Hayes K-8

My kids have been attending Avondale Elementary School for the past 5 years. We are thrilled with the learning environment and the dedicated teachers and staff. Avondale is a neighborhood school with a very engaged parent teacher association that is committed to providing programming and supporting the mission of the school.Andrew Hardaway

The front office staff does not report to work until 8 but, the school opens at 7:15. The teachers are verbally abusive . My son is afraid to ask to go to the restroom because his teacher tells his peers to “pee on yourself .” My son told his 2nd grade teacher that his ride was there to pick him up she advised him that he does not have to tell her that everyday . For some strange reason she does not feel that it’s important to know who her students get in the car with because her conversation with other adults is more important. However , I was under the impression that’s the reason the teachers were to be standing outside with their students that are car riders. This particular teacher is a dictator and not an educator! She need to go work security at a prison instead of being around children . I feel sorry for the children that don’t receive love at home because it is not present at Inglenook.

Excellent. Teachers are dedicated and well qualified..

COvID-19 has really been hard. The teachers try but the inequalities are very clear.

My experience at Cornerstone Schools of Alabama was deeply disappointing. Administration consistently brushed off serious concerns raised by both students and teachers. The principal openly played favorites, and I witnessed a teacher being brought to tears simply for standing up for students. Several teachers who chose to leave stated plainly that the school does not treat students like human beings.Academically, the curriculum is poorly structured. Students who leave Cornerstone and transition to public schools are often severely behind. Student voices are routinely shut down, with the exception of varsity teams, who are allowed to speak without consequence—though even then, little action is taken.Despite presenting itself as a Christian institution, the environment felt judgmental, sexist, and at times prejudiced. The values being practiced did not align with the values being preached.The only consistently positive aspect of the school is safety. Their protocols for intruders and high-stress situations are well planned and taken seriously. Unfortunately, strong safety measures cannot make up for systemic issues in leadership, academics, and student treatment.

I attended Alabama Waldorf School from nursery through the 6th grade, and I can honestly attest that Waldorf was incredibly formative in my life. The atmosphere was warm and caring, and everyone knew one another, so I felt a sense of personal responsibility to everyone around me. I was always encouraged to focus on interpersonal relationships, kindness, honesty, and especially creativity, which became really important in my life - I started writing, pursued creative writing in high school and later in college at Yale, and am now getting an MFA in creative writing. I owe much of this passion for artistic creation to my upbringing at Waldorf. I will also add that I especially appreciate the way Waldorf discouraged using technology, playing video games, social media and so on. Growing up without technology gave me a lot more room to develop personally and creatively than kids at other schools were afforded, and I think that's even more important nowadays. I can't recommend Waldorf enough!!

I have had nothing but great experiences with St Francis Xavier Catholic school! I was new to the area when I first came across this school and since being a part of the school community my family and I have felt so included and welcomed! My family and I are also members of the parish but have met many families that are not and have chosen to send their kids to school here as they have also experienced the community here and the invest the entire staff puts into each child and their education! The teachers here work hard with each student to challenge them in their academics while also building up the whole person. I was met with honesty and clarity when I brought forth an issue I was seeing with my child, meeting with both the principal and teacher. I felt very supported and heard leaving that meeting, walking away with the comfort that the staff wanted what was best for my child and for my family and that they were willing to work with us to do that. I can not recommend this school enough!