Stay away from this school - Unorganized mess, questionable staffing choices - Kids will fall…read morebehind because of low quality instruction.

This place is a scam; do not go here. My son, Ayyakannu, got written up for bringing Holi color to…read moreschool. Holi is a religious celebration, and my son wanted to show his friends his traditions. On top of that, the school apparently needed thousands of dollars just to run a party, which was a hut with coconuts. And during the sub-zero temperatures, all the middle school students are forced to take the side entrance. And if they don't, it is an immediate write-up. And my son also got blamed by the teacher for a mess he did not create, and when he told the lunch lady that a student stole his water bottle, she, and I quote, said: "You are too grown, handle this yourself." And you all claim that you put the students at the center of everything. The only decent people at this school are Mrs. Uribe and Dr. Ikone Mason. My son's old English teacher Mr Brooking, would've been here had the school not forced him to resign due to "Unforeseen circumstances." And let's not forget that we need to ban bananas just because ONE teacher is allergic, by that logic, why don't we also ban Eggs and Chicken because students are allergic to them too? Ever since the old principal Mr Beiner, left the school, it has just fallen apart.

Poor leadership and top down management. Untrustworthy administration and teachers who will only…read morelook out for themselves in any difficult situation, not your child, and the principal is a weak passive aggressive unhelpful person. Everything you've read and heard about this school and their struggling administration is 100% true, no matter how much they attempt to control the narrative stating otherwise [untruths]. There is a reason there are multiple other private middle schools on the same street that have increasing enrollment while Crabapple middle school continues to struggle.

The teachers are nice for the most part but many have been rude to students. One of my friends hair…read moregot pulled by a teacher for not following the "one way halls", but luckily that teacher is no longer there. There has been many cases of drug use on the school premises but most cases have been handled properly. Girls will get dress cut for shorts, when often the principal's outfit happens to be worse. Guys will also get dress cut for the length of their shorts. There is a point system called PBIS which makes students often feel left out because they didn't make the rewards. Which in most cases students were absent and weren't able to receive any points because they were sick or other similar things. The majority of students are well educated and there are lots of opportunities for extra curricular and high school credits. I would say overall Crabapple is a decent school.

I encourage anyone considering Living Science Academy to look beyond the negative reviews and do…read moretheir own research. While every family's experience is different, reviews often represent only a small portion of the community. Take time to visit, speak with current families, ask questions, and see firsthand whether the school's approach is a good fit for your child. We've found that there is much more to the school than what is reflected in a handful of critical comments, and it's worth forming your own opinion based on direct experience. Living Science Academy has been an incredible blessing for our family. Both of our children graduated from there, our oldest in 2024 and youngest in 2025. What sets this school apart is its unique combination of academic excellence, hands-on STEM learning, leadership development, and genuine care for each student. The teachers are passionate, knowledgeable, and deeply invested in helping students succeed both academically and personally. It's an environment where students are encouraged to ask questions, think critically, and develop a true love of learning. The science-centered curriculum, with its engaging labs and projects makes learning exciting and meaningful. Beyond academics, Living Science Academy excels at building character and confidence. Students were given the opportunities to develop leadership skills, public speaking abilities, and strong friendships. The school's emphasis on mentorship and personal growth helps students become well-rounded young adults who are prepared for future challenges. One of the things I appreciate most is the partnership between the school and families. The community is welcoming, encouraging, and focused on helping each student reach their full potential. It's clear that the staff genuinely care about every child and work hard to create an environment where students can thrive. If you're looking for a school that combines strong academics, exceptional STEM education, meaningful leadership opportunities, and a caring community, I highly recommend Living Science Academy. It has made a lasting positive impact on our family, and we are grateful to have been a part of such a special school.

Living Science Academy has been a tremendous blessing to our family. The hybrid homeschool model…read moregives our children the benefits of a strong academic community while allowing us to remain the primary decision-makers in their education. The teachers genuinely partner with parents, helping each child grow without taking away our ability to make choices about curriculum and individual educational needs. The education is hands-on, STEM-focused, and rooted in the truth that God is the Creator of all things. Students learn the traditional academic subjects, but they are taught within a biblical worldview that helps them understand how everything they are studying fits together. We have also appreciated how much time the students spend outside, exploring, creating, and learning through experience. The staff cares deeply about each student as an individual and works hard to understand how each child learns best. Just as importantly, Living Science has built a tremendous sense of community among students and families. For families looking for a Christ-centered, academically strong, hands-on alternative to traditional school, while still remaining actively involved in their children's education, Living Science Academy is an outstanding option.

Honestly not that great. I was too focused on my own studies to care about the rumors of some…read moreteachers behaving poorly, but I feel I wasn't taught anything here. They told us they were preparing us for the adult world, but the workload and difficulty at cottage going into a real college was like doing the tutorial for a children's educational game (not unlike those you played on the fisher price tablets in the 2000s) then being thrown into an end game dark souls boss fight. They don't teach you to handle your executive dysfunction or ADHD, they see someone excel academically and assume they don't need help. They didn't prepare me for the adult world, I survived through sheer luck and clawing my way back up to stable ground. That said, while the school itself failed me, there were many teachers who made the hell of my teenage years bearable.

I attended this high school as a young teenage girl, and graduated five years ago. I struggled…read moreprimarily with mental health, not cognitive disabilities which made me much more aware of the injustices that the kids suffer at the hands of SOME of the staff. Three examples: As a minor, at 17 years old, I was locked in a room with the two female counselors (with no adult representing me or any parent present for such a conversation) while the counselors (Tanya & Margaret) randomly started to tell me I should not be having *** at my age or with the boy I had a crush on at the time. I was confused because I had not been active and I was a young girl. When I said that I was not active, they rolled their eyes and said "stop lying, you are the kind of girl. we see this all the time." Absolutely disgusting and inappropriate conversation to have with a minor. My parents were furious. The second example is: I excitedly told my teacher (Wilfred) that I had been accepted to the University of Alabama my senior year! Only for him to turn to me in front of all my classmates and say "You will flunk out anyway" and turned back to his computer. I was laughed at by all of my classmates and my only friend in school had to stand up for me to a teacher who should be viewed as a mentor and safe person, but instead was one of my biggest bullies throughout my time at The Cottage School. My third example was: I was living through a very difficult period of time at home and in my own mind. This put a big strain on my sleeping, and I was not getting proper sleep at all. In the mornings, I was involuntarily falling asleep in my classes and would consistently be punished for it instead of anyone checking on my well being. Especially at a school that is supposed to have been specialized towards children with special circumstances. There were a thousand other instances that led to me deeming my time at The Cottage School to be mildly scarring for me as a young woman. However, I will say that Siree, Roshonda, Ryan and his wife Lydia, Katya, Lynn and Hector were the absolute highlights of that place, and should absolutely be recognized for the amazing and lasting impressions they leave on their students. True empathetic and patient angels, every one of them. With that said, I hope that The Cottage School can learn from what I've shared of my experience.

terrible. got more secondhand smoke here than in a kohls parking lot at 4 am on a friday…read more can barely walk thru the halls. also terrible environment. Like i'm js tryna go do the bare minimum in class without being interrupted by someone w a problem and i can't even do that. NO female inclusion in wrestling until 2025. Teachers like Mrs Deweese, Mr Cummings, Ms Grier, and Mr Schertz are awesome but everybody else are mid or evil. transfer while you can. would give zero stars but the teachers previously listed above made up for it.

Is a school. Decent food good teachers. And Mr Shumick is nice. And a partridge in a pear treeread more

See greatschools.com for how poorly supported myself and others were . Thanks- we need more…read morequalifications from the people teaching here- oh and nobody is sped certified and nobody actually is trained to work with the disabilities they say they're trained in I was sent to peachford HOSPITAL to sign a no harm contract and was not s***idal before attending this school They promote popularity and ableism. Not equipped for what anxiety OR ADHD COME WITH most of the time. They said they were going to enroll me in communication arts, they then bait and switched my mother saying they did not have room, put me in traditional and didn't do anything they promised for my IEP, then when I hit autistic burnout they put me in in school suspension. They never gave a date for moving me to communication arts. I was pulled out and the focus became on keeping me alive.

The new Head of School has great vision for the future of the school. Though there have been recent…read morechanges, he has made me excited for the upcoming students over the next few years. The staff develops great relationships and mentors even after graduation.

School is very very good. The students are extremely proper and elegant (especially this fellow…read moreright here).

I suppose it's hard to review your own high school, as it is difficult to distinguish between the…read moremerits of the school itself and your very subjective experience at an absolutely young and stupid age. So, let me be purely subjective and biased about this lovely gem in the woods. During the three years of my enrollment from 1998 to 2001 the teachers here had raised me from an ESL nonnative speaker with promise into a kind of local leader in the subjects of my choice (science and math). The teachers were all competent or excellent, and with some special teachers' dedications to after-school activities (like academic bowl / science club / math club) and the AP curriculum (which can earn you college credits) I was able to find my passion and later my choice of university. It's sad to hear that some of my favorite teachers have since retired including Mrs. Spear and Mrs. Dutter. A shout out to Rowdy Roty if you know what I mean. Oh, and their lunch was always terrible. 2 stars at most.