Ps 18

Went to this school my entire childhood, K-12. If this were being written back in the 80's, 90's or even early 2000's I'd recommend the school. It was different back then. You had teachers who wanted to see kids learn, grow and succeed. Yes it was a small school but it made learning more intimate. They kept kids in check, disciplined and motivated. The superintendent, principle and guidance counselor were leaders and you knew when you crossed the line back then. Now, its the complete opposite. Perhaps its just an era thing but teachers go too easy on kids. There's no control, kids don't want to learn, they talk back and do whatever they want. Fights are a normal thing with almost no discipline attached. Look at the news, the school had to shutdown due to fighting. Kids wear pajamas to school on a normal basis. The place looks like a slumber party between the way kid and staff dress. Most of the people working there graduated within the past 10 years and have minimal experience. The place needs a better leader, bigger budget and guidance. Enjoyed it when I went there a long time ago but shocked how much its changed. Friends of mine have all reverted to moving out of the town and pulling their kids from the school. One of them saw their kid declining in learning ability. He thought his kid was just goofing off in school. He'd ask him how school was and what he learned (elementary). His kid would respond with 'nothing' or 'no much'. After continually getting this answer he was positive his kid was becoming a bad student so he set a meeting with the teacher to correct it. Come to find out the teacher told him things are different now, we don't force education upon kids. We don't want to stress them out so we don't teach new things every day. If they want to learn, then they learn, if not, its not forced. He was stunned and no longer in the district.

My child is genuinely excited to go to school everyday. The school is doing a terrific job retaining qualified and passionate teachers and staff that are actually happy to be there.

A deeply disappointing school experience:1. Poor communication: There is no proactive engagement with parents. We were left to independently search for basic information about school activities and requirements.2. Inadequate teaching: Assignment instructions are vague and poorly explained. The teachers appear disinterested in genuinely supporting the students’ learning. After an entire year, my child still struggles to read because no one provided individual assistance or focused attention.3. Bullying issues: My child, an immigrant, endured relentless bullying and verbal abuse from classmates. Over the course of the year, they learned offensive language and were subjected to daily harassment. Despite these issues, teachers failed to intervene or address the harmful behavior, leaving my child to face a hostile environment alone.This school fails to provide a safe and supportive learning space for its students. Leadership and accountability seem absent, and the principal appears ineffective in addressing these critical issues. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this school to anyone.

I am beyond disappointed with Menands School. The level of disorganization and lack of accountability here is unbelievable. Communication with parents is practically nonexistent—important updates are either sent last minute or not at all. The staff acts dismissive instead of supportive, and concerns are brushed off instead of addressed.The administration seems completely out of touch with what students actually need. Discipline is inconsistent, favoritism is obvious, and the environment feels more toxic than educational. Kids should feel safe, respected, and encouraged at school, but instead, it feels like they’re just being pushed through the system. Menands school has failed to address multiple issues related to bullying sexual harassment. Menands School has gone so far downhill it’s shocking. What used to be a decent, community-focused school has completely downgraded in every way. The quality of education has slipped, the staff seems overwhelmed and uninterested, and the administration is more concerned with appearances than actually solving problems. I do not recommend this school.

This is a very small school. Approximately 40 students per year. With a Principle and a Superintendent. My child has been in this school since kindergarten and in now starting 6th grade. The school is currently on third Principle. One principle became the Superintendent, with no experience.

We couldn't have asked for a better school experience for our children. The school academics and curriculum are fantastic. The entire community is very engaged and it is a wonderful 1st start to education.