Westwood Junior High: the Math, Science, Leadership Magnet

Posted: May 15, 2026

This school is unfortunately badly run. From the head principal to down to office personnel. The amount of bad energy that is here is ridiculous. This is not conducive to a great environment for a student to be successful. The special education department is not the most helpful unfortunately. They will suspend students who did not do anything wrong. Once in a while when a student does make a mistake they treat them like criminals. Their police officer who is on campus likes to intimate those bothered students. There a lot of better options in the district. West is the better the magnet school. Parkhill and North are better options than this place.

Posted: May 15, 2026

Posted: May 15, 2026

Posted: May 15, 2026

Posted: May 15, 2026

Posted: May 15, 2026

Posted: May 15, 2026

Posted: May 15, 2026

Posted: April 18, 2026

The overview says that Westwood Jr High is a great school due to the AP courses, but I am here to say that isn't quite true. Many students are aggressive and toxic towards each other, showing no manners or kindness that their parents taught them. Both 7th and 8th graders are instigators and have absolutely zero decency/decorum. The teachers can't teach the children in their classroom and complain about how they don't get paid enough for sitting around and being on their phones. The principals are very aggressive, they drag problems from 1 month ago into the conversation with a hoard of students talking as if each of them has a megaphone and the bathrooms are worst than the sewage at Trinity River. The whole entire school is prison, worst than Alcatraz Island.

Posted: April 18, 2026

Posted: April 18, 2026

Posted: April 18, 2026

Posted: April 18, 2026

Posted: April 18, 2026

Posted: April 18, 2026

Posted: April 18, 2026

Posted: September 24, 2024

This school has been a wonderful change from my kid's elementary. This school is more diverse and most of the students treat everyone with kindness and respect. The teachers are amazing and the whole admin staff and principal show that they really care about their students. It's a special place that is welcoming and my kid looks forward to going to school. School doesn't seem to have big cliques with students, kids, and faculty as seen with our elementary so that has been refreshing. The classes can be challenging and there is some homework. My kid travels to this magnet school by bus even though our feeder school is a couple blocks away. Way worth it!

Posted: September 24, 2024

Posted: September 24, 2024

Posted: September 24, 2024

Posted: September 24, 2024

Posted: September 24, 2024

Posted: September 24, 2024

Posted: September 24, 2024

Posted: November 30, 2018

Posted: November 30, 2018

Overall, the teachers were good. My child felt most of them were effective, and enjoyed her classes.

Posted: November 30, 2018

You have to lead by example. Sadly, this principal and the staff do not do that.

Posted: November 30, 2018

Principal is antagonistic to students and parents, and not receptive to community input. She is overly punitive and strict. My A student hated going to school once this principal started. There is not time to use the bathroom. It is a constant struggle. Some stalls were missing doors. Another excellent student I know was given several lunch detentions because he was late to the cafeteria for lunch (with a 4 minute passing period, you have to practically run depending on where you are coming from). During Meet the Teacher, we followed our child's schedule but barely made it from one classroom to the next within 4 minutes. This school is now run like a military academy. This principal needs professional development on latest research/studies as to how to effectively lead with compassion and mutual respect, not through fear. Fear-based leadership never works in the long term.

Posted: November 30, 2018

Posted: November 30, 2018

My child has never had behavior issues, but could not wait to leave and get to high school. High school has been a much better experience for her. Other students from West and North have said their experience was nothing like hers at Westwood.

Posted: June 12, 2018

Theft is a huge problem-- if your child has a phone or valuables watch out, the parents constantly complained about it. The school tends to look away at students with disciplinary issues. My child had a boy in his class who threatened the teacher's life, tossed desks, cursed at other students and disrupted the class every single day and very little was done about it. Detentions and suspensions didn't make any difference so he should have been expelled, the rest of the class suffered. The two female counselors have been there for decades and are excellent. Overall, I'm glad it was just for two years.

Posted: June 12, 2018

Posted: June 12, 2018

Posted: June 12, 2018

Posted: June 12, 2018

Posted: June 12, 2018

Posted: June 12, 2018

Posted: September 27, 2014

Challenging curriculum with good teachers and leadership. It would be nice if it was a three year middle school instead of a two year junior high for greater continuity, but that isn't a reflection on the quality of the school. I haven't noticed any disciplinary problems at the school, and I have volunteered there before. Student behavior seemed mostly age appropriate and acceptable.

Posted: August 11, 2013

I love this school. It is amazing, a clean environment , the teachers are amazing, and its safe for my kids. More than 5 stars indeed!

Posted: November 28, 2012

Westwood is absolutely top notch! From the staff to the students, this school is unmatched! The music department (orchestra, choir, band) is amazing! The only complaint I have is that its only a 2 year school lol! We have had a wonderful experience at Westwood and will miss it dearly! The BEST principal in the world Mr. Gray makes this school what it is, he relates to the kids, is constantly interacting with them in the hallways, smiling, joking, just taking a genuine interest in them....simply amazing.

Posted: August 20, 2010

WWJH is an environment that helps students to grow up and get ready for the challenges of preparing for college. It is academically strong, and the students are diverse. This is a good place for a student to begin learning who they are and who they want to be.

Posted: May 4, 2010

I go to Westwood and i think it is the BESTTT!!!!! WEST IS WORSTT!!! haahaa (: this a GREAT review of our school but i would give my school a 10/10 rating and 5 stars... but thats my opinion! haha i have tons of friends there and the teachers actually think somthing of their students!!!! so if your child is looking for a middle school in Dallas TX. it should be WESTWOOD!!!!