Oak Grove Elementary/Willowside Middle School

5299 Hall Road

School District

Oak Grove Union Elementary
Grade

1-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

charter

School Map for Oak Grove Union Elementary 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 other on July 29, 2024

It’s a great school for my child beacuse she has learned so much from the teachers and loves it
Submitted by other on August 15, 2023

I went to willowside and oak grove from kindergarten to 7th grade. I loved some of the kids I met there, and the education was actually great, but the issue is, is that it is so unsafe. Everyday I came to school wondering if I was going to be picked on that day. I was harassed/bullied by the SAMe PEOPLE for around 4-5 months, what did the school do about it? Nothing. They set up a meeting with me and one of the people bullying me, which was, if you couldn’t already tell, a terrible choice. Just escalated it more and made me feel even less heard. My parents actually specifically asked them not to do that. Another huge thing, the teachers and anyone in charge of discipline chose to discipline kids for doing things like cursing while there were kids vaping, fighting and getting high all throughout the school. So if you don’t want your kid getting bullied, getting beat up, etc, this is NOT the place for you. However, I loved most of my teachers from what I can remember, so, that’s a plus.
Submitted by parent on August 10, 2023

We've been at Oak Grove several years and couldn't be happier. What a warm community of teachers and staff who really care about kids! Love the enrichment classes and teacher/parent communication, too.
Submitted by student on May 26, 2023

Besides the threats, fighting and our dance being canceled, the academics also suck. The only thing good I will remember about this school are a couple of good teachers (even though they kind of give up b/c of the bad children) and my friends who stuck it out with me. Even though this school is in a nice area, the kids are not nice. I think more than 1/2 are from out of the area. They probably got in so much trouble at their old schools that they transferred here. Our dance got canceled b/c of fights. A boy got beat up this week. Every one of my friends has been threatened or pushed by another student here. Unless you know how to fight and don't care about learning or going to a good high school, don't go here.
Submitted by student on April 25, 2023

I am a student, and my experience has been terrible. I wouldn't wish this school on anyone. This is my last year at Willowside. The classes are overcrowded, and it is impossible to learn. Teachers use microphones, but you still can't hear them over all the kids talking. There is bullying going on all over campus. Teachers fight against getting security cameras that could protect the kids. They just canceled our last dance, because of bullying. I don't feel prepared for high school. Friends from other schools had homework. We had almost none. It was because the teachers don't want more work. All the school wants is more and more children. They care about getting more money, but not teaching the kids anything. It just hurts the children who want to learn. We had a teacher teach through videos EVERY DAY!
Submitted by parent on November 02, 2022

We were very hopeful! New to the area, we were very excited our 7th grader got a spot at Willowside! Fast forward- total FAIL on the advanced math for our 7th and 8th grader. We were promised she’d get through algebra 1 by graduation. Didn’t happen. Also, Willowside pretty much just checked out in our opinion and blaming the pandemic. Ok, yes, some students struggled but some were on track. They failed the students who were on track. Not only was our incoming freshman not ready to enter her freshman year able to skip algebra , she was totally unprepared with the study skills needed for HS. I give Willowside a big FAIL. We wish we’d gone a different route for middle school.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2022

We feel very lucky to be at Oak Grove: the school has talented and caring teachers, an excellent art program, and strong emphasis on socio-emotional development. Students all love the P.E. teacher, the librarian, music teacher, garden teacher, and the on-site counselor, too. There are 20 students in my child's class, which seems typical. From what we've heard and seen, teachers work hard to make sure each and every student is thriving. We are out-of-district, and were very grateful our student was accepted.
Submitted by parent on October 27, 2021

Great school. All the teachers we had cares about both academic and personal growth. We have 3 kids so we didn’t just get lucky. It’s a small enough school so kids don’t get lost but big enough to have all the extra curricular activities to keep kids busy and be social. Love, love, love this school.
Submitted by parent on July 28, 2021

I have two boys going to Willowside Middle and they love it there. My 8th grader has struggled a little bit with math, but in the end got all A's at the end of the school year. The pandemic placed new challenges on the teachers and students. Luckily the teachers gave plenty of opportunities for the children to seek help if they needed it. Bullying over the internet via email happened one time to my older son, but it was handled right away by the dean of students. My younger son worked really hard and has focused to stay on track. He received all A's in his first year there. The teachers are all supportive. The amount of homework is just right, and if your child stays focused in class, they can get the homework done within an hour or so at home. Sometimes, homework can be finished in class. My older son has ADHD and doesn't have trouble understanding directions. His teachers explain assignments well. I'm so glad we chose this middle school to attend.
Submitted by other on March 08, 2020

This School Was Smaller Back In 1982, 1983, And 1984 When I Graduated. We Were A Family Back Then.
Submitted by parent on August 18, 2017

Awesome. Welcoming and encouraging. Lots of extra activities as well.
Submitted by parent on June 29, 2014

The school was pretty great, and I understand some of the students were protesting the dress code which is actually not that bad. They also give less homework then other schools and if you pay attention in class you can get it done in less then an hour. My child did not experience bullying as a student at WMS as she was a Safe School Ambassador. The bullying issue has decreased somewhat and the teachers are against bullying. I thought the principal was okay yet he wasn't at the school a lot. I liked how most teachers were Common Core based before there was Common Core. Overall it was a great school.
Submitted by parent on February 12, 2014

This school gives too much homework and overreacts to everything! The principle is also creepy and annoying and so are the staff DO NOT ATTEND THIS SCHOOL!
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2013

The teachers are BULLIES. My daughter is constantly put down and bullied by her math and science teacher. When my daughter goes to her teacher during tutorial and asks for one on one help the teacher tells her it's her fault and she should have paid more attention in class. Also when my daughter receives a bad grade on a test the teacher will sarcastically tell her "steller job". The teacher needs to realize SHE is the problem, not my daughter who is actually trying. When the principal was contacted he blamed my daughter not the teacher and her bad teaching skills. Thank god she is graduating soon.
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2013

Dealing with the district's administrative staff is a nightmare. The administrative secretary has been pugnacious, unprofessional and rude and has blocked our attempts to complain to the superintendent about her behavior. Between this and friends' families leaving for bullying and supervision issues, we're going with another school.
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2012

Unfortunately, the administration does not handle any feedback from parents whether it be bullying, bad teachers or poor curriculum choices. Multiple children involved in bullying and "packs" here, but school counselors only tell the bullied they need to stay away from bullies. Principal seems very nice and caringd. PE classes are too full, many injuries occur, quite a few very serious.