Red Bug Elementary School

My 8 yo daughter took a very important test that would determine if she could be promoted to the next grade or be retained. She has ADD and gets distracted very easily. I received a phone call from one of her two teachers telling me she did not pass the test and she would be retained. She got the lowest score possible which made me question if she had even paid any attention to the test. When I asked her teachers they had no clue of her performance during the test. I was told they were not with her while she took the test but didn’t care to find out how she got the lowest score possible. I addressed my concern to them and their reply was to not reach out to them for the rest of the year and instead to reach out to administration. Zero commitment, dedication or accountability. If you are an advocate for your child’s education don’t enroll your child in this school. Note: The other staff were always great to me (front desk, nurse, principal assistant, and others).

Sterling Park Elementary has been an absolute blessing for our family (and our sanity). When my son first started school, he was non-verbal due to autism. Fast forward to now, and he is reading, writing, and communicating, basically doing things we once only dreamed about. The staff believed in him, supported him endlessly, and somehow made learning feel both possible and fun.My daughter is also a student at Sterling Park Elementary, and she has absolutely flourished. She’s growing academically, socially, and confidently, and comes home excited to tell us about her day, which as any parent knows, is a minor miracle in itself.Beyond the classroom, this school has created a true community. We’ve built amazing relationships with other families and with staff who genuinely care. This is a place where teachers know your child, celebrate their wins (big and small), and partner with parents instead of just sending emails with “FYI” in the subject line.We are incredibly grateful to be part of Sterling Park Elementary and could not recommend it more. If you’re looking for a school that combines compassion, excellence, and heart, with a little magic sprinkled in, this is it.

The principal is more concerned with optics than actually effectively building up the school and community. She’s gotten rid of wonderful, dedicated teachers seemingly because they were squeaky wheels about her policies and practices. We can’t hold standard community events for the kids at the school if it interferes with her personal time. We were told we can’t have trunk or treat because her birthday is that month and she doesn’t want to have to be there. She expects PTA to fundraise and run events but won’t let them keep any of the money to enhance the school. She makes the teachers meet their recertification requirements on their own time and dime while other schools in the district support their teachers. I just don’t understand why anyone would choose to work in a child-focused career if they really don’t enjoy the company of children and aren’t passionate about seeing them flourish as a whole person.

As a parent — and a former public school teacher and administrator — my biggest priority is that my children feel safe, loved, and excited to go to school. Tuskawilla Montessori Academy delivers on that. My kids truly look forward to their days here, and I’ve seen how the Montessori philosophy encourages them to grow in confidence and curiosity.The teachers are knowledgeable in Montessori practices and bring warmth and care into the classroom. While I have occasionally noticed spelling or grammar errors in informal school communications, it hasn’t affected the quality of instruction or my trust in the program. In fact, the school has clearly shown growth and internal improvements over time, which gives me confidence in their direction.I don’t believe my children would thrive or develop the same love of learning in a traditional public school setting. Tuskawilla Montessori has provided an environment where that love of learning is nurtured, and for our family, that’s invaluable.

Our experience with this school's admission process raised serious concerns about fairness, transparency, and equal treatment. Decisions appeared to be based on assumptions rather than the student's actual abilities or the facts provided. I feel important decisions were made without following proper procedures or giving fair consideration to the documentation submitted. When schools act on preconceived notions instead of facts, they risk unfairly limiting opportunities for capable students. In my opinion, the school's actions and decisions toward my child were neither fair nor transparent, and felt discriminatory and unjust. I believe every student deserves to be treated with respect and without bias. I share this to raise awareness and to encourage schools to provide proper training, oversight, and accountability so that every student is evaluated on their strength and potential, not on stigma or preconceived notions. Families carefully consider all aspects beyond academics.