Island Trees Middle School

This review is for the Island Trees SD in general. I have four children spread throughout. K-4 is great, wonderful principals, teachers and support staff. Always make you feel welcome and included and go above and beyond to help your child. Once we got to middle school problems started to arise. I have never in my life felt more unwelcome in a school in all my life. They make you feel like you do not have a right to even come to the front door to drop something off. I was once yelled at and spoken to by a security guard like I was a child because I did not stop at the school entrance and tell him what I was there for before I got to the front door, mind you it is literally maybe 500-600 feet away and I was dropping off items my daughter had forgotten. Every time I have to drop something off I get a look as if to say "what are you doing here?" The teachers make you feel like a bad parent if your child is struggling as if it is your fault because you cannot keep up with the confusing online system in which they use to give out work, grades, attendance etc. The principal has no control over the children they get away with whatever they want and he seems to care more about things that have no relevance over important things such as academics and social behavior. He also greatly caters to higher ups such as the PTA, board members and their children especially. With that said, if you have a child with special needs this IS NOT the district for you. Had I of known that my son was going to have special needs I would have done my due diligence and explored this department further. They have it set so that you do not get the services your child needs to thrive and succeed and will give bare minimum and a sub par education, basically letting them slip through the cracks unless you put up a huge fight which entails retaining a lawyer or an advocate over small things like an extra session of a therapy service or a behavior plan implemented on the IEP which they would not even consider without having your child evaluated 19 times to delay your requests. All in all if you do not plan on moving after 4th grade or have a child with special needs there are many other school districts on Long Island that supersede this one.

Love this school very much. Amazing staff

We moved to this school district specifically because of the small class size. Although the area, and the class size, has increased in number of students, I still feel that the education our children are getting is exemplary and will allow them to continue onto higher learning. My dealings with the staff have been satisfactory and I feel that my children are safe while in school. The after school club offerings are extensive. We are especially impressed with the Science Olympiad club.

Mixed bag of good and not so good. I like to focus on the positive and not the negative and keep in mind the great teachers that worked hard to encourage, support and educate the students at all levels and abilities!

Academically it's a great school, but I wish they would offer more types of sports for their students . More variety and at an earlier age.