Westchase Elementary School

9517 West Linebaugh Avenue

School District

Hillsborough
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
Type

public

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 09, 2023

Terrible. This school has only a few really good, caring teachers. Some female staff are rude and arrogant, should not be working in a school with that type of attitude.
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2022

Let me tell you why, because they just want your child to be enrolled in so they can get funds for their school but if your child needs any accommodations whatsoever you're not gonna get it. They're going to wait it out and push them out and they're going to call it behavior when it's really the failure to acknowledge or see the problems that are occurring because of a lack of skills needed to be successful academically but they have no way of providing those services to you.This is based on my experience with my child who is on the autism spectrum whom they could not accommodate. The principal forced us to enroll even though they could not go to that school specifically. We were set up with not 1 but 2 IEP meetings that actually never happened.My daughter advocated for herself asking her teacher for support with tutoring and help in math. We did the Child Find meeting and nothing ever came from it.The models need to change for recognizing problems. A collaborative and proactive approach would be more successful. It's a shame that education has become so darn political and moneygrabbing.I hear they have a new principal and I hope she provides the guidance and support families need.
Submitted by parent on August 18, 2020

Excellent school and community....private school feel and wonderful, supportive staff.
Submitted by parent on August 11, 2020

As long as I either teach my child or get her tutoring, then she is successful. Administration is only concerned with test scores.
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2019

Moving from IA, we heard FL schools are not as good. Boy were we WRONG! This school is very advanced and we needed tutoring to get our kiddos up to speed! Parents are super-involved and the fact that Westchase Elementary is located in one of the most affluent areas of Tampa means the school can raise money at will. Westchase is a cornerstone in our community and even folks with no kids at home love supporting Westchase with donations and their tax revenue. Elise Suarez is a great principal and has this school on a great track. A+ all the way!
Submitted by parent on November 16, 2018

This year this school is coming worse every day
Submitted by other on November 04, 2018

THE BEST SCHOOL IN MY LIFE AND I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE STUDENTS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2017

School administrators only report what they like. They focus only on negative and no consequences for teachers and staff when they report half of the story. They don't apologize when they are wrong or being rude or not following rules, but children must follow their very strict rules. To me if you want children to behave well, you have to be an example. No leadership, except if you are in PTA group who is running the school and their children have privileges, but your children are not even allowed to laugh at the PE class. School stresses children with weekly tests to keep that perfect 10 score and forgetting that mental health, art and sports are equally important for healthy development of our children. Don't ever report any issues because administration and teacher will pick on your child and frame that your child is the problem and they will even go that far to say you are also a problem. Everyone is the problem, but them. My family and I are dealing with school for the last two weeks and they don't care that they are creating mental issues for our child, our marriage, family and my business. I pray every day for a stress free day and started having sever anxiety and depression.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2017

Very good experience at this school. I would recommend Westchase Elementary.
Submitted by other on January 04, 2017

My son attends 3rd grade, and he has been at Westchase since Kindergarten. The principal is great, but I agree that the Vice Prinicipal was not suited for the job. She lacked the maturity to deal with parents. She is no longer with the school, and I am excited to see how the dynamics change going forward. Overall, this is consistently one of top schools in Tampa, and I am proud to have my son attend there.
Submitted by parent on August 18, 2016

My child has had the misfortune of entering school at the same time it hired a new principle and pretty sure VP. Then she got a a teacher in her second year for grade K and a teacher in her first year in 1st grade...who got pregnant and married at the same time. My daughter had her own challenges and ultimately we found her suspended after an incident where the VP suggested my daughter was a threat to the baby...utterly absurd! Ironically, I'd requested my daughter be moved during winter break and the entire 'team' said this inexperienced teacher was 'hand picked' for my kid. A teacher they had never observed or had at the school previously, she was moved after the 'suspenion'. I don't think the VP has any ability to educate or manage parents, she's rude and confrontational in email...but won't say a thing if you see her in the hall, or at a meeting about your kid. Only person listening to her is Mr. Holly, who if he took back control does seem to be a decent guy with a good head on his shoulders. The VP NEEDS TO BE FIRED. This year I'm hopeful, 2nd grade, experienced teacher...fingers crossed. I do think the schools good relative to what's available...however that isn't saying much.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2014

Excellent school. This is my child's 3rd year at this school. The teachers are caring and helpful. I like that the school is open to parents. Mr. Holly is very kind and personable, however the assistant principal is unfriendly and not at all helpful. Overall, I am very happy with the progress my daughter is making at this school.
Submitted by parent on September 30, 2014

Fabulous school, outstanding administration, dedicated teachers and staff!!!! Westchase is a wonderful school where children's individual needs are always taken into account every day. The assistant principal knows every student by name and always goes out of her way to talk to and get to know students and their families. She is without a doubt one of the most caring and supportive school leaders a school could have. I have had children at Westchase for eight years and with my oldest now in middle school I can t express how grateful I am for the education they received at Westchase. My oldest was a struggling reader in the 1st grade and with the supports and education she received throughout her years at Westchase she is thriving academically and made straight A s throughout her entire 6th grade year! I moved to the area years ago so that my children could attend this Elementary school and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made!
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2014

School is quite good! Only negative comment is that teachers must be intimated by parents or teachers have no training in child bullying at this school!
Submitted by parent on April 30, 2014

My son is going to Kindergarten and I am so happy with the school . Ms.Coney is his teacher and I saw him improve both in Academic and Social skills through out the year.. I would highly recommend this school
Submitted by parent on April 04, 2014

My child is in Kindergarten, the teacher is great, if my child is sick I cannot convince her to stay home, she WANTS to go to school in the morning...!
Submitted by parent on December 29, 2013

I agree with the previous reviewer. The "non-working mothers" are becoming a problem. They are very territorial and clicky, and they love to think they run the place. Why administration allows certain parents such privilege and control it beyond me. The new principal seems good, the vice principal on the other hand has always been a nightmare. She is the one that needed replacing in my opinion. This school has some wonderful teachers, but some are very rude to parents and children. The aid in the library is by far the worst, the things I have seen her say and do to children is just appalling. How she has maintained a position of authority with such maltreatment of students really leaves me questioning the integrity of the school (this is our last year). Other then that, and the entire school focusing on nothing but "test scores" while leaving out vital information the children should be learning, the school is "alright" at best. It's clean, and filled with involved affluent parents always ready to "one up" each other. I will say, I have never seen any bullying between the kids (it's not tolerated), it's just between parents!
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2013

Excellent school, 5th grade teachers are very good, love this school and teachers. My son is happy, good grades, no complains, I'm happy...
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2013

Westchase Elementary is an excellent school - the best in my opinion. The teachers and administrative staff go above and beyond for their students. We have had experience with 2 local private schools and I can honestly say that the public school education at Westchase is significantly better than the private school education we have experienced. The curriculum is challenging and the teachers are experienced to teach the children in a fun way and the resources that they have are incomparable to private schools. The library is great, computer programs are wonderful, after school enrichment programs are excellent...not enough space to say how much we LOVE Westchase Elementary school.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2013

The principal is kind and caring. The teachers are excellent and helpful with the kids and seem to be really invested in their future. The only one really negative thing about this school is that there is one front desk staff (short hair, salt & pepper) who signs you in when your child is late or are there to attend an activity. She's not friendly at all, & is actually rude up to the point of discriminating! I've seen her all smiles with one parent, chit chatting then easily let him go without signing him in when he said he left his driver's license in the car. Then came the next parent and she snaps at her, a young mother who was carrying a crying, sick-looking baby in one arm and another child in tow, because she didn't have her driver's license with her. She raised her voice at her and forced her to get her driver's license otherwise she would not sign in her child. What a hypocrite! Then she snaps at me too because the reader couldn't read my card right. Mr. Weaver, you've already heard other parents complain, she should not be at front desk. No matter how good you and your teachers are, she still gives the school a bad name.