CMIT Academy families-- which reviews are true?
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Anonymous
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I was reading reviews of CMIT Academy on Greatschools.com. There are lots of 5 star reviews (many from the same day), and a bunch of 1 star reviews.
The 5 stars talk about amazing classes, teaching, clubs, and administrative leadership. The 1 stars allege that unless you're way above grade level, you're in "low" classes with bad teachers who make fun of students. Also, they say that discipline is harsh, and that the administration sucks. What's the real story? |
Anonymous
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The same complaints are giving for their Charter School in AA county as well. They separate the classes based on test scores and teach accordingly. Some people say it causes low self-esteem in some students because everyone knows which are the smart classes and which aren't. I think most parents want to think that their kid is "above average" and get upset when that's not the case.
These were last year test scores. Pretty good for a STEM school that takes who ever applies and has no "testing" to get in. Also MD test scores were down all around last year because of the new testing system, so factor that in. %Proficient + Advanced Math Reading Science Grade 6 » ?86.0 ?92.6 Grade 7 » ?75.0 ?91.7 Grade 8 » ?74.0 ?91.8 ?85.6 |
Anonymous
Sorry: %Proficient + Advanced Math Reading Science Grade 6 ?86.0 ?92.6 Grade 7 ?75.0 ?91.7 Grade 8 ?74.0 ?91.8 ?85.6 |
Anonymous
Thanks for the info. So, do you think the bad reviews are just "sour grapes" from the parents of the kids in the lower classes, or are those kids really getting worse teachers and less respect? |
Anonymous
A mix of Valid points & some Sour grapes. Kids are going to be kids. I dont think its damaging some kids self esteem for life because of the class placement. Also not every "special program" fits every child. Your child might thrive, or may need something else. The French immersion program at Robert Goddard is a state & national blue ribbon school and the reviews on "great school" are excellent even from the students. But if u check some review here a parent said they pulled their child because the child didn't like the environment. So u never know. But I doubt the teachers or worse, just maybe the curriculum is not taught at the same pace as the advance classes. I do know they have a Saturday academy for students. So even if ur child is behind their are programs to help them out and get them up to speed. But just like College Park Academy is best for independent type kids, CMIT may be best for true STEM minded children. Parents need to be honest about their children's abilities. |
Anonymous
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I am a former CMIT North parent who pulled her child out mid second quarter. I can say with certainty that the low reviews speak the truth. Mind you, one of the reviewers had a child in a higher level class, so I dismiss the sour grapes theory.
Yes, classes are organized (and named) based on pre-assessment scores. Yes, the children in the lower classes are painfully aware of this because they are treated differently. Yes, there is a lot of incomptence and disorganization there. I saw it and my child and I experienced it. But form your own conclusions. Go there and ask to take a tour, unscheduled. Take note of what you see. Ask to peek in on higher and lower level classes. Talk to the principal. If you are able to do this and you are observant, you will notice some things. Good luck. |
Anonymous
| Oh, and that "Saturday Academy?" My child told me they did the same exact worksheets every Saturday, and there was no tutoring. It was more hype than helpful. |
Anonymous
This makes me so disgusted. Treating the "lower" student groups badly is part of the school culture?! I assume that families have brought this up with the administration. What did the administration have to say for themselves? |
Anonymous
When I brought it up, they denied it. They say what they think the parent wants to hear. And I heard that parents were taken more seriously when they banded together, but I didn't see that happening with the sixth grade while my child was there. Parents were concerned but not concerned together. There are 5 sixth grade classes. Two are at the top, one is lower but still advanced math-wise, and two are lower. Really, one of those two is considered the lowest. The difference in treatment was evident on back to school night. The higher classes were ushered into another room (the library or computer lab, I forgot which), and it appeared that those parents were given a tour. The lower classes stayed in the cafeteria. That's when I first raised the issue; my child already knew before then how the classes were divided. |
Anonymous
| This is very depressing. Maybe I won't bother trying to get ds into CMIT. No matter what group he tests into, I don't want him exposed to, or buying into, this way of thinking. |
Anonymous
| Does the school go all the way to 12th grade yet? |
Anonymous
| Their website is pretty bad, for an IT school that's already been open for a few years! |
Anonymous
No. I believe they are at 10th grade now. |
Anonymous
If you are referring to lack of staff and teacher information, as well as curriculum information, you are correct. To be fair, I noticed the same with the CPA website when I visited that one. If you are interested, subscribe to the CMIT newsletter. You will obtain a little more info that way. |
Anonymous
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My daughter attended CMIT Academy for all three years of middle school. She was placed in the highest level class. I would give them a B- as a grade. Why? She did not learn much in her algebra 1 class due to having a substitute teacher for the majority of the school year. This is a major problem for a STEM school. We paid for a math tutor to fill the gaps. She also complained about a few of the classes having a zoo like environment because the teacher could not control the students. We paid for a Geometry tutor because the kids talked so much in class that my child said she could not learn in her Geometry classroom. Well, my daughter made it into Eleanor Roosevelt High School Science and Tech program so I guess CMIT was ok for her. Now my son was a total different experience. He is an average student and his test scores reflect that he was on grade level for sixth grade. CMIT put him in the lowest level which is where they will put your child who is doing well with ON GRADE LEVEL WORK. He was treated like a second class citizen. The expectations were quite different between the highest and lowest level classes. He had an incompetent science teacher but a fantastic math and RELA teacher. But please keep in mind that a lot of the students in his class were not serious about school and may be below grade level. This is a problem if your child is an average student but placed in the same class with below grade level students. And for those who may be skeptics, my son actually had an IQ test along with a full psycho educational test done in November of his 6th grade year and his IQ is slightly above average. He is no dummy but was treated like one. We removed him from CMIT midyear.
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