Joseph A. Whelan School

Don't send your kids here just don't. When I was in the fifth grade my teacher left to go help his wife out with their new baby. For two weeks we got some packets that we worked on but then we just stop receiving them. This went on for another 2 months and nobody really cared. We played games on our computers all day and weren't learning a thing. The principal did not care about the students and when they would tell her that they were getting bullied she wouldn't care. There are some good teachers but the majority of them don't know how to teach and don't care about their students. When I left this school and went on to middle school I saw a major change in academics and I was actually learning stuff and even managed to get into Classical High School. This school is a joke please don't send your kids here.

This school is AMAZING! It is a hidden gem. Very close to the East Side/Oak Hill area. The teachers are fantastic and the school felt like family to us. We were so sad to leave! My children attended preschool and kindergarten here and left well prepared for first grade. We just wish they had a full elementary school so we wouldn't have to leave!One of the things we loved most about the school was all of families from different backgrounds and cultures. They hold a multicultural potluck each year which is so much fun! You cannot go wrong with Smithfield Ave. It is a nurturing environment that will challenge your child to grow emotionally and educationally. A truly amazing school!!

We sent our children to one of the pricier private school options on the East Side, but we are so glad that we moved them to HBS! At a third the cost, the education is just as good, the classes are diverse, the students are kind-hearted and engaged, the teachers are smart and attentive, and the parent community is warm and welcoming. HBS has been educating Rhode Islanders for something like 125 years, and doing a phenomenal job at it.