Al-Iman School

We have two children with very different needs. I've found the teachers to be responsive, thoughtful and creative, and the staff to be loving and helpful. The PTA is also very involved with the school, and I feel like it's an environment where everyone is supported to the best of their abilities. It's also adorable that there are CHICKENS on site.

uhhhhhhhhhh i love cheesballs in my room and stomach

School is 100 years old and thriving. Wonderful neighborhood school. Love that we can walk.

Our family loves being part of the Atlas school community! Our four children have been enrolled for a year in preschool on up to 6th grade. We love the feelings of close community made possible by small class sizes and caring staff and families. We love the private music lessons during school hours, French and Spanish classes, the shorter school week, and extra time as a family. Academically, our children are given more flexibility to learn at their own levels with time spent more effectively learning, then playing with friends. They also get so many public speaking opportunities in small class settings and larger settings for the Fairs. Each child also gets to perform at the winter and spring concerts. We love the safe and supportive environment at this school where teachers care and work with families whenever problems come up. The Bakers care so much about each child and family and work to make Atlas a better place to learn.

We attended this school for preschool- 3s a couple years ago. Going into the year I met with my son's teacher and the preschool director at the time and expressed concerns my son might be autistic. They reassured me they were "experts" at spotting and recognizing neurodivergence. They assured me they would let me know. Fast forward through the year and his teacher at our conferences told me my son was just anxious and needed more playdates. My son would come home unhappy a lot from preschool, but I thought it was just the transition. His teachers told me he was a model student who followed the rules. I knew he wasn't happy though, so we switched to Arts Together for the following year. Within a month of school starting his teacher pulled me aside and thought he should be evaluated. It turns out he's twice exceptional (level 1 autism and gifted/high IQ). In hindsight a lot of things at the Raleigh School are not set up for neurodivergence. I just didn't know it at the time. The bathrooms have no privacy. The children all crowd around in the bathroom where there is only a curtain to shield them. It became a situation when I was in the classroom where I had to actively shield my child with my body so he could have privacy going to the bathroom. After that year he was so affected that he won't use the bathroom at school. I reached out to the school to let them know about his diagnosis, so that next time a student like my son is in their classroom they can believe the parent and support them rather than dismiss their concerns. I did not receive a response. I don't think this preschool is set up for kids with sensory sensitivities or neurodivergence of any kind. I did not feel seen or supported as a parent. I looked long and hard to find a preschool for my son and thought Raleigh School was great on paper, but the reality did not match up.

We have truly enjoyed being part of FCM for the past four years, with our children participating in both the toddler and children's programs. The community offers wonderful educational opportunities for parents, along with occasional social events that help families connect.Our children started at 14 and 17 months old, and they thrived from the very beginning. The care, encouragement, and learning environment have exceeded our expectations. We have complete trust in every teacher and staff member, and we are so grateful for the positive impact FCM has had on our family.