Mcadory Middle School

Definitely do not recommend sending your kids to this school

We started this school in August 2011 the same time Mrs. Burke the principle started. I've read the comments posted before she arrived and I don't recognize the school they are describing. We have seen so many great changes in the past 4 years. The enrollment has grown from 83 to over 200 children. The school offers core knowledge (very different than common core). Core Knowledge builds on knowledge the children learn each year. If the students are studying mammals you can go class to class and see how the teaching and knowledge on the subject gets deeper and deeper with each class. The school offers music, Spanish, art in a safe religion setting. There have been staff and program changes in the last 4 years- in my opinion both were needed and have resulted in a better school.

To whom it may concern,I am not sure if my concerns are directed to the right audience but I wanted to start here and if you could make sure this gets into the correct hands, that would be greatly appreciated. This is how things are currently at Bessemer Academy and I think someone needs to take a hard look at what is going on there. If you are looking for a school that allows bullying, double standards for students, unprofessional teachers, poverty level food in the lunchroom, and unsanitary conditions in the restrooms; Bessemer Academy is the place for your child. Our child was not only bullied by students, but the school allowed a teacher to bully my child. My child was addressed by a teacher about a dress code issue while many others in my child's class went unaddressed for the same thing. Teachers were openly discussing their dating lives and salary information with the students in the classroom. The food served in the lunchroom was often less quality than what you see served in some prisons. For a while, the restroom was missing a stall not providing privacy for the kids to use the restroom. Teacher turnover there is at an all-time high. Bessemer Academy professes to be a Christian school but that couldn't be further from the truth. This is just one of many similar cases that has occurred since my child has been in school there. This school needs to be investigated on so many levels.I plan to reach out to other sources in an effort to find someone who will look into what is going on at the school at a deep level as this is the only way you will find these issues. Please do something about this school.Thank You

My husband and I have decided to enroll our son elsewhere for the upcoming school year. Overall I feel that Flint Hill is a good school. Not great, but good. Flint Hill came up short. The Abeka cirriculum used at Flint Hill is very slow moving and a bit boring. My son only brought homework home 2-3 times per month, so I started giving him homework. Progress reports were rarely received. Although the teacher is very nice and kind to the children, I don't feel as though we have been co-laborers in his education and personal development. The majority of the staff are not friendly with the exception of a few. There weren't any opportunities for the parents to meet with the teachers like you would expect. I did like the facility and location, also the covenience to home and work. In the end, we just don't see ourselves continuing to pay for an education and we could get for free else where. I really wanted my son to go through 12th grade there. Lastly, the pricipal resigned shortly before Christmas and they've had an interim since that time. The interim person has been great, but there should have been more of an effort to secure permanent leadership.