Don Whitt Elementary School

The teachers are dedicated and truly care about my daughter’s growth and performance. They pay attention to each child individually and keep them engaged and encouraged. My daughter loves the school and I can tell it’s because of the faculty and other students.

We started this school with high hopes from some positive reviews. But our experience has not been the same. When we have had questions, our teacher answers them and is attentive. However, when I have inquired answers from principal or counselors, my concerns are dismissed and not acknowledged. Emails go unanswered. There is a very disruptive child in my daughters class. The librarian cancels library 3-4 times so that class does not get to go to library because of this child's behavior. They have a few teachers on staff that are working towards degrees but have not finished their bachelors yet which I think should not be allowed. In my opinion, there is a lack of leadership on this campus and GISD should be behooved to shake up this campus a bit. But they will not. So avoid due to administration and lack of leadership at the top.

My family has been with this school in the Montessori program for five years now, and I recommend it. I can't speak for the traditional half of the school, but we LOVE the Montessori! The teachers are incredible; engaging, understanding, inspiring. Love, love, love, the Montessori. There's very little/no homework because of the MOntessori method. Ocassionally depending on the teacher you'll have "read 20 min a day" type of homework, or a child may be asked to finish some work over the weekend that they hadn't finished during school hours that week. But overall homework is minimal, hallelujah. The campus is hyper-safe. The admin are VERY careful with outsiders, to the point they don't allow afterschool clubs/sports and they don't allow people during the day to eat lunch with their child/visit classrooms/be a "room parent" and help teachers, etc, unless you are on the PTA board, because they are so concerned with keeping the school safe. I love the commitment to safety, but I do wish there were clubs/sports opportunities for the kids. Surely we could find a happy medium. Maybe a parent who was willing to be fingerprinted/background checked could coach? I would love a low-pressure sport or club opportunity. The admin overall is great, and if you are diligent about getting to know them/helping the campus, they are very easy to work with. If the principal doesn't know you, it is harder to work with her and get things done. The Principal is a little grumpy. I've been around her for five years, and I've never had a particularly warm experience with her. I've overheard her speaking harshly to kids. The Vice principal and other office staff are balanced in how they interact with kids. Sometimes warm, sometimes stern; normal. The nurse is particularly warm and inclusive. We've absolutely ADORED all the specials teachers and staff! Overall great school and we've loved our experience. We just wish there were clubs ;)

This school has been a wonderful experience for my child and for our family. From the very beginning, the school has provided the support he needed as a non-fluent English speaker. He has been consistently supported in building his English vocabulary day by day, and we have seen real progress since he started.The teachers and staff have been attentive and thoughtful in making sure he feels confident, included, and encouraged. He feels comfortable participating in classroom activities and has felt welcomed not only by his classmates, but also by students from other classes.The teachers are caring, affectionate, and truly dedicated to their students’ academic and emotional growth. Communication with families is clear, and the school environment is safe, inclusive, and welcoming.We are very grateful for the support our child has received and highly recommend this school to other families.

We are so thankful for our experience at Firewheel Christian Academy. With two children enrolled, we’ve experienced firsthand the nurturing environment and strong sense of community the school provides.The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and rooted in strong Christian values. The education is excellent, and the teachers are truly invested in each child’s academic, spiritual, and emotional growth. Our children are thriving — not only in their learning, but in their confidence and character as well.What makes FCA so special is the family feel. As parents, we feel supported, and our children feel known and valued. We are incredibly grateful to be part of this community.