Westfield Intermediate School

We left the district because of the lack of follow through with the faculty and administration. It was not a college prep environment because there was a lack of interest in quality preparation for students with intentions of going to college. I felt it was very artificial and all hype. There is no collaboration with parents and no interest in getting their honest feedback. The survey is a farce, in my opinion. Based on the parents that I have talked to, they are extremely dissatisfied.

This was one of the worst schools I have ever had my children attend. My experience with the teachers and administrators was horrendous. The classrooms were disruptive and some of the teachers were abusive because they put down their students and screamed. Parents complained about these teachers but nothing has been done. Academically it is inferior to other schools. My sixth grader had show and tell and very little homework. There were NO summer packets or book reports to do over the summer which is one indicator this school is not committed to academic excellence. Foreign language is not offered which is very backwards considering we work in a global market. The only writing that was supposedly done were in journals although I saw only a few pages completed. No term papers, reports, essays...nothing! There were no PowerPoint presentations, oral reports or research projects even remotely similar to what my kids have done at other schools in lower grades! Parents who request placement in a more academic classroom may get thrown in a worse classroom environment, so be careful. Never speak up or you may be subjected to punitive actions and your child will be placed in a nightmarish environment you couldn't imagine.

The principal is all talk and fluff because when he has to demonstrate the school mission with actions, he falls terribly short. Parental input is not taken seriously because they don't have to. They have the tax dollars so if you don't like it, tough. It's one less student. This is why there is no motivation for the school to improve. They will do exactly what they want to do and if you don't like it, you must leave. I don't know if that is why enrollment has dropped. There are numerous families that have left the district because of poor 'customer' relations. If your child will qualify for ALPS and I mean to the letter, the education would be sufficient. The school has turned away many capable students who would thrive in that environment. The fact educators would deny students who desire a better education tells me this district is inferior in every way. They are not educators if they are not providing the best education for each and every student. They are doing a disservice to students who are capable of doing more. If you ask for enrichment, don't expect much unless you want your child to write hello in five different languages on the board. It's such a shame Westfield Intermediate can not deliver a quality education for every student.It's a shame they actually deny this even when parents and kids are shouting from the roof tops that they want more!