Birmingham Covington School

Well i went to Derby middle school for 6th grade and hated it so i Switch to BCS for 7th and 8th grade. All i can say is that I had the best two years of my life at BCS the teachers care about your success and at least in my grade there weren't really clicks as much as groups of friends and they were all very accepting. The other thing that bothers me is how mothers say i dont want my 3rd grade daughter in the same school as an 8th grade boys because they will hit on her. thats a TOTAL lie there is almost not interaction with the younger kids unless you see your siblings in the halls and the only other interaction is through the teachers. I hope that High school can be as good as BCS because they really prepared me for the Future!

Covington is a great school that is great with tecnoligy and is very different in a good way.

I went to Covington from third through eighth grade, and it prepared me amazingly well for High School. Currently, because of Covington, I'm taking three Honors classes, and I'm in advanced math and language. Yes, Covington prepared me well for the academic portion of high school. However, it did also prepare me for the social aspect of high school. In my freshman year, I knew significantly less people than everybody else, coming from a smaller school, but kids in the Birmingham high schools (especially at Groves) are especially outgoing, and I was easily accepted into a group of new and old friends. All I had to do was take a step, give a smile, and wriggle out of my shell a bit.

I thought this school would be better but it is not what I expected from a private-public school.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is amazing the opportunities that it offers are so energetic and fun and while still learning. Also the teachers are so welcoming and kind. - Anonymous
--Submitted by a student

As for an easier transition to high school, that is simply not true. Several high school teachers have mentioned that their BCS students do have a more difficult time adjusting to the atmosphere. Especially socially.
--Submitted by a parent

You have got to find out the truth about BCS. While it does offer an extended day, lots of laptop computers, etc. , it does a very poor job of preparing its students for High school. If you walk into that school, the first thing you see is a big banner announcing that it is a Character Ed. School. Turn the corner and you see kids running, pushing, throwing trash on the ground. Come on. They market themselves well and with a waiting list people think it is an honor to make it. What they really do is rob the neighborhood schools of students. Birmingham is robbing Peter to pay Paul. I would not want my dauaghters in a school with 6-8 grade boys who are going through puberty. Talk about making your daughters targets. BCS-The big lie!
--Submitted by a parent

Everytime you enter this school, you are met with such a feeling of welcome. From the teachers to the wonderful principal, you really feel you are in a special place. BCS really utilizes a hands-on, innovative approach to education. The students are fully engaged in all aspects of their education. Whereas our child was bored at his old school, he has such an enthusiasm for his education now. We feel so lucky that our child is able to attend school at Covington, and hope that our younger children will have the opportunity to, as well.
--Submitted by a parent

Teachers spend too much time at meetings and not enough in the classroom. Student to teacher ratio is way too high, with about 26 to 28 kids per class, per teacher. Teachers are by and large very young, and there is a tremendous turnover amongst them from year to year. The math and technology focus comes at a cost in time spent on language arts. Lots of the kids here had problems at their old schools, and the change in buildings does little to change their bad behavior. Keeping your hands to yourself is a problem here, and we just gave up after way too many failed attempts to get it resovled. All that stuff about charactar is a bunch of PR fluff. Show up at dismissal and see how wild the kids are before you ever sign out of your old school. Completely negative experience; regret leaving our old school.
--Submitted by a parent

Excellent school! The academic program is more difficult than a 'normal' elementary but the children adjust with such ease. There are activities for every child with every interest. The principal and staff are fabulous. The parents are so involved in the school it amazes me.
--Submitted by a parent