Dr Thomas L Stephens Academy

I believe these things need an update my son attended Belair-Edison grade kindergarten and I think they are very hands on anytime there was a problem or incident I was noted right away and the principal is great I asked for a meeting and I received my meeting the next day

The principal is very nasty special education has no IEP’s they don’t have any teachers so they have substitute teachers. They have aids that’s not train properly the food is horrible. Please get your children out of there. The two principal females are horrible. They don’t care about the special education department at all. They’re scared to come inside the classrooms or even deal with the children.

Had multiple experiences here,these things happened prior to the new principle 2026 My child has a learning disability and was supposed to be in class but was outside the school in which no one knew til she wanted to get back inside the school so definitely a safety concern then .There was also a shooting that happend on the property in which parents was still somewhat allowed to leave and I was near the incident when the suspect was asked to get on the ground.When trying to established child I.E.P there was no emotional support for my child she was frustrated for not understanding the work and wasn't giving a one on one help was told since there's different teachers during the day each teacher has different ways of handling things which means if one teacher has my child sitting arms reach the next class they may be in the back among other children that may be needing help and could be a easy distraction.Secretary never turns in all the excused notes that is giving for excused absences there also in which she didn't retire.This school overall has many issues the teachers seems as If they don't enjoy there work nothing but aggression towards the kids .I have another in 1st grade teacher says kids responsible for turning in homework to her I asked if there's reminders she says that they need to be taught responsibility I agree but there should be time for them to completely get used to school considering some skip pre k and go straight to kindergarten so coming from kindergarten to 1st grade its not much that was taught in kindergarten so how do you expect them to just catch on so fast even us as adults still need reminders.She also introduced almost 60 sight words plus wanted them to write sentence I informed that my child is a little behind its almost like she blames all the parents saying if the kids spend less time on tic Tok and stuff they could get the work (assuming).None of my children allowed on social media in fact none even have a cell phone nor tablet so I felt disrespected today world a lot of parents work long hours and have not that much time home with the children me personally (a little personal) I have been out of work recently and still feel overwhelmed by how much they send home for parents to do yes parents imagine a 1st grader doing equations,knowing over 60 sight words,writing sentences,knowing long vowels short vowels ,adding subtraction etc all before 2nd grade I think to much thrown at them.

This place has nothing like the website advertise no foreign language they have outdated computers everything there is old. Other private schools offer lunch programs here they don't offer a lunch program or offer a microwave. The 3 and 4-year-old program accepts daycare vouchers they will provide breakfast but not lunch. Every daycare my child attend voucher or not they provided breakfast and lunch. Some of the teachers are ok. The only good thing about this school is Mr. Johnson and him teaching the children about God. The school in the middle of a pandemic raised the tuition and only provided a month's notice after parents complained and asked for a meeting. If you want to pay for a school where it's outdated, not too clean, you are never notified about anything until maybe last minute, no school nurse, no programs to help advance your child, and 2 raggedy after-school programs dance and karate. Dance is the same 2 step every performance and karate he comes sometimes but if you don't pay attention they will charge you while not paying him because he didn't show. Overall the school isn't worth it. Try other private schools and public, in the end, you get what you pay for and all they want here is money. Only people kids who stay until 5th grade is member chidden and the 5th grade only has like 5- 10 kids in it. Before going ask a parent who child has been here in the last 4 years and they will tell you it's a no. Bad attuited from some teachers and staff including the principal. DON'T DO IT!!!!! If any 5-star post comes its because the principal asked people to say good things about them