200 E Ward Ave
Portland, IN 47303

My 9th grade daughter should NEVER have to experience "lock downs" and "police escorts to the bathroom". It even has it's own police force and a police dog on campus every day. This is high school, not prison! The students are taught to test and by simply completing homework and showing up for class students will land the on the A/B honor roll. We are working so hard to undue the factory mindset instilled across nearly all the classes here (show up, punch the time clock, follow the rules, and that is as good as it gets for you) that should have disappeared with the factories in the last century. Students are taught to simply "do" homework, but not to think. Students are taught to take tests (they even take 30 minutes out of the school schedule four time/week for the "Success" program that exists ONLY to raise state mandated test scores - look it up on the school website) and not critical thinking skills. My experience with the teachers in my daughter's classes are that they are caring people (this is why 2 stars and not 1), but they are working inside a VERY broken school that's primary objective is to prevent fighting and keep kids "safe" while school is in session. My daughter will not be returning next year. If she doesn't clear the wait-list at Burris, we will be moving her (and possibly the whole family) to a different school district.

I cannot say enough good things about this school. I highly recommend it. I work in the field of gifted education and can say as a parent of a gifted student and professional that the gifted program at ESA is the best I have seen.