Hayes K-8

I’m puzzled by the rating Great Schools has given this school, as it is so far removed from the reality and the rising state report card grades. My children have attended Avondale since the wonderful First Class Pre-K program. The teachers, administrators, and community partners are all phenomenal. The beautiful building, teaching farm and tennis courts on site, slate of after-school clubs, and active parent community all make it a special place.

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.

For the past 8 years, our family has been part of the grades program at Alabama Waldorf School, and our lived experience has been one of deep care, inclusion, and genuine community.As an LGBT household, we can honestly say we have never felt merely “tolerated” here. We have felt welcomed, protected, and celebrated. We have consistently witnessed transgender, questioning, and LGBT children treated with compassion, dignity, and respect by teachers, staff, parents, and students alike. Several members of the school community are themselves LGBT or have raised LGBT children, and that lived understanding shows in the way children are supported as they grow and discover who they are.Academically and developmentally, Waldorf education has been extraordinary for our child. The delayed approach to reading and academics is often misunderstood, but it is rooted in respect for childhood development. Children first learn through play, storytelling, creativity, movement, relationships, and hands-on experience before abstraction and testing. Far from “falling behind,” most Waldorf students develop strong attention spans, curiosity, emotional intelligence, creativity, and a true love of learning that serves them exceptionally well later on.Our child has blossomed here into a confident, compassionate, morally grounded young person who genuinely loves learning.Beyond the education itself, the parent community has become one of the greatest gifts of our lives. We have built real friendships, found support through difficult seasons, and watched our child grow inside a vibrant, nurturing, deeply human community.