Bretton Woods

They are absolutely horrible to my students

My experience with Echo Lake Elementary School has been extremely challenging, particularly as a parent advocating for a child with unique learning and behavioral needs.Throughout our time at the school, I have consistently had to advocate for my child to be understood beyond a traditional classroom model. My child is capable of learning and engaging, but requires a more flexible, supportive, and individualized approach. Unfortunately, much of what we encountered felt rigid and not adapted to how he actually learns.One of the biggest concerns has been how easily his needs were misunderstood. When he becomes overwhelmed or shuts down, it is not due to lack of ability, but rather an inability to access tasks when they are presented in a high-pressure or traditional format. Instead of this being recognized and supported, it often felt like it was treated as non-compliance rather than a signal that he needed a different approach.As a parent, I have had to take on the role of bridging that gap myself. At home, I have seen firsthand that he can engage, respond, and learn when material is presented in a natural, low-pressure, and interest-based way. This has made it even more difficult to see those strengths not fully reflected or supported in the school setting.Communication has also been a challenge at times. I have worked to collaborate and share what works for my child, but it has not always felt like that input was fully integrated into his educational experience.I believe schools have an opportunity and responsibility to meet children where they are, especially those who do not fit into a standard mold. My hope is that moving forward, there can be more openness to individualized, flexible approaches so that students like my child are not defined by how they perform under pressure, but by what they are truly capable of when supported appropriately.

There are pretty colors on an awful foundation. This school does not provide any assistance with special needs and tends to favor some children over others. I would never recommend this school to anyone.

My son loves Dumbarton! He starteds school after during the pandemic, everything has been EXCEPTIONAL!

My twins came to Lourdes for middle school this past year. In public school they were bullied and felt out of place because they were very smart and also neurodivergent. At Lourdes, from day 1, they have felt included and have made friends with kids like them. At recess (yes middle schoolers still get recess) both boys play soccer and the athletic kids play with them. No one makes fun of them. Have there been a few instances of unkind things said? Of course because they are in middle school and the place isn’t magic. But, when they tell an adult, it is immediately shut down and dealt with. The school has very little tolerance for bullying or even disrespect! Academically my boys have enjoyed the challenges of new classes and are always talking about what they have learned. Dr. Alpert who teaches history is a treasure and my boys LOVE her. Some of the quirks or things I wish were different are the variety of electives offered to middle schoolers. It’s a small school so the options are limited. I wish the middle school operated on a true block schedule so kids had more exposure to some classes and they math happened every day. My boys have thrived at Lourdes and it makes me wish we had known about it when my daughter was in middle schooler. If you are thinking about Lourdes, make the choice and you won’t regret it!