This school is very focused on education and discipline, and those two qualities are what attracted me to enroll my daughter here for 6th grade... However, this school is very inconvenient for working parents (who work day shift jobs). Most of the time the students stay in school until 5pm, and school is dismissed every Friday @ 12pm. This is a burden for working parents to try and find someone to pick their child up from school! Also, the summer school hours are HORRIBLE!!! I was told my daughter had to attend mandatory summer school for Math from 11:35am-2:35pm daily!? Those are prime hours that parents are at work... I would get fired from my job just from trying to get her to/from school! I would not reccomend this school for working parents that have a 9-5 job. Administration could care less about parents that have "real" jobs.
—Submitted by a parent

It's been a bumpy ride at Tindley. On one hand I like the focus on academic achievement, but I question whether there is the right combination of teachers and administrators to pull it off. I don't think they are good at classroom management and too much emphasis is put on putting children out rather that helping students improve. For the sake of all of those who have entrusted their children to Tindley, I hope they get this figured out, soon.
—Submitted by a parent

My student has attended Tindley since 6th grade and he will be a junior this summer. I am very confused by the number of complaints from teachers from within this school and caution parents from allowing these views to effect their decision. One thing I have learned is that teacher who do not perform at the high standards that Tindley expects of its teachers are asked to leave. I wonder if the listed complaints are from a teacher who was asked to leave. Tindley is not for everyone. It is a strong academic school that takes no-excuses related to behavior. My son has been sent to the office and suspended once over trival things that at many other schools would not have even resulted in a second look from a teacher. But this is what I love about this school. Teachers are able to focus on teaching because of fewer distractions. Students are enrolled in Honors classes across the board; most colleges look at AP and Honors classes as the same thing. Students who are not prepared are retained until they can succeed at the level, isn;t that what schools are supposed to do? If you expect your child to be passed on regardless of ability, take them somewhere else.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a graduate of Tindley and I give this school 5 stars. Not only did I graduate with honors I am about to graduate from one of the top school in the state of Indiana. For a parent who doesn't like Tindley I think they're either controlled by their child are complacent with mediocricy coming from him or her. Tindley is very strict but once you leave you see why. People do not play in the real world and the strictness does get students ready for college believe it or not. For the teachers who complain about the working hours, I can say that you are told this before hand. Many teachers come just to get a pay check and not actually work and those teachers have to go. Tindley is a great school and I encourage everyone to go.

I am a current student at Tindley. First of all, I'm rather disappointed to see all of the negativity being directed towards my school. Yes, the teachers have to work much harder than usual. But they signed up for the job. Yes, students get suspended a lot. But it is their choice whether they get suspended. I have gone to TIndley for all my high school years (i am a junior now) and I have not been suspended once. It is all up to the student to control their own path. Don't blame it on the school. Despite some drawbacks, It all comes down to the point that Tindley has broken major barriers and will continue to that Tindley is a great school that has been recognized from many including Mayor Ballard for its educational innovation. Tindley gets the job done.

I am a former student and leaving Tindley was the best choice of my life so far. Tindley is excellent when it comes to their academic scores, but if it is looked at closely, they force it to be as such. Everyone is placed at the same level regardless of whether they are ready for or are pass that level. Those that are under are either brought up to the level or held back for an additional year. Those that are passed it are forced to sit and be bored while their intelligence and ability is stinted and unchallenged. Its good that they have honors classes, but their are no AP classes. There are no opportunity to take higher classes or to go over a certain amount of credit either. I might be over exaggerrating slightly, but this is based on my own experience.

Don't be fooled by false grades that are derived from worksheet completion.My 6th grade level runs on worksheets. There's only a math textbook for students and the teacher edition; the completion of worksheets does not equal a good education nor mastery of any particular skills. Most of our subject areas use worksheets-our science material came from a book that a student accidently left at one of our teacher's homes.That does not give the kids all the skills that other students have been given for their next future level of academics.Most parents do not have the professional training to know that something is wrong w/ steady doses of worksheets.If a student is already intelligent, then they will do well at any school.We only have professional development on paper so most of our Friday afternoon meetings have been a sham.I have never worked at a school that didn't conduct real professional developments for its staff. I constantly have literal stacks of papers to grade for each subject b/c of the paper accumulation. I get there & it's dark outside and it's close to dark or sometimes dark outside when I leave.Ridiculous! The mayors charter school office needs 2make SURPRISE visits.
—Submitted by a teacher

I am furthering the post on "I'm exhausted just from this post". I agree with everything they have said. I want to add that the teachers have to work 10 hours a day and that is not if they want. You will be at the school from 7:30AM - 5:30PM everyday minimum because that is the working day (school doesn't let out until 5PM). It is also correct that they expect you to put in 1 hour a week extra in detention as well as weekend hours. If you are planning on taking a job here, be aware you will work a minimum of 50 hours a week, so factor that in to the salary you ask for. I agree that you will have no outside life. If you are married or have a significant other, be ready to possible lose them because you will have absolutely not time for them. In short, if you have any other option take it.
—Submitted by a teacher

I m exhausted just from this post, so here comes the fine print, really fast like at the end of the car commercials when they want you to miss a details so they can say they told you so: work week is Monday thru Friday but if you want to keep your job for more than a few weeks you will host a student workshop for 4 hours on Saturday and Sunday as well. If someone is caught talking in your class you are to send them to the office with a referral and then later explain to the parent why their child is suspended for talking. You are to host detention one day a week, where you spend the time checking to see which kids are there, verifying if they completed their homework, and making phone calls if they missed. If you value your job you are not to have a life outside of school. You are not to go to bed each night miserable and hating your very existence.
—Submitted by a teacher

I am a parent of this school and i have worked with this school for years(from 2007 to 2011) but I feel like Tindley isnt the best school for students expecially at the highschool level. The highschool experience for me and my student was very unpleasant they require alot of unnecessary money time and emotions just for my child who wanted to get the education and play sports. He use attend to Warren Central High School and was a star on their basketball and track team. He had high honors and was accepted to the University of Notre Dame and Alabama. He enjoyed High School and now he will be at Alabama University on a sports scholarship as well as an academic scholarship. If you want the best education for your student as well as a great experience for expecially high school, Try Warren Central like me or other township schools but, I believe from experience that Tindley is not the best choice financially, socially, emotionally, academicly, athleticly. Its the students education not yours so do not force your child to be a police officer if he/she wants to be a doctor. Let them choose where they want to take their life.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school my kids are learning and getting discipline outside of my home. I appreciate the family at Charles A Tindley
—Submitted by a parent

I am a little surprised that this school is not ranked as the absolutely best secondary school for all of Indiana. Tindley is the only secondary school in the state to be awarded the National Blue Ribbon from the US Department of Education. It is a four star school as rated by the Indiana Department of Education. It is strict but how can that be bad? Places that are not strict are promoting students that have not mastered grade level content, and at Tindley, students know their stuff. If someone does not follow the rules, they are hurting the learning of not just themselves, but everyone in thier classroom. That is probably why they are put out. GREAT SCHOOL!

I have been familiar with the outstanding work being done at Tindley for 5 years. During that time, the school has grown in numbers and in excellence. Whenever I walk the halls, I see students who treat me with respect. The teachers are dedicated and work there out of love for kids and learning. I have to give credit to the parents as well who are the invaluable link in the whole process of student learning. So glad this school exists as an alternative to the traditional public education.

All you need to check is the percentage of early college graduates that are in the college or university of their dream. Having exposure to college acedemic rigor at no cost to you as a parent is enough to know that this school is advancing our children and my hats off to the principal, teachers the board and parents that makes it happen.
—Submitted by a parent

My child is very challenged with the work load at tindley but understands the importance of what must be done.....We have agreed........Two thumbs up!
—Submitted by a parent

I have two students at Tindley, and they are doing very well. I love the support that they get from the teachers and the high expectations that are put on them. I also can say that I feel that when I drop my children off for school they are safe. Its not like at some of these schools that are so big they don't know if your child is in class or not or whats going on in the halls.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a student here and yes the suspensions are heavy but there is no time for in a school like this. To the parent who said they don't give it, i don't know how you could get any closer. No other school in Indianapolis provides the opportunities that Tindley does. period point blank. Grow up.
—Submitted by a student

As a graduate of Tindley, i can honestly say that this school has done more for me that i had ever expected. I am at a great school with a great scholarship because of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson and the many teachers I had. I love Tindley!!
—Submitted by a student

my son went to this school he was formally in the key class at his previuos school where he was failing miserably he had 7 f's i sent him here for 2months had all c's had to take him out due to gas prices we lived an hour away otherwise i loved it!
—Submitted by a parent

It seems more like faculty and teachers' main focus is what the children do wrong. my daughter has never been suspended more than she has at this. The staff seems to be bent on the children's failure versus their mistakes. They expect perfection but don't give it.
—Submitted by a parent