Crystal Valley

Honestly, this school has improved a lot since my mother (40 years plus) has gone here. This school receives a lot of bad press because of what the scores were years ago but I know for a fact if you participate, volunteer, get involved and assist with your child at home that your child too will be a light in any school that takes the time to teach child with care, compassion and patience. This school has improved during the year my child attended and I wouldn't trade that experience for nothing in the world. Like all schools there are down falls, the only issue I would like to be addressed in this school are incidents that occur with bystanders, keeping the gate closed to the playground area and notices about any changes that were made during the course of the school year.

Waddell checks every single box and then some. The new administration is incredible & I truly could go on & on, but I'm going to give some examples. My child struggled with attending school because of leaving his comfort place - home. He struggled with this terribly since Kindergarten, and truly it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to navigate in my parenting journey. He attended Waddell since Kindergarten & the old administration truly didn't know how to handle this / what to do about it. Every single day was a physical, mental & emotional fight with him; from K-1st grade. In second grade (starting in 2023), there was a new administration put into place in the school & when I tell you the results were in the pudding, I mean it. 2nd grade started out the same as it was the past years for him, but quickly the principal, his teacher, and the guidance counselor learned my child and his needs. QUICKLY. They learned what would help and how to make him more comfortable. The year went on & they literally set a ROUTINE in place for him, coining a spot in the main corridor "[my child's name]'s bench" for the mornings that were a little more rough - and let me tell you, there were a LOT. They learned how to communicate with him effectively, how to get through to him when he'd shut down. They learned how to push him to be better & when to hold back a little. They really became my village & I couldn't have asked for better. Third grade was an absolute breeze & he not only excelled, but was honored with an incredibly prestigious award because of the hard work he put into changing & truly we couldn't have gotten this far without this school. I would move mountains to have my child attend this school, and I hope the reader of this review finds themselves choosing Waddell for their kids as well. A better elementary school doesn't exist; Waddell will take the cake everytime.