704 Ferguson Rd
Joppa, MD 21085

My daughter is behind in Math & Reading due to her being diagnosed with a learning disability in March of 2023.... I requested a team's meeting back in 2021 due to me seeing signs if something wrong. I expressed over and over to them that my child needs an IEP plan or even a 504 plan. They are no help. They do not want to accept the responsibility of my child being behind because they are blaming me for attendance and attendance is not the case my child missed 12 days throughout in entire school year due to Flu & Strap Throat Twice. Come to find out I am not the only parent that's fighting for help. My child is entering th 3rd grade and still no improvement and she's constantly being taught and remind at home. She can't grasp basic concepts hence of the learning disability come in AT.

I attended JHS in 1998-2002. It's very unfortunate to see how things have changed in a negative direction. While my son had great support from the staff his four years he attended. He should have not graduated. It was given to him. Did he do work yes! And when he actually applied himself, he did great but in the four years he failed both 9th and 11th grade. He was short one credit from the credit's needs. Since the pandemic the school system are using this as an excuse and exception to push kids through even if they have not academically met their markers. I did sign a waiver and knew that he was being handed something that wasn't fully earned, and he took advantage of it because he knew that he was still going to pass. He also missed just about half of his 12th grade year to personal issues but there are students who never failed any classes or grades, had all their credits didn't miss many days of school and they are the ones who deserved to graduate. I feel like my son was also pushed through. He is a very smart bright child but did not apply himself. 20 years ago, if you failed you were held behind. Ignoring their failures are not doing them any favors. It's doing way more harm than good. If they are not pushed and are handing everything without earning it, we are setting them up for failure. They need and should be held accountable for their actions. I do appreciate the staff supporting my son and seeing the good in him but in reality, he should not have graduated on time.

I have had 3 children go through this school, and unfortunately would never recommend it. While a lot of the staff and administrators are very nice and doing the best they can, their hands are tied when it comes to discipline. A few years ago, one of my children had another child grab her breast in the locker room while not clothed. We immediately reported it, and it became ones word against another because there are obviously no cameras in the changing area. A no-contact was signed, and paperwork done to ensure that other child was never in my daughter’s classes. However, on a half day the kids were put in smaller classes, and that girl was brought to my child’s classroom, giving her dirty looks and pointing. Obviously the school immediately apologized, but it never should have happened. Fast forward to this year, different child, and this daughter has had a death threat and is experiencing bullying. No contacts were done with these kids, cops involved for the death threat, and some how the child that gave the death threat ends up walking behind my daughter in hallways, and also shows up in her classroom. This child was supposed to have an assigned person with them as there are known behavioral concerns, but somehow he is still near my daughter. The school needs help, and something needs to be done to keep the kids safe.