Perrine

It is a school with good educators who are very organized and kind.

My experience with this school, particularly under Principal Andy J. Pierre-Louis, was extremely negative. My son was in second grade, had ADHD and a 504 Plan. Although he had behavioral challenges, he had excellent grades, completed his assignments, and had no attendance or tardiness issues.My son was suspended several times, and during one situation, Principal Pierre-Louis even made a police report involving my second-grade child.At one point, Principal Pierre-Louis told me to complete an online county form that same day so my son could continue having his RBT at school. I followed his instructions. Two days later, I received an email stating that my son had been removed from the school because of his behavior. This was not what had been discussed with me.When I confronted him, he did not mention behavior. Instead, he said the address on file was outside the school's attendance zone. I had moved months earlier, yet nobody had asked for my current address. Later, around 4 p.m. on a Wednesday, I was told I had until 5 p.m. to provide multiple proofs of residence. I rushed home, gathered everything, and returned before closing. The documents proved my son did live within the school's attendance zone.During the RBT approval process, I was also repeatedly asked for documents I had already submitted. At meetings, the principal's secretary would tell me documents were missing. After I insisted, Principal Pierre-Louis himself would confirm they were actually there.The repeated obstacles, contradictory information, and extremely short deadlines made me feel as though barriers were constantly being placed in our way to push my child out.I also found Principal Pierre-Louis extremely rude and confrontational. At times, I felt he was practically yelling at me, and I felt intimidated and disrespected. Immigration-related comparisons or comments were also brought into conversations about my son's situation. My son and I were both born outside the U.S., and I found those references deeply inappropriate and intimidating. Throughout this experience, I personally felt discriminated against because of my race, ethnicity, and immigrant background.Thankfully, my son is now at another school where there is empathy, communication, and teamwork. His behavioral needs did not magically disappear. What changed was how those needs were approached, and the difference has been tremendous.

Last year was our first year at Cutler Ridge Elementary with our son, and I can honestly say we were extremely impressed. The teachers, the campus, the school activities, and, most importantly, the emphasis on student safety all exceeded our expectations.It was no surprise when the school earned an "A" rating, especially after seeing the academic growth and strong performance our son achieved throughout the year. The dedication of the teachers and staff is evident in everything they do.I would absolutely recommend Cutler Ridge Elementary to any family considering it. Take a tour, meet the staff, and see the school for yourself, you won't be disappointed.I also know some people still judge Cutler Ridge based on what they remember from 10 or 15 years ago. The area has changed tremendously, with many positive improvements throughout Cutler Bay. Don't let outdated perceptions keep you from considering this outstanding school.

They have a real issue with student behavior. There are no real repercussions for bullying or harassment. We tell our kids to always tell the adult in charge when something happens. In lunch they will tell the security guard and the security guard will say "tell your teacher" then they go tell the teacher and they say "why didnt you tell the security guard?" If you send your child to this school make sure you ask them everyday very specific questions as to what happened. You will find out a lot.