Millwood 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.

This school does not support children with disabilities. They go out of their way to disqualify students with autism for an IEP. Students are relentlessly bullied with no support. There is no discipline and most students complain of not feeling safe due to the relentless bullying. Teachers are overworked and under paid.

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.

I’m very impressed by how much attention the teachers give to each student. The principal is absolutely amazing! I noticed that she knows every student by name and truly understands their personalities and behaviors. Her professionalism, kindness, and dedication shine through in everything she does. You can tell she genuinely loves her work and cares deeply about the students and their growth. The communication between the school and parents is excellent, and the learning programs are engaging and creative. My child has become more confident and motivated since joining this school.