Clover Hill Elementary School

I am very impressed with the administration and teaching staff of Alberta Smith Elementary. I have a special needs grandson who, although certified Mensa, has a difficult time focusing on the task at hand in his daily regimen. The Principal, Vice-Principal, and teacher at Alberta Smith went above and beyond what could even be hoped for in acquiring assistance and guidance for my grandson, and this has made a very positive change in his attitude and behavior. Kudos, and much gratitude to them!

Don't feel safe. Please send child to a different school.

WONDERFUL school! In the 5 years my children have been at SCES, we have never once been upset. I rest assured that my children are in great care and are receiving an excellent education. Very happy with administration, teachers and staff.

If your child requires minimal support, this school is fine. The general education experience seems to be decent for students who don’t need much extra help. However, if your child needs more personalized attention or additional services, I would advise looking into other options or being prepared to advocate strongly for their needs. Unfortunately, the special education department at this school is the worst I’ve encountered. Despite having a medical diagnosis, my child has been denied the basic support and services they need. Communication about my child’s progress has been minimal at best, with the department assuring me that everything is fine, even though standardized tests and grades tell a different story.If you have a child with special needs, I strongly recommend hiring an IEP advocate or attorney right from the start. Without one, it’s nearly impossible to get even the most basic services for your child. The IEP team often holds meetings before the actual IEP meetings, without parents present, which goes against proper procedures. To make matters worse, general education teachers are frequently not present for the entire meeting, even though they are required to be.There have also been troubling instances where special needs students were subjected to punitive measures for behaviors directly related to their diagnoses, which is completely unacceptable.No parent should have to fight so hard for their child’s basic rights. If you choose this school for your special needs child, be prepared to advocate fiercely and consider hiring a knowledgeable advocate or attorney who understands the law.On a positive note, there are a few exceptional general education teachers, such as Ms. Gersbach. She is a standout who truly loves teaching and creates a positive learning environment for her students.

The Upper School experience at Millwood does not match the expectations set by its tuition or marketing. There is significant teacher turnover, and academic integrity is a concern, with pressure to inflate grades and limited course flexibility for students. Despite being labeled a college preparatory school, students in very small grade levels are pushed into multiple AP courses without adequate time for meaningful instruction.There are few upper-level course options, no special education support, and little student choice in scheduling. Extremely small class sizes and repeated teachers across subjects limit both academic and social growth. While the school invests heavily in public relations, the overall experience falls short of what families are led to expect. We do not regret leaving to return to public school with many more options for sports, academics, and social activities.

We only spent one year here. There are better Montessori options in Richmond and we have found one with much better direction & organization.