12 Memory
Scarborough, ME 04074

We have been lucky two years in a row to enjoy 1st and 2nd grade in this school with whom I consider the best teacher ever! She's young, energetic, full of enthusiasm and ideas! Always approaching every teachable moment (curriculum and interactions) with a positive attitude that is contagious. Miss Wood creates a classroom of encouragement that every child takes on in their life. Patting each other on the back after correct answers, encouraging patients as they work to figure out answers and on the playground when they encounter conflict with kids from other classrooms. Like I said, we have been extremely lucky to have had Miss Wood as Looping teacher two years in a row.

Scarborough is a wonderful, family-oriented town and a lot of that centers around the top-notch schools that for years were 10/10. Not sure why the current lower rating—a few complainers brought the rating down? Scarborough has top-notch sports teams/programs that seem to be winners/contenders for state titles every year in many sports, a thriving library and arts facilities, and caring teachers that provide excellent academics! As they say, “start here, go anywhere!”

As a parent, communication from the school has been lacking. If your child is struggling in a class, you will not hear about it for weeks, until the situation is beyond repair. Assignments are often distributed to students over 3-4 different online programs, making it difficult for both students and parents to understand expectations and what is due when, but most teachers don’t discuss with students what is due verbally. The GATES (gifted and talented) program is atrocious, only open to about 20 students per year, and it doesn’t matter how well you do in your regular class or how bored you are. And for GATES English there is no separate curriculum-my child has regressed in reading comprehension and writing ability despite being in GATES English as compared to 5th grade. They write less than as a fifth grader.In addition, the school assumes every family has a stay at home parent. Enrichment programs are offered after school and end at 330, but there is no late bus or supervision offered so kids can’t get home or stay at the school till 5. So children who may need these programs the most cannot access them.Unfortunately, there is very little in the way options for schools in Maine. At this point I’m paying to supplement my child’s education with tutors and am looking into private schools.

Beautiful school, just opened a few years ago. Caring and attentive teachers. I have three kids, all very different, and all thrived here. There’s a GATES program and plenty of challenges for the academic-oriented. There is a no-bullying policy and it is very effective. They start socio-emotional learning young and continually reinforce it. Scarborough’s winning sports teams start here, and whether you’re into serious travel teams or just want to play intramurals to learn something new, the opportunities abound. (Also plenty of coaching opportunities for parents.)School has excellent security and parental communications. The principal is amazing! Teachers vary, but you can always switch to find the best fit. Also home to the world-famous Gym Dandies, where hundreds of kids gave learned to juggle, ride unicycles (at the same time) and more circus arts. Whatever activity is your passion, after school clubs at Wentworth can help you realize it.