M. A. Jones Elementary School

Finch Elementary school is truly a diamond in the rough in the Westend of Atlanta. I have found the school to be full of caring and dedicated teachers and staff who go over and beyond the call of duty to ensure that all students learn and exprience academic success. The building is clean and bright. I am happy to have met the staff and leadership of Finch Elementary school.

My son is headed to the 4th grade and has been going to Dunbar since pre-k. The building is beautiful and he has had the pleasure of having awesome teachers each and every year. All this school needs is more community involvement and it can go so far.

My son just finished up his 3rd year at Gideons. I have worked in education and I know a hard working group of people when I see them. The past 3 years have gone well for us with minor hiccups. There is no perfect school. My son has been able to join the gifted group to enhance his learning. I chose to enter the Kindezi lottery because I liked the model of small class sizes, I believe this has been very beneficial for my child. Staff have also gone above and beyond to help me with identifying things to work on at home. All children receive a chromebook and they are able to provide assignments on sick days. This is a team effort. They are also intentional about having families come in the school for academic events, PTA meetings and other meetings where parents are able to express concerns and engage in planning. We receive regular communication and they have after school support for those who need it. I am happy with my decision thus far. The principal is from the community, he is invested and it shows. Although my child is a car rider, I really appreciate seeing him walking the neighborhood with large groups of kids after school, which happens pretty often. The resource officer and other car rider staff are attentive and ensure the safety of the children.

TAG Academy is the best kept secret in southwest Atlanta! The improvement in ratings on this site alone in the last three years reflect the hard work of the caring administration and staff and wonderful students. If you are zoned for this school please contact the principal and schedule a tour. You will not be disappointed! There are many extracurricular activities to choose from, and the school has a built-in boys and girls club afterschool program with a wonderful director.

Throughout my tenure, I had the unfortunate opportunity to witness concerning issues and a toxic work environment that persistently plagued this institution. Foremost, the recurring problem of delayed payments for staff is unacceptable, and expecting employees to continue working diligently without timely remuneration is highly disrespectful and has caused significant frustration and demoralization among the staff.Moreover, handling conflicts and breakdowns in communication by the head staff is cause for great concern. Instead of addressing concerns and promoting respectful dialogue, there was a dismissive attitude, prioritizing other matters over resolving the issue at hand. This approach only exacerbates tensions within the workplace. Adding to the list of concerns is the apparent mismanagement of resources and questionable relationships between certain individuals. Additionally, the blurring of personal and professional boundaries raises further doubts about the integrity and professionalism of the leadership team.Based on my experiences, I cannot conscientiously recommend The LIFE School to parents seeking a nurturing and supportive environment for their children's education. It is crucial that these issues are addressed promptly and effectively to create a positive and conducive learning environment for both students and staff.