Watkins-Nance Elementary School

2525 Barhamville Road

School District

Richland 01
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

School Map for Richland 01 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 February 22, 2024

Honestly I don't know how they handle this ratings thing but I am completely impressed and shocked to see Watkins-Nance's rating. There are not enough words to describe how wonderful this School is. My son is currently attending Watkins with Magnet Program. He has been Homeschooled and when we moved to SC last year he wanted to attend school and make many friends. I was afraid of the rumors about racism and bullying, since my son is Latino even though he doesn't look like it and speaks English perfectly, it's still his second language. I honestly don't know who invented that rumor but how wrong it is. From day 1 my son has received exceptional treatment like everyone else, they welcomed him and made him feel respected and valued just like the others, and I feel so blessed to have found this School. The atmosphere is so familiar, all the teachers and staff are excellent, very attentive, responsible, caring, very willing and dedicated. Principal, Reynard Jefferson is pure humility, a tremendous human being, completely dedicated to his School and his students, always attentive to every detail, no matter how minimal it may be. The students love him and are very respectful of him, I love the good communication he has with his students, always present. Very strict with students behavior and he knows perfectly how to motivate them positively and in a fun way. I cannot explain how dedicated, willing and protective Principal Jefferson is to the School and his students. In this School the word boredom doesn't exist, they celebrate everything, they always look for a way to make everything fun, they are super dynamic. Security is top, something that for me as a mother is VERY IMPORTANT, both drop-off and pick-up times they are always very organized, they personally make sure that each student is picked up by their relatives or authorized person, several teachers and staff are in charge of managing the drop-off and pick-up line and they do it excellently, no student leaves the campus until the staff in charge of confirming the identity of the relative makes a call through the radio. I honestly have absolutely nothing negative to say about this School, on the contrary, they exceeded my expectations, despite me being a very demanding and overprotective mother. I give this School thousands of stars and I am not exaggerating.
Submitted by other on February 01, 2023

I don't recommend this school not a bit. My sister goes here and she says it's a living nightmare, her and the other kids don't get to go out for recess, she has a really terrible principal, and they can care less about the kids mental health. To be honest, I'll grateful that I didn't have to go to this school because WHAT KIND OF SCHOOL IS THIS?!Summary: dont send ur kids here
Submitted by parent on July 20, 2016

Both my children attend this school. I have an upcoming 4th grader and upcoming 2nd grader. I have never had a problem with this school. The teachers are awesome and love my kids. Im not sure why the ratings are so low. Dr Cohens has always been nice & friendly as well as the teachers and other staff. My kids enjoy attending this school.
Submitted by other on May 01, 2014

I can't believe this is still happening. I taught there in 2000! I felt like I was teaching in 1950. The Principal has little understanding of appropriate child development and teaching. I honestly cannot believe she has lasted this long. She treats staff unfairly and unprofessionally. At lunch time, students were expected to have silent lunches. I am not sure if this is still happening. How can you expect children to succeed when they have no ability to appropriately express themselves or socialize? Collaboration and communication were completely undervalued. How does this prepare children for the new millennium? I could write a novel on the issues regarding this school.
Submitted by parent on February 29, 2012

Teachers are great and always have a smile. The principal discipline and runs the school likes is 1960. She doesnt allow the students to be expose with nature or life lessons. The teachers are always walking on egg shells there due to her management. The year my student attend, I've never seen the principal being welcoming to the parents.
Submitted by parent on February 24, 2010

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