Hattie B Stokes Elementary School

I am so impressed with the quality of this school. Because of a huge life change last year, my daughter had to be in a few schools in a very short amount of time. None of them have had the amount of communication and family involvement that I've seen at HBS. The principal is great at getting on the child's level and really connecting with them. Their "extra" programs like music, art, pe, and computers are way above another, more highly rated school she attended in this county. Her first grade teacher (who is new this year, I've been told) has engaged my child in a where she loves math and is obsessed with reading, a subject where she had previously been struggling. The family nights, the food pantry, newsletters, breakfast in the classroom for the students... Just the outreach to the families in the community is a really positive thing to me, and I can say we are proud to be members of the HBS family!

My daughters attend Stokes. Thankfully, this will be their last year. The school is a joke - the principal runs a completely chaotic school. I do not recommend this school.

Hattie B. Stokes Elementary is a school that has the child's well being physically and academically in the forefront. This school was the first in the corporation to begin feeding every child breakfast every morning, no matter if you are free and reduced or not. Being a school with a high level of F/R lunches, the leadership there knew children were coming to school hungry and not ready to begin their day. Giving all kids breakfast was a great idea. The principal didn't stop there. She knew the families of Stokes had other burdens and began a food pantry for any family whose child attends Stokes. Academically students are receiving the best teaching strategies Lebanon has to offer. Title I assistance and an after school tutoring program are also ways for children to get extra help. Hattie B. Stokes is a school whose teachers, staff, and administration care deeply about their students and families.

This school is horrible. My son attends 2nd grade and brings home D's and F's because his teacher doesn't care to do her job properly. I think its the norm for teachers to give up the responsibility to do their job to the parents because teachers are getting lazy. My husband and I work with him every night on math and we read together as well. He gets every part of it then brings home these horrible grades..I will do what I can to help my child at home but i refuse to follow him to school and do the job this teacher is being payed to do out of MY paycheck. A student's grade is greatly reflected by the teachers ability to incorporate enthusiasm and comprehension of the curriculum in the classroom. Beth Westerfield is the worst 2nd grade teacher I have come across at this school and I had been warned by other parents about her specifically prior. My son made 42 100% papers and the other 36 were B's or below, I can deal with that but what i cant deal with is the fact that she ONLY records the bad grades. Its sad that she does this to punish children who talk in class. She will leave notes on Skyward stating that your kid is failing the whole semester because of 1 tardy. I'm disgusted!

This school has really gone down hill. They do not have the concern for the students and their well being anymore. They do not work closely with the ones that really need the help the most. They just push them aside as troubled children and it is a shame they do not try to help those students that need it the most. They do not have the concern for their safety and health while at school anymore with only having nursing staff 1/2 days too. Truly a shame for the future of the kids.