Searchlight
Searchlight, NV 89015

I am extremely disappointed with the overall experience my child had within the special needs department at this high school. During her freshman and sophomore years, I was repeatedly reassured that she was doing well academically and making appropriate progress. Looking back, I feel I was gaslighted into believing everything was on track when serious concerns were being overlooked.By her junior year, I became deeply concerned that my child was unable to read or write at even an elementary level despite years in the program. When I raised these concerns, I sought the support of an advocate because I felt my concerns were not being taken seriously. Shortly afterward, her social worker was changed, which only reinforced my belief that issues were being recognized but not openly addressed.Once an advocate became involved, I noticed that more interventions and changes were suddenly implemented. This raised concerns for me because it felt like additional support could have been provided much earlier. Unfortunately, I also felt that the pattern of minimizing concerns continued, with statements being made about what my child could supposedly do that did not match what I was seeing firsthand at home and in daily life.Between her junior and senior years, I changed her diploma path hoping it would better support her needs but later switched it back after realizing meaningful academic progress still was not occurring. I know my child is capable of learning. When information, skills, and tasks are properly presented and taught in a way that meets her needs, she absolutely can learn and grow. I have personally seen this myself.My greatest concern is that I believe she was often given minimal academic expectations and may have been allowed excessive phone or internet access rather than receiving consistent instruction and meaningful educational opportunities. I feel that valuable years of potential learning and growth were missed, and as a parent that is heartbreaking.My intention in writing this is not simply to criticize, but to bring awareness to what I believe were serious shortcomings in the support and education my child received. Families trust schools to advocate for and educate their children, especially those with special needs, and I believe more should have been done.

As a parent of a second year brown student and also someone who attended brown myself, I must say this is the worst school I’ve ever encountered not only as a student, but as a parent dealing with staff. Staff is very unprofessional. My child has come home several times with stories about the staff mistreating them or saying inappropriate things in front of students and when brought to the attention of the assistant principal she wants to bring your child in for a one on one where they can intimidate them. Earlier in the year my child was being bullied by one of their teachers, and when brought to the staff‘s attention, we set up a parent teacher conference where the teacher sat across from my child glaring at them until they were so intimidated they no longer wanted to talk about the situation and burst into tears.

There are far too many students per class. The students do not listen to their teachers. There are so many students with behavior issues in each classroom that they run the classes and teachers are left helpless. Students who are serious about studying are made fun of by their classmates. The school culture is not focused on education. The classes were completely out of control.