Goddard Middle School

Don’t send your child here if they need special education services. The special education staff is amazing, but the general education teachers have zero interest in including your child. My child has sat by themselves a lot and is not included in the classroom activities often. She is definitely discriminated against because of her disabilities. Leadership doesn’t have the knowledge of special education and IEPs to help with the situation.

I have four children and we have spent our entire elementary years at Normandy Elementary. With two having moved on to middle school, I have seen two of my kids through Normandy from start to finish. The things I love as a parent are as follows: The team of teachers and paras are amazing and only get better with each hire. I’m so grateful how the teachers are so professional at our school. They are amazing and caring and my kids have loved their teachers. They have helped my children get what they need be it IEPs, 504, etc. I know most of them now and they are just a phenomenal group!Core Knowledge curriculum is so rich and I love it! My kids learn the coolest stuff that I never learned and the teachers are creative and create great opportunities for the kids to learn through hands on activities, etc. I also love that the school emphasises respect.Our community of families is awesome! Parents are kind and helpful and show up for school events. Our PTO and SAC are awesome and welcoming to everyone. No “better than you” attitudes here, just how can I help. I’ve been to the past two school auctions and we had so much fun. I’ve also noticed just how many parents come in and help in class which is great! You’ve got to be the change you want to see.Our school has amazing art teachers, our music teacher is so fantastic with the kids and getting them moving and singing, playing instruments. PE is always exciting. The new and old playground is awesome. The shade structures are amazing. Our huge school garden is my kids’ favorite time where they get to learn how to do the things they learn in class, find bugs, and explore and serve via setting up a farmers market and prepping garden produce to serve in the cafeteria. The new Makerspace is also amazing and a fun place for the kids to explore and build, fail, and achieve. I don’t expect every teacher and staff to be the most amazing all the time. They are human and have lives too, just like our students and I think some people get offended too often and do not seek restitution in congenial ways. Our experience has not been perfect, but we have always found ways through good communication pathways with the teachers, the principal, and staff to resolve our issues. When another student started bullying my 4th grader, the principal and teacher nipped it in the bud immediately. They have always been willing and wanting to help any way they can and I appreciate them!

This school is horrible. No honor classes, only three electives, band is the only performance art (thanks to the new principal this year...) and the entire school isn't run very well. Staff gossip about children, and hold a very manipulative and fake tone to their voice. Punishment is not helpful, weird schedule that nobody likes, arguably unnecessary guidelines, heavy favoritism, some classes don't even have teachers, and nothing gets learned. I took absolutely no information from social studies this year, and am now a year behind the curriculum in math because I was in honors at a different school last year, but since this school doesn't offer any honor programs, I have a year to make up. I'm transferring out ASAP. I truly believe only a FEW teachers care about the students. Not to mention the behavior they condone? Students walk out of classes with no repercussions, some hide out in other teachers classes, and no other school I’ve been to lets kids spout vulgar language to one another. The admin rewards BAD kids for what seems like how you’re supposed to behave. It’s like they’re best friends, because explain to me WHY you’re buying food for kids who don’t deserve it? It should also be known that the school had rejected kids from attending, because they can’t tend to their needs as a special education child. This is one of the schools out of the many I’ve been to that actually does make me hate school.

I have waited a long time to make a review to reflect on what the real problems were with FRCS. I believe this school is damaging enough to it's students that I should leave some warning for anybody considering it. There are some amazing teachers here who go out of their way for the students. Generally that is not the case, though potentially it is beginning to improve a little. Most teachers follow a straight line to not risk their jobs or relationship with the owner/principle and coworkers. The main issue I have is with the High-school Bible teaching. I have no knowledge of who is teaching that now, they could be great, but in the past it has proven to be very damaging to students. The selling point for FRCS to a lot of people is the Bible/Christian aspect. But I have learned it is worse to be taught the Bible wrong than not at all. The last Bible teacher was a sports coach, and should have never been considered for Bible teaching. The 3-4 teachers before that, (usually duos) generally taught more harmful beliefs than thought provoking ones. And almost always were in disagreement with each other. I personally chose to agree more with Nietzche than any Bible teacher, and they introduced me to his philosophy. I truly do hope the Bible teaching is better now, but in my experience it can be devastating to a real faith in God. It seems encouraged for the teachers to disagree with the literal parts of the Bible, and leave most things open ended. Which is especially bad when they are the ones to give the side of non believers and just leave the defense unsaid. As far as the Christian side of FRCS, I would highly suggest you either tell your kid to ignore the Bible teachers, or to avoid the school entirely. I had a terrible experience for a lot of reasons, that is not the fault of staff. So I will not speak to the other aspects more, but i do think its important for me to warn people considering this school. Even if you are not a believer but want your kid at an expensive private school for whatever reason, this is probably not for you. It has too few students for real social interactions, and public school probably offers a slightly higher level of education.

Both of my kids love going to school at Mackintosh. The small class size and teachers who care deeply about the success both academically and socially for each individual child makes a huge positive impact. Something unique about Mack is that every child participates in a class play each year. This may not sound like a big deal, however the confidence and ability to speak in front of large groups in grade school prepares them to present to large groups in High School, College, and their Careers, something that many adults are afraid to do.The teachers and administration do a great job of handling conflict among students (which is inevitable). They can sense when issues are starting to arise and then help the students resolve the conflicts - they are actively being taught how to do this rather than just punishing kids when stuff happens (which is going to happen at any school).