Wood Acres Elementary School

Posted: March 21, 2026

Since Dr. Zaks joined as principal in 2022, the school has been amazing for my child, who has special education needs. The teachers are great, as is the entire administration. There is plenty of family involvement and a very active PTA. The school provides a nurturing and supportive environment where students feel valued and encouraged to succeed.

Posted: March 21, 2026

Posted: March 21, 2026

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Posted: April 3, 2025

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Posted: April 3, 2025

I have two kids at Wood Acres and it has been a great experience for them. Teachers and school leadership have been very engaged. Dr. Zacks has been a great principal. The Bar-T program has been great for my family as well. It has given us more flexibility in our jobs and it has allowed to kids to spend more time making friends and letting them be kids.

Posted: August 23, 2024

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Posted: August 23, 2024

Most of these comments are outdated since there is now new leadership team. We have had a fantastic experience with Wood Acres. The teachers are amazing and really care about every student. The PTA is active and does wonderful community events. Leadership communicates effectively.

Posted: January 18, 2022

Implementation of special education services is a problem.

Posted: January 18, 2022

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Posted: August 25, 2020

The principal seems to exist only to pass messages from "Central Administration" on and doesn't appear to have any interest in making things work. Her tendency to send unsigned emails from no-reply accounts is condescending.

Posted: August 25, 2020

Posted: August 25, 2020

Posted: August 25, 2020

This is a school in free-fall. Part of the problem is just MCPS, but an indifferent leadership team is smothering the school's potential.

Posted: August 25, 2020

Posted: August 25, 2020

Online kindergarten? C'mon. Too much screen time. The school could have erected tents for that age but the administration isn't creative enough and simply doesn't care about students.

Posted: August 25, 2020

There are certain things the school cannot do when it refuses to allow teachers and students to meet in person. Character development is solely foisted to the parents.

Posted: March 31, 2020

Generally, my kids have succeeded at Wood Acres. This is a good school with a tired, disengaged leadership--especially compared to neighboring MCPS elementary schools.

Posted: March 31, 2020

The school went from too much busy work to absolutely zero homework. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for this policy.

Posted: March 31, 2020

Teachers are very good and generally responsive.

Posted: March 31, 2020

Posted: March 31, 2020

The principal is officious and stand-offish. She sends multiple emails but sends them in such a way that no responses are possible. Many emails simply come from the school with no signature added to also dissuade any response or conversation about various pronouncements.

Posted: March 31, 2020

The school appears more intent on forcing students to a lowest common denominator than to help students excel .

Posted: March 31, 2020

The school conflates bullying with demands that no opinions can be criticized. Blanket affirmation of opinions when wrong in an effort to maintain self-esteem means that there can be no productive, educational debates in the upper grades.

Posted: September 5, 2019

Posted: September 5, 2019

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Posted: September 5, 2019

My child had the worst teacher for second grade. She traumatized my kid and does not want to attend school anymore. The principal never followed up nor show any interest in solving the matter. It seems she's more focused on being traffic officer than a real principal.

Posted: May 28, 2019

Too much busy work at too young an age.

Posted: May 28, 2019

Teachers are a bit overworked given high class size. Unless your kid is a self-advocator, there will be problems

Posted: May 28, 2019

Posted: May 28, 2019

Default position of school leadership toward parents is adversarial, which is inappropriate for an elementary school.

Posted: May 28, 2019

Posted: May 28, 2019

Posted: May 28, 2019

The school is okay, but could be much better given the resources available. Woodacres may be coasting on its reputation a bit and compensating for lackluster leadership with the fact that the demographic works actively with their kids outside of school.

Posted: February 20, 2018

My daughter has bee here since Kindergarten .. And it has been an amazing experience!

Posted: February 20, 2018

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Posted: February 9, 2018

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Posted: February 9, 2018

Lack of leadership at the highest level which impacts on the rest of the staff. Heavily relies on the fact that the students have engaged parents and will do well on test scores with minimal support from teachers. If you are buying into the neighborhood plan for a private school or you will be disappointed.

Posted: December 8, 2017

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Posted: December 8, 2017

Had a horrible experience here, on the autism spectrum and was given no support. Instead of trying to help me, they removed my recess and lunch with other students. I was bullied by multiple other students throughout my years there, while the faculty members turned a blind eye, trying to sweep it under the rug. This school is a waste of money due to the horrid staff.

Posted: June 26, 2014

We just completed third year at Wood Acres. Our proud soon to be 3rd grader has done extremely well with support of each one of her teachers. Her reading level is far above the average, her math skills also exceed state averages. As a parent I found that to be the ultimate quality of the teachers and management of Wood Acres. Communication with teachers and the principal has been very effective. A number of fun and educational events organized by the PTA throughout the year are always well organized and attended. The building is beautiful and spatious and outdoor space for kids to enjoy during recess is huge. The school is an integral part of our neighborhood and we as parents, as well as our daughter are very happy in Wood Acres.

Posted: June 22, 2014

Outstanding community support. Highly unique in-house planetarium, with full curriculum built around it. Excellent leadership, and caring teachers.

Posted: June 22, 2014

Don't believe the reviews. This school is awful. Teachers are hit or miss, and the principal is not engaged. I didn't realize how awful this school was until I moved out of state and my kids started attending a *truly* great school where the teachers and administrators encourage children to attend after-school events (unlike Wood Acres, where student attendance is prohibited). The only reason for the great reviews here is because the property values in this neighborhood are tied to the myth that this school is great. If you're considering moving into this neighborhood for the quality of the school, be forewarned.

Posted: June 22, 2014

Wood Acres Elementary School is fabulous. The community of kids, teachers, and parents is wonderful. I cannot conceive of a better place to start my child's educaton.

Posted: June 22, 2014

WA is a great school with terrific facilities and an active parent-teacher-student community. Set in a quiet neighborhood, every morning you can see parents walking their kids to school through the neighborhood, greeting fellow students and parents along the way. Every good school in this area has to manage with some level of oversubscription (likely because the better the school, the more people flock to that cluster to send their kids there). WA is no exception, but that doesn't change our view that it's truly a great school and a big part of the reason we chose to be in this district.

Posted: June 20, 2014

This school is one of the most exceptional elementary schools in the state. There's always a reason a school is overcrowded, in this case it's because so many people want their kids to go there. The addition being added later this year will alleviate the issue.

Posted: February 14, 2014

Woodacres Elementary school is an excellent school with capable and helping teachers and a strong and sincere principal Mrs Sharban. This school has a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The new students never feel as this is there first week or first month. The teachers know how to help there students and get the best out of them . The way kids participate in every project in the class or in the community is remarkable. I am amazed why it has a rating of 8 from great school , according to me it is the best school of the Montgomery County.

Posted: September 2, 2012

Wood Acres' teachers are terrific, and it is a generally happy place for kids. But I agree with the other reviewer who said kids get almost no supervision at recess, and the administration is disengaged about this problem.

Posted: March 8, 2012

The school has great facilities and very involved parents, but is lacking on a many many qualities that matter for a grade school. Teachers are overwhelmed with large class sizes and have no additional support to cater to any above average bright children. Facilities are nice, but kids are left alone to find their way, including NO supervision at recess or lunch unless there are parent volunteers. School administration appears completely disengaged. Big disappointment.