Pasadena

Prospective Parents… be aware. All that glitters is not gold here. Since our new principal Mrs. S has arrived, the parents feel little support. If your child doesn’t rank in the top 3% of the nation, do not expect any teacher to care about their education. All resources go towards the top achievers. If you have a child with a simple diagnosis, don’t expect the school to support or respect it. It’s a system that rewards the connected and powerful. Parents are not welcomed in older grades and students are punitively punished for being a kid. No accountability for teachers since the new principal has arrived. She sees pleasing them as her top priority. No follow up with parents will be made, even if you request it. What Smith does well is how they hide the complaints in order to “seem” good. Do extensive research and look for parents with kids like yours. Unless you have an endless budget for private tutors and additional taxes, look elsewhere. The teachers never give outside of their scheduled day and if they do it’s because they charge large amounts for their own private programs. They will say they care, but in reality it’s just lip service. No one listens. The ONLY reason Oakwood ranks high is because of the parents that care about their kids. It’s all about the parents here. They are the ones that make the TRUE difference. Any tag line they are giving you about us being #oneoakwood or #together is just that. No one cares about your child’s education unless you do. And if you try to hold them accountable, you’ll come against the machine. So be ready.

Our youngest child who is now a rising 10th grade at the Miami Valley School - he joined in Middle School (7th grade) from a previously well performing public school. The immersion method of education and the deep dive into subjects brings the most interesting, challenging and rewarding framework we could have wished for in his studies. The educators are incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated to their students' growth and learning. High Schoolers are taught to think critically, communicate articulately, explore their interests, and value community. The students respect their peers and the embrace differences of well thought out viewpoints. There are so many paths available in core classes, clubs, teams. Both my student and myself as a parent had culture shock on how welcoming, and inspiring the educators and staff are and how supportive they are of student growth. Highlights: Immersion Methodology, highly motivated faculty with specific subject expertise, January Immersion Term which involves domestic or international travel, ethnic and religious diversity in peer group including international students. Negatives: Can feel a bit cliquish but that was more a matter of stereoptypical Middle Schooler development and that settled down by high school. If interested, you can take an in-depth tour and your student can attend class for the day paired with a MVS student in their grade and similar interests. If you have any preconceived ideas of MVS , the new school leadership of three years ago has reinvigorated the school and faculty.

Safety is one of the most important factors when choosing a school, and unfortunately, I left with concerns about whether student well-being was always the top priority. While I never expected a perfect environment, I did expect clear communication, accountability, and leadership that addressed concerns promptly and transparently.Families considering this school should ask detailed questions about how safety concerns are reported, investigated, and communicated to parents. They should also ask about staff turnover and who is responsible for overseeing student well-being. In my opinion, those conversations are essential before making a decision.Every family has to decide what they're comfortable with, but based on my experience, I would look elsewhere.