Old Shell Creative Performing Art

We love this school! I feel for the parent that their expectations were not met. This school is not for everyone and maybe there are greener pastures elsewhere. However, this school was awesome for my child. I have sent a letter to the Mobile County Magnet School system praising this school. I thanked all of the teachers, custodial workers, secretaries and principal for their loving care and education. There is a TEAM effort which flows over to the children. Not only have the employees taught the required education, they have taught social skills through their daily actions. We have truly been blessed by this school. Oh and as for the unhappy parent, well children have to be disciplined and your way might be different. Also teachers do gossip, so do doctors, lawyers, police, firefighters, soldiers and parents. That is something we are all guilty of, myself included. The positive side in all of this is that this is a magnet school and an unhappy child and/or parent can drop out of the magnet school and go elsewhere, your not landlocked. LOLove
—Submitted by a parent

I had high expectations for this school after reading the reviews. Unfortunately, it seems as though things have changed drastically. The teacher my child has is wonderful but there are too many students per class which makes teaching and discipline difficult. The principal, IMO is just doing her time, waiting for retirement. She is not friendly and seems very unmotivated and uninterested. The school is a great concept, the arts are wonderful but the atmosphere of the school is rather bleak. What the school so desperately needs is new leadership, someone who is passionate about educating our children and the arts, who can lead by example and inspire the teachers to create a positive learning environment. I have witnessed cafeteria staff talking to children in a hateful manner on numerous occasions, a teacher grab a students arm and berate the child who was only 5 or 6 and lots of teachers gossiping! This is not acceptable! Too much emphasis is placed on test scores and program performances. The children do not even have recess. I really want to love this school, its seems great from the outside looking in but after spending time there it's just an average school with art!
—Submitted by a parent

I have 4 children who attend school at OSR. It is unlike any other school in the county. The children achieve academic success while also excelling the the arts. The school is racially balanced and consistently has higher than county and state average test scores. The faculty and staff are wonderful.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of a second grade student at Old Shell Road. First of all, I would like to say that the teachers are great at OSR. My son is excelling in academics and he performs very well during the shows that they put on. I love OSR and would recommend parents to try and enroll their child(ren) so that OSR can help prepare them for success. OSR is a wonderful school!!
—Submitted by a parent

I was a former student and I know from experience that the teachers Help you one-on-one to help you catch up if you are behind. The performing arts are wonderful beacuse they teach you to be precise and experienced before goin on the stage. They help you excell in your chosen gift whatever it may be. The best thing is they keep a balance between acedemics and arts. Great school!
—Submitted by Sydnee Rocker, a former student

This is a great magnet school for performance arts. They teach the kids on how to be professional in doing drama and dance. They have a high standard on excelling in their reading and math.
—Submitted by Becky Lockwood, a parent