Big Branch Dr
Dayton, MD 21036

Great school. Very caring administration and athletic programs.

Poorly run school. Administration favors certain parents over others. If your child needs extra support or has special needs, this school often informs you last minute of either behavioral or academic performance issues. The school runs lunch and recess in a way that isolates students from one another, especially if they have friends across different classes. I've heard lunchroom staff yelling at children. Administration is hands-off to most situations, especially on the bus, where many issues often occur. If bus drivers treat children poorly, school will take the driver's side stating it's "their bus." They use video tape reviews to enforce discipline everywhere - during lunches, in classrooms, outside, and on busses. Instead of fostering strong teacher-student-parent relationships with trusted, in-person monitoring, the school lacks warmth and feels like a surveillance state. Principal doesn't get involved with parents and ignores emails, passing on issues to subordinates. Administration very hands-off with helping parents and lacks empathy in email and phone conversations. Principal and vice principals are often unresponsive to parent emails, responding days later (48+ hours). There are outliers (a few teachers) that create warmth, but the leadership's indifference trickles down.

This school was actually terrible in my opinion, I have been bullied, sexually assaulted, and physically hit in this school. Many kids were out of control and teachers did nothing about it, the bullying and harassment got so bad to me to the point where I started hurting myself. Luckily I got help and I am now clean, oh and I mention that when I got harassed online the vice principle said she could not do anything??? How horrible, I am now in high school and have met better people.