Avoid this school like the plague…read more
Enrolling my children here has been one of the worst decisions I have made as a parent. I went into this experience believing that a charter school would provide a better educational environment, higher standards, and a community that genuinely cared about its students and families. Unfortunately, my experience has been the complete opposite.
One of the first things I learned, unfortunately after enrolling my children, was that the vast majority of the teachers were not TEA-certified, according to the information I was able to obtain.
The attitude from administration and staff has been incredibly pompous, dismissive, and self-serving. Rather than feeling like I enrolled my children in a school that values education, communication, and the well-being of its students, I have felt like I sent them to a military school where obedience and compliance matter more than understanding, compassion, or individual needs.
My daughter, who was in first grade, was judged by a teacher within the first 48 hours of school. The situation escalated to the point that the teacher was yelling at me in the car line. Imagine having that experience as a parent within the first two days of school. Instead of working with us to address concerns and help my daughter adjust, the experience contributed to putting her back in Kinder.
My experience with my son has been even more concerning. He has a genetic diagnosis that affects his development, and he requires appropriate educational support through a 504 plan and an IEP. Instead of feeling that the school was willing to work collaboratively with our family to ensure he received the support he needed, I have repeatedly felt dismissed, pushed aside, and pressured out. The way our family has been treated has left me feeling that advocating for my son's needs has made us a target rather than a family deserving of support.
Even the smaller, everyday situations have been disappointing. Teachers on lunch duty do not have time to help students open something as simple as a Capri Sun and instead tell students not to bring them. Seriously? These are young children. If a child needs a little help opening a drink, that should not become a reason to tell them they cannot bring it. What happened to patience, kindness, and helping children learn to do things independently?
The way the school has handled my communication with staff has been the final straw. After repeatedly trying to address concerns involving my children, I received a letter stating that I am no longer permitted to communicate directly with anyone other than the principals because of my communications with teachers. My behavior was characterized as "harassing."
Let that sink in. I responded to emails from teachers, and when I no longer wanted to continue certain exchanges, I specifically asked two teachers to stop messaging me. Yet somehow, I am the one being accused of harassment. How does that make sense?
Instead, I now face restrictions on communicating with the very people responsible for educating and supporting my children.
. Communication is an essential part of a child's education, particularly when that child requires individualized support. Restricting that communication creates another barrier for a family that is already struggling to get its concerns heard.
What has been especially upsetting is the feeling that the consequences of these conflicts are not limited to me. My children are the ones who have to walk into that building every day. They are the ones who depend on these adults for instruction, guidance, and support. They should never have to bear the consequences of disagreements between their parents and school staff.
Yet, based on our experiences, I feel as though my children and our family are being treated differently because I have continued to advocate for them.
I have never felt so poorly treated by an educational institution. What should have been a partnership between parents and educators has turned into a constant battle. Instead of feeling heard, I feel dismissed. Instead of feeling that my children are valued, I feel that they are viewed as problems to manage. And instead of seeing a genuine desire to work with families, I have repeatedly encountered defensiveness and an unwillingness to take accountability.
Children deserve better. Parents deserve better. And families who have children with disabilities deserve a school that is willing to work with them, not make them feel like they do not belong.
I wish I had asked more questions before enrolling my children. Based on my family's experience, I would not recommend this school to other families.