Primrose School of Swift Creek

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!

Amazing school that encourages intentional learning and sets the bar for quality education. Lots of opportunities for family involvement and volunteering. A stellar PTA.

Horrible experience with both the principal and the assistant principal. They refused to support our child’s special needs and treated our child inappropriately. This school has a serious bullying and discrimination problem that involves not only students, but also teachers and the administration. Many of the students display very negative and disrespectful behavior. We are extremely disappointed with the school’s leadership and the lack of a safe, supportive environment for children.

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.

BEWARE!!!! Child safety is not the #1 priority at this school. I called the school hours prior to dismissal to inform the front office that my child would be parent pick up only for my child to end up on the bus. Contacted the principal Samantha Wade after reaching out to the front office again only for them to avoid accountability, deny the fact that no one was told (besides my efforts), apologize and excuse the fact that Jodi Poh “forgot” to tell my child’s teacher in an attempt to smooth things over as if children’s safety is not a priority and they can just forget to inform the teacher of transportation changes.

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.