Askew Elementary School

Diana Alcebo, the teacher, exhibits concerning behaviors including emotional instability, storming out of meetings, sending hostile emails, and neglecting duties. She unfairly targets students and blocks parents from school updates on social media. Parents should request their child be moved.Principal Alecia McMillian lacks leadership qualities, neglecting resources like the summer lunch program and excluding boys from activities. She fails to address issues such as a fire in the school bathroom and admits to frequent forgetfulness. Her tolerance of employee misconduct and inability to handle issues jeopardize student safety. Her position should be reconsidered for the well-being of the school community.

We wanted to provide a review for any new family ( not from Houston/ outside Memorial) considering this school for their children, specially for people of colour, or hailing from a different country. Our review is personal to our experience at the school and we appreciate may provide a different viewpoint than held by the majority of white families. We joined the school last year arriving as expats from another English speaking country, our child is brown of Asian heritage, was in third grade and was sadly bullied at the school. We raised a complaint but were told that meanness did not equate to bullying and the school assistant principal offered our son counseling at the school. We then learnt from other families of instances of bullying, specially from those of color, different religion. Some were too afraid to raise this publicly, but spoke of it in private. Many had no option to leave the school. We also had comments which we feel were racist made by a class teacher regarding black students our child was seen playing with being a “bad influence”on our child. This was a tipping point for us. We did not get invited to birthday parties, many families at the neighborhood pool would treat us as “invisible” and look past us. We were told by the school this was “normal”. My son was also bullied to give a gift to two boys “from a respectable” doctor family, who refused to invite him to their birthday thereafter. My younger daughter made only one friend, was questioned about her hair colour, was told to go away from a group of girls playing together and her only friend would never come over for play dates to our home. The school is very focused on testing results and lessons are raced through ending in a test. The GT classes are great but at Bendwood and many children we hear want to drop out of the GT program because of bullying/ rough playing at recess there. The school does little to educate its children to be inclusive, open minded or sympathetic. Foul language and hitting, video gaming, showing off about branded shoes seems to be the ethos here. We tried hard, knocked many doors and spoke to teachers. A few families in the neighborhood cared ( mind you also not native to Memorial) and we are thankful for their kindness. After a year we finally left the school for a private school this academic year. We hope this review sheds a light for anyone similarly placed as us, a professional, educated, brown immigrant family.

My girls love going to school! We are greeted by the wonderful staff at carpool with smiling faces both at drop off and pick up. They also share antidotes or interactions they have with our little ones each day. From my first tour five years ago to present day, I knew my granddaughters were in “good hands”. Yorkshire Academy is a place of learning that embraces students as well as their families. Staff members provide a warm, nurturing environment that allows its students to learn, explore, and grow. Students are taught rigorous academic content, as well as a variety of enrichment courses that stretch their minds by exposure. On campus you don’t turn a corner without seeing smiling students that develop a love for learning. I cannot imagine a better place for my granddaughters to prosper!

My daughter had an accident in school, teacher didn’t even notice. She was 3 at the time. When confronted, the teacher told us: well because I didn’t witness the accident, I didn’t inform you because I don’t know the details. So irresponsible. The school has $580 credit in our account. Instead of voluntarily refunding us, they just kept our money and refused refund despite multiple tries to get refund from them. Not student focused, more money focused.