This school has lovely exterior architecture with lots of history. A magnet school for…read morehigh-achieving junior high schools, the small school attracts students not just for academics but for its proximity for Whyte Avenue. I enjoyed Old Scona's academic focus and the knowledge and the support of the wonderful staff. They have been working on renovations and the general appearance of the school has greatly improved in recent years. The number of students at Old Scona means that you know everyone's name, and it also increases the number of opportunities available per student. Come to Old Scona if you want a challenge and you are willing to push yourself academically. You'll meet people who have diverse foci but are united by the desire to achieve. There is no official or unofficial dress code, since it is mostly unnecessary. It's a very safe school: there is no safety patrol. The students trusted each other enough that they leave lockers unlocked. The running joke was that you could leave your laptop, phone, and wallet out, but only your graphing calculator would be 'borrowed'. I really enjoyed my years at Old Scona. It's a wonderful place!

Ive gone to this school a total of 3 years, going for 5 unfortunately because I dont have much…read moreother school options. The school itself isn't bad, like class options are fairly good, highschool aswell- i think the major issue with the school would be more towards the staff and some of the school community kinda sucks. The teachers here are 50/50. Some are excellent, like really good teachers that are nice and open to teaching a variety of students and then theres the other half that absolutely dont know how to teach or they prioritize the students that are mean or disruptive which makes the learning environment less productive or enjoyable for any of the other students. The school events are fine, there is a decent amount I would say and usually the events are well organized but I would say that certain groups like hockey academy or honestly any sport academy at this school is often overlooked i fear- because all the other clubs, or events at school barely get any attention or funding. Aswell as the students in those academy's sometimes get more "attention" and are prioritized over the regular students attending. The student environment is okay.... its not too bad but there are various groups of students that happen to be racist, homophobic etc (as any other school tbh)). Sometimes the bullying can get a bit out of control, especially in junior high I would say from my experience, even in the eap program. (That mightve been just my class though because from what I heard, the eap classes this year have been really nice and actually ACT like eap) So its not too bad but sometimes being at school kinda feels like a fever dream when everyone around you seems to not have common sense. Otherwise fine.!

I've been a student here since gr 7, and I'm in grade 9 now, but I just wanna say this school is…read morekinda buttcheeks. I'm not gonna say names but SOME teachers are pdfs, and a couple of the young female teachers pick favourites. Like they'll be laughing their head off at the hockey/soccer boys but as soon as you utter a word to your friend they look at you like you committed a crime. Honestly a lot of people will look at you weird for no reason. Like SOME of the popular girls will laugh behind your back and side eye each other if you dare talk to them, and SOME of the academy boys are sexist, racist, homophobic, etc. "Class clowns" will "ragebait" the poor teachers for 30 minutes cause it's "funny," but it's plain bullying. The year I came was when they banned junior high students from going into the cafeteria for SOME REASON, and every year it seems like they add new useless rules. For example, we're expected to carry 100 pound books with no locker breaks, and if we do we get yelled at by the lady. Idk her name but she pmo. They have a bunch of stupid rules but there's still vandalism on the walls and a swastika everytime you go to the bathroom. On the other hand, some teachers are actually fair and take time to get to know students personally. I've heard really thought provoking speeches from some teachers BUT THEY LEFT!!!!! (MR MCCABE AND MR FORD).

The negative posters do not actually have kids at Mt Pleasant. I now have, after switching my kids'…read moreschool. Having experienced many programs (5 kids ranging from elementary to adult), at many different schools, we are blown away by Mt Pleasant. This is education at its pinnacle, with kind, caring teachers who are committed to their students' excellence. They offer a classical liberal arts education, with emphasis on numeracy and literacy, but a good grounding in everything else. I really appreciate the efforts to foster public speaking skills and good character and work habits along with excellent academics. Your kids don't have to be brilliant to get in (mine were pretty average), just at grade level with demonstrated ability to focus and work responsibly. The entrance test is pretty easy. I think after testing for basic skills, the real thing they're looking for is behavioural info to see if the child can focus, or whether he will have a hard time sitting In a desk and will disrupt the rest of the students. The teachers take responsibility for making sure your kids learn and do their work, unlike the prevailing ethos at many schools where parents are considered the main educators. My kids have really responded. For the first time, they don't say "recess" or "lunch" is their favourite subject. Now they are excited about science, or LA or math or geography, and so proud of their accomplishments. I used to be so worried about my kids' education and had to put so much effort into teaching them at home. Thanks to Mt Pleasant, I can totally relax and be certain they will have the skills and habits to thrive at junior high, high school and in post-secondary. EDITED TO ADD: It's 3 years later and my husband and I agree that transferring our kids to this school was one of the best decisions we ever made as parents. My son is now in junior high after 2 years at MP and the transition was amazingly easy. The work habits and discipline he learned at MP made Grade 7 a total breeze. The only issue is that you will find MP kids are at least a year ahead of the regular curriculum in math, so you may need to supplement their math if you want them to stay accelerated. PS. The program isn't for everyone. It works best for kids who are able to sit and focus and who take instruction well. Disruptive classroom behaviour is not tolerated, so if this is a challenge for your kid, I would not recommend this program as you are only setting them up for butting heads with both their teacher and their classmates. On the other hand, contrary to some criticism I have read, this is not at all about making kids into robots. In fact, what I have found is that because all of the kids have a strong foundation of knowledge, this seems to result in a much higher level of discourse, debate and interest from them, in class and out of it. Because of the mock elections and debate in class, my son turned into a complete political junkie for the last provincial and federal election.

Okay, I'm not blood-related to any of the kids who attend the Cogito Program at Mount Pleasant…read moreElementary. But I used to work at the after-school care here, and saw what the kids are like after a hard day of Cogito. Cogito is a special academic program that uses explicit phonetics and repetition strategy to get the material into the kids' heads. They have regular homework everyday, and often the kids would do their homework in the daycare before their parents picked them up. I don't know about you, but I was never that diligent when I was seven years old. While I'll admit the program works, because these are some of the smartest kids I've ever seen, it does take a toll on them. The poor children are probably mentally exhausted, and want nothing more than to unleash all their pent-up energy from the whole day. Unfortunately right after school hours, when they're with the daycare staff! I think it's important to remember that all kids learn differently, so while Cogito may work wonders for some, it may not be the greatest for other kids, especially the ones who need to learn through hands-on activity. On that note, I will add that it's great for getting kids to read early. There's nothing like a five-year-old teaching you the difference between the "a" and "ai" phonemes!

I spent my Junior High years at D.S. MacKenzie…read more Although I wasn't the most popular kid, I still love the school. Something that was really great about D.S. was the teachers. The majority of them felt like my friends. I remember having heart-to-hearts with a few of them throughout my years there and it was really great. It was nice to have support. I know that they've renovated over the years, so I'm not sure if it's still there - but I hope it is - The Wall of Fame! The Wall of Fame is where all the school athletes who won races, championships, etc, had their pictures hung. I was a 3 time girls' basketball champ so I'm very proud to be on that wall (if it's still there)! I know that the quality of teachers is still very high at D.S. because I have friends that I went there with, who are now teachers there. They know how valuable our ear there so I'm sure they are working hard to give today's students the same great experiences we had. Great school!

i went to d.s mackenzie as well and had a great time there. the teachers were awsome and very…read morehelpful. if you needed help they would give you one on one time after school if needed and it was not a big deal even though it was taking up there time. all the teachers were very nice to every student and didn't play favorites to those that were smarter. i had lots of friends and the people in this school were awsome.

this school has some truly amazing staff and opportunities. my issues come with the administration…read moreitself. i attended strathcona for 3 years despite nearly being expelled because another student molested me. they were only concerned about protecting their image rather than the actual situation, so far as to go on blocking me on social media. thank god EPS were involved and arrested the student. because of the coverups of my experience, kids and teachers both had bias against me- something that could have been prevented by the staff in the first place. i have spoken to many other students who are terrified to speak up - especially after watching what happened to me.

I went to Harry Ainlay for one year and Scona for two. I definitely wish I had been at Scona for…read moreall three. Although Scona is often made fun of for it's "bathroom" appearance - the walls are green tile and it does have a bathroom feel to it because of that, it's a great school. I loved that Scona had different floors (students get a bit of exercise in between sitting at desks all day). I also love the surrounding grounds. Students are always outside enjoying the sun (when we have sun). It's a really nice area. There are also not as many students at Scona as there at Ainlay. That was a huge thing for me because I don't like being a number. I like knowing my teachers and trusting them. I like a more personal experience. In fact, I went to a memorial a few years ago that was for one of my former teachers from Scona. She passed away from cancer and there were a lot of former students there to honor her. It was nice to see. I also love how Scona emphasizes the student in student-athlete. I always had to keep my grades up to be on the basketball team. And I found that the sports teams (at least the ones I was on) focused more on personal development, hard work and discipline than winning. It was refreshing and it was wonderful! I really enjoyed my years at Scona. It's a great school.

After my previous school failed me. I thought school itself was just a waste of time. However, back…read morein 2014. I attended this place, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. In a matter of months I've managed to accomplish way more then I've ever did in high school. The best thing about this school was the amount of support from the staff there. I've met a lot of great people as well, from all walks of life. I really didn't have to pretend to be someone else that I wasn't , and that's what made my experience here so much better. Even to this day. I carry those experiences with me as they've helped me grow as a person. If you're someone who's trying to upgrade and start fresh. Please don't hesitate to attended . Take that leap forward! You won't regret it.

I'm a big advocate of Centre High…read more I went here to do some upgrading and I've known a lot of people who did the same. The reason I like this place so much is because of the teachers. They genuinely care. They put in extra time and effort to see you succeed. For anyone who may have not cared about grades in high school or made some mistakes, this is the best place to do your upgrading. They atmosphere is very much like a high school with a bit more of a mature feel to it. There are plenty of food courts and cafes around so the food is great. There is also a fantastic little coffee/sandwich place right in the building. They have the best tuna sandwiches ever! It's a really great place. They care about education. The building is nice. The food is good. What more could you ask for?!

As a grade 11 student attending this high school, and I can say with full confidence that this is…read morethe best school I've been to so far. The environment is open and comfortable, while most teachers genuinely teach well. The IB program was extremely well taught, with the staff explicitly striving to guide you to your success. Furthermore, the service here is highly professional, with the most considerate counselors I've ever met. However, keep in mind that the place is old, so the equipment does seem a bit worn down. Maybe a few renovations would help.

Well, Harry Ainlay used to be a bomb shelter. It's not pretty to look at…read more They have pretty good security now though. It's unfortunate that the reason they had to bring in high security measures is because of all the fighting and drugs that were taking place on school grounds. They've had to make quite a few changes and now they are pretty strict. Cell phones are not allowed anywhere in the school. They must be out of sight and turned off when in the school. They also have a dress code that is as follows (taken from the Harry Ainlay website): -clothing which covers the chest, back and midriff -shirt/top that touches the pants/skirt at the hipline or waistline -clothing which covers the undergarments at all times -hats, caps or other headwear are not to be worn inside the school - unless for religious reasons -clothing that does not display inappropriate symbols or graphic I think it's great that they have these things in place because when I went there, there was a lot of bad stuff going on day-to-day. Because of the appearance and the volume of students (there are soooooo many) at Ainlay, it isn't my first choice for high schools in Edmonton, but it's OK.

I went to this high school for all three years of high school and I really did like it. Of course,…read moreat the time, I didn't think there was anything fabulous about this school, but looking back, we had some pretty cool perks. This high school focuses on technology and sciences, but there is no need to be a techy or a scientist to go here. I certainly was not. There are some really cool courses offered here that I don't think all high schools would offer. Some of the optional classes included: pottery class, horticulture class, shop class, cosmetology, psychology etc. This school has its own greenhouse (which I now wish I spent more time in), many science classrooms, many computer labs, a good size library, gym and skateboard park. This is a great high school no matter what your focus is.

I went back in the 70's. Skipped to the Purple Cow restaurant across the street. Took…read morecosmetology, horticulture, drama, and music. though the music teacher never showed up for class.. "Hope she got fired?"

One of the Education courses I took early in my degree program involved having to observe classes…read moreat an elementary and a junior high school, just to make sure we had made the right career choice. I was sent to Crestwood for my elementary round. What a nice place! I grew p not far from here and always wondered how Crestwood differed from Parkview, where I attended. The kids were very sweet and the teachers knew what they were doing. One of the teachers who was there at that time was Dave Eggen, who became an MLA for a number of years with the NDP party, and is now the Executive Director of Friends of Medicare. Many of the teachers back then were on the younger side, had lots of energy, and seemed to enjoy what they were doing.

Our experience at Crestwood has been exceptional. The teachers are truly invested in my children's…read moreeducation and their growth as learners. Adjustments are made as needed to meet the needs of the student.