The Independence School

I am a former student here, and after seeing the 1 and 2 star reviews, I have to say SOMETHING. These reviews with 1 and 2 stars are... well, the only word I can think of is HERETICAL and SLANDEROUS. Yes, the curriculum may be strenuous, but I and those in my grade (8th grade graduating class of 2018) believed that the rigor was at just the right pace at the same time, it taught us much about what high school will be like. This place has given me a massive edge over the other students in my current grade and school, and I owe it all to Independence. If you are thinking about sending your sons or daughters here, I absolutely recommend it. The faculty is amazing, the students are very friendly, it is a beautiful campus, and your child will receive a world class education that they will be hard pressed to get elsewhere.

Thank you, Independence. Thank you for being my home.
C. Fowle

1) These are children not adults. The ridigity stifles the joy in learning. (2) Excessive homework and testing is an issue. The many pull-outs for specials leads to classroom disruptions and gaps in teaching. More homework means that parents are left to pick up the pieces and do the teaching at home, (3) technology is behind but slowly evolving, (4) STEM?? Many local public, independent, and parochial schools have secured grants and successfully implemented STEM for the last couple years, (5) there are some miserable, burned-out teachers who are mean (6) Bullying is a problem that gets ignored in all grades; there are some nasty, aggressive kids here (7) The head of lower school is removed and tends to devalue the concerns of the children. (8) There is special treatment to those families who give sizable funds--a school-wide, mass email "gently" outed those parents who chose not to give. (9) Some teachers are so tight with admin that it is difficult for them to remain objective. Scratch the surface and really look at the issues. There are other quality academic programs out there.

This school does not even deserve a star at all. The poor quality of the education provided and the environment promoted by the new administration has resulted in the loss of many students. At this point, I would worry the school will be closed within a year or so. They are looking for a tenant who will rent the early education wing. That is a sign of their failing financial position. The student teacher ratio is not what one would expect from a private school which constantly begs for more money. Parents beware.. The academics are not on par with some of the public schools. As of now, they are only expected to have 2 classrooms of each grade ECI through 3 rd. this is a 50% drop in the student population.
In it's heyday, the school was difficult to get into, now they are begging for more students.

Although they have some fine, caring teachers, they also have temporary substitutes who are not teaching at all.
The librarian censors what children can read. If the child is reading above grade level that is too bad, the child is only allowed to take books from their grade level area. In fact, the children are not allowed to even look at the books on the other side of the library!
The administration does not respond well to any concern a parent has, it is all about them covering their footsteps.

Seriously look elsewhere.

The school has gone dramatically downhill over the past 5-6 years. The school has resorted to poaching the best students from other schools so that the teachers and faculty There is very little attempt to actually develop students throughout the Early Childhood and Grade School programs. Only the most compliant children are allowed to stay. Rote memorization and large amounts of busy work has sadly become the only method the school seems capable of administering. Very little substantive teaching takes place - it is almost all placed upon the students and parents. Feedback from parents is not welcomed by the school. Leadership in the EC and Grade School programs lags far behind comparable private schools and even several of the public schools in the area. I pulled my child out of 5th grade because of the steep decline I observed, as well as the frankly unacceptable manner that the school has begun dealing with any student that it deems to not "fit the mold".

Despite the mostly rave reviews I heard of Independence before my child attended, I was thoroughly unimpressed with this school. There was no attempt to work with my child, who is only slightly behind developmentally. My child's few weaknesses were emphasized, while a multitude of strengths were barely acknowledged. I heard less often from my child's teacher than I did from the development office asking for monetary donations. Overall, it was a very negative environment, which is not at all what I want for my child. If you have a creative, spirited child who may require a little extra help, don't expect Independence to provide it. There are plenty of other, better private schools in the area.