Windrush

I really didn't like my experience! The school doesn't have good communication between school and parents.My daughter has ADHD, her teaching was horrible, and the feedback was never specific. And they decided to take action in the last week of school. I was surprised and disappointed.I once read that if your child's performance is average to excellent, Murdock is a great school, but if they're average to poor, it's terrible. And I experienced that firsthand.

The students at this school are not excited about learning and are often discouraged from participating in the science fair if they are not part of a selective group (the principal’s favorite PTA group). The teachers at this school try their best to educate the children within the environment they are given. However, I have observed students taking benchmark assessments while other students were talking and running around the classroom.I have also personally observed—and have been told by students—that they are not allowed to play on the playground and are instead required to play near the dumpster due to the playground limitations (broken swings etc). When the garbage truck arrives, the children have to wait and lose their recess time. While this may not be true for all grade levels, it does happen if your child is placed in certain classrooms.It seems to me that the principal cares more about the school’s appearance—whether it looks stylish or not—than about what truly matters. When she climbs onto the roof of the school in an elf outfit is not only dangerous but also sets a poor example for students. The principal is a self proclaimed drama kid trying to always place the spotlight on herself (climbing on the roof in an elf outfit).We left the school and are very happy we did. Several of our friends made the same decision.

Both my sons have attended this school, and my youngest is set to graduate. We have had a wonderful experience in every facet at Shallowford Falls. The Special Ed dept is overseen and facilitated to meet students where they are. The team mentality on IEP teams is such a heartwarming feeling and reduces the stress of advocating. The volunteers who assist SF are amazing--from the PTA, Foundation, Super Dads, the library restockers, and everyone in between. Teachers are attune to students' social and emotional well-being and issues are dealt with fairly and compassionately. My sons are Black, and finding a school where they are accepted has been monumental. In regards to a previous review regarding the discrimination during AM carpool, we have never witnessed or experienced what the original poster claims. Each morning, what we do see, are teachers assisting to unload the cars of Special Need students. We are currently in our 8th year at this school, and in all those years, the only cars who we have witnessed where teachers open doors and help unload the kids are those cars with Special Needs students who pull all the way to the front. This is our 8th year, and each and every day, that is what we see. Teachers are trained to not open doors or assist any students except those who are disabled. I'm disheartened the previous poster finds this "comical" and it shows their own lack of inclusion and acceptance. If we could go back and time and do elementary school again, we would pick Shallowford Falls in a heartbeat. It has been instrumental in providing a safe and inclusive environment where our children have been able to grow into the humans they are now and ultimately ready for middle school. The passion of the teachers is untouchable and this example starts with the admin team. Shallowford Falls = 10 out of 10 stars.

Based on my family's experience at Timber Ridge, I feel it is not a great fit for students with learning differences. My first grader with inattentive-type ADHD and unspecified anxiety disorder really did not get the accomodations she needed. Due to her slower work speed, she was being forced to finish school work during recess even though I was informed later in the year that is against school policy and I had previously asked her teacher not to reduce recess time. I often observed teachers shouting at children to hurry in the carpool line or in the hallways in a way that was very stressful for my daughter. This is a high-pressure school and many of the parents have very high expectations for their children's futures. Now that we've spent my daughter's second grade year at another school, I realize it is possible for her to enjoy school and get the support she needs to feel good about herself and build her confidence. If your child is neurotypical and academically inclined, then they will probably do well at Timber Ridge. But if your child doesn't fit the traditional mold, there are likely better options.

This school has exceeded all expectations since we enrolled our 3-year-old. It has a fantastic culture and we see how rapidly our son is advancing. Unprovoked, he's told us many times how much he loves his school, and thanked us for moving him the Wood Acres. What 3-year-old says that?