11122 Westminster Way
Carmel, IN 46033

Excellent school that really prepared my daughter for college

As a former student there I want to point out the true lack in care for student growth and diversity inside the school. Most (not all) teachers didn't take the time to make sure students retained material. I left the school everyday struggling to remember what I had learned that day. Teachers and staff payed no attention to continuous acts of sexism, racism and homophobia displayed at every corner of the school almost at all times. Many students leave the school feeling drained and tired. Students are given 2-3 hours of homework stacked on top off activities out side of school and than criticized for coming in to school tired and falling asleep in class. For a school saying that they hire outstanding teachers that will do the best for your student is false. Teachers should care for the students well beings. But teachers end up targeting and favoring students based off popularity, ethnicity, race, gender and sexuality. On my first day of school there I was separated from 2/3 of my previous elementary school friends and haven't talked with them since. This school is lucky enough though to be put smack dab in the middle of an excelling city. But the downside is in the expectations for the students. At a young age I was pressured to excel in all aspects of school because we lived in an excelling city. And all though I was lucky enough to be able to keep up with those expectations, many students were unable. In this school, if your not at least 1 grade ahead in a subject, your considered dumb or not smart enough to go to school here. No one has said that specifically but that is the feeling it establishes. Send your child to school here if he, she or they are able to keep up with constant judgment and criticism. If you send your child here make sure they are someone with thick skin, I've known so many people here who have fallen into the wrong groups of people because of pressure.

Avoid this school if you are a person of color, mixed or an out-of-state transplant. Avoid Carmel as well. It feels like going back in time. Racism and bullying are terrible and not handled properly. Incidents are frequent. Microagressions are not only tolerated, but normalized. They protect their own. Students and teachers use foul language in the classroom. As a result of this environment, students' grades suffer and they are miserable. It all comes down to leadership. Or a lack thereof. Common values such as respect, kindness, curiosity, community, tolerance and respecting differences do not exist here. Staff and students are very cliquish. Teachers only teach to the test. Students do not learn what they need to become successful, independent thinkers. There is more to a school than it's rating. This school district is overrated and you can find much better programs in other school districts or private/magnet schools. There are also much nicer places to live outside of Carmel.