Weatherly Heights Elementary School

There is not enough rigor. When I was a kid I had homework for each subject each school day. That worked out to be approximately 30 pieces of homework per week. On average, I get about 6 worksheets per week for me to sign as a parent. They are doing approximately 1/5 the work I did when I was in grade school. The test scores reflect this. The school is shackled by HCS policies. It seems they are either in testing, having some sort of festival, or having school let out early for whatever reason, sending kids home for allergies, etc. When I was in grade school I started at 8 am and ended at 3pm. They get out 40 minutes earlier. Multiply that by the number of school days in a year and kids are being shorted weeks of schooling. It is like the HCS system doesn't want them to have any time to learn. They don't teach cursive unless there is leftover time. You know what that means. It means it is up to the parents to teach their kids cursive so they can read and write it. In 10 years people will be printing their name to 'sign' a check. They rely too heavily on computers to administrater tests. If the system goes down, laptop is not charged, there is a glitch in the system, etc. You are loosing even more time. They claim computers give their students an edge in learning skills for today's world. However, I don't see them teaching kids to type, Microsoft Office skills, basic internet security, or programming. In reality, the computers are to facilitate the mountain of testing they do. These computers also proven to being a distraction in class. Internet and games are accessible on their computers. Furthermore, There is no foreign language offered. Given how we are living in an increasingly interconnected global workplace this is another shortcoming. Especially in light that the earlier a child learns another language the more fluent they will be. Positive note: I do think that most of the teachers are good. There are even some exceptional teachers there. However the school system provides many obstacles inhibiting teachers from teaching. If a student wants to do well they will require the aid of a supportive and well educated guardian/tutor to place them competitively in today's academic world or even just nation. BTW, AL was ranked near dead last on education. I am appalled by HCS's test scores. They at minimum should offer summer school to all the students that don't meet basic core standards.