Sully Plantation

We have grown to love the staffing here (from teachers, PTA staff and cafeteria staff!) We truly feel they care for the students and am excited for the renovations. The PTA here is also amazing and have created the community feel. Teachers and staffing have an easy way to communicate with parents so that has been a helpful tool to stay informed with what's going on with our children.

This school severely traumatized me. The teachers watched me get bullied in front of their faces and did NOTHING about it. I got cruel treatment and punishments from teachers and they would constantly accuse kids of lying for no reason other than to give out unnecessary punishments. I had perfect grades while going here with the cost of my mental health declining 1-4th grade. 5-6 grade teachers were amazing.

Our military family has had an outstanding experience at GBW. Principal Blount is a dedicated professional, whose true passion is to see students excel both, academically and emotionally. He is approachable and dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming environment where all students have the opportunity to succeed. The AAP teachers our daughters had for the three years we were there, were exceptionally kind, motivating, yet patient with our girls. They communicated well with families and encouraged a love of learning for their students. Mrs. Strohl and Mr. Smith have made a lasting and positive impact in our children’s lives. The front office staff, nurse and custodians truly care for the safety and well-being for all the students under their charge. The PTA is incredibly active and plays an important role in building a strong sense of community. We will miss you all. Thank you!

My family LOVES Oak Hill Elementary! It is the centerpiece of the Oak Hill community. The teachers and auxiliary staff care so much about the students while many of the teachers have decades of experience. You will be more than happy sending your kids to Oak Hill Elementary!

Former parent. We lasted one year. I do not recommend the school.The spiritual climate of St. Veronica is ill. A question or clarification on school policy with the office is labeled non-compliance and met with a threat of retaliation against children. Teachers are fearful to challenge anything the office says even when the office isn't aligned with diocesan-approved policy. Just walking into the school a parent is met with hostility; the greeting from the staff isn't, "How can I help you?" but rather, "Why are you here?" Office staff will lie about interactions with parents; what could be more unchristian than that. Principal and pastor take no action to stop this.If you are looking for a healthy spiritual climate, recognition of children as human beings worthy of respect, parents welcomed in the classroom, and respectful, consistent communication, you will be disappointed. My kids lost their developing faith in this school. The hostile micromanagement of children is antithetical to the Catholic view of the child as a whole person. While instilling fear and shame can appear to work on the surface, they do not cultivate authentic moral virtue. That the Church's primary message is one of JOY is lost in the teaching of the faith at this school.Overall - the school relies heavily on technology (for ease of grading, which is just lazy), does not communicate well with parents, does not have an open forum for feedback, follows FCPS for weather closures (even when its own lot has been clear for many days) by choice (diocese does not require this), does not welcome volunteers, has minimal outdoor time (15 min/day), and has poor academics. Don't be deceived by the big, green campus; the kids aren't allowed to play in the green space during recess. They are often restricted to the blacktop instead, aren't allowed to climb trees, run fast, pick up sticks, or be normal kids. Staff these enforce rules by yelling at the kids constantly.My children did not make much academic progress; one began the year ahead of grade level and lost ground, finishing far below. My 6th grader was assigned one book the entire year. Extremely flat curriculum; minimal out-of-classroom experiences. We are on the edge of DC with hundreds of opportunities to bring education to life, and the school office only allows 2 trips per year. Parents' ideas to bring experiences to classrooms are typically not allowed by the school office. Rote memorization is the preferred learning method.