287 Waters Edge Ln #5
Madison, AL 35758

I had 2 kids go through Discovery - one didn’t do any extra curricular activities, the other played basketball & baseball. Overall, both had a positive experience. My younger child attended during Covid & while things were a little chaotic at first, I truly believe the staff did the best they could to accommodate a very immediate & drastic change in procedures. As a parent, yes you had to be involved, and I’m sure it was difficult for families who couldn’t be home during the day…just like it was for every family in the country at the time. I never had an issue contacting teachers for clarification if needed. The Madison City School district recognized that in person classes were crucial…not just as a means of providing quality education, but for the mental health of the students as well. When many other schools remained closed, Madison did their best to reopen while following the “recommendations” of various health agencies. I’m writing this review because two of the seven reviews for this school are directly related to Covid policies & clearly those two individuals did not have a good experience. I don’t think the entire history of the school & its staff should be so heavily judged on this one event…especially when we all have the benefit of hindsight. Madison City Schools did their best to restore in person classes asap, which turned out to be crucial to the academic success of students. Of course it was rocky, just like everything else was at the time. One reviewer complained that the schools didn’t mask the kids enough & gave no alternative…I respectfully disagree, especially since we know now that masks provided virtually no protection. We know now that kids were at the lowest risk for serious illness. The biggest barrier to education during that time was the federal government. I can’t imagine the toll it took on teachers who were parents themselves, and we probably could’ve done things differently, but in the middle of it all I still believe the city acted in the best interest of the children, within some pretty strict & harsh boundaries.

This school is great - if you’re of a certain demographic and social class. If you aren’t, you might as well be homeschooled. Aside from the obvious - that this is the kind of school that cares MORE about sports - Bob Jones only really caters to prospective engineering students. Much like the surrounding community, the school HEAVILY lacks diversity in teachers, staff and students; and speaking of the students, how many times can I mention the words “stuck up, snobby and snooty”? Cliques run deep in their halls and it’s saddening. Blindly put, if you don’t look a certain way, you’re arrogantly ignored during your time there. And something else that’s arrogantly ignored? Accuracies in history. Everything Bob Jones has taught me in history class was extremely one-sided, watered down and ignorantly wrong. THIS SCHOOL PUMPS WRONG AND HURTFUL HISTORY ALLUSIONS UNTIL THEIR STUDENTS. I could go on and on.... bottom line, this school is awful, inside and out.

West Madison elementary school is now Midtown elementary school. They moved into a new building. The administration and staff in this school are outstanding! Honestly the best of the best schools in Madison city schools. Leadership sure does reflect, and Mrs. Demeester is an exemplary leader.The inclusion at this school and care they inculcate into the students to genuinely care for each other is one I have never seen before.The students are kind and support kids of all kinds. My son loves going to school and has learned and developed so well socially and academically. Special education staff is incredible. They genuinely care about your child and do everything in their power to help them. Giving me hope I wasn't too sure of prior to him starting here. This school is a heaven sentY'all this school has the best staff. Mrs. Sellers, Mrs. Rush, Mrs. Massey. Just an awesome staff and administration. A very rare find to get the best of both worlds.