ANDREAS St
Saint augustine, FL 32080

Absolutely fantastic school! Both my babies go here & I know they’re loved as much at school as they are at home! Every staff member is always so happy & knows my children by name, you can tell they enjoy their jobs by their positive attitudes. My children always have so much to tell me when I pick them up - not only are they learning but they’re *enjoying* learning! My 5 year old told me he wishes he could “live at kindergarten!”

This has been a good school overall. My student has an IEP. I moved us to this district because I'd read that it expects students with IEPs to learn and achieve. I have found that to be true. Sometimes the road was bumpy. The district has a strict disciplinary system that takes into account every disciplinary event in a student's career since attending their first school in Fayette County, even dating back to Kindergarten. Sometimes it can feel a little outrageous, especially when it's minor infractions; however, I've always felt the staff at this school cares for the students, and they treat them with warmth. Mine will be graduating this year, and I know he'll miss it. He's made good friends and earned strong academic achievements, and has become a solid young man. He was not thrilled with his time in the middle school next door, but his time at Peeples and at Starr's Mill has been worth it. They really do try to help your student grow up and take strong steps into a successful adulthood, IEP or not. They have a lot of programs and career pathways, something for everyone. My student has a lot of opportunities ahead of him, and he's become a bit of a success story since attending Fayette County. I do recommend it here.

Special education here needs work. The elementary school next door did a great job in that regard, and they had plenty of staff support with brilliant, ever-changing approaches, as one would expect of an IEP team. The middle school lacks major resources and staff in that department, as well as a therapeutic approach to help kids at their level. The atmosphere is one of helplessness and hitting brick walls. I've never seen that at any other school, not even the high school next door. It's been a consistent issue.Bullying has not been a problem this year, and the kids have been fine. However, the dress code is not equally and consistently enforced. A large number of students struggle academically here throughout the year and pass by the skin of their teeth. These are issues that have been happening for years. On one hand, I think some toughness and independence may be gained by their methods in preparation for high school, and on the other, mental health and special education are greatly diminished, if not ignored entirely. My senior's time in this middle school led to lasting anxiety, and my 7th grader with an IEP is floundering. The solution is always "please talk to him" (essentially, he needs to overcome his disability to fit the classroom) and a lot of make-up work. I find that the case manager and teachers often don't discuss the students together or come up with any new ideas. They seem tired of their work regarding special education. Emails to the administration and district do very little here, and letters to the principal are met with praise of the team and absolute trust in their ability to handle it.