Miami Lakes K-8 Center

MLK-8 is the what I call "organized chaos". Every school event is disorganized with not sense of a beginning or end. I've noticed on many occasions that the disorganization is intentional to keep those of us who are not Spanish speaking off-balance. Parking is non-existent at the school grounds. The child who is not Spanish-speaking is shoved into Spanish for native speakers with all instructions given in Spanish. The teacher was very slow to believe that my child is not a Spanish speaker. My child is constantly verbally bullied by the older children in the hallways. She is called "ugly". If she retaliates, she gets in trouble. When she was struck in the eye by another student; the school did not bother to notify me. Instead, they isolated her from the other children but kept the offending child in with the others. No notes come home when your child is hurt at this school. The Principal and Assistance Principals do not have time for grievances and I worry for my child's safety. The quality of teaching varies from excellent to very poor. There is extensive parent involvement; however, be prepared to be isolated if you are not Spanish speaking.
--Submitted by a parent

Excellent school, excellent teachers, involved parents, I talked with approximately 15 parents with kids in MLE for more than 5 years and 2 teachers as well before transferring my kid to MLE, the answers were positive 100%, "with your eyes close" . I have the same opinion, my son is happy again and he is glad we changed him.
--Submitted by a parent

I have my kids attending this school since 2008 , I feel they need to improve with the teacher they have very poor teaching habits. they do very little work in school and send class work to complete at home sometimes adding up to 4 to 5 assigments in one school night . They send complaints on a daily basis but the dont advise when my kids get hurt or bullied. I feel it is unfair I should be notified. they school office is very disorganized and the staff as well. They dont have school shows for holidays, no aduitorium, award ceremonies are kaos.....need improvement they want to fit so much in no space at all.
--Submitted by a parent

I am sorry, but for my own experience, it is wrong, to think that it is a good education school. First the all, the school needs to improve etic and conduct from the teacher and staff to the students and parents, in my opinion, some students have preferences, others have complaint constantly, without really reason. As parents and family is very important that our childrens not only learn across the academic course, is very, very important that the children feel accepted and loved to teacher and staff.

We have had our child at this school for years and are disappointed at its low quality teaching staff and office. See for yourself. Call the school and ask to speak to the assistant principle. You will be transferred and the phone will ring endlessly. You can't leave a message. I was there to speak with the office and a parent came in with a child with a blood scar on his head from the day before. He was upset that the attending teachers didn't help his son nor did they report that other kids abused him. After waiting for nearly an hour, he left in a huff. During that time, there was no one at the front office desk to take down his information. The teachers often send home work with misspellings and fragmented sentences. It is embarrassing to read what they have to say. One of them wrote down their number and it was a wrong number. I don't get what goes on there. Lots of homework but when they come back they don't seem to be graded. A check-mark, a comment or in most cases nothing at all. I attended many schools from my time moving with my dad who was in the military and each school had its good and bad teachers. I have met only bad ones at Miami Lakes K - 8 Center.
--Submitted by a parent

this is the best school ever, my three children attend and i have a long way until they reach 8th grade but i feel so happy, grateful and lucky to have my children there, the teachers are A+, and the staff take things and any issue very seriously and they take action.
--Submitted by a parent

Great teachers. Principal overall good leader but ignores most pressing problems. School has no parking for parents and nothing is being done to alleviate problem. Town of Miami Lakes is benefiting with unjust parking tickets.
--Submitted by a parent

Great School! Great Teachers! Great Admin! Great Office! = Great Students! The school is beautiful with Smart Boards and Computers in every classroom. My son attended the school from K-8th grade and has now moved to high school with a wonderful education. Not sure why there are so many negative reviews..Everyone speaks English (I know this because I don't speak Spanish!) Can't ask for a better school! VERY challenging academics...always kept my son thinking and challenged.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is unsafe for children. There is inadequate supervision. I have seen students leaving school grounds to skip school. Not even the crossing guards ask students why they are leaving. I have tried for many years to make the principal aware of this problem; however, the principal repeatedly neglects to return parents' phone calls. I finally gave up trying to reach the principal. If it's imperative that you speak with the principal regarding anything, I advise calling the school board and asking them to call the principal and request that she returns your call. This is what I will do the next time I need to speak with the principal. It may be the only way to get her to call you back. I think it's really sad that most parents, including myself, will have their children at this school for nine years without having one conversation with the principal.
--Submitted by a parent

Protect your child send them elsewhere a Zoo would be better The school's adminstors run their principal. my child's K class had 34 students which they justified by putting 2 teachers in a class.1 spoke very bad english. My child has ADHD & ASPERGERS by Jan. he was on track due to medication & my efforts. After I was able to get my child to focus in an overcrowed class we asked "please correct his cirriculum he is way off level since he came into the school reading and writing." They never did it. he scored in the 98 percentile of the SAT's. They were teaching him to write letters & spell site words. my son was reading Harry Potter at home. The adminstrators will do WHATEVER they have to get your special needs child out of their school NOTHING IS OFF LIMITS several other parents have told us the same.
--Submitted by a parent