838 Sweeney St
North Tonawanda, NY 14120

My child is diabetic. The school nursing staff and teachers provided my child a safe place to deal with her highs and lows (which were a couple of times a week). Almost every teacher was accommodating to my child, and even helped her get to the nurse or provide her with an emergency snack as needed. Overall she had a very pleasant experience at NTI, even while struggling with diabetes. The nursing staff is experienced, professional, and know how to deal with diabetes and other special needs. They work with the parents to help your child succeed at school. The school counselor and social worker both helped my student not only with her physical needs but emotional ones as well. They worked with me to help her prepare for more independence in high school, and I have no complaints about the nursing staff and support staff. North Tonawanda is helpful setting up a 504 for any child with special needs. They will work with you, just make a few calls. They want children to succeed, will meet with parents, work with kids, and do an exemplary job of providing a safe, educational environment for your child. I mention this because not every district (or every state) offers this in-depth assistance. My child was more than excited about school! She loved the classes with hands-on science experiments and delved into exciting literature, and she loved, loved, loved the choir. Several clubs engage students like Critter Club, Theater Club, GSA, MiddleMix Choir Club, and so many more. In addition, students have a late bus option for clubs/sports/arts so they can take a bus home afterward. For parents with limited transportation or who have to work all day - this is a great convenience. Bus drivers and assistants are friendly and care for our students. If you have any questions, call the Transportation office directly, and they will gladly help you. The one negative is the administration doesn't take bullying seriously, especially against protected categories (ex., disability, race/ethnicity, LGBTQIA, female students). This is really disappointing after my child and her peer group experienced a year of bullying, which included at least one physical attack. The principal could do much better to address bullying.Teachers provide an exciting learning environment. There is a big emphasis on tech and the arts. There are many sports teams. Over all it is a very positive school experience. Call the counselor to answer your questions. She is amazing!

I was a student here and ended up dropping out, because I wasn’t going to be allowed to graduate on time. They only care about you if you’re an athlete. They don’t “prepare you for college.” Flunked out of here to end up doing great in college and nursing school. Don’t send your child here unless you want them to feel depressed and defeated.

Since the pandemic, NY schools in general have been struggling to help their students. And I can I say I am absolutely impressed with Spruce in North Tonawanda! The teachers are caring, they provide unique learning methods (some are similar to Montessori) and there is a beautiful new playground outside for the children to play with. They have wonderful activities year-round for our little ones - Halloween Parade, countless family days, awards ceremonies, Trunk or Treat, Valentine day parties, etc. We also have a wonderful program where grandparents volunteer in each classroom, so each student builds a wonderful relationship with a grandparent who cares for them very much. I have zero complaints about education and teaching at Spruce. And I was an educator for 20 years, from early childhood to graduate school. The care our teachers have had with our students who have had to adapt from lockdown, back to school, all during the pandemic, they deserve a raise and an award for their hard work, dedication, and creativity! For those with children with special needs of any kind - The North Tonawanda district has been absolutely fantastic with my two children. One is a type 1 diabetic and the other has some anxiety/emotional issues post-pandemic. The school works with you one-on-one, has excellent school counselors and administration. They will help you set up a 504 for your child and you have access to numerous services. There are excellent trained nurses at each school who work with parents one-on-one. I even had one on speed dial for my diabetic child. Our school also has free lunch/breakfast for ALL children, regardless of economic level - which has been a wonderful help during these tighter post-pandemic years. For families that want more diversity in their schools, Spruce has more diversity than the rest of of the district. (My family is Latino). It's a mixed-income area and has excellent resources. I recommend Spruce for everyone looking for a nice little school in a beautiful quiet neighborhood. 5 Stars my friend, and I don't give them lightly.