Phoenix Center - Annapolis

My best advice to anyone who has a child with learning and emotional disabilities. Homeschool your child and stay as far away from the public school system as you can get.
—Submitted by a parent

I personally went to this school and only had the chance of graduation because of them. The teachers and staff helped me through my personal and educational obstacles and helped me to excell!
—Submitted by a student

My son is in middle school at this facility and has done very well. The faculty and staff seem well trained to deal with the executive function difficulties inherent with ADHD and other disorders that may co-exist with this condition. The uniform policy is a fantastic idea implemented this year (2007). Positive feedback reinforces their good behaviors and a time out room is available as needed. I guess due to the nature of the school it prevents an active parent volunteer program which I would like to see in place. I'm not sure if this is for privacy issues or not. Overall I think it is a good school and has made a huge difference for my child. The small classes allow for much more focused attention. I had heard rumors that it had a checkered past but they must have taken steps to rectify the situation.
—Submitted by a parent

Utter disappointment. This is supposed to be a school for children with emotional disabilities. It's nothing more than a glorified babysitting service and they overreact to everything. The goal is to get the kids to be as compliant as possible so they can send them back to their main schools. They send home the kids who are not compliant, i.e., the kids who are truly disabled and need to be there. If Anne Arundel County is not prepared to foot the bill to institutionalize the kids who are severely disabled, then it needs to staff this school with professionals who can handle their needs. Every one of these kids has the right to an education and the county shouldn't just wash their hands of them.
—Submitted by a parent