

Dallas Independent
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Dallas Independent School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on November 08, 2023

I have been very happy with the school, especially My son's teacher Mrs Green!!! She is amazing!!!! Good place to start the journey! Thank you all for making our kids happy!
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2021

My child attended here for Early Childhood Special Education classes, and we had a great experience. Teachers were helpful, responsive, had great communication, and were excellent partners with the parents to the betterment of the children. If you have the opportunity to send your Preschoolers here, I can highly recommend it!
Submitted by parent on March 29, 2021

Great school. Teachers are very nice and my kids love attending here.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2019

If I were to rate this school from 1 to 10, one being the lowest, I would give them a solid 3
Submitted by parent on January 16, 2016

The staff are really rude ... I was just dropping off my daughter and some guy just yelled at us to move forward... I mean he saw the car door open really dude... And this wasn't the first time it happened... When they have a bad day they really are rude ... And they treat the children's like they are in the Army or something... Next year my daughter is not going to this school.
Submitted by parent on January 03, 2016

A year later after taking our kids out from Bush Elementary and asking them about their experience in a new school, the summary of their answers was, "We prefer this school better, our principal is nice and we actually have recess time."This just reaffirms our concerns regarding Mrs. Dash and the weird policies she implemented while we were there. We will never, ever understand how DSID doesn't act on it, especially with all complaints by several parents. It's not ok not allowing kids to communicate during lunch time, it's not ok to give them a super short recess time(if any), it's not ok to scream and rush them whenever they are not in class and lastly, it's not ok to treat teachers unfairly! We were tired to see some great teachers scared and feeling constrained to do great things due to rules implemented by the administration.We sincerely hope one day things will change and all kids will have the best experience they can have.
Submitted by other on July 28, 2015

My daughter's teacher was fantastic. The office staff, and principal are another story! Wish Ms. Dash wasn't coming back for the 15-16 school year! That school needs an actual leader that cares about the students, teachers, and parents! DISD needs to wake up and realize she is giving the district a bad name by running that school. She is disrespectful to parents, and allows the office staff to be also. The poor teachers are blamed for everything even when it is the office staff's fault. She thinks she is sneaky. If you ever are on the phone with her and she's being nice, it's because she has someone in her office listening to her be sweet, so they can cover her when you contact the school district, that's why she only talks on speakerphone. There are no policies in place for parents to see. We started the school year last year without even knowing how to pick up our child, and the office staff was rude when we called to find out! They still haven't updated their website for 15-16 school year either. They along with DISD lack contacting parents with helpful information, but will call a bunch about stuff that doesn't matter to most parents.
Submitted by parent on June 08, 2015

The teachers are awesome at this school. However, there is a high turnover rate. Why? The Principal, Mrs. S. Dash is controlling and even treats the parents like children. Many parents and students are leaving or have left all because of this principal who doesn't know how to treat the students, parents and staff with common courtesy. She yells at students, in front of the student's parents. Don't try to take your concerns to her because she won't listen. She thinks she is always right and will quote some 'policy' to try and justify her controlling nature. If Dallas ISD continues to let her stay there, then that school will be closed down. She needs to be taught how to build positive relationships with others.
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2015

Ive been a Patriots mom since 2011 and yes, Ive had to speak my mind to a couple of teachers, but overall my children are happy. The staff this caring only speaking for myself and the principles they do a good job!
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2015

We have been at this school for a few years. Our experience has been good, because of the excellent teachers. We do have the same concerns as mentioned by the other parents about the principal, but we continue to stay because the teachers are providing what we find to be an excellent education. It is sad to hear of families leaving, simply because of the principal - as the success of the school is due to the teachers and parents - not the principal (as I agree this principal does not provide the warm reception and guidance needed in this critical role). Those teachers and families choosing to stay, do so in spite of the principal. It is our responsibility as parents to work with the teachers to insure our children receive the support needed to have a great educational experience. For those looking to educate their children at Bush Elementary - do not be afraid and do not let others speak for you. Learn for yourself. This is a good school - providing the guidance and education needed. If you are willing to ignore the principal and work directly with your teachers to help your children - then you will succeed.
Submitted by parent on March 23, 2015

My son has been at the school for four years now and we have been blessed with amazing teachers. They are truly dedicated to their craft. Couldn't be happier
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2014

This is my third year at Bush and my kids are happy. The teachers are great and Mrs. Dash(Principal) and Mr. Brown (Asst. Principal) really care about the kids and want to see them become successful. We need more parents to get involved though.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2014

When I first went to enroll my daughter I felt the process was made horrible by the registrar. She was very rude and short. I believe she is probably accustomed to being this way and people shrinking and doing what she wants them to do. I, however, am not one of these people. My daughter's education is very important to me so I will not allow anyone to disrupt that. After speaking to the Board of Education my daughter was enrolled without anymore rudeness from the registrar. On back to school night my daughter wasn't assigned to a class. I had to speak to one of the ladies at the front desk. She was so very helpful. She made sure that my daughter was assigned to a class right away. I walked away feeling great about my experience with her. After meeting the teachers I was very confident. The teachers seemed like they cared and most importantly like they wanted to be there. As I was walking out of the building I the same lady who helped me before stopped to make sure I was taken care of. I was surprised to learn that this was the principal that everyone else had negative reviews about. So far so good, I'll update this review after a few months but for now I couldn't ask for more!
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2014

Wow!! What a terrible, rude and controlling principal. i can't even call her a principal because she has no business being one. i witnessed yesterday a preschooler screaming and clinging to his mother for dear life in front of the school. i wanted to help and come to find out, the mom was not allowed in the building. WHAT??? yup, they would not let his mom take him to the classroom. this is a 4 year old preschooler, helloooo!!!! let the mother take him to the classroom and in a few days he will be ok. well, Dash did not let that happen. she just didnt care. i tried taking my 1st grader to her class, same thing. i was told i was not allowed in and there was nothing to be done about it. just terrible , terrible principal who is a total control freak and makes up her own rules as she goes. we will be gone from this school in a month, and i can't wait. its sad because my daughter really likes her teachers and i do too. don't send your kids to this school and i would be so happy if Dash goes away because the school has so much potential without her.
Submitted by parent on May 19, 2014

I TOLD YOU ALL SO! I was the first parent to post a comment about GHWB elementary school which was back in January of 2013! It is comforting to know that so many have seen and experience the negativity at this school and I wasn't the only one.Principal Dash along with some of the teachers and staff need to be removed IMMEDIATELY!! I went in one COLD morning last year to speak with the Asst. Principal and his teacher (come to find out it wasn't my child). Anyway, I got there at 7:45 in the morning and was told that I couldn't wait in the office that I had to wait outside in the cold until all the students were in class. WHAT? She said that was one of Principal Dash's rules and not hers.Principal Dash came out from behind somewhere and asked the receptionist why was I there and told me I had to wait outside if I didn't have an appointment. After pleading to Principal Dash she hesitantly allowed me remain but said to me next time I need to have an appointment and I would have to wait outside. I could go on with many other examples but I don't have enough characters remaining to type. This is my son's last year here. Thank GOD!
Submitted by parent on May 12, 2014

I was really skeptical about the reviews left by some of you when we moved to this area. A year later and can only agree. This was one of the worst experiences in our kids lives! If I could summarize it in one sentence, I would say: "A top of the art building with a very unfriendly and rude principal along with a scared of her staff! " I have never met a principal with such a lack of people skills. I feel bad for some of the staff working there because it is clear as water how her influence affects most of them. It is as if everyone is living in a thriller movie(scared and anxious that something bad is about to happen). Unfortunately we will have to break our lease and look somewhere else. However, I prefer having my kids getting a positive outcome from their school experience and keep a sane mind than enduring a full of hostility, result only concerned and unfriendly environment. I commend the wonderful teachers and some staff members who work really hard to give these kids the best outcome they possibly can but we are just tired of the negative influence that the main administration is bringing on them, families and in special the most important people - the kids!
Submitted by parent on March 19, 2014

I am looking into a Pre-k school for my son next year and was thinking about GHWB. After reading these reviews, I will STAY AWAY! Parents should start a change.org petition to have this principal removed!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by parent on September 13, 2013

what a horrendous principal! I've directly seen and heard Principal Dash belittling children and disrespecting her staff. This school needs new leadership. This school is only 3 years old and have not gotten its act together. The first week of school was a mess! Unsafe pick up procedures-kids were crying, confused parents, no communication in regards to the start time of school. Last yr. the start time was after 8 am and pick up was about 3:15 pm. I had no idea when to pick up my child I had to call the school to find out! it takes several calls for administration to answer, no one knows anything about procedures. if you ask a question expect to hear "I dont know, check back next week." Ms. Dash has NO people skills. she is inpatient yelling at kids (why work in an elem. school when you have absolutely no patience?), her eyes are constantly rolling, she stands with her hands on her hip mad at the world. just looking at her reads ATTITUDE! she needs to be a prison guard or work at a juvenile detention center. I wish something could be done but it seems like no one cares. Just meet her for yourself. writing this review is nothing compared to the face-to-face experience of Ms Dash.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2013

This was the worse experience we never had starting in a new school before! When we recorded our kids there; they asked us to bring them on first day of school. We asked them about meeting the teachers before, and the lady roughly said to us to come on monday! Anyway, we came back on thursday (day of meeting the teacher), cuz my neighbor told me about it. After explaining my kids are news students, a lady from office asked me to look for my kids' name on the list, what I did it with no finding anything. Then I tried to ask help for a work team, who asked me to go to office again. I did it, and again a rude lady asked me to come back just on monday. Ok monday, OMG, It's was a nightmare. My kids' name weren't still on the list. They couldn't explain me nothing about it. We had to stay in the auditorium for 2,5 h with 50 others lost parents, until somebody call me, because they received our application, but left in somewhere in the office without record them. Finally 10:30am with my kids tired, hungry and confuse; They give to my kids a teacher, who I just was able to say hi and bye. Well, during all this mess, principal never showed her face.
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2013

I have three students that attend this school. This is there first year here and transferred from another DISD school. I was greatly disappointing with the school by the end of the year. The principle is very rude and hard to voice concerns too. When she spoke to me I felt belittled, so left the school wondering how she spoke to the children. As the year progressed, I found out through my children the irrational expectations the principle had for the students. To expect students to sit quietly and focus on school lessons with no daily recess; or, even the ability to talk at lunch. My oldest child has been on honor role and in the TAG program since kindergarten, but had the hardest year of her life. Her homeroom teacher has openly told the class she has a favorite student. That she hates the school, and that she will take any of her family out of her will if they become teachers. All other teachers at the school I have experienced are GREAT!! The greatest problem is the leadership(principle, AP, & support staff). Their is a BIG bullying problem in this school and feel it is due to the lack of leadership and consequences for the bullies.