Gretchen Everhart School

I currently have two children enrolled at this school and have two totally different experiences here. One of the teacher's is amazing. I have been able to connect with her whenever I need to and she keeps me in the loop with everything going on. The other teacher is very standoffish and always seems like it's an inconvenience to talk. Unfortunately for me, the standoffish teacher currently has the child I'm more concerned about (there are some behaviors that I'm trying to curb before they become a issue). My overall perception of the school is it is a good school with room for improvement. The principal and vice principal are kind and easy to talk to. The front office staff is wonderful and always eager to help. The security of the school could be better (students are able to wander around undetected before the first bell rings). Both children have maintained honor status throughout the school year and they are meeting (and in some areas exceeding) the state standards for their grade levels.I honestly wish my husband and I had the financial ability to send our children to a private school, however, I am satisfied with the children attending Astoria Park.

Are you saying that the school has not made any improvements while you were there. Your statement says all the staff and all the adminstration, that cant possibly be true could it. Lastly, how are you affliated with education do you have a degree in education and do you volunteer at the school, involved in any PTO or other organizations?

We tried Cornerstone last year and were so hopeful that it would be great, the campus is lovely and the small-scale class sizes were exactly what we were looking for but our experience with our child was less than ideal. Some of the teachers really are great and some just do not seem to have the compassion for it anymore. It became clear quickly that some families are treated with more respect than others. I was personally scolded in a condescending manner by the same administrator more than once for minor non-issue situations and witnessed him do the same to a fellow class parent. The same administrator also inappropriately inserted himself between me and my child while I kneeled down to speak to them privately and did not move until I informed him to do so, the whole encounter was uncomfortable. There was a general lack of communication on the daily happenings with our child, unless we specifically asked were there any emotional or behavioral incidents that day we would not find out about something that happened until after the fact. Also a lack of communication from office admins regarding finances. They withdrew the incorrect amount from our account the first semester and also retroactively billed for a service they mislead us to believe were being covered by the school.I agree with other assessments from former parents that if your child is in any way neurodivergent this school will not accommodate them and do tend to lead you on that such accommodations exist. Would also have to agree that the extent of verbal bullying on the playground was shocking to experience, especially considering our child was so young. I did speak to the teachers about it, they did attempt some actions to redirect the behavior, but it was not enough. Some students definitely experience more leniency than others. Overall, we had high hopes that this would not have been just another private school that has "clicks" and only in it for the opportunity to make money but just did not feel that way by the end of the year. From what we gathered from former students the school was great when it was founded but does not hold the same integrity now.

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