Oxford Plan in Stonemeade by Saddlebrook Properties
Knoxville, TN 37934

Having taught at Farragut High for 25+ years, I have seen the ups and downs. The current administration, staff, and students are some of the best I have worked alongside.

Going to be blunt and say if your child is more empathy driven, they will struggle at Farragut. The first month there my child was bitten on the playground by someone they attempted to comfort after finding them crying. I guess that should have been a sign.In what I was told, it was few and far between for the well rounded as a vast majority were out of touch, trend following, very emotionally lacking - cliques.If you weren't established, you were out. Good days were the ones my kid came back quiet, but the bad days were full of tears. My child is not one to be shy, but had a hard time making friends at this school due to bullying and cliques. If your child isn't in an established group they'll be excommunicated - jumping around to whoever decides to speak to them that day.My kid did get bullied for not having name brand items, I invested in a few hoping it would help to at least soften the bullying or help them blend, however the retort by some of these children were to claim it was a dupe or fake. Wow! (Mind you this is only third grade.) So there was no winning in this situation besides having daily pep talks to help my kid grow thicker skin and reaching out to the counselor to make sure they kept an eye on it. I attended Farragut High school and got bullied by a teacher many years back, to none of my surprise my child also experienced this same treatment at their intermediate school. IRMA HOWLEY went out of her way to write on my child's work that using a 'nickname' was unacceptable and that she would start docking my child's homework of points if they continued to write that name. To be noted the 'nickname' in question was a shortened version of my child's legal name - nothing ridiculous. This really made my kid feel even more unwelcomed in an environment that they were already struggling in with peers. I reached out to the principle and assistant principle, with no real resolution besides putting my kid in a "friend group" with the grade counselor. This teacher also threatened other kids that they would not be allowed to use the restroom when needed as they "should have gone before class"This type of behavior disgusts me, as you have a job involving children but go out of your way to go on power trips. I guess knowing you have tenure means you can show who you really are - as there are no repercussions for teachers like this, and from my own experience that's how it's been for years.

My kids have been at FMS from 2018-2023. By Knox County Schools standards, it's fine. But it isn't great, especially compared to the other Farragut schools, and has gotten worse since the pandemic. Some of that is due to a shortage of quality teachers. But I think there is also a leadership problem. The principals never seem to know what the teachers are up to and appear untutored in the art of management. At least once a week I hear about some teacher or other who spent class playing on their phone while the kids did teach-yourself activities. All unashamedly teach to the state test and rarely venture farther afield. The English teachers rarely assign or teach class novels. (Unless you count graphic novels.) One of the history teachers shows movies starting in mid-April. Another thinks it is her mission to dissuade young minds from believing in evolution. And the projects - all the useless, busywork, "creative" coloring, slideshows, posters, and draw-your-notes activities. Stock up on markers and glue sticks because your kid will need them. Your kid probably won't learn much here despite parental expectations being high. Many, many parents supplement at home to make up the difference. Probably my youngest will have to take a 2nd biology class in high school because her FMS bio class is so inferior to the one her brother took at FMS just 2 years ago. The academic rigor just isn't there. That said, FMS is a pleasant environment. The students are mature, well behaved, diverse and mutually supportive. Parents don't have to worry much about bullying, fights or anything beyond mild middle school tomfoolery. If your kid is smart they will be fine. And if they aren't they will be passed through with fair-to-middlin' grades and will also be fine.

Wonderful school. They care about the children. Very high standards for the children. They focus solely on learning academia. Teachers work hard and my children love the school.