165 Knoll Road
Southern Pines, NC 28387

Everything here is good, I will not fight that fact. But it's the actual administration that makes no sense. The teachers teach well, and everything there makes sense. Let's give an example. The councilors. They aren't there to help us. They are here so that if something goes wrong, no one could blame it on the school. I was bullied here, abused here, and when I brought it up with the administration, not only did they do nothing with it, in one, I was the one that got in trouble. I could tell the teachers things. I trust them very well. Except for some. One or two, I won't call out names, has fully ignored the anxiety attacks of a person multiple times, and never went to recognize she could get those. Others I would trust with my life. The students though. Blatant disregard of everything here. They are constantly attempting to break the rules, The character of the school is down the drain. The only class there is any respect is ROTC.

This school no longer exists as a public school, as it was combined with the upper elementary grades in a new facility. It was closed in December 2020, and its students moved to the new Southern Pines Elementary School at 1015 S. Carlisle Street. The former primary school has been repurposed as a community center.

We have 2 children at SPES who initially attended a local private school for multiple years of preschool and kindergarten. We are pleased with the experienced teachers at SPES, as well as the great ratio of students to teachers and the availability of Pre-K on campus. Our child was able to be screened for the gifted program and for speech therapy easily and quickly. The new building is exceptional, especially the media center. The school leadership and teachers communicate well with parents. Our children have gotten out of the neighborhood bubble and now have friends with different abilities, skin color, family makeup, and financial situations. This was not the case in the private school they attended. Our children do not get assigned homework (yet?).

Middle school is rough anywhere. There has been a lot of change in staff, including teachers, principals and bus drivers. One of my children had an iep with this school and started out with a 501. We removed the 501, which only brought on problems due to ongoing medical appointments and such. I’m also not thrilled with the counselor at Crain’s Creek. It seemed to me she is not suitable for the middle school environment. My daughter and her friends were very uncomfortable around her. Some of the teachers are phenomenal, while others are a bit lacking in organization and allowing their biases against certain students to influence how they grade them or how they work with them. I’m sure it’s difficult, but due to the nature of their job, I feel that some training on how to avoid personal bias when teaching the children is necessary, and learn how to be more compassionate.