West Elementary School

235 West Converse Street

School District

Hamblen County
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

public

School Map for Hamblen County School District

GreatSchools Rating

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on July 18, 2022

West used to be wonderful when my oldest child was there seven years ago but it has progressively gone downhill. The principal they’ve had for the last 2 or 3 years just doesn’t seem to be one to listen and work with parents. It seems like it must be this way with staff too because everyone has been leaving since he came to the school. They’re only maybe three or four teachers still there that were there when he came. That seems like a problem to me. Also it adds to instability. Stability is something many students from this school lack at home, so they really need it at school. The few staff that stuck around and used to always be so friendly just seems down now. It seems like they have lost their drive under Mr Olson. It breaks my heart seeing how the school has changed and then hearing stories from some of the teachers my children have had that left. This principal really needs to be investigated. I never leave bad reviews but I was thinking about my youngest one starting to West for his last year as a fifth grader and it’s just sad knowing he is not in the happy environment West use to be. I’m sure this review won’t be looked at and won’t accomplish anything, but parents are no longer heard at the school so this honestly just makes me feel better.
Submitted by other on April 26, 2017

Both of my children have attended West Elementary and both have LOVED their teachers, staff and the school as a whole. This is an excellent school with high academic standards that just so happens to be in a low socio-economic area. Most of the complaints I have seen and heard have little to do with what actually occurs within the school. The staff at West are tremendous and willing to do whatever they can to support all of the children who attend this school. I would recommended it to anyone and know that my children were well prepared to move to the next level in their education when they left West.
Submitted by other on September 17, 2016

Terrible environment. No stability as teachers never stay. Principal doesn't listen to parents. 45 minutes of homework every night in 1st grade.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2015

I wasn't sure how I felt about this school until my child entered 2nd grade and got Mr. Lynch as a math teacher and Miss Cameron as a reading teacher. Before 2nd grade, I always got the typical response of "nothing" when I asked my daughter what she did in school. Now she absolutely loves school and can't wait to tell me what she learned. Apparently Miss Cameron and Mr. Lynch know how to make learning fun and love their students like they are their own children. My child's greatest love is Miss Cameron's reading class. Miss Cameron takes pop songs and changes the words so that they support her lessons. My little girl goes around the house singing the songs every day or looking at them on her class website. Sometimes I get tired of hearing them, but my whole family knows how to find main idea now :). My daughter says Miss Cameron has an amazing voice too and can sing better than the actual singer sometimes. Miss Cameron even took time to turn her classroom into a coffee house on one occasion so that students could read the poetry they wrote in class in a comfortable environment. My child was so excited that she wrote extra poems at home that weren't assigned just so she could read them at the coffee house. The books she chooses to read to her class get my daughter excited as well. My child is now obsessed with Amelia Bedillia books and has to point out words with more than one meaning every time we read them. My child has made lots of progress in both reading and math. In math my child has completed some challenging task. Apparently Mr. Lynch is very funny in class too and let's the students do fun activities like a math marathon and math that allows them to pop balloons. Mr. Lynch and Miss Cameron make a great team. I couldn't imagine anyone else teaching 2nd grade, and I hope my child has this positive of an experience every other year.
Submitted by parent on November 05, 2012

I love this School it is Awesome School Teachers and Staff are so Friendly there and Helpful to all the Kids and Love them back it maybe a Smaller School but they have a lot of Love for Kids love that!!