Watkins Elementary School

My child has attended cedarwood alternative for gifted schooling for 2 years now and I hate to move to middle school. He has grown academically so much here he works 3 grade levels ahead. The attention his teacher gives to her students in my opinion is well above standards. The school is a new building and very nice I recommend this school to anyone searching for a good school for their child.I'm very great full for this teacher and this program called eclipse for gifted children.

This school is a joke. The principal has no clue what she's doing and is just a glorified babysitter that I would not hire. My daughter went there for 6 months after moving to Ohio. She was bullied and exposed to things an elementary school student should not be exposed to. My daughter was repeatedly bullied at recess, where the recess monitors told her they would "talk" to the bully. It kept happening. They told my daughter she could sit in the office during recess, I snapped. No way is my kid going to be punished at the actions of others. It was very evident the principal didn't know where to start when I approached her with the bullying, she kept telling me there was nothing she could do if she didn't see it. We preach to our kids to get an adult and that's exactly what my girl did every time and every time there was nothing done. She was getting pushed down (coming home with dirt on her knees) and cussed at with words she didn't even know. The last two months, her class didn't even have a teacher. It was a sub or unfortunately, the principal. They watched movies every day, PG-13 movies at that, with no permission from parents. There was one day where they didn't have anyone to sit with the class so they had a 5th grader watching my daughters class for hours. One day, I had to pick my oldest up early and the office lady told me I would need to go get her because she couldn't leave the office to find her. Idk why she didn't just use the phone but ok. She sent me on with no visitor pass and told me she was outside. I go out there where the principal is surrounded by students, not paying attention & my daughter wasn't out there. So one they don't know where my kid is and two the principal questioned nothing when I walked out there. A student that knew my daughter took me to go find her. We walked around to 5 different classes before we found her. I balled my eyes out when I thought I was going to have to send my kids there again, but we got put into another school with the school choice lottery. Do not send your kids here if you care for their education and mental/physical well-being. It should be shut down.

My children have attended Southwood since 2012. Since we have all developed a wonderful relationship with the teachers, staff, and principal. I can honestly say that the staff genuinely cares for each and every child. They are constantly going above and beyond any and all expectations to help the children and families. My youngest will be attending Southwood next year and to be honest I'm already sad our journey with Southwood will come to an end in a few years.

When I was here in 2009 in 1st grade I witnessed a teacher beating a kid with special needs.