Bearden Elementary School

This school always came with problems instead of providing solutions. My child was diagnosed with a disorder and they failed to accommodate her. They resorted to bullying her and picking with my child. I was Harassed with constant DCS calls from this school multiple times and overall her academics were poor at this school. My child is now at a different school and a major change in academics and emotional support has allowed her to to thrive. I would not recommend this school.

My child just started third grade at West Hills School for the 2025–2026 school year, and I already feel incredibly grateful for Miss Nicole Wells. Even though it’s only been a week, it’s clear how well she knows her students. She takes the time to understand each child individually, pays close attention in class, and reaches out to parents when needed.Miss Wells keeps us informed about our children’s progress or areas that may need extra attention at home. She also shares helpful tips, creative ideas, and hands-on strategies that really make learning fun and effective. I especially appreciate that she assigns homework as extra practice—I believe in homework as a way to reinforce learning, and it’s great to see a teacher who shares that mindset.Miss Wells is clearly passionate, thoughtful, and committed to her students’ success. She’s an awesome teacher and truly deserves to be recognized!

We enrolled our daughter at Knoxville Montessori when we saw that she was not establishing the self-direction that we had learned in 4th-5th grade back when we were in public school. It just didn’t seem to be getting taught in public elementary school anymore, at least not to the level that our daughter needed. We enrolled our daughter at KMS specifically seeking the self-direction that Montessori schools are so well-known for. Within the first month, we saw her thrive and, over time, her confidence soared back to how it had been before her experience in public elementary school's early years. Her self-image was restored, and she was praised for the strong moral, compassionate character that she possesses. We love that this was so strongly encouraged at KMS. Her curiosity for nature and science was nourished with encouragement to do her own, independent reports that she regularly and completely dove into. Her final report in fifth grade was a 26-page, typed report on the topic that she selected, "Nature in Tennessee." The requirement was 10 pages! She was so proud to exercise leadership skills in various projects and assignments the students go through to teach real world experiences. She always relished "Forest Fridays" where the kids go a monthly hike and said one of her favorite memories at KMS was doing a sunrise hike with her teacher at a two-day camp they had at a local state park. One of her last notable learning experiences was being able to recite every bone in the body, which she was so proud to be one of the first in her class to learn within about a few weeks.Something unexpected yet noteworthy is that we saw her getting sick much less often than she did in public elementary school.She's now in middle school in Knox County Schools and we already see the difference KMS has made! Her leadership skills are honed and the visual and tangible lessons KMS gave such as the visual block models that explain complex math formulas have set her up for the tools she needed to thrive. She comes home everyday, cracks open her school computer, and manages her homework assignments herself without our prompting. This never would have happened had she not gone to KMS! The school provided exactly what we were looking for. More importantly, she gained tools that were exactly what our daughter needed to thrive not only in school, but that she will carry into her adult life!We will be forever grateful!

As a parent, I can’t speak highly enough about West Hills Baptist Preschool and Kindergarten. From the very start, the focus on learning to read and fostering a genuine love of learning has been wonderful to see, especially as I’ve watched my daughter grow in confidence and curiosity. The small class sizes make a real difference. She is truly known, supported, and encouraged every day. The love and care that radiate from the teachers and staff is noticeable the moment you walk through the doors, and it’s clear in how happy and eager she is to learn.Our family has also experienced the lasting impact of this program through our son, who previously attended the same kindergarten and continues to benefit from that strong foundation in elementary school. Watching both of our children flourish academically, socially, and emotionally in such a caring environment has been a real blessing. We are deeply grateful for the lifelong skills, love of learning, and solid foundation both of our children have gained through their time at West Hills Baptist Preschool and Kindergarten.

I do not think this school is a good choice for any child. All of the staff is incredibly rude. The elementary is alright but once my son was in middle school he hated it and complained everyday. If you are not catholic you are discriminated against everyday and they do not respect other religions here. The policy is very strict and does not make any sense. Do NOT send your kids here because it will be a horrible experience.