Westlake Academy

Posted: January 7, 2026

I am extremely disappointed with our experience at Westlake Academy. Many of the teachers did not seem invested in helping students succeed or supporting them when they were struggling. When my child needed guidance and understanding, we felt dismissed rather than supported.

Over time, this environment caused my child to develop significant anxiety related to school. Instead of being a place for growth and encouragement, it became a source of stress and fear. Communication was lacking, and concerns were not taken seriously.

Additionally, the student environment was not welcoming. The kids were often unkind, which only added to the emotional toll on my child. Overall, this school failed to provide a supportive and compassionate learning environment, and I would not recommend it to families who prioritize student well-being.

Posted: January 7, 2026

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Posted: May 25, 2023

I have mixed feelings about the school. When my senior graduated, she was definitely ready for college. However, they were supposed to have a counselor that assisted with college scholarships. We asked for help repeatedly but received none. It turns out that there is a scholarship for our school to a local university that my daughter will be attending. It pays for room and board for 4 years. There were several students that were informed about the scholarship opportunity but my daughter was not. It wasn't until the awards ceremony that what found out about it. I was absolutely furious. Yeah, my daughter only scored a 1200 on her SAT's, but we would have liked to have known to at least try to get the scholarship.

As for the school itself, it does some things really well. It definitely challenges the kids, but extracurricular activities are lacking. The athletics programs are awful. Personally, I want my children to learn how to compete. Athletics are not the most important aspect of high school, but it is a fantastic way to learn teammwork and competitiveness. Also, being an extremely wealthy area, there is significant bullying and shaming based upon what someone has or does not have. We have a friend that had to remove their child from the school because of bullying.

Posted: May 25, 2023

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Posted: August 12, 2022

My children have attended WA for 7 years now and we have had an outstanding experience overall. I am surprised at some of the comments made in other reviews as our experience has been so positive. We've gone through the entire PYP and MYP programs and one of my kids is now in DP. Many excellent teachers, others not as great, but overall better than what we experienced in a local ISD which also has high ratings. The academics are challenging but that's what we wanted. Yes, writing is emphasized and the students will be well-prepared to write college-level papers by the end of Diploma Program. However, the math and science have also been robust. Teachers and administrators are responsive when I have questions and concerns. Due to the smaller nature of the school, I feel your concerns as a parent have far more impact than they would in one of the large local ISDs. This is a unique school that offers great academics in a caring environment and my kids have been happy overall at Westlake Academy.

Posted: August 12, 2022

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Posted: December 9, 2021

My children have attended WA for 3 years, it is too late in their education to change schools, but I highly regret sending them here. There have been feces on the walls of the "portable" bathrooms for two years. The campus was presented as a high quality and safe environment but when I came to the campus for teacher meetings, I witnessed numerous roaches in the arts and science building. The utter neglect from the teachers is almost unbelievable. My son said that for a whole class a teacher nor substitute was present. The kids were left to their own devices. This school year the staff has started to confiscate students clothing, such as jackets and sweatshirts. Never did I give permission to have my children's belongings taken. The school IPads that students are given are extremely outdated and unusable. To solve this problem, many students have chosen to bring their own computers. This student-made solution heavily angered the staff and they started telling students to stop or face punishment. As a result students have spent all class doing absolutely nothing because their teachers told them to use their IPad that is non-functional. In conclusion I would highly recommend sending your children to somewhere reasonable such as Carroll or Keller, and not make the mistake that I did.

Posted: December 9, 2021

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Posted: March 26, 2021

Posted: March 26, 2021

The school has its positives and its negatives. I know that the school will brag about it’s performance, but the main reason why the school performs at a high level is that the parents are engaged in the lives of their children. Any school that has engaged parents will see higher test scores. That is just how it works.

I don’t care for the IB curriculum at all. There is too much emphasis on writing and not enough on science and mathematics. Everything is a project with a major write up. I have spent 25 years as a business professional and I can count on one hand the number of times I have needed to write in a man are comparable to what they require at the school. It is simply a misallocation of a precious resource... time. The children need far more emphasis on maths and science including far more emphasis on repetition. As for the teachers, they are no better or worse than what you would find at any other school. Again, the main reason why the students excel is the engagement of the students’ parents.

One major issue I have is with the grading system. You do not receive real grades until you enter high school. This is a major issue because you have no real idea of how your student is performing in a class based upon grades. One of my children did not know how to do long division. I had no idea. He wasn’t bringing home grades assignments that indicated an issue. His report card didn’t show a grade that would indicate that he had an issue. There was no communication from the teacher. So, he went years without knowing how to do long solo vision. I never knew until he was working on an assignment that required long division much later. I went back and reviewed the work from when they were “learning” long division. There was very little repetition and obviously no communication. Things like that irritate me and it shows a trendous flaw with the grading system.

Posted: March 26, 2021

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Posted: June 3, 2020

First year I would rate an 11 out of 10 but the following year I would rate it a 3 out of 10. Admin can be very condescending and insulting. I have personally witnessed one of the principals yelling at their teachers in the car line because the line was moving too slow- completely inappropriate to speak to your employees that way at all but especially disturbing to be comfortable doing it in front of a car line full of students and parents, not the example I want my kids to see.
Have also heard a principal talking negatively about parents while other parents are within earshot (uniform resale) I find this behavior completely inappropriate but also shocking at the lack of respect and tactfulness. I have seen them bend over backwards to appease certain students/families while simultaneously fighting others tooth and nail. Bottom line the school has great academics and the scores speak for themselves however if you have to work with the admin on anything be prepared to have to fight every step of the way.

Posted: June 3, 2020

Posted: June 3, 2020

WA has some great teachers but they are up against a toxic admin who continually make it hard for them to do their jobs.

Posted: June 3, 2020

Only if it fits within their description of character.

Posted: June 3, 2020

Leadership is awful in the PYP and needs to be completely refreshed. I have witnessed multiple incidents between the principals and parents/students/staff that have been completely inappropriate.

Posted: June 3, 2020

Don’t have personal experience on this topic.

Posted: June 3, 2020

Don’t have any experience with this topic so can’t say one way or another.

Posted: January 21, 2020

We’ve had a great experience so far. My son loves attending school every day, and the teachers communicate well with the parents. The curriculum challenges kids to think independently and be open minded.

Posted: January 21, 2020

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Posted: December 6, 2019

My kids love going to WA in the morning. This was not the case before we moved to Westlake.

Posted: December 6, 2019

Student teacher ratio is good. Teachers are very engaged in lively interaction in the classroom.

Posted: December 6, 2019

My kids feel very engaged in their daily classroom. Their teahers are very encouraging for their participation.

Posted: December 6, 2019

The small size of student population has my kids very engaged. It is a very positive atmosphere.

Posted: December 6, 2019

Mr. Stoyanoff is very approachable. He has provided excellent guidance for my boys who are preparing for the SAT's. All their teachers spend extra time with them on the AP subjects for the upcoming tests, as well.

Posted: December 6, 2019

Posted: December 6, 2019

I have not heard any issues with bullying ..... which is highly unusual.

Posted: November 8, 2019

Unfortunately, there is high turnover at this school, where many teachers are not IB trained and come from local public schools. They have no idea what they are doing.

Posted: November 8, 2019

The students get away with outrageous behavior including cheating, bullying, drugs etc..especially the students whose
parents give generous donations to the school.

Posted: November 8, 2019

The head of the school is completely unethical, disliked, unprofessional and should be working with any children. The DP AP is also unqualified for the position. There is a Technology/ Social Media/ etc..employee who literally has no idea what she is doing who focuses 80% of her day taking “Selfies” with students and posting on Social Media. The DP counselor does not do his job at all, especially to help / support students through the college application process.

Posted: November 8, 2019

Not sure, my child wasn’t learning disabled.

Posted: November 8, 2019

Again, this school is extremely political and the students who bully get a “pass.”

Posted: November 8, 2019

Our experience was very disappointing. There are a few good teachers in the MYP/ DP school. The PYP is much better and gets the most financial attention for innovation. There have been many teachers who have taught MYP/ DP math/ science courses crucial for preparing students for college readiness who have been completely incompetent. Constant turnover

Posted: November 8, 2019

Depends on assigned teacher in MYP/ DP classes. There is a great amount of homework including extensive writing. There are some core subject teachers who are unqualified and incompetent in the subject matter they are suppose to teach so the homework can be unbearable.

Posted: April 13, 2019

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Posted: April 13, 2019

I came to this school second semester of my freshman year. I felt underwhelmed at my current public school and thought that going to a highly ranked charter school would help me be challenged mentally. Instead taking the same classes as at my former public school, we were behind them in every subject. That in the fact that there were a very small amount of electives to choose from was the last nail in the coffin for me leaving. But other small complaints include: unfriendly classmates, teacher favoritism, a Spanish II teacher who did not ever teach us (and the one time she did teach us, she taught us wrong); despite being a Spanish II class we were still learning how to conjugate regular verbs! The only things I can speak highly off were the teachers who tried their best, the coolness of the flexible learning classrooms for PYP (but not for MYP or DP), and the insanely good food offered (try the baked potatoes and mac 'N cheese).

Posted: March 28, 2019

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Posted: March 28, 2019

I'm compelled to write a review after seeing the negative posts, as I have had quite the opposite experience. My child was accepted through the lottery, and this has been our first year. The experience has been wonderful, and the school has very much lived up to their reputation as a nationally ranked world class IB school. The whole learning model is not the same as you would get through a typical public school. The students are given freedom to become leaders, and risk takers, and to be open minded. From the moment you step on campus, you can tell something is different, in a good way.
We've lived in the DFW area for close to a decade. In our experience, a lot of the negative feedback comes from parents who have long attempted to get their kids in through the lottery without success. Sure, Westlake is a very affluent city. However, I would venture to say 10% of the students actually live in Westlake. It's mostly open fields and corporate campuses.
The school is K-12. That's difficult to find, where most children will attend 3 to 4 different schools through a typical public schools. The school is in a rural setting. No multi-million dollar football stadiums, instead, a focus on academics. School athletics and programs are available, and we have found them to be excellent and very unique.
The school will challenge the students, and it maybe easier to get in at a younger age. I can see students having difficulty that are accepted perhaps at a middle or high-school age, and being thrown into a learning model and expectations that are much different and higher level than their education history.
The reason there are thousands that apply through the lottery is because this is a great school. They are nationally ranked. They are very well respected. You get the quality of an education that exceeds that of private schools that charge tens of thousands each semester, like Country Day, for example.
If you really want to know about the school, schedule a tour and see for yourself. Talk to people who have been there, not people who are bitter because they cant. It sounds petty, but sadly, Texans have a lot of pride and often don't take rejection well. .

Posted: February 14, 2019

Posted: February 14, 2019

Westlake Academy has a teacher that is the bully. 6th and 7rh graders learn fast to fly under the radar for fear of retaliation from this teacher. This school has many complaints but chooses to look the other way. Aside from making 11 year olds feel embarrassed and ashamed, she presents herself as abrasive, sarcastic and passive/aggressive towards children. Often singling out one child to be ridiculed. Kids learn how to deal with unhealthy behavior this year. Way to go WA!

Posted: February 14, 2019

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Posted: September 24, 2017

Posted: September 24, 2017

Posted: September 24, 2017

Posted: September 24, 2017

PYP is what families stay for and has gained quality math inquiry but admin doesn't understand nor care to understand what true IB is. Head of School wants to make our school like other districts because that is all she knows.

Posted: September 24, 2017

Posted: September 24, 2017

The admin doesn't know IB and is only chasing Staar scores and responding to a few squeaky wheel Westlake parents.

Posted: September 24, 2017

We were sad to hear the two time Teacher of the Year resigned because of being forced to change a grade for an administrator's student. The Head Principal enforced this and knows it has been an issue with that particular administrator before with other teachers being forced to change grades or have students retake tests.
Teachers and support staff have no respect for the Head of School and she cannot retain great teachers. She is so focused on keeping her job that she will do what it takes to convince parents that all is good and well and our children are thriving.

Posted: May 30, 2017

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Posted: May 30, 2017

Westlake Academy is truly one of the most extraordinary learning institutions in the country. Through a period of change, the devoted teachers and caring parents have had the foresight to embrace WA in order to bring it to the next level.

Posted: May 30, 2017

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Posted: May 30, 2017

Westlake Academy has been through a period of great change, forced by inadequate administration of the past. The current head of schools was charged with "righting the ship." That doesn't come without growing pains. This school is definitely on the right track for even greater things to come.

Posted: May 30, 2017

Posted: May 30, 2017

Posted: May 28, 2017

Not when the adults are the ones doing the bulling to students and teachers. There is a much more punitive atmosphere at this school. So far from where the founders envisioned what this school could be. We have given up control to outsiders who are not invested like we are.

Posted: May 28, 2017

Homework is not consistent from grade to grade. This school needs strong leadership which it does not currently have.

Posted: May 28, 2017

There are great kids that have these attributes despite of the role models that lead this school. At the MYP awards, we were subjected to a parade of honor for some employee or some major donor's children, just like our yearbooks have become with pictures of a certain family on what seems like, every page!

Posted: May 28, 2017

It just so happens that all women in administration roles are greatly lacking. The Executive Director does not lead but is weak. Staff and parents know she is not open to any opinion other than her own. She opts to wait and see instead of making hard decisions. One parent brags of great control of the school as this parent has monthly meetings with the Executive Director and Student Services Director where they have discussed and identified students and staff they wouldn't mind being forced out. These people are not trustworthy and will flat out lie about why people leave. Does the public know how many students have transferred out of each class during this year?
PYP is not without it share of problems. When Mr. Harding handled all issues in PYP, we trusted his leadership but new influences take even this program in a much different direction than when we started in kindergarten.

Posted: May 28, 2017

It is sad to come to the realization that this is not longer our school. My children have been here longer that all the administration, yet we are the ones leaving. Even if changes come now, they are long overdue. Good luck to those staying.

Posted: May 26, 2017

The school has struggled with leadership and has had several changes since we joined. We continue to be disappointed that the Town Manager is still the Superintendent of the school. Ultimately, we believe he needs to be held accountable for the numerous deficiencies at the school that have continued to increase since the current Executive Director and MYP Principal have been brought in.

The Executive Director has been nice enough to us, and has great theoretical knowledge about curriculum, but is inexperienced and appears to be ineffective. Important issues related to discrimination and bullying that have brought to her attention have either been ignored or dealt with incompetently.

The MYP Principal has hired former colleagues and neighbors that aren't the "best in class" this school should be able to attract. Our opinion is she manages teachers and students by intimidation.

Posted: May 26, 2017

The school has historically not been great at this, primarily because the special education teachers were not professionals. The school now has a SPED team, who are good, but there are teachers without experience with Individual Education Programs who either struggle to implement, or choose not to.

Posted: May 26, 2017

Bullying reports are generally ignored, and when they aren't ignored the resolution is either insufficient or over-the-top. It's hard to predict which will be meted out.

Posted: May 26, 2017

Homework is what it is. It seems reasonable in volume and difficulty, but in our recent experience comes from worksheets provided by book publishers, the State's own STAAR review course, or downloaded from the internet.

Posted: May 26, 2017

This is so difficult to write, because it's like two different schools. The PYP (K-5) program led by Principal Harding is awesome. Our kids had at least seven world-class teachers over the six years and we felt the PYP team could not have done a better job for our children.

MYP (6-10) is another story. When we joined the school, we knew MYP was a weak spot and we were hopeful the numerous deficiencies, especially in Math, would be addressed. We were excited when the school hired an experienced ISD principal to lead MYP, but found that things got dramatically worse. One would think this school could attract the best teachers in the world, but instead, the staff roster, especially in Math was filled with former colleagues and spouses of the school's leadership -- now teaching math, but not certified math teachers.

Our children have not reached DP (11-12), but we understand from other parents that the program is excellent.

Posted: May 26, 2017

We are fans of the International Baccalaureate curriculum and it is a key reason we moved to Westlake and joined WA. When we joined WA with our first Kindergartener, the IB program was strong and we were able to forgive that the school didn't emphasize (and the PYP (K-5) teachers weren't the best in) math. However, with the most recent administration change, the school has emphasized AP programs and has apparently deemphasized IB. From our perspective, IB is almost invisible in the school.

As another reviewer noted, this is especially apparent at the awards ceremonies, where the awards are, in large part, distributed to children of major donors and staff.

Unfortunately, the AP program emphasis has not been supported with teaching excellence and many students get their math instruction from tutors outside the classroom.

Posted: May 26, 2017

The drama at this school rivals any soap opera. The most incredible stories have all turned out to be true. Ask any Westlake resident for the "Westlake Academy Improvement Plan, " a twenty-page document listing numerous incidents that a former teacher witnessed while she was at the school. It was presented to the Board of Trustees on June 1, 2015 and resurfaced during the mayoral election in 2016, where a copy was mailed to each resident. We have actual knowledge that the majority of the incidents (including some of the most astonishing) happened as described and given the persons named, we believe the remainder are plausible.

We still recommend the PYP program, so long as Principal Harding is in charge. Westlake truly is a magical school for K-5.

The MYP program is every bit as bad as we were warned. The teachers are not prepared to teach the AP curriculum they are charged with and leadership has no viable strategy to turn MYP into an academic success. It would be more efficient for us to leave the kids at tutoring full-time, given the lapses in MYP instruction. Additionally, the remaining "world-class" teachers are moving elsewhere, leaving the school little to offer in IB or AP.

Despite the Executive Director's spin on the rapidly declining school rankings, the analysis shows that what's going on at the school isn't good. Without massive leadership change, starting with the Supeintendent, we don't think there is any scenario where the school successfully executes a turnaround. We're on the way to Keller ISD, or maybe Liberty next year.

Posted: May 24, 2017

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Posted: May 24, 2017

The administration at this school is so unqualified and ineffective it is almost laughable. For an IB academy, it is questionable to me that none of the three principals have any high school administrative experience and that the superintendent has no education experience at all, but not at all surprising considering the way this school is run. The administration is controlling, nitpicky, punitive, disrespectful to both teachers and students, and catering only to those students whose parents are major donors to the school. During our final, end of year awards ceremony, everyone who was honored was either a child of administration, a child of a big donor or a child who happens to be good family friends with the former two, last time I checked this is the definition of nepotism... I would NEVER send my own child to this school, especially if they were to start in the MYP. Never in my career have I experienced a more unprofessional, and chaotic work environment and there is no excuse for this chaos other than a complete disregard by administration and the board to what makes students thrive.

Regarding the treatment of staff at this school, it is troubling to me that there is such a high turnover rate with teachers. If this were any other type of institution or business, there would absolutely be concerns surrounding whether the management is effective. Why is Westlake Academy held to lower standards when the importance of good management and teachers is impacting the education and livelihood of our children and future workforce? The administration consistently ignores the backgrounds and records of teachers who come to this school, and relegate seniority and benefits based of favoritism and loyalty, rather than accomplishment and achievement.

If I could give this school a negative rating, I would. BEWARE!

Posted: May 24, 2017

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Posted: May 17, 2017

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Posted: May 17, 2017

Ever since the admin transferred over from that other school, Westlake has gone downhill. They favor the kids whose parents provide funding that keep the school going, and let certain kids get away with things that others can't. They have lost a great deal of amazing teachers due to their disrespect, incompetence, and lack of understanding of the IB curriculum. We do have a few teachers who treat the students like actual humans versus robots that they expect to understand everything. In some cases, they make us feel afraid to ask question; yet, they encourage us to ask question. My sister and brother have left Westlake and I will not be returning in the fall. I hope that Westlake and shapes up and get their act together before other parents start pulling their kids out too. After all, Westlake is nothing without the kids and the parents who donate money every year. Westlake had and has a lot of potential, but at this rate, I don't see things getting better any time soon. The IB curriculum is already a rigorous program and having teachers who don't really care whether we understand the material or not, as long as they receive that paycheck every month, doesn't make it any better. The double standards are appalling as it pertains to teachers as well as the students. Most of the teachers that have left have touched the hearts and minds of the students they taught. And because of this school's mindset and how they carry out certain things, they have left. We have recently lost a teacher and to say the students are sad about it is an understatement. I pray for the well being of incoming and remaining students and faculty members, that Westlake fixes what is clearly broken.

Posted: December 30, 2016

My daughter had the opportunity to attend Westlake Academy for three years (Grades 10-12) after being on the wait list for 9 years. Based on this, I can not comment on grades K-9. My daughter was on the varsity tennis team at Keller High School, but decided to focus on academics given the opportunity to attend WA. She graduated last year (around the 50ish% in her class). She received a four year full scholarship (tuition, room, and board). She also entered college with 18 credit hours (15 IB and 3 AP). She made straight A's her first semester freshman year. I know that Westlake Academy was the right decision for my daughter. She says that her teachers at WA "were amazing."

Posted: December 30, 2016

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Posted: September 3, 2016

The administration department is terrible and is not to frequently change. The staff subject teachers are great; however, administrator can't seem to keep their staff. Review charter's school low IB test scores 2014, 2015, 2016.

Posted: May 21, 2016

Posted: May 11, 2016

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Posted: May 11, 2016

My kids are thriving at Westlake Academy. Love the teachers and the administrators. Wonderful IB curriculum.

Posted: April 28, 2016

I have been at Westlake a very short time and I already know I'll be looking elsewhere for a new place to work. My admin is erratic, emotional, and offensive and the climate is humiliating. There was a questioner we had to fill out stating our intentions for next year (although not legally binding) And now we have a mad rush to shuffle people around so that good teachers can work under different leadership and friends of admins can be ineffective in new assignments.
The first week I was welcomed by a confusing bashing to the entire school from the town manager about gossip. With what should have been a kickoff to a brand new year felt like I walked into personal issues. This is certainly a surprise and the fear of retaliation from all the way up to the town manager has become this school's normal. Don't you all know this isn't normal? Teachers are very unhappy. Teachers have stood up but when parents don't, then nothing changes. Parents are not backing or demanding from what seems like fear or retaliation on their children. There is something worse than lots of teachers leaving, teachers staying in a school they no longer want to be at.

Posted: December 30, 2015

I have found that the teachers at this school are forced to teach to state tests. This is an IB school and over the past 2 years that has been put aside so the focus can be on state testing. Last year's IB scores were lower than they have ever been. I believe that is because the administration is not knowledgable about IB. Until the Board of Education is ready to make drastic changes to the administration I do not believe that the scores will improve. The administration is still boasting about results from 2011. Since the focus of the administration is moving forward I don't believe they should be bragging about something that they had no part in. That team is long gone as are all of those amazing teachers.

Posted: October 1, 2015

There are a wide range of opinions on this review website of Westlake Academy. A source of information and data can be found in the "2015 Westlake Academy Board of Trustees Parent Survey Findings Report", and this includes a section on comparisons with past parental surveys so that changes can be tracked.

The 2015 survey can be found on this link: http://tx-westlake.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/917

Posted: October 1, 2015

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Posted: August 29, 2015

There are many comments regarding WA not teaching to the test, but that has changed. It was once true, with reviews and a sample test before the real thing so that students understood the testing format and weren't surprised. But in the past year changes have been implemented that focus on testing benchmarks, teaching children as young as second grade to find their errors and statistically analyze their weaknesses on benchmarks drawn directly from STAAR materials and textbook series (which echoes what is taught for the STAAR tests), without regard for IB curriculum requirements. Yes, there are expected learning outcomes from IB that should be taught alongside the Texas requirements. No, they haven't been getting the attention they are supposed to. If your testing outcome, measurement of progress provided to students, and primary data source for them is basically a version of "the test" then you are teaching to the test. Assessment is used to drive instruction, and those STAAR-based tests are what's driving instruction, below the DP level. DP has been able to maintain its integrity as it has the IB testing as its accountability.
As long as there are seasoned IB teachers who understand the intricacies of requirements and the importance of the learner profile, there are children who will get the benefits of IB (and those are HUGE). But they are not understood and in many instances not embraced by new staff and new administration. What has made the school and its students stand apart over the years, and shows in the success of its graduating classes, is changing quickly. If you want high test scores, there are easier, more proven roads to take.
My kids have significant holes in their knowledge when compared to their peers (objective, external testing) even though their grades are high. We have to retain tutoring services for them to make up the gaps, as do most of our friends. The softer side of IB has, until last year, made it worth it. But over and over, parents ask each other, what's happening up there? It's changed. It's not IB. Why are the experienced teachers leaving? Why are they pulling their kids too? All good questions.

Posted: June 18, 2015

In order for students to develop these traits they must be modeled by the administration. They are not.

Posted: June 18, 2015

As you can see by the varied comments on this site, parents either love or hate the school. I do not feel that my children are getting the tools they need to be successful later in life.
There are not a lot of choices for students in this school. The math and science departments are, in my opinion, lacking. If your student has an affinity for STEM then I would not recommend this school.
I am also disappointed with the limited options for fine arts. They have a very good art program but after primary school the options for music are very limited. There is no option for band or drama.
There is also a need for an improved technology department. The administration has tried, unsuccessfully, to incorporate technology into the classrooms. I'm sorry, but jut giving a student an iPad does not mean you are teaching technology. They have one design teacher but she is out more than in the classroom.
Overall, I believe that my children will get a better education at the public school. The ISDs offer a wide range of programs including AP classes in many subjects. The ISDs also have a wonderful STEM program and a diverse fine arts program.
Finally, this school is geared to assisting wealthy, helicopter parents. The squeaky wheel, that has money, gets what they want. That may or may not be what is best for all students. As you can see by one of the reviews, their belief is that this is not the place for "low-level students". That seems to be the current philosophy of the administration. I understand that it was not always this way. Having read the IBO statements it is not their way either. I want my children to be exposed to all sorts of people, not just the ones people consider acceptable.
Please think carefully before you choose Westlake Academy.

Posted: June 1, 2015

Those who have IB training have mostly been great. Unfortunately, in the past years many have been fired or quit, that we are left with ISD teachers who have no IB training and no veteran teachers to mentor them. The Head of school continues to replace IB teachers with teachers who have never even been to 1 IB training.

Posted: June 1, 2015

Even if homework is given in the MYP level, the teachers aren't allowed to give zeroes, and the kids know that, so they don't do it, or don't turn it in.

Posted: June 1, 2015

Posted: June 1, 2015

I have been at the school for many years and have 2 graduates. However, with the change in the principal of the MYP and the headmaster, the school going downhill fast. Neither of them have any IB training and don't agree with the philosophy. The Headmaster has fired or driven out the veteran IB teachers and replaced them with ISD teachers who have never even been to an IB conference. And, she placed 3 of them (all of whom were her personal friends) as department heads over teachers who had more experience and training. Anyone who offers suggestions on how to improve or even meet IB standards, is threatened with their job. It's a horrible climate and staff morale is the lowest it's ever been. Unfortunately, I don't see this problem remedied without replacing the existing administrators and unfortunately, the board does not seem to care what parents complaints are. It's as if they refuse to admit they made a huge mistake even though they have had so many parent and student complaints.

Posted: May 23, 2015

Posted: May 23, 2015

Posted: May 23, 2015

Posted: May 23, 2015

We have kids in the school in the Primary Years Program (K-5) and Middle Years Program (6-10). Over the past couple of years, we have experienced a good cross-representation of the administration, teachers, students, parents, education, and overall school community. The administration is caring, thoughtful, and driven to continually improve the school. They do need to make school communication more concise, accurate and timey - something that generally affects the parents, not the kids. The students are great. They are highly motivated to achieve academic excellence, yet generally care for each other. The parents are great as well. They made the important decision to send their children to Westlake to give them great education. One of the reviews below talked about a some parents having a superiority complex and we just don't see that. There are couple odd-balls, but what school doesn't have one or two of those that everyone knows by name. The education in the school is great. The school teaches kids how to use their heads and THINK. That is a skillset that will last them a lifetime. The school community is what really sets this school apart. The school is set among rolling hills and open meadows and incredibly < 40 min from both Fort Worth and Dallas. There are only 2-3 classes per grade and for us that is about the right size - not too small where the kids never get our of a comfort zone, not too large where community cohesion drops. The school s K-12. The older students are taught to volunteer their time for the younger grades. The younger students will know several older classmates by name. Making the transition into the school a couple years ago has been real easy because of the school community. In all, we are very pleased with Westlake Academy and glad we made the important decision to send our kids here.

Posted: May 22, 2015

Posted: May 22, 2015

As a student at WA for many years, the school has been through tremendous negative change. Ultimately, the lack of attention given to students from the administrators is disrespectful. Many students, including myself, will have to email administrators while "cc"-ing other administrators in order to get a response. That is simply unacceptable. Also, It is obvious that the previous 5 star reviews have been written by the same individual. Nice try Westlake, but maybe instead of worrying about your Great School rating you should focus more on helping your students through the middle and high school years.

Posted: May 22, 2015

Great International Baccalaureate World School! The teachers are amazing, the administration is attentive. My children, who have been attending WA for the past 6 years are thriving. The inquiry-based teaching style employed at this school is truly the best way for kids to learn. We wouldn't be anywhere else!

Posted: May 18, 2015

Determined leadership, involved parents, passionate teachers, and uniforms! My children are thriving! While I think our kids would be successful at any school, both academically and socially, we chose Westlake Academy for its commitment to the IB program and the global nature of its quality education. There is no focus on standardized tests, yet the kids take them successfully. Education is not viewed as a series of checklists. This school continues to produce sophisticated, curious, engaged learners at all age levels.

Posted: May 18, 2015

Some test scores DO matter. Let's compare Westlake Academy's college entry (ACT/SAT) test scores to those of the surrounding districts. According to this website ... Westlake Academy ACT 27 ------------------------------------------- Carroll Sr. High ACT 26 Colleyville Heritage ACT 25 Grapevine High ACT 24 Keller High ACT 24 Byron Nelson ACT 17 Westlake Academy SAT 1176 ------------------------------------------- Carroll Sr. High SAT 1155 Colleyville Heritage SAT 1101 Grapevine High SAT 1097 Keller High SAT 1076 Byron Nelson SAT 767

Posted: May 18, 2015

Westlake Academy provides an outstanding learning environment where engaged, bright students can acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in college and later in life. Wonderful IB curriculum, and outstanding teachers and administration. Not for everyone, but for the right type of student, it is a dream come true.

Posted: May 18, 2015

As a former educator I cannot say enough about what a wonderful first year we had at Westlake Academy. The IB Program's well thought out curriculum and Learner Profiles make sense. They help student become life long learners.. There is NO teaching to the Star Test. This seemed to be a major complaint of other parents whose children attended the other local public schools. Learning comes from thinking not memorizing. The portfolio based assessment for the Kindergarten was so unique, I felt really in touch with what my child was learning. My daughter's teacher really pushed her to achieve and set challenging goals. I also appreciated how she didn't hold kids that were out performing others back and pushed them onward. Rather than teaching to the common denominator she worked with the appropriate skill sets. The hands on curriculum really seemed to enable this. Socially the small school environment is so welcoming, and a special note out to all those Dads in the morning who have made the beginning of our days so bright with their carpool help. I have seen my child blossom and be challenged to her ability and develop a true love of learning.

Posted: May 18, 2015

It s important to remember the measure of a school's success isn't just how well they do while in school but how they do when they leave, as defined in Westlake Academy s Vision Statement inspiring college bound students to achieve their highest individual potential. WA students are not only going to college and finishing, but getting degrees quicker than the national average, according to data by National Student Clearinghouse. Last year, WA s 53 graduates had a 100% college acceptance rate, and were accepted into top-rated universities with $4.4 million in scholarships/grants. WA students continue to achieve IB scores that are above world average and well above U.S. averages. The academy also surpasses surrounding districts in ACT and SAT scores. Last year, WA received several distinctions including reading, language arts, math, and science (tea.texas.gov). WA staff deserve a huge applaud for the job they re doing to help students succeed not only in school, but during years that follow, as defined in the academy's Mission to provide students with an internationally-minded education of the highest quality, so they are well-balanced and respectful lifelong learners.

Posted: May 17, 2015

This school claims to teach IB curriculum but they fall short in more ways then one. The administration and teachers do play favorites to parents with money. There is no stability at this school as indicated by the high turnover rate of teachers and administrators. If the standards are so high and thinking outside of the box is encouraged then passing a standardized test should be no problem. The students should be knocking it out of the park, since these are the minimum standards. They do not! Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Mine is ... STAY AWAY!!!!

Posted: May 17, 2015

Let's set the record straight, and with proof (unlike many of these posts): "Westlake Academy received no distinctions" / FALSE / Last year alone, Westlake Academy received distinctions in Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Closing Performance Gaps and Post-Secondary Readiness. All can be independently verified at tea.texas.gov. "There has been a huge staff turnover (50 percent)" / FALSE / Staff turnover in the past year was 25 percent which is equal to the national average for charter schools according to the Center for Reinventing Public Education and a study published by Vanderbilt University. "Many of the teachers have no IB experience and some have openly stated that they do not feel IB is worth learning" / FALSE / The International Baccalaureate Program is not "what" you teach, but "how" you teach and is an integral part of what Westlake Academy does every day. Proof? Westlake's IB scores continue to be above the world average and tower above the U.S. average. There has been very little flux in IB scores during the past four years. Beyond that, Westlake's ACT and SAT scores are well above surrounding districts. I believe in this school. You should, too.

Posted: May 16, 2015

My kids were previously in a local isd and were not challenged. Since attending WA they are thriving. They love school and are retaining the knowledge because of the IB teaching style. They are not only learning math, reading, and writing but also communication, leadership, working as a team and presentation skills. I am constantly amazed at what my kids are learning and the conversations I have with them. While the public schools may be winding down because STAAR testing is over our 5th grade students are working very hard, pulling together what they have learned since starting the IB curriculum and will present it a few days before school ends. If you want your kids teacher to focus on preparing your kids to take a standardized test most the year then there is a public isd that can do that. If you are interested in teaching your child to think out of the box, apply what they have learned to real life issues, learn how to respect each other differences and get a great education you will like this school. I have not once ever heard anyone from Westlake talk down about lottery families. This is a school of choice - everyone has a public ISD they can attend.

Posted: May 7, 2015

In response to the May 8th rating.....Firstly, you must ask yourself why your children are attending an IB school. Is it for high STAAR test performance? Because if it is, than Carroll is a more appropriate place for you. WA does NOT teach to the test, and DOES teach within an IB framework. Thus, our scores will likely never be as high as a district like CISD that begins test practice in September. Just a different philosophy. Secondly, nobody is "buying" the school. Administration has absolutely no information regarding the amounts donated by parents. It's kept confidential. Do parents have an influence on school policy more than in an ISD? Absolutely. It's one of the benefits of a small school. The saying, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" is probably more applicable to what you're referencing. Thirdly, a 4 does not equal an A. Again, this is an IB school; read the criteria for a 4. It's not that your child completed all the tasks. It's that they went above and beyond mastery of the skill. The kids tend to "get it", and it gives them something to work toward. Your other points are just not correct, but enjoy Carroll!

Posted: April 27, 2015

This school has been on a steady decline since the new administration came in. It is no longer an IB school and does not offer the programs that an ISD does. I have noticed that many of the rankings have dropped as well. It's a shame to watch a school that had such potential fall apart because of incompetent administration.

Posted: April 26, 2015

This is my children's second year at Westlake Academy. While it was an adjustment coming from a traditional ISD, I feel that they have grown in so many ways, not just academically. They love the school and I feel that they are getting a great education that will prepare them for college and beyond.

Posted: April 11, 2015

If you are thinking about sending your child to Westlake Academy make sure you do some research first. A beautiful campus on a lovely background setting does not guarantee a solid educational program. I have had my children at Westlake since they were in the PYP program. We have seen a great deal of changes throughout our experience, but nothing has been as detrimental as the changes that occurred this year. New administration came through with no to little regard of the IB curriculum. This changed the dynamic of what made Westlake stand out from the local ISD schools. This school was once a rigorous program. My child was always challenged in all of his academic classes. He had homework every night and was held accountable for his work. Now, new administration has told teachers not to give students more than an hour of homework per night for all of their subjects. Students are not held accountable for anything anymore. Here is an example: A project was assigned. One student worked hard to complete it on time. The other did not turn it in until the end of the semester: Both got similar grades with no penalties. I am very disappointed with this school.

Posted: April 7, 2015

I was really hopeful for the education my children would receive at Westlake. What I've encountered is mass confusion and underquallified administration. Their goals of incorporating technology into every task seems to overshadow the task itself. Communication between administration and parents needs to be prioritized, so as to ensure parents are well-informed. There are too many paths of communication from Westlake to the families, which causes confusion and stress about making sure all the emails are read. I won't be sending my child back, and that makes me sad considering I applied for the lottery to this school for 7 years in a row.

Posted: April 1, 2015

I have gotten a awsome education at this school! I honstly love going here for school and I wouldnt want to ever be any where thats not here come too this school!!

Posted: March 31, 2015

As a student of Westlake, I have to say that I am extremely disappointed. I feel like I'm neglected by the school board and the principals. I also feel like I am unprepared for higher education. This school is a mix between ISD and IB! This is not what the founders intended, and this is not the kind of education that parents envision. So much money has been spent fixing the exterior, while the interior and crumbling.Think twice before sending your child here!

Posted: March 12, 2015

Stay away from this school. I have done a lot of traveling through other countries and the US. My children have been exposed to all forms of cultures and teaching. I can honestly say that this is the worst school I have ever seen. This school offers no stability. Rules change on a whim. The administration does not take time to know the students. There are some good teachers here but for the most part they are so overworked that they appear to have given up. I don't want my children taught by people who are exhausted, nor do I want my children to be exposed to an administration who will not take the time needed to get to know them. Save yourself the aggravation and find a different school. If you are seeking a job, it seems to me you can do better than this. You deserve to be treated with respect.

Posted: February 7, 2015

This is my 2nd year attending Westlake Academy, my 1st year here was fantastic. The teachers were great, my peers were friendly, although the curriculum was challenging, I learned a lot. The following school year, students came back with an entirely new admin, staff, rules, the list goes on. At first, the students and I were extremely excited to see what this "new" westlake had in store. But much to our surprise, it wasn't so great.. As we went into the year, admin began to be stricter. A few of our teachers began to "favor" kids over others as well as curve their grade higher due to the favoritism. The new admin ( as well as a couple teachers) have been treating the kids with such disrespect. There are teachers that make up lies and tell admin false things that never happened to get the "trouble makers" in trouble, just so they get favored by the administration. The disrespect and lies admin puts us through is becoming out of hand. The teachers that we love are slowly getting less power and some have been getting fired. Westlake is slowly becoming corrupt due to the new admin. Sad to see what has become of the MYP department at Westlake Academy.

Posted: January 11, 2015

Where do I begin. So much change and not for the better. Communiques sent to parents about dress code, yet children of some teachers and staff wear what they want. Students are held accountable for late grades, yet numerous teachers are very late (2 months for example) in posting grades. The administration advises parents to keep up with their child's progress through Managebac, yet the grades aren't there. So here we are right before grades for report cards are due, and some parents are finding their child is struggling. Parents and students miss the teachers and administrators who were advocates for their students, who went out of their way to help every child succeed. Over the last 5 years those teachers and administrators have moved on.

Posted: August 4, 2014

I have a special needs child that attends Westlake Academy. The school has been extremely accommodating. My child is extremely intelligent but has a few special needs. I feel as though my child is thriving at this school. Having smaller classrooms has definitely helped. Plus, my child has begun to make friends. She/he had never had friends at school before.

Posted: June 7, 2014

I'm sorry to say, but I have to agree with recent posts. We will not be returning along with the many teachers who have been terminated or have decided to leave of their own accord. It is unfortunate that few families seem to have the school board in their pockets. I would be curious to see with whom the departing teachers are replaced. Can anyone say nepotism? I wish the remaining teachers and students luck as this school will certainly have more challenges in their future.

Posted: June 5, 2014

How sad to watch a great school die. Westlake has always lived by the IB philosophy. That is until they were overrun by a new administration. Over 20% of the staff has left since the overthrow. It is obvious that the new administration cares nothing for the students or the staff. Please look beyond the pretty buildings before you consider sending your child to this train wreck of a school. There are some excellent schools in the area. This is not one of them.

Posted: May 19, 2014

I have been attending this school for a few years now and at first I was so impressed with the teachers, (some) students, as well as the administration. This year ever since our MYP principal "left" the school has snowballed into a huge mess. The new heads of school are not great and do not even compare to what we had. Teachers who are amazing (all of them) are being fired left and right. When they are firing them they give them pretty much no notice what so ever, up to the point to where they are scrambling and stressing trying to find another job. The new heads of school have not been communicating with students at all. They are a name not a figure at the school. As previously stated there is such a lack of communication. For us to be one school TOGETHER we need to know what will be happening on a day to day basis. Ask any student who currently attends and they will say that nothing has been the same for a long while now.

Posted: April 26, 2014

We have only been at the school about 6 months, but so far it has been fantastic. Administration, teachers, kids, parents, all have been incredibly welcoming. Our child has fit right in socially, and the teachers have challenged from the beginning. Really an incredible experience for us so far.

Posted: January 23, 2014

These teachers think they are the "epitome" of teachers. Well, let's just say that they should each be given watches, courses of proper behavior/etiquette (how to properly "speak" to parents" - yes - they are not 'Gods') and be brought a little back down to Earth when they are hired. I sent one polite, e-mail to a 10-th grade teacher, questioning an "incomplete" grade that my daughter had on her on-line grade-book for THREE months - just trying to see if the assignment was turned in, etc., and I was bludgeoned with "Westlake handbook policy".....That "incomplete" grades were gives THREE days to make up, and then they were turned to "ZEROS".. Why, I ask, did this specific teacher not post this ZERO and lead my daughter to believe that she could still make up this grade???? POOR, POOR, POOR example and time management on the teacher's part. Plus, the teacher has ABSOLUTELY NO RIGHT to BLAST the parent via e-mail for politely voicing concern! This school shows EXTREMELY inconsistent enforcement of policies and educational principals. I made a horrible, horrible mistake ever sending my child here. My money could have been better spent by being donated to the local penitentiary!

Posted: August 7, 2013

Westlake Academy is obviously very academically rigorous, which isn't always a good thing. Because the classes are so small; students are very competitive. There were some wonderful teachers in the past, who were constantly helping troubled students, but most of them have left the school. Some teachers that remain are neglecting these students, and they just keep getting further and further left behind till the end of the year when its almost impossible to help them out. The teachers always talk about how great students need to be if they want to succeed, in a way that can be a real self-esteem issue for most kids. If a student is less academically driven or committed then the other students, they will have a hard time. This school has no focus at all on the arts, and in my opinion, has a very close minded idea of a "well-rounded student" in which they pride themselves on creating. This school is a great idea for those who top their class, and are constantly devoting their time to work. But for the student who doesn't commit themselves to toping their class, this is not the best idea. Those students will just be neglected and keep falling behind.

Posted: December 8, 2012

The post from December 8th, 2012 noting AP curriculum is incorrect. While the Diploma Program (DP) is the curriculum of instruction, AP curriculum is supported indirectly where the same content overlaps with the DP. Students may choose to take any AP test on campus. Dr. Clint Calzini Secondary Principal

Posted: October 20, 2012

As a recent graduate of Westlake Academy I can say many things. The academic strength of the institution is high, but as with any school, what you get is equivalent to what you put in. The teachers care more than anything in the world, which is great. Yet, the school does little in regards to peer bullying and caters greatly towards those without learning disabilities. A beautiful school with faculty that really care, but with students who would rather pave their way to a bright future than to lifelong friendships or balanced lifestyles. If I did it again, I wouldn't go back. Surrounding schools have on par academic programs, stronger arts programs, and the possibilities of having a class size greater than 28. A good place for those who don't have trouble in academia, but not for those who wish to have a diverse group of friends.

Posted: October 5, 2012

This is my 8th year at Westlake Academy and I love it here! The faculty is amazing and the care about each student and their learning. They guide you at your own pace of learning and you are taught directly from the IB curriculum. Students fit in with each other and you get to know everyone in the entire school. I really recommend this school to everyone because of the faculty, students, IB curriculum and it is an amazing school!!