Eagle Cove School

This is a very nice school with some shortcomings. The location is beautiful, and the children are outside often. The environmental learning program is something all children should have. The teachers are a team, but vary in their capabilities and background. Some are wonderful and kid-centric, some are very much oriented toward their subjects and seem to suffer the kids as a cost of doing business. The small class sizes are good for learning, a drawback for socialization. It limits the for less popular children, and encourages cliques. In every case I have seen that children are being picked on, the problem is not properly addressed and the victim has had to leave the school.
--Submitted by a parent

This is our first year at GICS and I have to say I am overwhelmingly impressed. My son is in 1st grade here and the difference in his attitude and demeanor is like night and day compared to last year, he is so happy here. He loves getting up and going to school!! The teachers love what they do and you can tell. The academics are perfect and the small class size allows my child to excel. We are also stunned with a little known fact about this school, there is a wonderful socio-economic balance within the student population. I always recommend this school to any parent that asks me about it.
--Submitted by a parent

Gibson Island Country School has an extraordinary location. They believe in hands-on education. My child learns so much by doing. The waterfront environmental program is outsanding. Students excell in their reading and writing program. My child is so happy here and loves coming to school.
--Submitted by a parent

I have been a parent at Gibson Island Country School for 2 years, and I'm eager for my pre-K child to become a member of the GICS family this fall. 'Family' is the perfect word to describe this school because of the small classes, the sense of warmth & community this school exudes, & the connection my children have with their classmates & teachers. There are many opportunities to be involved as a parent within the school community. It's a busy place where the children seem to soak up learning through many hands-on activities, & the teachers are busy creating stimulating units of activities & games to promote learning. GICS is a Maryland Green School that focuses on respect and personal responsibility. The faculty & staff stress environmental decision-making through a multitude of recycling projects, community service deeds, and school-sponsored events. I am proud to have my children at this school!
--Submitted by a parent

Gibson Island Country School is the kind of school we all wish we could have attended as children. The campus is stunning and bordered by the Magothy River. Classes are small. Teachers are caring, professional, savvy and work closely with administrators on curriculum and student issues. Parents are supportive; their volunteer efforts are the lifeblood of the school. Each child is known and valued. The hands-on environmental science program is second to none. Children's progress in core academics is closely monitored by teachers. It is true the school is not set up to serve children with major learning or emotional issues. Children with mild learning issues flourish as faculty, parents and administrators communicate with each other and specialists. The school's families are extremely diverse socioeconomically--a little-known fact.
--Submitted by a parent

We have been at GICS for years and our experience is disappointing. The school churns through heads, and is on the fourth head master in three years. Teachers do what they want with no direction. What do you do when you have made it through fourth? Kindergarten starts large, and class size gets smaller as teaching becomes important. Fifth grades are small. September 2008 enrollment was down ten percent from 2007. Over the last year families moved their children to public school, to Chesapeake Academy, and to catholic schools. If your child learns differently, or is in any way different from other children, plan for frustration. Need tutoring, prepare for more frustration. There is only one teacher for each grade. This was appealing, Then we got a teacher who was not producing for our child. This happened twice. No sports field, sport programs or intramural program.
--Submitted by a parent

We needed to pull our child out of the school in the middle of the year. The school is too small to provide any services for a child that is not 100% in the main stream. There is poor discipline, significant staff and head turn over.
--Submitted by a parent

Gibson Island Country School is a small co-ed private school located on the Magothy River in Pasadena, MD. Class size is quite small which allows for individualized attention. My daughter has been attending this school since Pre-K and will graduate from 5th grade (class size of 13) in 6/05. She has earned execellent grades while maintainig a strenuous work load. SHe has recently been accepted into the private middle school of her choice. There are after school clubs available. The Parents Association is incredible for such a small school. Worth the visit to this scenic learning institution. You do not have to be a resident of Gibson Island to attend. The school is not located on Gibson Island.
--Submitted by a parent