Terra Environmental Research Institute

If you want a great social life and an easy time as your high school experience this school is not for you, so transfer out, instead of posting negative comments. It's a choice school for a reason. However if you want a rigorous academic experience that will prepare you for a top university, TERRA is great. Academically the school is extremely advanced when compared to most public high schools in Miami. Of course since the school is new it does have some quirks and problems, but nothing major. As to those who say the school is unsafe, have you ever heard of a fight at TERRA? Probably not. At Killain, Palmetto or most other MDCPS you hear of one every week. We will have a prom, when we have seniors(this year)! We do have clubs, sports and activities but you have to keep in mind that it's an academically focused school! Te academics opportunities are endless, we have students working at biotech labs at FIU, at UM, at Fairchild and the USDA. Point is, we have won more academi competitions than sports games but I love that because I'd rather debate someone than play them in basketball anyday. (I'm not ragging on our sports, they are good and plentiful, they are just not the main focus)
—Submitted by a student

First of all I would like to start off by saying, no person nor school is EVER perfect. TERRA is an amazing school with amazing opportunities. It is rare for a student to say such things about a school. TERRA has its quirks and in the process of figuring it out... It has only been open for a good 3 years (going into its 4th) Other schools have been open for decades and still can't get it right. Plus, while reading this you can take the time to ponder about how many times TERRA has been featured on national television, just saying. You can not blame the school for not having some type of sport, or having the occasional bad teacher... Because I assure you, I feel better being a "TERRA NERD" than a nerd from some other school.
—Submitted by a student

My son is now a Junior and refuses to transfer. He's 2 yrs ahead in math and 1 yr ahead in science plus all his classes have been Honors or AP. He applied bcs of Robotics but last year decided Engineering is not for him. At Terra he realized his passion is history, politics, current events, etc. This occurred BECAUSE OF HIS TEACHERS and the diverse students at the school. This is not a sports school bcs the students are here for academics. However, they do play sports (volleyball, water polo, etc.) and are trying to start lacrosse. It's a new school so it all takes TIME. Is this the best school? It depends on what you want and what your child makes of it. I think it should be more rigorous and challenging academically but my son disagrees. Thankfully, eligible students can do Dual Enrollment which helps if you feel teachers are not up to par. Clubs, internships, volunteering, college advise, etc. are available if you ask. My son met w/his counselor several times so it's available (email works too). School size w/no bullies is great. Using paper & textbooks at a "green" school is not great. As per my son, Terra is not for everyone but it fits him. If he's happy, I'm happy.
—Submitted by a parent

Terra has failed to comply with multiple promises made when the school opened. The first graduating class will not receive the industry certifications promised nor the community internships, or creative research projects. The school is very unsafe. They only have two security guards that are not able to supervise lunch or keep an eye on the large campus. The student parking lot is constantly being vandalized and the school adminsitration does not care to protect or do anything about this security problem since Terra's security cameras dont even work. The school adminsitration is never present at school events and games. The principal is a master actress who claims to care about children but after you have had multiple conversations with her, you can easily notice her level of incompetence and lack of confidence. Extracurricular activities are not supervised by any adults. The kids run around the school loose without any adult supervision after 2:30 because the admisnitration leaves the school as soon as the bell rings. They do not offer a healthy social high school life since they dont allow parents to fundraise, no prom, no pep rallies, no homecomming.
—Submitted by a parent

Terra's student services department needs improvement. They have only one counselor for 1900 students and she is not a pleasant lady. My child is terrified to ask for an appointment and every time I called her she replies with a defensive-passive-agressive tone. My child is about to graduate and no one in the office knows anything about community service hours or graduation requirements. When I reached out to the administration for help they never got back to me. The office personnel is famous for delegating your problems to the next person and never prioritizing the needs of children. The traffic situation in the mornings is a total nightmare. There is no school personnel directing traffic and there are no clear traffic guidelines established. The worse part about Terra is that my child had no books in the AP American History class for 6 months, in the chemistry class and in the Biomedical class. Terra is advertised to be a technology driven school when in reality not even a third of their teachers have websites. It is sad to attend a PTSA meeting. not only does the administration dont show up but the overall parent attendance is of less than 20 people for such a big school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is great for kids whose parents want them to stay in a relatively middle school environment with a lot of restrictions that will otherwise keep them in 'their minds' as safe. I'm leaving the school and have appreciated all I have come across but definitely don't want to stay here, as it isn't a developed school- I'm not going to sacrifice my education for the reputation of this school! I don't feel that this is a high school experience or encourages healthy normal ideas of high school. Very obsessed with how they look more than how they REALLY are with the student body! The math department is LACKING as well as the arts, some of the administration is rarely there or don't have a good/any relationship with students, which is very sad- especially come college application time! Think about your choices very carefully before applying here, but it is an okay school, which some good teachers (hit or miss) but definitely, appearances are deceiving...
—Submitted by a student

As a part of the 2013 graduating class, my first two (soon to be three) years at TERRA have been fantastic, but with constant, but minor, exceptions. It should be concerning to any parent with a child wanting to go to a school that advertises itself as STEM-oriented, I should assume, to know that a considerable number of educators in those fields are beyond inadequate. Close to all of the mathematics teachers, are extremely unreasonable, arrogant, and incapable of communicating even the most basic of topics to their students; resulting in a very confused, and very frustrated, student with inhibited potential to do well. Furthermore, the school seems to be much more concerned with maintaining its "pseudo-nerd" look than actually doing it. This includes a uniform policy that is both ridiculous and disruptive, as many a time I have seen administrators call down a student in the middle of interacting and taking notes during a class lecture to scold him for wearing a wrong colored shirt for THE REST OF THE CLASS PERIOD. Finally, to those parents who are taking their child, know that it is much more rewarding to be a proud parent of an intellectual than it is to be of a "TERRA NERD."
—Submitted by a student

I couldn't say that this is the most amazing school in the world. But honestly, how much fun can you have going to school? There are fun moments and I made a few good friends, but to be honest Terra isn't very different from other high schools I've seen. I will however note one thing: A decent portion of Terra students are above average (many taking math or science a year above grade level, some two years ahead. For example Most students of my Geometry class are freshmen while my science class is mostly sophomores) but that is not a very big issue at Terra. The most complaints I see are for uniforms and the lack of social lives. First of all most people I know don't even care about the uniforms, while a lot of students would rather have a choice as to what to wear you don't see anyone rioting in the halls about it. (Though the jacket policy in the winter is almost always an issue as administration is notorious for taking jackets to the office if they aren't school colors AND if they don't have logos) As far a social events, we just got juniors this year. Can you imagine how lame a prom would be with only freshmen and sophomores? If you have some good friends you can *(Continued)*
—Submitted by a student

As a parent Iam very HAPPY to have my son attending to Terra. This a GREAT School with a wonderful teachers. The principal Ms. Montano is the BEST!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

There are many good options for high schoolers in the area - homeschool + dual enrollment, FLVS, SAS, charter schools, etc., but my child chose this school. Because I do not favor the school, only respect my child's right to make educational choice, I think I am unbiased. Here's what I know: The magnet strand teachers are good to awesome; the principal strikes me as phony and political,hiring friends from her previous school,hence the poor math and (some, not all) science teachers; foreign languge teachers (average); social science teachers (good), security (good);english teachers (average-good); uniform code (Rediculous. Excessively strict, and if the students can pay a dollar to wear jeans, it seems more about control or payoff than security, and even less about equality. Also not about less distraction or more dignity as evident by the skimpy outfits cheerleaders are encouraged to wear to class.); gifted classes (just more homework, not more in-depth study); and I don't know about after school activities, as my child spends most after school time doing homework., which includes self- teaching math concepts that the inept math teachers actually make MORE confusing. Choice.
—Submitted by a parent

I am in the first graduating class of 2013 at TERRA I think this is a great school that offers many opportunities for students to excel ignore previous rudimentary comments by student who only care about having a football team or more sports, because last time I checked one does not go to school to learn about sports or be in sports one goes to school to learn, so to any parent looking for a good school for their child to go to I would highly recommend TERRA specially now that it has been viewed as the number one magnet school in the US( correct me if I'm wrong just herd about this yesterday :3). The teachers are amazing and are always after school to help their students if help is needed, the staff in general is wonderful. and we also have amazing variety of electives to chose from. So far our school has not had any fights and as far as I am concerned there is very little if no bulling at TERRA. We also have a wide variety of sports such as Water polo, cross country, basketball, baseball , swimming, tennis, badminton, and hopefully next year lacrosse which I look forward to. So I would definitely recommend TERRA.
—Submitted by a student

I am a parent of a sophomore at this school. I have to agree with parts of all previous post. This school has many excellent teachers, however, it is lacking in the arts and other healthy high school experiences. My daughter is in the gifted classes and for the most part she has excellent teachers, however she did have a very rude chemistry teacher her first year, unfortunately that is part of the real world. I was surprised to learn this school has no auditorium and that is extremely poor planing. Even old high schools in less than desirable areas have an auditorium, where students can perform plays, receive awards and perform musical recitals, etc. On a different note I have to say my daughter hasn't experienced any bullies or any type of social problem, she isn't popular girl, but still hasn't had a altercations. The reason I haven't removed my child from this is school is because it is small and I don't want her to have to start over somewhere else. Advice to principal and staff reading this, remember this is the time for these kids to get prepared but also to have some fun and special moments through high school years. Life is already stressful, let them enjoy themselves.
—Submitted by a parent

It's the TERRA in TERRABLE (I know its spelt wrong) anyways I feel so dumb for not leaving freshman year because its been the worse experience of my life. Terra is a prison. The teachers are rude and have no intention of helping any students. They are fake and act like the sweetest people to the parents but in class its completely different. They like to make cruel jokes and humiliate the students for things that they can't control. They also assign pounds of homework and excpect us to have time to complete it all after school. Students are bombarded it is quite pathetic. Another thing is the students that do attend this school are rude and unwelcoming. Bullies and no trude friends exists here. Everyone at Terra thinks they are so amazing and so smart when in reality they are just selfish and impolite. Lastly, where is the high school experience? Where is the homecoming game/dance? Where are the energetic pep rallies? Where is the fun? All the good things that people say about Terra is just a show, No one is happy! THERE IS NOTHING GOOD ABOUT TERRA. IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING THIS SCHOOL DONT DO IT OR SUFFER WITH THE CONSEQUNECES!!! IF YOU ARE THERE NOW LEAVE BEOFRE IT IS TOO LATE!!!!!
—Submitted by a student

If im lucky hopefully my child would attend this school. This is the time to prepare for a career. Study , learn and grow to become a proffesional. I Will have to disagree with any parent whom is not content with a school that focuses in Science and a proud parent of " A NERD ." There is always time to dance,sing, play sports, music, etc...... out of school. Kids should be pushed academically to there limit, and hopefully use all they have learned to become a proffessional. Not the next contender of X-Factor tv show. If you want amusement, theres always a school out there with a Magnet program that offers (dancing,singing, arts ) waiting for the next lucky entertainer. We have a brain people, lets use it !!!!
—Submitted by a parent

TERRA has many Arts and Humanitys classes. Their art program is exceptional. They have done shows and it is truly fascinating. Their music and choir programs are to die for. The kids put on two or three shows a year and it is very professional. Few schools have the teachers and facilities to do what the TERRA kids do. they have special rooms, that are sound special and for the drama, full stages. Truly a very well rounded school. My daughter loves it. GO WOLVES CLASS 2014
—Submitted by a parent

Come here if you don't want a social life. Sure, this schools academically offers amazing courses, but the arts, athletics, real HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE is not here. I'm currently a sophomore and I graduate in 2014, and I hate this school. This is HIGH SCHOOL, not Elementary. Where's the Homecoming Game? Prom? Homecoming? Not here. If you want to go to a football game from YOUR school, have a positive environment and fun, you are better off at Sunset. I haven't left yet but I am trying my best to get out of here and keeping my record clean. The principal is a Saleswoman for her school, her plan is to attract the parents by forcing the students to act happy and show a positive environment when actually there are some kids that cry before coming to school (like me sometimes) because of how bad this school is. NOW, if you don't want school spirit, amazing sport programs, a social life, then TERRA is for you!
—Submitted by a student

The school's self proclaimed identity is to produce students who are "proud to be nerds". While this may sound noble to a parent desperate to find an academic offering more challenging that the regular high school curriculum or magnet program, in effect it is lamentable. Terra's "academies" are geared only to the sciences . Look at the lack of any (Arts, Athletics, Music et al) courses where creativity or humanity can be learned. This omission of leads to a void of spirit that extends from the curriculum into the sports teams the dances. It is sad to see children preoccupied with science while neglecting humanities studies that can feed a truly balanced student's soul. Unfortunately, this mindset has another manifestation. As a Terra nerd, expect to subordinated and humiliated into conformance by some of the teachers and most of the professional staff. Individual expression is not welcome here, instead rigidity rules from the top dog down to the parking police..... If you are truly exceptional or aspire to be well rounded in the Arts & Sciences, I suggest you find another school which can meet your needs. Otherwise, you will conform to the TERRA norm or be reformed.....
—Submitted by a parent

My son is lucky enough to be part of the Class of 2013 at Terra. The school is exceptional. Even before the school opened, the principal, her staff and the parents were at work full force. The personal attention the principal and her staff give the students and their parents is excellent. While other schools are shunning and cutting ties with parents this school goes beyond their duties in establishing a relationship with its students and their families. I am grateful every day that my son is lucky enough to have been chosen to be part of TERRA!
—Submitted by a parent

Great things start with great leadership and this school is fortunate enough to have the best.. From its Pricipal to it's Educators, to it's Student; even the Secretaries, Cafeteria Staff, Custodians, Guards and the assighned Police Officer are the best.. This school is second to absolutely none!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

TERRA ROCKS!!!!!! IT SIMPLY DOES NOT GET BETTER THAN THIS. Great Principle, Educators, Students, Coaches, Cafeteria Staff, Secretaries, Assistants, Guards, they are all really, really great. The PTSA is super involved and is shows, I am one happy parent, GO WOLVES!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent