201 Sweet Gum Way
Longwood, FL 32779

I really love it here. I’ve been to three high schools overall, and Lyman is my third and final one. I feel safe, there are many ways to get involved in the school culture, and overall other students are respectful to each other and care about doing well in class. If you hang out with the right people, you won’t have any trouble doing good here, but that’s with any school. I’m proud to be graduating from here, and really love the motto of diversity and inclusivity because it’s true. We’re always up to date on events because of the weekly newsletters from Mr. Hunter. The communication and environment is great :)

To be honest, the problem is the entire system. Children w/ special needs don't fit in boxes. One child w/ special needs is just one child w/ special needs. Teachers and staff need to recognize that they aren't medical professionals, they must listen to the parents, follow medical recommendations instead of trying to make generic assumptions about a child's behavior based on "experience" instead of the child's medical and academic history. School should not be a traumatic or a survival experience, specially elementary school. Teachers need to slow down on the complaints and work with the parents to find solutions, but who can blame them? One teacher for over 20 students? Teachers should be better trained to recognize when a child is being defiant vs a child in distress. Talk to the kid, ask if something happened and give time for that child to explain. Don't ignore the child to then realize part of the behavior was a result of something else, such as bullying. Or, ignore the child when he's having difficulty communicating to then be confronted by the parent asking why their child's face is red (because another kid slapped him) or why is my child telling me another kid touched him inappropriately and the teacher responds "I thought they were playing" or why is my child telling me another kid threatened to kill him at lunch time and other kids came to the rescue. A lot can be said, but in order to say something the other side needs to be willing to listen.

This school has failed in so many ways. This was once the middle school to go to, but this administration that's been in the past few years is in over their heads. This school has gotten out of control with violence and hate, and the administration likes to sweep it under the rug. Teachers have no control in the classroom and some of the teachers we've experienced were actually cruel to the students, and once again, this gets swept under the rug.