550 Reeds Rd
Downingtown, PA 19335

My daughter is in her second year at DMS. First, the new bussing situation is unacceptable. Children must walk to and from busses through the busy high school parking lot, to the high school next door. For this reason I now drive my child both ways each day. One thing DMS does we'll is teach kids how to manage their time and schedules. Academically though I am not impressed with DASD at all. We move frequently and both of my children are far advanced in English, Science and History. My child has learned no new material in these subjects since we moved to Downingtown after 4th grade. Her current 7th grade history teacher does not teach, but babysits while the kids copy text from photo copied material in folders. We are at the mid-term of Q1 now and all lessons have been taught this way. I'd estimate that at least 50% of the work is project based and done in groups with inadequate supervision. This typically results in one child doing the work,a fair amount of social drama and no real learning. Considering all the accolades DASD receives, and the tax rate for the district, I expected more rigorous curriculum and a better learning environment. We have been disappointed.

love the school its very interactive with the students

The teachers don’t pay enough attention to students who need extra help. The school doesn't handle bullying issues properly.

my child comes home every day screaming crying that he gets bullied by a kid. Well I lost it when my kid came home with a bloody nose, i asked him what happened and he said that the kid punched him in the face, and none of the teachers yelled at the kid. The next day i went in the school and talked to Mr. Barr and he said that he could do nothing about it. i called the cops and now my kid has more bullies.