Green Valley

TA offers strong academic rigor, making it a good fit for students who are traditional learners—those who excel with bookwork, follow directions, remain quiet, and have no disabilities. Students who fall outside this profile may face challenges, primarily due to inconsistent communication.Grading and TransparencyIn grades K–2, students do not receive letter grades. Third graders do, but parents cannot view individual assignment grades—only the overall average. Missing or incomplete assignments are often unknown to parents until midterm or end-of-quarter reports unless they proactively ask teachers. There is no policy requiring timely teacher responses, and in my experience, communication delays (3–5 days or no reply) made it too late to address issues. Even after multiple requests and having my child ask for missing work, we received no timely follow-up. Other parents in our class reported similar experiences, with some noting the teacher was selective in who they responded to.Grades 4–5 offer more gradebook transparency, allowing parents to view all assignments. However, these grades are described as stricter: teachers discourage parental inquiries on behalf of students, and students can lose conduct points if parents do so. Conduct points may also be deducted for behaviors tied to disabilities, such as ADD/ADHD, even when a 504 or IEP is in place. Communication and Teacher Follow-ThroughThe most significant concern was the lack of reliable communication. Our child’s teacher often presented one approach during in-person meetings but failed to follow through afterward. Email responses were inconsistent, sometimes taking several days or never arriving.School Environment and ProgramsFor students who are quiet, compliant, and require no additional support, TA can be a positive experience. Most teachers are friendly, and peer relationships are generally good. We experienced a few racial incidents, but the principal addressed them promptly.Specials are modest: art consists largely of coloring and painting, and music involves one performance per grade level.SummaryIf your child thrives under high academic expectations, learns independently, and you are comfortable with minimal or inconsistent communication from staff, TA is a strong academic choice. If your child requires additional support, accommodations, or more consistent engagement from teachers, be prepared for potential obstacles.

We have 3 kids at Lake Ridge. They come home happy and want to return the next day. Their test scores are excellent, and the teachers are truly a pleasure. Highly recommend this school as best elementary school of the Johnson City school district.

THIS SCHOOL DOES NOT KNOW OR FOLLOW THEIR OWN DISCIPLINE POLICIES. THEY TRY THEIR BEST TO GOVERN WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR HOME , ON YOUR OWN PRIVATE PROPERTY AND YOUR PERSONAL LIFE . THEY MAKE UP THEIR OWN RULES. WHEN YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THIS SCHOOL , THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL NOT HELP BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL IN BED TOGETHER . IF YOU HAVE A CHILD WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES OR BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS , THEY DONT HAVE THE PATIENCE TO DEAL WITH IT .. THEY WILL ALWAYS FIND AN EXCUSE TO SHUFFLE YOUR CHILD AWAY TO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL AND LABEL HE OR SHE AS A PROBLEM CHILD ON THEIR SCHOOL RECORD .. THEY WILL VIOLATE YOUR RIGHTS AND NOT GIVE YOUR CHILD A FAIR EDUCATION IF THEY HAVE THE SLIGHTEST PROBLEM OUT OF YOU.

Our experience with St. Mary's School is outstanding. We have two girls enrolled at the school. Not only is it a school of academic excellence, but it is a place where our girls feel valued and loved. They grow in wisdom and grace every day. I am confident that the academic, social, and emotional experiences they receive at St. Mary's will serve as a solid foundation for future success.