600 Front

So far our experience has been underwhelming. School started two weeks ago but they’re not learning anything yet, just going over endless rules. And they don’t offer gate for gifted students, just one accelerated math class. My child does like their teachers, at least.Another thing— our first communications from the outgoing principal were all about sixth grade camp the week of September 20th, and the kids were excited for that. However the incoming principal has just announced there will be no sixth grade camp (no explanation) and we did not even get a chance to fundraise to try to make it happen. It’s disappointing since my child’s peers at higher-income schools will get to go. And it makes me feel less excited about participating in fundraising events for the school since they didn’t want use funds for camp. Combined with the lack of learning and the campus being all torn up from construction, it just hasn’t been a great start to the school year for these kids.

The Principal at Washington Elementary is not supportive and understanding of children with special needs, he just wants to get rid of them and send them off to a different school rather than help them and meet their needs. Special education teacher Miss Kari Topzand is great but the school overall is not the best. It has very low testing scores and is rated very low for a good reason. I don’t recommend this school.

My daughter is going into her sophomore year at SDHS. We weren’t sure what to expect last year, but we were so pleasantly surprised at how engaged SDHS staff are with the students. The school has a very active ASB, which my daughter is now a part of, and also has many student-led clubs, many of which focus on community service. She was also able to opt into the MedTech track, which is providing her opportunities to have real-life experience in medical venues across the county- they took a field trip to the “brain lab” in the spring! The student body is engaged in the athletics programs as well as having IB opportunities that remain available, we came from IB elementary and middle, so this was important. AP Spanish is on her schedule for this year, which is an incredible option for a 10th grader. The teachers and counselors have been responsive whenever I have reached out. I feel confident in sending my child to SDHS- and plan to have her younger sister attend as well. We are very happy there and see it as our best fit for her launch into college in a few more years.