School #532

PC culture and liberal ideology rule the day.

My daughter just finished her 1st grade year at Sheridan Hills, and I'm excited for my son to start in Kindergarten there next year. Joining a school community during Covid times made community-building and connection tricky, but Sheridan found a way and we loved every experience. The teachers and staff are amazing: kind, patient, and really receptive if you need to reach out. We're excited for more years at Sheridan Hills!

As both a parent and an educator, I feel incredibly fortunate to have my children attending ISLA. With one in third grade and the other in fifth, we've experienced firsthand the unique and tight-knit community ISLA offers. We were originally waitlisted, and thankfully got in over the summer before school started. We've now been part of the ISLA community for 6 years, and I'm sad that this is my 5th grader's last year. ISLA has been a place where my family feels truly seen and supported. As members of a minority religion, it means so much that my children not only feel safe, but also empowered to share aspects of our rituals and culture. That level of inclusion is rare and deeply appreciated. My kids also have ADHD, and the staff at ISLA has gone above and beyond to provide accommodations that support their individual learning needs. Their thoughtful and collaborative approach has helped my children thrive both academically and socially. I’ve never felt alone in this journey—they’ve been true partners every step of the way.The International Baccalaureate curriculum at ISLA is another standout feature. I’ve been continually impressed by how it nurtures the whole learner. The transdisciplinary projects allow students to make meaningful connections across subjects, and it’s amazing to see my kids excited about what they’re learning and how it applies to the world around them. Just last night my daughter was explaining to me about the rods and cones in her eyes, and the jobs they do, and it blew my mind!As a teacher myself, I know what a difference a strong school community can make—and ISLA exceeds every expectation. Being a charter school, I was't sure what the community would be like since we don't all live in one neighborhood. The PTO does an incredible job with the events they organize and the school is truly an inviting place. Not being a fluent Spanish speaker myself, I was worried I wouldn't be able to get involved in the school. ISLA allows for as much or as little parent involvement as families would like. It's truly a special place, and it’s a joy to watch my children grow into curious, confident, and compassionate learners here.

Don't be fooled by these ratings that are primarily based on test scores. Washburn is a solid elementary school with a ton of supportive services for kids. Our child spent two years in a southwest Minneapolis elementary school and got far less support and has made far more progress at Washburn due to the small class sizes and huge range of supportive services. There are a number of demographic and socioeconomic reasons test scores here are lower than some other west Bloomington schools, but it's not because this is not an excellent school and not because students don't get a great education.