Ruffner

Overall we've had a good experience with this school. The teachers are amazing and there are a lot of opportunities for community building here. The main issue is that some of the parents need to parent their children better. Also there is a huge learning disparity across the board in the classroom ... I know this comes from ESL and children not being read to, etc ... so the challenge is always laid upon the teacher to teach to those who are so far behind while also trying to keep the higher achievers busy so they don't become bored and/or not learning what they need to learn.

Bad. I attended my child’s school a lot and I don’t like what I see.

It was an ok school but the principal Mr. Mario lumzy is the issue. He has no care for his parents or students. He is inconsiderate of families especially single mothers who are actually working and struggling to survive handling things alone. He does for who he wants to do things for. I have proof. He makes it so hard for a child to attend the school but will allow 27 elementary kids to be in the care of one teacher in classroom but won’t let a non problematic child who he didnt even know attended the school attend the middle school. My child has been on the honor roll since she has been there. My child failed the math part of a test when her math teacher was out dang near the whole year and that’s what you go off to determine her getting in the middle school. He is awful and I will be pushing the issue to get him removed from the principal at this school. Yes I have time when it comes done to my kids he made it hard for me imma make it hard for him. When he talking or response to emails he sounds like an automated service response. That lets me know he just saying anything. But he just doesn’t know he will not hear the last of me. I do not recommend anyone going there. He does nothing for bullying nothing but pretends.

Great school that's tailored to meet the needs of all students

For the past 8 years, our family has been part of the grades program at Alabama Waldorf School, and our lived experience has been one of deep care, inclusion, and genuine community.As an LGBT household, we can honestly say we have never felt merely “tolerated” here. We have felt welcomed, protected, and celebrated. We have consistently witnessed transgender, questioning, and LGBT children treated with compassion, dignity, and respect by teachers, staff, parents, and students alike. Several members of the school community are themselves LGBT or have raised LGBT children, and that lived understanding shows in the way children are supported as they grow and discover who they are.Academically and developmentally, Waldorf education has been extraordinary for our child. The delayed approach to reading and academics is often misunderstood, but it is rooted in respect for childhood development. Children first learn through play, storytelling, creativity, movement, relationships, and hands-on experience before abstraction and testing. Far from “falling behind,” most Waldorf students develop strong attention spans, curiosity, emotional intelligence, creativity, and a true love of learning that serves them exceptionally well later on.Our child has blossomed here into a confident, compassionate, morally grounded young person who genuinely loves learning.Beyond the education itself, the parent community has become one of the greatest gifts of our lives. We have built real friendships, found support through difficult seasons, and watched our child grow inside a vibrant, nurturing, deeply human community.

I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to all the awesome fellow teachers I work with at St. Barnabas! We always come together and support each other and put forth 110% for the children!Go Raiders!