Taylor Pike
Blanchester, OH 45107

I made a review here during my sophomore year. My review was largely negative. However, my review was largely blinded by my own emotions. Objectively, this is a very average public school. My issues largely came from other students, but that will be discussed later in my review. The teaching here is actually very fine. I have my own issues with it, but complaining about the school with it is only complaining about a symptom of a problem, more so than the root of it (in this case, the United Stated education system as a whole). This school teaches history without excluding too many of the bad things the USA did, which I see some effort from some people to remove from school learning. There is proper teaching about sex ed in a class that is required to be taken for a student to graduate. I've noticed a lot of people want education about reproduction to be excluded from school learning, but this school has had a class for it for a long time, and I applaud them for that. I learned about the menstrual cycle in 5th grade. Teaching kids about how the body works is incredibly important, even if it can be uncomfortable. This school will not only teach things other schools refuse to, but will *require* kids to take those important classes to graduate, which I find to be a very good move.My problem with the school stems mainly from the students that go there. I have been going to the school district since kindergarten and over the years the amount of vitriol the students can hold is truly unbelievable. Ohio is a largely red state, which means the people going to a school inside of it will often be considerably more politically right-leaning than anything else. The students here consistently make bigoted remarks, sometimes towards other students (including myself) and I see very minimal efforts by staff to address this issue. I don't let it get to me, however it's a tad hard not to be irritated when a kid you don't know takes a video of you on the bus and calls you an "it" in the caption and posts it online. Overall, the school teaches well and teaches things that are important, but they fail to address the constant bullying and microaggressions by students that attend the school. I don't know if they somehow haven't seen it, or if they turn a blind eye to it because they like the student (or students) that does those things to other students. It's a notable problem here and it takes a toll on the kids who have to endure it.

The teachers are engaged and we've had great success with this school.

My son was a special needs student from K through 5th grade. My son was treated poorly, and unfair the whole time he attended this school. Unfortunately I learned a little too late what was really going on. However once I learned there was NO stopping me making sure he received proper learning. Once again it was a little a too late. He was not permitted to participate in ALL of the things his typical peers participated in. He was NOT permitted to use his communication device (I have proof) in order to communicate. His IEP was NOT followed as it was supposed to be. All of these things were 100% reported to the schools principal and Super Intendent, and they did NOTHING!!! I rated learning a 1 due to the above statement.I rated teaching a 5 because there are SO MANY teachers that care about the students, but unfortunately are not permitted to teach like they know or want to make these children successful! I rated social-emotional support a 1 because the administration at the time was horrible and only either showed up to save face, or to toss around the power they had. Therefore there was NO support to teachers. The principal once again was a HUGE trigger to MANY students, teachers, and parents. Safety was also given a 1 due to the amount of children allowed to harm other students and teachers was HORRIBLE.Family engagement I gave a 2 because although they tried to keep the family's engaged families and students did not feel welcome, or did not like the atmosphere when walking in that school. They have great ideas, but until families feel welcome and children feel wanted, and the principal is gone it won't happen. I really struggled with recommending the elementary school, but until the principal is gone I would NOT recommend the Elementary school.