Northlake Elementary School

The school counselor and nurse are wonderful.As far as family engagement goes, the school mainly welcomes parents for raising funds and volunteering. Some teachers welcome parent involvement in your child's education. But others do not respond to emails, and worse, the principal almost never responds to emails. My child was there for 6 years and I probably sent less than 5 emails over the years. Between my two children, having attended four Garland ISD schools, this is the only school with principals that ignored almost all attempts from me to communicate with them (whether it was a concern or praise). The one time my concern was not ignored was when my child's bullying on the bus was reported to the district instead of just the school.Like most schools, some of the teachers are amazing, but some seem like they are there for a paycheck and pension. The best part of this school is that it is a magnet for kids who are found to be gifted through certain tests. If you have any experience with these kids, you realize that even though people may think they have it easy, many of these kids have personalities that other kids find socially awkward. It is wonderful that there is a magnet where these kids have an opportunity to work with other kids that may have similar ways of learning and socializing.

Weaver is a great neighborhood school that is lead by caring and responsive staff. Every time I am there, I am welcomed warmly by the office staff. The principal is very involved and responsive and the teachers are caring and dedicated to students. Even though I am sure things have been tough for teachers over the last couple of years, I always see students and staff smiling at dismissal. I have had nothing but positive experiences at Weaver!

Back Elementary has been a disappointing experience in many ways. The atmosphere is far from welcoming, primarily due to the principal's questionable leadership style. Rather than fostering a supportive environment for both students and staff, the principal often resorts to bullying tactics. This creates a culture of fear rather than encouragement, making it difficult for teachers to thrive and for students to feel safe and valued.The lack of communication and support from the administration is glaring. Instead of addressing concerns, the principal seems to dismiss them, which only adds to the frustration. It's disheartening to see how detrimental this leadership is to the school's morale and overall learning environment.