I moved to Lake Orion about 6 years ago. I have four children. Lake Orion schools was one of the…read morebest thinks that happened to then! Great teachers, amazing opportunities and the Superintendent of Schools is very involved. My daughter graduated with over a 3.0 and it was all because they cared about as a person and not a number.

Given my beau's family are graduates of Berkley School District, going in with my little one,…read moreexpectations were high. I heard a great deal about the exemplary elementary school experience they had at Burton in Huntington Woods, the strong programs at Norrup, and the fantastic music program at Berkley High School. Considering the lowest degree in the family is a Bachelors and everyone ended up as active citizens gainfully employed in professions they enjoy or love, I'd say the school district met the mark. A generation later, my child has been enrolled in the Berkley School District's "Building Blocks" program since he was twelve weeks old, giving me an excellent view of school system as he advances towards elementary years. Currently we have made it so far as pre-K in the year-round program. The pre-K programs cost about $900 a month for full-time, year-round care, allowing me to avoid worrying about daycare alternatives in the summer, which are few and far between with two working parents and nearly every other relative employed too. Half-day and full-day options are available from 6 weeks to 6 years, and the slate ranges from one day to five a week. Tuition assistance for needy families is readily available and advertised, and I'm fairly sure that kindergarten and pre-K (4-5 year olds) are also free for families under a certain income range. Is it worth it? Every. Damn. Penny. The Building Blocks program at Tyndall uses the HighScope curriculum, a nationally recognized program with measurable benchmarks for all levels, and that combines intellectual and social development with physical activity and age-appropriate goals. All lead teachers must be certified, and they create outstanding lessons that give children lots of time running about outside, playing together, reading, and enjoying group activities or crafts. There's no way I could recreate this on my own without taking an early childhood education program, let's face it. (Never mind I'd go insane with only a 3-year-old for company all day). Their pre-K classrooms are clean, bright, and happy places full of toys and reading centres, science tables, play stations, and more. My little one basically abandons me at the door, says 'Toodleloo,' and off we go. He's got friends made in the infant rooms who remain highly involved in his day to day activities, and new ones integrating happily. Berkley preschools always have events going on -- meet animals, play on drums, have a dance party, learn about dinosaurs. You can tell the caregivers and teachers truly love their kids, and it's not simply a job to them. These are caring, loving people who still keep after their former charges. Success speaks for itself. My child is happy, well-adjusted, and blows his ASC (a standardized measure for how well a child holds up against pediatrically/child educator-approved measures for their age group) scores out of the water. He's never had an issue we, as parents, couldn't work through with a discussion with a teacher on the best supportive strategy to gently encourage good behaviour or pick up another skill with a little practice. My only caveat with the school district is its communication of closed days: you /really/ need to get on the newsletter distribution and read it. I've shown up more than once to find the school inexplicably shut for a professional development day or such, and there was not good signage/reminders. This has improved with time, but I appreciate a handout sent home or whatnot. Pretty small beans compared to the warm, nurturing environment I've had the joy of sharing with my kid, though!

I am a product of this system, namely the high school at this address…read more The most notable thing about the curriculum was a strong emphasis on writing. I remember how easy my classmates found it to excel in college writing classes, while other students struggled, big time. So, if you are looking for a school system to nourish independent thinking, and writing skills (invaluable), you ought to consider Berkley.

Bagley Elementary is a great school and is located in a good/safe residential area. That's…read moreimportant when you have kids like myself walking to and from school alone, or with other kids. I came here at 4th grade, but I easily performed well and fit in. It's crazy because many of the people I was friends with then, I am friends with now. It's been a while since I went to school here (obviously) but Bagley is still a school that shines throughout Detroit Public Schools. It's a decent size and very closed in from the hoopla in the streets.

Eagle Creek is truly a community that feels like family; I love walking into a school and feeling…read moreat home. Class sizes are small, which allows for individualized attention to each student. I love this aspect, because students aren't molded to a curriculum, instead curriculum is molded to each student. The curriculum used is fun, too as it is very hands on! Overall, an excellent choice of school.

I had a very disappointing experience with this school's admissions process. My child was denied…read moreacceptance, and what was most frustrating was the complete lack of transparency or explanation behind the decision. As a parent, you invest time, effort, and hope into the application process, so receiving a rejection without any meaningful feedback feels dismissive and unprofessional. I understand that private schools can be selective, but clear communication and basic courtesy should still be part of the process. Even a general explanation or guidance would have shown respect for families going through admissions. Based on this experience, I would caution other parents to be prepared for limited communication and to consider whether this aligns with the level of support and openness they expect from a school community.

Great school. there is no doubt that academic pressures are there but all graduates attend college,…read moreYes !! 100% goes to college. That's one of the reasons, this school is number 1 in the state. Hope that helps.

I would say that St. Pat's School is much more than a top-notch education. It is a family and a…read morecommunity in which reverence, respect and responsibility are not just buzz words, but a way of life. The staff is tremendous and the environment is second to none. A great investment in your child's future!

Homeless judge had a temper tantrum and threw a shoe at a person. Not acceptable! He did do some…read moregood dancey twirls though! This was for the play Annie. ‍ Sincerely, Thanks

What can I say, I love Utica community schools! My twins attend the pre-school program at Duncan on…read more26 Mile Rd. 3 days a week, for 3 hours a day and I could be happier with the program. This is not our home school, as our home school doesn't offer a pre-K program but it's just another great school in the Utica district. Their teacher are friendly, patient and have been teaching at Utica for a number of years. Mrs. Pizzamenti and Mrs. Hirschmann and wonderful teachers, I'll be sad to say good bye to them come the end of the school year. I'll be honest, we were late registering our twins last fall, as all the classes will officially filled by the time I sent in the registration paper work. I made a few phone calls and they were very understanding. I was able to pick the time and days I wanted, and keep my twins in the same class together, which was obviously a big deal. I couldn't imagine having them separated their first year of school. To be honest, until they are older, I'll probably request that they be in the same class together. The schools all have a great security system where you have to buzz to get in, and show your ID to the camera. Once in the building you have to stop at the office to sign in. Upon leaving to must also stop at the office to sign out. It can be a pain in the butt sometimes, but I know it's for the protection of all our children so it's completely acceptable. The school is clean and well kept, bathrooms included. I My son not only attends pre-K at Duncan but he also takes speech classes 2 days a week with the speech therapist Mrs. May. Mrs. May is a very knowledgeable speech therapist with 17 years under her belt in the Utica district. She is patient, kind and thorough with her one-on-one work, as much as she is with group work. I highly recommend her if you're looking for a speech therapist counselor. My son has made so much progress in such a short amount of time! I can also vouch for the school lunches provided within the Utica district, they are a good value for your money with fresh and plentiful options. One day I had forgotten to bring a light lunch for the twins, which they eat before my son goes to speech. So we walked down to the lunch room and I purchased a hot lunch for them to split. It just so happened to be "Minion Day" which consisted of popcorn chicken, dipping sauce of choice, a bag of minion cookies, a side salad with a separate cup of fresh cut mixed veggies and ranch, a fresh fruit cup, choice of 3 milks, a banana and a bag of dried edamame. It was a really big lunch for only $2.75. We currently have our 5 kids enrolled in 3 different schools within the Utica district (2 at Beck Centennial elementary, 1 at Shelby Junior High, and 2 at Duncan) and I can honestly say that we love Utica and we wouldn't want our kids at any other district. I feel confident that they are, and will continue to receive the best education possible. I hold the teachers with the upmost respect. They put a LOT of time and effort into all of our kids. They deserve a ton of praise! As a parent, who's experience reaches across 3 different schools within the district I highly recommend the Utica Community schools!

Excellent school that continues to grow each year. The faculty and administration work incredibly…read morehard. We look forward to the growth of upper school.

The school is not about raising Islamic generation or even teaching Arabic. It is all about profit…read more In the beginning I was proud to enrol my child there. I and my kid deeply regret our decision.