Marvin Elementary School

Our child (K) has flourished during their time at Echo and we could not be happier with the school! The environment and culture are top-notch, and the team members consistently and enthusiastically support the students as they reach for new goals. Teachers and school leadership are accessible and are fully engaged. The community is warm, authentic, and fun!

We’ve decided to remove our child from Holy Spirit next year. The final straw was when my child came home and told me their class had to take the same standardized test over and over again. That’s not teaching—that’s basically memorizing the test until the scores look better.There are also serious issues with who is actually teaching the kids. Apparently you don’t even need a degree to teach here. On several occasions the janitor, the yard supervisor, and even the lunch lady were used to substitute in classrooms. That’s honestly shocking for a school that advertises itself as an academic program.I used to hear rumors about families leaving and I didn’t want to believe them, but after seeing things for myself I understand why so many parents walk away.This school seems much more focused on its image than on actually educating the kids. There’s no real STEM lab like they promote—it's basically just a small four-unit building with bathrooms.Kids deserve teachers who are qualified and a school that actually excites them about learning. Unfortunately that hasn’t been our experience here, so we’ll be taking our child somewhere else next year.

If you are wanting your child to have an educational experience that is rooted in an understanding of education not so much as “putting in” (seeing kids as receptacles for adult knowledge) as it is about “drawing out” (supporting kids to know themselves, to figure out how to relate to others, how to really be in the world), then this school is the place to be. Our now 6 year old is in his 4th year at the school and loves going to school. He learns a lot, though not in traditional academic advancement terms. He wouldn’t pass standardized test on math or reading at this point, but that actually is a plus for us. Because he would pass any test of human engagement. He sees adults not as people to please or to fear, but as humans who have resources (experience, strength, perspective) that he might want to engage with. He is grounded in his emotions, is okay being himself, and also learns about what works for others and how to respect their boundaries while voicing his own. He’s developing intrinsic motivation and authenticity. These are lessons and practices oft sought after and rarely achieved. And what a gift to have regular experience of them as a young person. A rare gift. If this sounds appealing, I’d encourage you to check the school out. And I’d be happy to talk with anyone who’s interested.