Banneker is a school where your child will get pushed to be the best they can be. Lots of homework, discipline and also love. The staff and the leadership care about the growth of the students. Areas that have just been added are band and there is a process of computer software on the third grade level that will be expanding to other grades. Out of all local schools it strives to be better ever day. There is proof in the results regardless of what we may say this school is productive.
—Submitted by a parent

My child is disappointed. she is in 6th grade. Ms.Givens says that shes going to have sports, but has not happened. My child signed up for volleyball, but the instructor never came back to start classes. I asked Ms.Givens why hasn't she came back. She said "We don't have an okay for that sport yet." The children in 6th grade are supposed to be Middle school but they treat them like elementary. No band, No computer class, No foreign language, and No daily P.E class. Send your child to Emerson if he or she wants any of these classes with a great education. ~ Wrote by a Mother using daughter's words.
—Submitted by a parent

I do not feel that Banneker is meeting the needs of majority of the students. Teachers are constantly yelling and hitting the students! The students are not in a conducive learning environment, and there are far too many teachers who inject their own personal feelings when dealing with students. Many of the children I have spoke with feel that the teachers and Administration are not doing a good job of treating everyone with the same level of fairness. Disciplinary actions are inconsistent, and far too many teachers are 'getting away' with ill behavior. I have personally brought several issues to the attention of the Administration, yet, there is no resolution.
—Submitted by a parent

I am not happy with Banneker at all! My son is ready to move to another school asap. They are very rude (just call & find out for yourself) and very unorganized, they don't even keep track of something as simple as your child's attendance. When it comes to Gary, there really is not a great school for our children. We are looking for another school for him right now.
—Submitted by a parent

My first issue is the Principal who appears to avoid the issues. My children have been at this school for 2 years & I am ready to take them out b/c of the activities that they describe of the student's behavior. It makes me very concerned about the safety of my children. This year they are coming home speaking improper & forgetting their place. I feel that the Principal likes to portray a certain image but if you go into the school & spend time as I have, you will see a whole other side. My daughter has a learning disability & due to it, she doesn't do well on I-Step. I was told her test wouldn't be turned into the state. It seems like they only turn in the scores that make them seem like an excellent school. I agree with the teacher & the Oct. 8, 2012 reviews. They are not aloud to talk during lunch or they will kick them out, without finishing their food, teachers hit & cuss children out, the school secretary is unprofessional, rude, & talks down on the children (just call & find out for yourself), the school nurse is rude & unproductive, & the school is very unorganized. They don't even keep track of something as simple as your child's attendance. Looking for another school.
—Submitted by a parent

Banneker has a lot of memory, they throw out low test scores to help boost their I-Step score. Also a parent, If my son doesn't hand in his homework, they just don't add it into his grades. This caused him to make A/B honor roll, when he really didn't earn it. This made him feel very good about himself, but at the same time he learned that if he doesn't turn in his homework, there isn't a consequent for it & it also makes his grades higher, so homework really doesn't matter to him anymore. What a fight on my hands every night to get him to do his homework. Not something I wanted my child to learn. I am also not happy with Mrs. Givens, she walks up & down the hall yelling: "They are building jails for you right now!" No principal or teacher should be telling my child or all of the other children this! This school is no where close to where they want you to think it is but as far as Gary, this is the best they have to offer.
—Submitted by a teacher

Banneker is nothing, but hype. As a former educator, I have taught at some of the best schools and Banneker is just not it. They promote rote memorization vs. critical thinking skills. Students are not engaged in investigative learning as such as the "best" schools" in the country. If you compare it to schools in the inner city, yeah its good, matter of fact it would be great; however your child will not be able to compete with kids from the suburbs coming from Banneker. The school culture is ghetto from the top down. If you are MOVING TO THE AREA FROM ANY SUBURBS THIS IS NOT THE SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILD. YOUR CHILD WILL BE EXPOSED TO GHETTO BEHAVIOR AND MENTALLY...PLEASE TAKE IT FROM A FORMER EDUCATOR...PLEASE RUN...LOOK ELSEWHERE...Also, where is the diversity? Students need to be around peers of various ethnicities so that they will not experience culture shock or they can simply learn from others. Lastly, they promote corporal punishment and not simply paddling...My child was hit in the back. She was the brightest and didn't quite understand the ghetto culture there.. .People from Gary thinks its good, but look what they have to compare it to.
—Submitted by a parent

I have 2 children at Banneker and have now started looking for a private school for them. Ms. Givens runs the school like a prison. The children are rushed to eat during lunch and can't even talk. The playground is old and dangerous. The only sport that is offered is boys basketball. There is no school band or newspaper. The office staff is terrible, disorganized and rude. The lunch ladies are tyrants. The awards that Banneker received are based on test scores, but what about creativity. The children learn by memorization and force. No foreign language classes are offered. The school does not have a website. The supply list were given out the first day class when school supplies had already been on sale for weeks. If you are lucky enough to get a lunch menu, it really doesn't matter because it is rarely followed. Ms. Givens forces the children to get breakfast just to keep funding. Most of the food ends up in the trash. The children really do not seem happy and some look like their spirit is broken. They are afraid of the staff. Ms. Givens clearly plays favorites among the students and teachers. If things do not change, I am certain this will be our last year at Banneker.
—Submitted by a parent

My son and daughter began going to Banneker 2years ago when we moved to Miller and were searching for the best school available to them. I had heard that this was definitely the best school to be at academically and that they won Blue Ribbon, etc. etc. However, I am not pleased at all. They are so unorganized, the office staff has no knowledge of anything when you call, they are unprofessional and I cannot stand the principal Ms. Givens screaming at the children. She is walking through the halls barefoot and yelling things at them that are very unappropriate. I am so unhappy with my children at this school and I desperately wish they could go back to their old school. Everything is last minute notice and so unorganized, it's just ridiculous. This will be their last year here at Banneker and I am glad about it.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a very great school. Ms Richardson was my childs 1st grade teacher and he has learned a lot. She really tunes into the children and find out what their strength and weaknesses are. She has done wonders with my son Charles. I am happy I made the decision to have my child attend this school. Ms. Sara Givens is one of the best leaders within the educational arena. I know that once my child leaves Banneker, he is going towards the forefront of success. Thanks Banneker Proud Parent
—Submitted by a parent

Not impressed --alot of emphasis on memorization and regurgitation not learning concepts. My son was here for three years and I am looking elsewhere.
—Submitted by a parent

Banneker is outstanding. The students want to achieve. The principal, Sarah Givens, is always available and present to the students. They teach the students not only the basic, but time arrival, respect and much more. The ISTEPS scores are always in the upper 90 percentile. I am very proud that my child have been attending this school for the last 3 years, Ericka Brown, mother
—Submitted by a parent

This school has a great amount of academic programs. Banneker also has very good activities for the children to get involved in. The parents at this school are very concerned and caring.
—Submitted by dorothy spires, a parent

The school is great, sometimes i sound like my son when i say that at times there's just too much homework. In the long run, it will all be for a good cause. There's always something that my child is being exposed to, that he would have never received at another public school.
—Submitted by a parent

I am very happy that this school has had the success it has had but if you consider they only accept children who are at or above their grade level, the success is not that surprising. There are lots of gifted children in Gary and if you put them in the same school, that school's scores go up, the other school's average goes down because you do not have the high acheivers scores to balance out.
—Submitted by Roland Hayes, a parent

This school is a wonderful school. It is really like a diamond in the mist of turmoil. Nevertheless, I am not a parent but I am a former student. I graduated from this school and I am now a freshman at one of Chicago's top schools and it is all due to Banneker. I would recommend any gifted child to attend.
—Submitted by a former student

I currently have three children who attend Banneker school. The children at Banneker work at least one grade level above the grade in which they are. Academic pep rallys are held in which children receive trophies for their achievement during the year, and cheer for each other. The halls are lined with photographs of particpants in every extracurricular activity, and newspaper articles on the children. There are educational displays from the teachers' travels to exotic locations: Egypt, Japan, England and the Bahamas. Students are taught the importance of citizenship, self-esteem and hard work. The principal is a caring, workaholic who is there to greet the children when they arrive in the morning and is still at the school until 5pm or later to attend the evening events or to work on other issues. This is an excellent school. Just look at the ISTEP scores.
—Submitted by Aleisa Amos-Pony, a parent