The Cottage School

This school is mismanaged from the top down! Might be a solution for some but one of our primary goals was to be kept informed on our child's progress and areas in which they need to work harder. Total failure in that regard. They are very defensive when you question their organizational skills. We went back to the public schools.
—Submitted by a parent

The Cottage School is an excellent solution for many kids. There are 3 types of students there: kids with diagnosed disabilities (physical, mental, emotional), kids that need a smaller classroom environment, and kids that have failed in other environments. The school has an innovative structure that teaches practical life skills like personal responsibility, meeting job requirements, balancing a checkbook; and is organized similar to a work environment. A very high percentage of students that graduate from TCS go on to college, and successfully graduate from college after having been told they could not even finish high school. The environment also has a lot of freedoms, but it is most challenging for students that have failed in other schools due to their never being held accountable for obeying rules (by their parents or school. TCS does that, and provides an environment where they can, if they choose, succeed.
—Submitted by a parent

As an observer from Cambridge College this school is a great good compared to public schools. The students at the Cottage School give you a whole lot of respect. And the Cottage School is a friendly atmosphere!

My daughter attends Cottage School. We were desperate because she was failing in the public high school she was attending. She is ADHD. We thought Cottage School was going to be our salvation. Well, it's not. The home room teacher is to call the parents every week and give you a report on how your child is doing. Well, we would talk to the homeroom teacher one day and he would state there were no problems and find out the next day our child had been missing many assignments. They do not allow the kids to use the refrigeratior anymore because their lunches were being stolen. The staff took their lunch period away to lecture them because of all the pink slips. They are not qualified to teach children with behavior problems. There are teachers there that have cussed at the students. Why pay for this???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

We had nothing but good experiences with the teachers and staff at the Cottage School. I wonder why a parent would keep sending their child to a school that they do not consider 'safe'? We found the curriculum challenging, yet accommodating to students' varied needs. My child flourished and developed leadership and self-esteem skills and to self-advocate. This is a fabulous school, especially when parents, teachers, and student work together as a team.
—Submitted by a parent

We sent our son here from public school and the cottage school administration staff promised us that he would be academically challenged. This has not been the case. Our son has regressed so significantly since he has attended the cottage school. We have asked for help and to increase his academia but the school tells you one thing but does whatever they want. We have had numerous mishaps while i son has been at this school and i am truly concerned every time I drop him off for his safety. If you want your child to get a good education look elsewhere! this school is for the severely learning delayed! you know there is something wrong when your 6th grader tells you that they are bored at school and would like to be challenged more on tests.
—Submitted by a parent

If your child has problems, they are sure to meet other kids with many problems also. Not a good environment.
—Submitted by a parent

Unfortunately, I've had the pleasure of sending my student to TCS and after only one year, I pulled my child out. First, let me outline the basic problems: 1) There is no challenge in academics. 2) Students can avoid doing any schoolwork by complaining about his or her illnesses. 3) The environment is unsanitary.
—Submitted by a parent

We were also led to believe TCS would challenge our child in academics and still keep our child in a safe, drug free environment. We became uneasy about the organizational skills of the administration staff when we were sent a copy of an enrollment contract of another family. It had been signed and had the social security number of the student, name and address of the parents and amounts the family owed for that child for that year. The principal of the high school was not straight forward with us when we asked for answers about situations with our child. We had to go to the director of the school to get the truth.
—Submitted by a parent

My child needed a safe environ., w/o bullying, but high academics. We were lead to believe TCS could challenge him in academics and still keep him in a safe, basically drug free environ. Well he felt secure, but he was not challenged in academics at all. Even after approaching the principal with our concern regarding the easy academics, they assured us that he would be challenged on a 'honors' type of teaching. This never happened, and we now realize this school is for the learning challenged child.
—Submitted by a parent

Like other schools, The cottage school has good and bad things about it. After reading some of the other reviews on here I was in shock. As a memeber of the student body I would have to say that some of the things said were blown way out of proportion. Yes, the school has problems like some of the administation and some teachers about one teacher out of all of them. Only two things bad is a pretty good school when they have some much more going for them. The Principal is great just like his wife who helps develop the school! Almost every teacher is willing to help you with anything. It is a great school!
—Submitted by a student

i was actually a student at the cottage school, and i found the teachers were very unorganized. When i first started i was told teachers were to call home once a week, my homeroom teacher called adn thats it! The sports are well, lets leave it at that. The academics are way to easy for a student that just doesnt try in a normal school. If you want you high schoolers hand to be held, then this school has plenty of counslers ready with open hands. the faculty can be a real problem to deal with if you need to get sometihng done in an alloted period of time. And the levels thing is a joke, and a waste of my time.
—Submitted by a student

I have been attending The Cottage School sense 2000 (6th grade). This school has been exceptionally great for me due to it's low student to teacher ratio and the great teachers that it hires. Middle School: The Middle School is a great place to learn for students with Learning Disabilities. The Principal is absolutely awesome at her job and is involved in the day-to-day activities in the school. High School: High School has been the best for me so far!!! I have loved the high school! All the teachers are willing to help me out at any cost to get me through the school year.
—Submitted by a student

My child graduated from the Cottage School with a Hope Scholarship and an academic scholarship to a Georgia college. He was well-prepared for post-secondary pursuits, not only academically, but in the areas of work skills and self-advocacy as well. The Cottage School curriculum does not expect each child to learn in the same way. Instruction is varied and tailored to the way in which a student learns. The small size of the school allows teachers and students to become a true community, and teachers take an active interest in each student. My child was given the opportunity to become a leader, to develop self-confidence, to participate in Varsity-level sports, and to discover his unique talents. He will tell anyone who asks that attending the Cottage School was the best decision he ever made. We are grateful to the dedicated teachers and staff who gave him this opportunity.
—Submitted by a parent

The Cottage School changed our son's life. The school's mission is true and the students not only receive excellent adademics...they are taught responsibility and value of self. Students are given the opportunity to make choices and they are at the staff's disposal. The parents are given every opportunity to be as involved as they wish to be and are encouraged to do so. We are very pleased with the Cottage School and highly recommend it. The students are first and foremost and the number one goal is to lead and guide students of the Cottage School to success!
—Submitted by a parent

Poor discipline. Administrators tell you one thing one day and change their mind the next. Our child was no angel and he had some issues but he was treated very poorly. If you want to pay for a diploma with little learning, this is the school for you.
—Submitted by a parent