4 Jua Valley
Durham, NC 27707

I have 2 kids at the school and another who will be joining next year. 1 in dual language, 1 not. Is it perfect? No, of course not, but in not being perfect it is the school I want for my kids. Learning that everything may not go to plan, truly connecting and working with folks of many different backgrounds, thinking of what’s good for everyone instead of what’s only good for you, and learning about the different perspectives and cultures of families in our neighborhood are all wonderful things Lakewood offers. Teachers care a lot and the principal and AP could not be better. The parent community is open and welcoming and there are many ways to engage in helping the school. Breakfast and lunch is free to all (lunch is actually good!) and the community schools team brings in resources from all over the city. Tier 2 and 3 kids get great services on both sides. Wish DPS would budget for a better playground (we’re due!!!) but besides that the kids are happy, confident, and kind. We love being Bulldogs!

Day 3 at Jordan High school and I remember why we left public school before. He was told by the counselor to go to the counselor office by Friday to fix his schedule. First period coach won’t let him go that he should go during another class…. so the coach wants my child to leave a core class like math to go fix his schedule instead of leaving PE. Then once we get to the school because I go in person because he’s not missing his lunch *again* and going the whole day without eating because they insist on kids trading their lunch for fixing administrative issues. The counselor is darling. She helped us but then we had to go to the media center and we talked to very nasty and said he has to come at lunch to fix his login account even though I was very positive and kind I explained he’s not missing lunch again to fix it and she said he can come after he eats, but in a very fatty tone for what reason I’m not sure other than I guess The first of the year stress but no need to take it out on me. Then upon leaving, I asked the office to give my son an excused tardy because he was handling school issues and should not be counted tardy, and the administration looked at me like I had two heads and Active, as though he should have a tardy which I argued he should not. Then they said the counselor should’ve given him a excused tardy and I said she didn’t so we need one and the administrative personnel argued with me about why he was denied the ability to go when the counselor told him to go and instead said I should have emailed which I had no email and I said it doesn’t make sense for me to email if my child is having a face-to-face conversation with his teacher and has proof of the email. Why should I go behind all of that and also email for him to have permission to go to a counselor‘s office that may take days to respond and back and forth when he literally has proof of the email and a direct conversation with his teacher should have been enough. I’m glad my son is making friends because if it wasn’t for that, we’d be unenrolled TODAY.

Overall, I have been extremely pleased with Lakewood montessori. My daughter has done very well here. there are several after school activities for kids to participate in, both athletic and non-athletic. There is a strong emphasis on fostering independence, which is great preparation for high school.