Westbriar Elementary School

Reviews

• Submitted by parent on June 20, 2024
  I was very impressed with the academics at the school. The teacher engagement was good. Our son needed help and the level of support we received was amazing. The school has programs to help kids achieve academic success and emotionally and mentally support. We are sad to move away and would recommend Westbriar!
• Submitted by parent on October 06, 2023
  My child has been a part of Westbriar Elementary since their kindergarten days. Initially, we had wonderful experiences with the teachers. However, since the onset of Covid and some changes in administration, we've noticed a decline in the school's overall culture. My child often seeks help to address issues with their peers, but it seems like they're encouraged to find solutions on their own, and the school's support appears to be more about self-defense than genuine care for the children. Some teacher behaviors have been concerning, and I'm surprised to see certain individuals still working at the school without any apparent disciplinary actions.We really miss Mr. Sims-Smith, our former VP, who had a positive impact on our experience. There have also been reports of racism involving some children, and it's disheartening to hear about this issue persisting. Some of the school patrols come across as bullies rather than supportive figures.Since the pandemic, my once-outgoing child has developed severe anxiety, and we're slowly discovering the various ways in which the school environment may be contributing to it. Our simple request is for the school to prioritize the well-being of the children, address abusive behavior by teachers towards students, and consider hiring counselors who can provide genuine counseling support.
• Submitted by parent on June 24, 2023
  My kid is in the full time AAP program. He likes his school. All teachers that he had were very nice. When he was in the 3rd grade, he complained about another boy bothering him. I emailed his teacher and she treated seriously by having separate conversions with each kids and the parents. The problem was solved since then. I also observed that the two boys actually got along afterwards.
• Submitted by parent on September 28, 2022
  I like dis school. And i'm in this school
• Submitted by parent on May 14, 2022
  Have three children that are currently at or have graduated from Westbriar. During our time at the school WES has had two principals and at least two "temps" during transitions. Ms. Tam (Principal) and Asst Principal Simms-Smith have both been beyond responsive, attentive, solution oriented, and high-touch in every instance I have reached out to them. This goes not only for this year where everyone is having to continuously pivot, but also on other occasions. I have not had much direct contact yet with Asst Principal Butzer. Ms. Tam has worked with me in a way that meets my children's needs and while not giving in to every whim of mine, allowing her to be an advocate for her staff as well. If I have asked for something that runs counter to her role as a people-manager, she has told me why she is unable to give in to my request. And has also offered alternatives. She has done so professionally, and with heart. I know she has nothing but the best interest of our children at heart. Of this, I have absolutely no doubt. With three children, we’ve had a variety of teachers. However, I’ve found that with just enough parental involvement, which could be as minimal as serving as a classroom parent, I’ve had enough access to the teacher and school administrators to be advocate for my child as needed. We love Westbriar and the community. The diverse student body is one of the biggest pluses and I highly recommend it!
• Submitted by parent on March 02, 2022
  I am not complaining about the managers, they are well-intentioned. However, my problems have not been resolved in any way. I can't comment on the teachers in general, but our child's teacher was extremely bad. An inexperienced teacher who makes discrimination and unnecessary punishment should not be a kindergarden teacher.
• Submitted by parent on June 28, 2020
  I rate this school ten from ten
• Submitted by parent on December 12, 2019
  As for diversity, they have a lot of new students from Korea, India, and Middle East. And a lot of ESL students. It has been a year here and I have a feeling that teachers at this school seem to be overwhelmed by a lot of school work, which makes sense as the number of the student in one class is reaching almost 30 without any assistant teachers like other schools have. Location is good, but during the pick-up time, it is too much crowded causing traffic in the neighborhood.
• Submitted by parent on November 12, 2019
  It has been great so far. Our daughter loves her teachers and her school. She has been developing since day one!
• Submitted by parent on June 14, 2019
  My child did well, but in retrospect I wish I had learned to navigate the politics of this school with more savvy, to my child’s advantage. At the 6th grade promotion ceremony, the teachers showed a lot of favoritism in how they chose the awards recipients. Having spent a significant amount of time volunteering at the school, I knew most of the children in my child’s grade. The children who received the bulk of the awards weren’t outstanding in any particular way but were good at behaving, conforming, and engendering themselves to the teachers. It was a celebration of “who’s the teacher’s pet!?” Really disappointing for children who maybe “different” in the eyes of teachers and administration, or those who may challenge accepted norms, or have “big” personalities. If your child isn’t a conformist, this probably isn’t the right school for them. And, while the school is ethnically, racially and religiously very diverse, based on the awards recipients there seemed to be a concerted effort to exclude 1 particular ethnic group, which comprises a high-performing Group of students. It was pretty stark!!!
• Submitted by parent on July 15, 2018
  I would rate this school a 5 out of 5. The PTA is incredibly involved, the teachers care, and the administration is very supportive of the staff and students alike. The students perform well and are well-balanced children both socially and academically. The parents community is involved.
• Submitted by other on March 13, 2018
  louise archer is so much better, i loved it a lot more than westbriar
• Submitted by other on April 15, 2017
  Amazing school. My daughter is in the AAP program at Westbriar. The program is challenging and there is more homework than my daughter would like but I can tell she is learning and growing. The kids, teachers and other parents are all wonderful.
• Submitted by parent on June 04, 2016
  I moved here based on your ranking of this school. It is an awful school. The principal is an absolute disrespectful horrible person, instructing staff to call parents by their first names. Literally every single parent I spoke to has had awful experiences with both Pilson and individual teachers. I am actually moving a year after I got here, just to have peace of mind for my child, and am not the only moving to get to a decent school. . Sorry but your website has no legitimacy in its rankings. You are doing no real research at all. Im disgusted by and more so by Westbriar. Dot take my word for it. Ask any random parent who isn't on the PTA. Note: the good reviews are old. Pilson is new. She came after the reviews.
• Submitted by parent on May 15, 2015
  I've had two children attend school here and both, sadly and to my surprise, have had negative experiences. While some teachers are excellent, there is great inconsistency across grades. With the new principal, The school recently became a "center" for AAP. While great for the school's wallet and reputation, I question whether it will benefit the community and the students it's supposed to serve. What was once a community school has now turned into a huge center (think Louise Archer version 2.0). I am very disappointed with the experiences we as a family have had here. The administration and teachers are non-responsive and there is a lack of transparency and communication from teachers to parents.
• Submitted by parent on September 30, 2014
  This school is the best, my three kids all love it and excel both academically and socially. the staff at westbriar is very nice and kids are encouraged to respect and care for one another. it is a safe , sanitary, and positive environment in a great neighborhood.
• Submitted by parent on January 14, 2014
  What a wonderful neighborhood school! I have had 3 children attend Westbriar, and I have loved just about every minute of it. Some years I have been actively involved and other years I have stayed on the sidelines. Either way, I know that my kids have been well cared for. It is evident in the way the teachers smile at the kids, encourage them when they struggle, praise them when they achieve, and correct them when they err. The principal is a pillar of strength as she should be in a growing community. Westbriar will always hold a special place in my heart even when my kids are grown and finding their places in the world.
• Submitted by parent on December 18, 2013
  This school is very concerned about testing not so concerned about children's social development. If you have a robot child this is where he or she needs to enroll. We all know that children are not robots.
• Submitted by parent on February 07, 2013
  This school has turned our life around. I spent a year researching Vienna schools for my eldest son, who has Aspergers and ADHD and is in 3rd grade this year. He is a twice exceptional learner, meaning he is highly gifted as well as having learning disabilities. We moved here before 2nd grade for this school and have not been disappointed. The special Ed services are amazing, as well as the overall curriculum in both general Ed and gifted. We came into the Fairfax system already with an IEP, so I cannot speak to the initial placement and eval services, but I will say that their attention to crafting high quality IEPs and following through is amazing. This is the first school where my son has had friends and is truly cared for by all teachers and the administration. The leadership is strong, emphasizing helping ALL children, regardless of ability. It is a very diverse school and community, with many countries represented due to diplomatic and State dept postings. We are so excited to send my younger son in two years, and we are confident he will be treated with the same respect that they have given our elder son.
• Submitted by parent on August 19, 2012
  I cannot stress enough that if your child has any need for special education services, do NOT enroll him/her in this school. They are soley focused on testing achievements, which of course is very important but this school is not ideal for a child that is not neurotypical. After attending this school for 9 months my child's spirit was broken. She struggles socially and after the cold treatment she received from the General Ed teacher she fell into a depressed state, which is outrageous for a 2nd grader. I reached out to the school psychologist for guidance as it was painfully obvious that my child was not herself, and was told she could not help me. Apparently her main focus was the initial testing of students and not counseling in any way. The Special Ed teacher was flippant to say the least. An IEP was put in place and they had many goals written out for her but no strategies in place to help her achieve them. It was bad enough that we moved out of the district before the school year ended. After the first day at her new school she was completely back to her old self. Unless your child is a robot, I would highly recommend you look elsewhere for his or her education.

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