Indian Trails Middle School

I can’t say enough wonderful things about Dr. Thacker and the majority of the staff at Red Bug Elementary. They truly are an amazing school. They put together so many wonderful events for the students, and it’s clear how much they care. Dr. Thacker even spends her weekends at the park watching the students play—giving her personal time just to support and connect with our kids. That level of dedication and love for the students is truly special.

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.

Great school! New principal is great and open with communication and conferences. You get what you put into the school and your children! Attend conferences and be open to suggestions and lead! Both of my children are high achievers and do well in class academically and socially. My only wish is a full time gifted program and more expansive extracurricular opportunities for the lower grades. The teachers are a wonderful! Supportive and very honest with your child's progress. The new iReady assessment tool used to gauge progress and academic achievement that replaced the IOWA assessment should be readily accessible to parents. The location is great and in the heart of Winter Springs. Sadly, we had a change in the crossing guards and wished we still had the second guard.Overall, it is a wonderful school with many caring and progressive educators. This is a gem that outshines all others!

As a parent of a student who only has one more year at Layer, I am already beginning to feel emotional about leaving. Our child has attended Layer since kindergarten, and it has truly been a wonderful experience for our family. Initially, I was apprehensive because the school was farther from our neighborhood than another option. However, after visiting the campus, I quickly realized how fortunate we were to be zoned for Layer. The school is beautiful! It's a charming two-story brick building with a lively, welcoming atmosphere inside. The property itself is incredible, tucked away on spacious land that gives students room to explore, run, and enjoy nature.About four years ago, there was a leadership shift that transformed the school culture. What once felt somewhat sterile became an incredibly collaborative, fun, and engaging environment for students, staff, and families. The leadership team is unmatched. Principal Mrs. Todd and Assistant Principal Mrs. Wright are truly the beating heart of this school. Their positivity, visibility, and genuine care for students and families set the tone for everything. You can feel their impact the moment you walk on campus. In addition, every staff member is wonderful. Lisa at the front desk is always positive, helpful, and somehow manages a million tasks at once. Teachers are friendly and consistently greet parents at pickup, making the school feel like a well-oiled, caring community. Classrooms are decorated, creating fun and inspiring spaces for students. Specials teachers in music, art, and P.E. are fantastic, and the large outdoor areas allow for meaningful physical activity. Layer offers so many memorable events like dances, Fun Runs, Trunk-or-Treat, and Field Day. Their annual fundraiser is a highlight, featuring BMX bike shows and inflatable races where teachers and the school mascot compete around the bus loop while the whole school cheers. Most importantly, the staff truly puts students first. Our counselors partnered closely with us and the district to support our child's academic needs. The confidence and test scores have improved significantly because of the school’s thoughtful leadership and dedicated teachers.If you are considering another school simply because it is closer, I encourage you to reconsider. You may miss out on an amazing experience. We feel incredibly blessed to have been part of the Layer family.100/100 recommend.

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.