Bell Elementary School

12323 Shaftsbury Drive

School District

Houston Independent
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Houston 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 August 16, 2024

Esta escuela fue la mejor escuela que tuvo mi hija las maestras se preocupan y ayudan mucho a los niños a lograr el proceso de aprendizaje mi hija su maestra se quedaba con ella asta la 6 de la tarde ayudándola en lectura es algo que yo como madre baloro mucho porque es la mejor escuela
Submitted by parent on February 05, 2024

No al NESHagan q nuestra vos cuente
Submitted by parent on February 05, 2024

No nos escuchan como padres, queremos q nuestra vos cuente, queremo lo mejor para nuestros hijos y no estoy de acuerdo con el sistema NES que quieren implementar
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2018

Last week a 2nd grader and a 4th grader brought knives to school. All information the parents received was an automated call from the school. Note even a note from the principal was sent home. The students were suspended for 3 days and they called it a day, very scary that our children safety may not being taken seriously.
Submitted by other on April 29, 2017

The staff is very rude and uncaring, have a talk with the principal vice -principal and you'll understand why. The school lack communication and parental involvement is not welcomed. Getting a spot in the magnet program doesn't guarantee your child will be allowed to participate in the magnet activities. There are tryouts for everything and teachers and staff pick the few kids allowed to participate. Who do you know play a very big role at this school and it shouldn't be like that. Very weak academics they pretty much study for the STAAR test all year.
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2016

Bell is a magnet school for Physical Development very easy to get a spot in the lottery due to weak academics. The problem is that if you are looking for your child to be challenge and be active this is not the school for you. They offer several after school magnet enrichment classes: Dance, Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Choir, Piano, Cross Country, Basketball and Soccer. The issues is to get a spot there is a tryout and is up to the teacher to pick who she will allowed to participate. So if you're not "FRIENDS" with a teacher your child will never be able to get a spot. Year after year you will only see the same kids taking part of the more desired classes sports/art. (dance, Cheer, Gymnastics, piano) same thing with school presentation. Teachers can be a hit or miss, nonexistent communication between school-home. Very low parent involvement the only thing welcome is $$ not your presence. It's very sad that a school can excel in making students feel excluded.
Submitted by other on January 13, 2016

The teachers were pretty nice and caring.It wasn't a bad experience.It was actually pretty fun.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2015

The school have good after school magnet sports but it's very segregated. Only African American kids get picked for gymnastics and the cheer squad. There is no car pool line so to find a place to park at dismissal is a nightmare. Communication is bad between school and parents no newsletter and the website is never up to date. In the morning they open the doors very late, the children arriving by bus have to be outside alone for several minutes without any supervision. At lunch there is someone with a microphone yelling at the students. They have some very good teachers and some very bad. It's a lottery.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2014

do not enroll your kids here. you will not be happy. It was a decent school until the new principal came. Unorganized and the staff are cold and will answer with, "i don't know" most times and you the parent will have to inquire as to who could answer your question. so, imagine how they do the kids if parents are treated this way. No one really smiles to the parents.