Oakland Mills High School

We adore this school. I'm the parent of a bright kid just finishing 1st grade. His teachers have been very experienced and skilled at tailoring lessons to individual kids. It's a very diverse school, which we consider a huge positive. It's wild to me that GreatSchools gives it such a poor rating. If it had been 100% white, GreatSchools would have disregarded the equity score. It's punishing excellent diverse neighborhood schools like this one. I can see what they're trying to do with the equity score, but they must be able to see the dangerous effect it has on schools like this one, especially in the real estate apps. Anyway, that was the rant. We live Bryant Woods.

have two kids here at this school. teachers are very caring and supportive of their students. management and principal and overall the entire staff are just great. highly reccommended.

My son attends this school and has been for 3 years now. Not only is he bullied by his peers, after I reported the bullying the Principal dismissed it as bullying. Even though it's been ongoing for 3 whole years. They'll look into it, observe the behavior, investigate it, and do their best within their legal ability and then dismiss it. My son is still facing the bullies to this day. The wellness room AKA NURSE is a joke. The nurse isn't allowed to give the kids medicine for a headache or migraine. My son had a migraine, went to the wellness room (NURSE) and was sent back to class. They told him it's not that serious. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? MY SON WAS IN TEARS AND IN PAIN. I WAS NOT CALLED ONCE!! Don't get me started on the teachers that YELL and SCREAM at the kids.EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS SCHOOL.

I have had two children who have gone through their fair share of challenges this year. Having Mrs. Katie Carter as the principal has been extremely amazing for our family and our community. She is the best principal I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and engaging with. She is responsive and takes action every time and makes our community a better place. Safety and professionalism is her priority and you can tell she cares for the students, her staff and parents. SFES kindergarten and 1st grade teachers are all also amazing and caring. Our children are fortunate to have had them this school year.

General flow of day to day for your child: There are plenty of well kept resources and learning that you can visually tell is academically benefitting the children. There is a big emphasis on the children learning independently first before staff support and intervention. I love this part, especially since it helps the children learn more independence at a young age. However, The staff are literally taught not to help the children at all, even if you see them struggling, until they verbally have to ask for the help themselves …..very strange “rituals” especially dealing with children. Children shouldn’t have to feel the excessive need to struggle, just to receive basic help. It’s ok if they try something, can’t do it, and an employee then steps in to help and assist to completion. Not contributing intentionally, just increases the chances of a child having more unsettling reactions based out of disappointment, anxiety, fear, etc. This would be ok, if these were elementary school kids, but pushing these excessive standards and rituals on the young Pre-K to K kids is concerning honestly and just flat out too strict. Culture/atmosphere: SELECTIVE employees are generally bright, kind, and nurturing. Parents are given nothing but respect, though they could be catered to as well, in terms of more updates on their child’s academic learning, physical safety, and socioemotional development and safety. Parents like to feel included and not left in the dark on what is going on with their child in school. The main issue this is all pointing to is the directors and how they choose to run and conduct this business. They view it as a business to make profits off of parents. Your kid will definitely learn a lot here, but honestly for better management, practice, and emotional security, you can find somewhere else that knows how to treats their students and employees better.Because if they’re not treating the employees well, that affects the kids, and the kids affect the parents. So we’re all in troubled waters here, if management doesn’t improve and isnt more culturally progressive with each other and the children.