The Cali Plan in Dunham Farms by D.R. Horton
Mobile, AL 36582

I feel like in the last couple of years this school has declined academically. Many students are being failed due to the implementation of new curriculum that is confusing, not age appropriate for grade level, and many kids are only passing due to an inappropriate amount of ‘help’ so they won’t fail and hurt the overall passing average of I had to guess. My child still couldn’t read at the end of 2nd grade but somehow passed kindergarten and 1st grade with A’s and B’s. Didn’t have a failing grade of an E in Reading until 3rd quarter when I realized there was a problem and got him tested outside of the school system. Only then did I realize how bad it was with not quite reading on a 1st quarter of kindergarten level. My question is how did he have A’s and B’s K-5-1st grade and half of second grade with no concern until I had him tested and called for a conference? How was he missing so many foundational building blocks after spending 8hrs a day/5 days a week in a classroom but yet when I found someone outside the system to tutor him for 45 minutes1 day a week in less than 3 months he was almost caught up to 3rd grade level? The whole system is broken and needs to make changes so that kids aren’t continuously passed without mastering the level they are leaving. My daughter who is in 2nd grade we noticed was having similar issues and luckily she was able to get help before getting as far behind as my son did but this is not okay. Along with the fact that they have a playground at the school that they aren’t even allowed to play on. Elementary schools should all have recess time to get out of the classroom, run off some energy and just be allowed to be kids even if for only a half hour a day. I believe this would help the morale of the school and kids would be more engaged in the classroom.