Adobe

This has been one of the most disappointing elementary school experiences I have ever encountered. Unfortunately, this concern extends beyond a single issue and includes teachers, office staff, and school leadership. I have personally witnessed staff members behaving in ways that I consider rude and disrespectful toward children, parents, and visitors.It is troubling that children are expected to demonstrate respect toward peers and adults when there appears to be a significant lack of respectful behavior being modeled by some of the adults in the building. Children learn by example, and the current environment does not consistently reflect the standards of respect that are being demanded of them.Additionally, I share the concerns of other parents that incidents of bullying are not being adequately addressed, and that the school often appears to turn a blind eye to these issues.One positive development this year is the principal’s decision to step down, and I hope this leadership change creates an opportunity for meaningful improvement. I sincerely hope the district and Board of Education step in sooner rather than later to ensure that necessary changes are made to better support the students and families of this school.

I had three kids who attended this school. One of them for 8 years. The other two I pulled out because of the incompetence of the principal Ms Hood. She is the “mean girl” persona wrapped up into a principal. IEP’s are only followed if you stay on top of the teachers. Bullying? Be prepared to make multiple calls and complaints before anything is even addressed. It took getting her boss at district involved just to have our concerns addressed appropriately. I asked for my son to be evaluated by the school psychologist due to some concerns. However, Ms. Hood denied the evaluation and essentially forced me to withdraw my son and place him in another school. At one point, he would show up on a Monday for an hour, then be suspended again for the most minor thing. When I had a meeting to discuss these ongoing concerns, she literally laughed in my face then denied it. They have a high turn over rate for teachers and the education kids receive is almost none existent. If your child is struggling, don’t expect to be notified by their teacher. Out of all the years my kids attended, only a few teachers were worth mentioning and they all ended up leaving. There are better schools out there.

I want to share our personal experience with this school because I think it’s important for parents to know what the environment is really like.This school has a very strict approach to discipline and student behavior. The expectations are extremely high, and children are expected to follow the rules very closely throughout the entire school day. Talking is limited in many situations, not only in the classroom but also in the hallways, cafeteria, PE, and other parts of the school. There is a lot of focus on being quiet, staying in line, and following instructions exactly.I understand that some families may really like this type of structured and traditional environment. For some children, it may work very well. But unfortunately, it has not been a good fit for our child.Our child is more energetic, social, and independent, and over time we started noticing how much the environment was affecting them. Almost every day, they come home upset and emotionally drained. They often have no motivation or energy to do anything after school. As a parent, it is very difficult to see your child come home unhappy day after day.What concerns me most is that our child sometimes feels like they are constantly doing something wrong because of the frequent reminders and behavior complaints. I believe children need structure and boundaries, but they also need to feel comfortable, confident, and happy at school.We have had experience with another school before, and it was a completely different experience for our family — our child was much happier and more motivated. Because of that experience and what we have seen this year, we have decided that we will definitely change schools next year.The academics here may be good, but parents should understand that strict discipline is not just one part of the school — it is a very big part of the overall culture and affects the child's entire day.My advice to parents is to visit the school before making a decision. Don't just ask about academics. Spend some time observing the environment and think about whether your child's personality and needs are a good match for this type of school.