Rutledge School

My girls attended this school last school year and it was the worse school we ever encountered. The principle and office staff were absolutely unprofessional. Did not respectfully call my children by their names when I came by to check them out of school. The only thing that made it a little tolerable were their teachers.

This school is small and has become a project based learning school. The principal has high expectations for the teachers who in turn have high expectations for the kids. The bar has been set high and the children perform well. There are many opportunities for parents to be involved and the percentage of parents attending school functions, meetings, school events, etc is high. Lipscomb is a well hidden jewel in the Jeff co school system.

Schools get worse, but this school is pretty bad. Three generations of my family have attended, but the children today have it really bad. Most of the good teachers are gone. I'd say about 15% of the staff is actually worth paying. Some paraprofessionals, librarians, janitors, and a few teachers. Most of the teachers are poor communicators, lazy, under-protective of the students, and take no pride in what they do. Some are defensive and disrespectful toward parents and children. The teachers are there to collect checks, as they have either taken no interest in the children or have just given up. In poorer socioeconomic areas, things can be challenging. There's no doubt. I just figure you're up for the challenge or not. Most of the faculty aren't. The passion is hanging on by a thread only because of the few that actually care about the children and their profession. Otherwise there would be none. Another thing about this school is how they promote testing rather than learning, growth, and character. There's more to life than taking tests. Tests are important at times, but the whole curriculum should not revolve around tests. Now to be a bit petty, their drop-off/pick-up and check-in/check-out process isn't well planned. Dropping off in the morning is okay. I would like to see more than a couple of people receiving the kids in the morning though. Picking up is awful. The walkie-talkie system they have is supposed to call the kids out to the car, but there are cars parked on the left and right side of the road because people still go in to get kids. Plus traffic in the middle of the road, but the traffic officer keeps that line moving (when they're doing their job). Where to park? How to get out after pick-up? If someone is entering the building to get their children, then they should use the parking lot. Leave spaces for people respecting what little order is in place. Check-in/check-out requires parents to sign in at a building used for state and county programs, not the actual elementary school. Then you take your child to the actual school. Time wasted. Enclosing. There are more bad things, but this school has much potential. I see what it could be. It frustrates me because I know what it was. Many of the faculty and staff are genuinely decent people. Some actually good people. Where is the pride and passion though?

I transfered to Garywood from a public school. First, they really don't offer a wide arrangement of classes. At my public school we could choose from a list of electives. The biggest problem with the school was that none of the teachers (that taught high school) actually had a degree in what they were teaching or either didn't have a degree at all. The school wasn't credited when I went there so my diploma was worth nothing until they became credited 2 years later. I learned nothing my senior year. The SAT's are a sham. The whole school basically was. The teachers mean well, but a subsitute teacher shouldn't be made the offical teacher just because they couldn't find a replacement. Graduated in 2005.

My daughter started to attend MPCA Daycare when she was two years old. When the opportunity came to choose an Elementary School, my husband and I chose MPCA without hesitation. I am proud to say that my daughter is turning into a humber, educated, and God-fearing yound lady. The program & curriculum at MPCA is impeccable! MPCA is not only my school of choice for my daughter, but now the faculty, staff, and students are family. ~ Keirston S.