Heaton Pass
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.

We moved to this school district in 2023 BECAUSE of the schools. Our daughter has never had so much fun learning! The district actively tracks student progress several times a year against the school and district wide. All Carmel schools are great, but Prairie Trace stands out.