International Academy of Smyrna

Wouldn't it be great if the students in grades 5 through 8 got an optional homework assignment to write an anonymous review of IAS, and to share their views, both positive and negative. This would probably provide a very helpful insight into the school, its culture, the staff, programs that are successful, as well as areas for improvement. Parents tend to fall into two categories: They are either 'cheerleaders' for the school, or they are highly critical. Students, on the other hand, have a range of experiences at school, and sharing this information could be beneficial to prospective parents and students.
—Submitted by a parent

The Learning and Safety of the School,also the way the Dressed in school.Other things are,the staff and teachers that work here,the way they communicate with parents and students.
—Submitted by a parent

IAS is a school of choice, and parents make the decision to have their children attend IAS for individual reasons. The school started with a lot of potential, but sadly, there have been many disappointments lately. Whether or not the school receives IB certification is unclear, but one thing that is clear is that the overall quality of education is not acceptable. The school seems to cater to students in EIP (Early Intervention Program), while the needs of students capable of learning at a higher level are essentially ignored. Combine that with the "No Child Left Behind" directive, and you have a situation where essentially every child is left behind. Don't get me wrong, EIP is very important and essential, but so is having appropriate programs for students at the other end of the curve. IAS worked for a while. Now it is not working, which is very unfortunate. Some changes must be made at this school.
—Submitted by a parent

IAS is the most dysfunctional organization I have ever encountered. There is absolutely no communication from the administration or the teachers. No organization, no, no professionalism, no standards in place. No check and balance system in place to see what your child is learning in class, what the assignments are or what their grades are. Progress reports and report cards come home weeks late. No focus on the student s well-being. The administrative team is a complete joke. They are only worried about image. They ignore parent s concerns and allow issues to go unresolved because they don t want to deal with them or make the time. They allow rude, immature, incompetent teachers to bully students. There are some great teachers at the school and I praise them for trying to do the best they can . How much a parent volunteers at the school is not going to make it a great experience for their children; it s having nurturing teachers that they feel comfortable asking help from, it s knowing that they matter and not just a number, that there is support from counselors or administrators when they are needed.
—Submitted by a parent

this is actually a question for parents of students who have been at ias for 3+ years.. what do you think of the 2012-2013 school year?
—Submitted by a parent

I have an 8 year old daughter who has attended IAS since kindergarten. She absolutely loves her school! I love it too. I am an educator and understand that no school is perfect. (which reflects my 4 star rating). Parents are required to volunteer and I have done above and beyond my required hours since my child started. I've read some recent reviews and believe that everyone has a right to their own opinion. Teachers and administrators at IAS are professional and intelligent. Working at a charter school, which is still very new, is challenging. IAS is still establishing itself and working on making a great footprint here in Smyrna. The IB Curriculum is a highlight and the recent renovations are fabulous. Every school has it's positives and negatives. Don't believe every angry review and if you truly want to know more about the school get several opinions.Contact a PTA representative. Active parents who participate in creating a wonderful school experience for their children will give you their honest opinion. Don't complain, get involved wherever your child attends I am grateful to save 20k per year...private school would be my next option if IAS wasn't available.
—Submitted by a parent

My child is in grade k. I read reviews about this school and really wished I had listened. The rudeness of the staff, lack ot respect for Parents and the unprofessionalism is just ridiculous. They only care about one thing MONEY. They never miss a beat when it comes to fundraising. I am done. I am pulling my child out as soon as he is done with this year. If you are considering this school for your child, DO NOT BOTHER. LOOK SOME WHERE ELSE. May be when they start losing students, they will wake up and smell the coffee. BUNCH OF RUDE, MONEY HUNGRY PEOPLE.
—Submitted by a parent

My child has attended this school for the past 5 years and it continues to get worse. The reviews were padded. I was there that day when it was done. A lot of the teachers are immature, rude and do not know how to teach. Parents often pay for tutors or come home and reteach. I should have taken my chances with a traditional public school. It is a beautiful building with barely anything of value inside. Hoping to transfer.
—Submitted by a parent

Wow, what amazing growth! We are celebrating a 2nd floor build out and a whole school remodel. It looks amazing! My 5th grader is thrilled with her brand new classroom upstairs and Promethean 'smart board'. All of her favorite teachers and friends are back and school has transitioned to it's schedule quickly. The PTA is hitting the ground running. The Target program which started in January of last year has an exciting, energetic certified gifted teacher and the kids should be enterering the robotics competition this year. We are really excited about 2012-13.
—Submitted by a parent

First off, the name is International Academy of Smyrna. It is a public school, operated on a charter, run by a board made up of parents, educators, and community volunteers. It has over 800 students, will double its educational space over the summer, and has a waiting list for every grade, K-8. Kids wear uniforms, parents are required to do volunteer hours, it's academically challenging and oh, yes, IT'S FREE. We have two students in their 5th year at this school who are both excelling. And we didn't have to move to East Cobb or pay private school tuition to do it. As for the Smyrna middle schools panic - we had none. Our middle schooler is having a stellar year. If you value diversity, being involved in your child's education, and want to see your child challenged, this is the school for you. If you are one of those parents who believes the rules never apply to them (or their children), you will be happier at your neighborhood school.
—Submitted by a parent

There is no procedure in place for bullying. This school put a band aid on real issues at hand because they do not want the publicity. The Assistant Principle needs to go home.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm the grandmother of a 2nd grader, reviewing from a distance. As a retired teacher/principal, I see an thoroughly engaged 7 yr old who loves school and cannot wait to tell me about her latest school project. I am excited by how challenging and engaging the work sounds. Every time I see her, her vocabulary is larger, her knowledge of the world around her is greater, and she is more poised and self-assured. I only withhold the 5th star because I'm not there in person, but the proof is in the pudding. This school is doing something right.

I must say that this is my 3rd year here. My sons K and firsta grade teachers set the bar pretty high. This year has been a FAIL!! His 3rd grade teacher is awful!! She never returns emails and she is rude to my child. She told him he has diarrhea of the mouth!! Who does that!! I can't wait for the year to be over!!!
—Submitted by a parent

I hate this school but love the acedemics! Since the beginning of school the rules seem to change every few months. I've researched it and its not a charter school it's now public. The restrictions on the girls tights is beyond ridiculous and book bag rules to Focus on if the uniform is inappropriate. Focus on the fact that the teachers don't follow doctors orders or allergy warning. Kids having reactions walk to the nurse alone! Children wet there clothes rather than let children use the rest rooms when the time comes. Homework comes without full instructions. I can't wait til this years over. Both my kids and nieces will not be returning next year!
—Submitted by a parent

This is my daughter's second year at IIAS and I love it. The quality of the education is enlightening and challenging for the children, the teachers can be easily contacted and involved, and the administrators take an active role as well. For those that complain about the police being at the school, they are there to control those parents that do not know how to follow directions. If the parents do not follow directions how would you expect the children to do the same. Lead by example. In addition, the school also offers many different programs for after school students, which I think is great for those parents that want their child/ren to be continually exposed to different things (instead of having them just "watched" or let them just "play".
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been at this school since 1st grade. She is now in the 4th. We have seen many changes at this school and many staff members change. I can honestly say that even with all of that, her education has not suffered. When I speak with other friends who have children in other schools, cities, states, etc, she is on point if not ahead. I don't know what people posting negative comments on this site expect from a school other than a good, safe environment, where your children can learn and have an enriching school experience. Contact Cobb county police and find out how many incident reports they have here compared to other schools. There's always something positive going on here. If you as a parent need to be coddled and made to feel special, maybe you need to go somewhere else where the parents needs are placed in front of the children's. Something as petty as carpool should not deter your child's education. Get up early and get here on time. The staff is here to teach our children and they do a great job of that. They put the needs of the child first. The ASP program offers many different activities for children that aren't offered elsewhere. Look up other schools and see.
—Submitted by a parent

We are thrilled with IAS. Our daughter began in kindergarten at this school and is now in 1st. She is excelling! I am an academic snob and have no doubt that my daughter is getting a fantastic education. The mission statement that the kids learn and recite daily reinforces the attitude of "global-thinking" and being caring individuals. Through volunteering at the school we have met many wonderful families. For those that complain about carpool - see if you can design and better system and propose it to the administration. They have tried several different formats to try to determine the most efficient one. For those complaining about uniforms and other such issues - remember you made a choice to send your child to IAS and were made aware of the requirements prior to coming to the school. You can't and shouldn't expect to change the rules because they don't suit you at a particular moment. Parents need to stop expecting the schools and teachers to raise their children and take some accountability. I am thrilled with the school, have recommended it to several families and will continue to do so.
—Submitted by a parent

I am happy with the academics of the school, but I am very unhappy with one particular assistant principal. Carpool seems to be an issue with this school. Police are there daily, though I am not sure why? This principal is very rude to parents that are "walkers" to the school. He has followed me OFF OF SCHOOL PROPERTY AND DOWN IN FRONT OF PUBLIX AND ACROSS THE PARKING LOT to "see where I am going"... Is it really his business where I walk to after I drop off my kids? NO! He is following me to see if I get into a car. Well I am not and after confronting school staff about his behavior, he still hasn't stopped, and he also does this to other parents walking their kids to school. I would gladly give this school 5 stars but after dealing with that man, I will only give 1.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with the last parent.... this IS a school of choice and its your decision to take you child to this school or not... as for the uniforms... do you not purchase new clothes for your children at the beginning of each school year anyways? My son has been at this school for 4 years and there would be no way that he would get the education at the school district (Labelle) we are currently in that he is receiving now. I am grateful for this school and its staff.... they have gone above and beyond to make sure my son is on track with his education. And speaking of education, my son who is in elementary school was assisting my nephew in 8th grade at another Cobb School with his homework. How is it that my elementary child is studying the same course of study as an 8th grader. As for car pool, I have no issues with car pool, the volunteers do a great job at making sure our students get in and out safely. At least I know my children son is getting to school safely.
—Submitted by a parent

Our son has attended this school since its opening days 4 years ago. We have been very satisfied with the quality of teaching provided to our son and now our daughter for the past 2 years. They are excited to go school everyday and my son has done quite nicely on his CRCT scores every year. This is a new school started from the ground up by dedicated parents. The improvement in all aspects of the school has been exceptional considering the short amount of time this school has been open. This is not a generic comment! By the way before you criticize the school for their poor quality of academics, please make sure to post a comment that has good spelling and grammar...
—Submitted by a parent