I dislike that I need to write this review, but I hope it prevents another family from going…read morethrough what mine did. Our time at this school was one of the most discouraging experiences of my life. I only wish we had left sooner. For families using the Parental Tax Credit: transferring credits to a new school is simple if the new school knows what they're doing. Had we known that, we would have moved much earlier.
The assistant headmaster lied to us multiple times. He once scheduled what he called a parent teacher conference for my youngest son, but it was actually a meeting with his administrative board to confront us because my older son had been slapped, hit, and kicked by another student, and my wife followed police advice to file a report. I confronted him for disguising the meeting.
Later, he attempted to remove my youngest son from the school due to academic struggles, claiming he had in school detention -- something we were never told and which both of my sons confirmed never happened. This pattern of withholding information continued throughout the year.
On another occasion, after I emailed a teacher asking for assignment details and copied the assistant headmaster, the teacher suddenly claimed my son had cheated on a test. When I asked why we weren't informed, she said the school "wanted to handle it internally" and that parents "don't always need to know."
We repeatedly had to ask for assignments, instructions, and clarification. The assistant headmaster told us that 4th graders should "remember everything in class" and that no reminders would be given -- despite the school sending reminders to 8th graders, including from him personally.
Assignments often came home with no directions. When my son missed one day to visit another school, we requested his work; one assignment arrived two days later with no context.
The new English teacher, originally a volunteer, was unorganized and required by the assistant headmaster to increase weekly spelling lists from 15 to 40 words. This meant 40 definitions, sentences, alphabetical order, and memorization -- forcing weekend work despite the school's Monday-Thursday schedule. Increasing quantity instead of difficulty was not helpful.
Dress code rules were inconsistently applied. Boys were told they could not have hair below the collar, yet two boys were allowed long hair.
Communication was minimal. The 8th grade D.C. trip was information was repeatedly delayed, with dates announced only about a month before. After a small number of parents expressed vague concerns, the assistant headmaster sent a poll and then abruptly announced -- before the scheduled meeting -- that the trip was postponed to the following year, despite students fundraising all year. Meanwhile, the senior trip to Boston proceeded without issue.
If your child struggles academically, I strongly recommend finding another school. They are not equipped to support students with learning differences. We spoke with several parents who confirmed a pattern of holding students back rather than helping them.
Early in the year, the assistant headmaster sent an email stating that some students "fit the CCA model" and others might be asked not to return. My son began the year with A's and B's, but after his teacher quit unexpectedly, everything declined. Despite meetings and promises of support, almost no assignments or binders were sent home. We were repeatedly told to "check the app," even though the app did not contain the actual work he needed.
On December 19th, I received two emails: one stating my older son was welcome back, and another requesting a meeting to discuss whether my younger son could or be turned away. This was sent right before Christmas break, with the meeting scheduled afterward. We decided to leave at the end of the year and asked how to ensure our son's success for the remainder of the term. The administration looked at us as if the request was unreasonable to ask them to do their job.
With about 30 days left, my son had a difficult day and shut down. Instead of helping him, we received another email suggesting he be removed from the school. When I called to discuss it, the assistant headmaster became defensive and unprofessional, interrupting me repeatedly. When I asked why he was trying to remove a child who had done nothing wrong except struggle academically, he repeated the earlier false claim about detention. None of his explanations addressed our concerns.
During that call with him, my wife overheard part of the conversation and, out of frustration, made a comment such as "Your school is stupid." Before the call ended, the assistant headmaster told me I needed to "get my wife under control" if we wanted to remain at the school. My wife is not my property, nor my child. I do not "control" her, nor should any professional in an educational leadership role speak to a parent in that manner. His comment was inappropriate, unprofessional, and deeply concerning.