Muscota

I am the proud parent of 2 Muscota kids, a 3rd grader and Kindergartener. My love for the school has grown each year. The teachers are some of the most committed individuals I have ever met and are truly committed to the social and emotional development of every child at the school. Our principal Camille Wallin, in her 2nd year at Muscota, has embraced our progressive philosophy and raised the bar for academic excellence. What makes the school really special is seeing the level of involvement of our families. Parents are encouraged and have the opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways to the school's daily life. Parents collaborate with teachers to augment classroom instruction, participate in hiring committees for new staff, and organize events like Eco-Fest and Mad Hatters Parade that embody the school philosophy. I hope that one day we can grow into a K-8 school!
—Submitted by a parent

I have been with Muscota for 6 years now (k-5 for my first child), and look forward to a few more years ahead for my second child. The consistent thing at Muscota has always been the dedication of the faculty. We had our concerns in the administrative changes over the years, but the teachers keep the progressive approach and the traditions alive. The individual incidents cited are definately anomolies, because the children are very caring and well behaved overall. Academically, my first child fared very well and achieved high scores on the tests that were looked at for middle school. Education at Muscota is based in the idea that there are myriad areas of importance to learning, and they include more than math, reading, and writing. Muscota kids are polite, well spoken, and well mannered as a rule (with few exceptions). Our children embrace good values, and see the common traits before the differences. I feel fortunate every day that our children are schooled here.
—Submitted by a parent

Do not believe all the great review of the school.The school is no good.No supervision.My daughter was bullyed and stab with a pencil and punched by three boys.There was a gas leak I could not find my daughter when I asked the principal where can I find my daughter he said he did not know. The kids do what they want.My five year old said to me mommy we don't learn anything.I also reported this to the district they are just as useless as the school. The main focus of the school is money nothing about education and their constant war with amistad.
—Submitted by a parent

There is such a sense of community and forward thinking here. All kids know they are equally important!
—Submitted by a parent

Muscota has gone through more than one change of leadership in the last two years, and somehow, it has managed to maintain its commitment to progressive education, its strong sense of community, and its cheerful, nurturing atmosphere in the classroom. Credit for this goes to the teachers and many devoted parents for maintaining traditions, nurturing the children's self-confidence, and providing a warm, welcoming environment. Children learn through hands-on activities, field trips, and an interdisciplinary approach, where drama and art support the curricula in English language arts and math. Families are welcomed into the classroom regularly. My child has blossomed at Muscota, growing his capacity for independent thinking and creativity. Just listen to the 5th graders answer questions on the parent tours. Their poise sums it up!
—Submitted by a parent

The children are so amazing. They are smart, beautiful and talented. Muscota provides the learning environment that makes the children shine.

As a parent of a 3rd grader at Muscota I have been very pleased with the high quality of education that my daughter has received. The teachers and staff are knowledgeable, attentive, and intuitive. My daughter is expected to not only learn the material presented by her teachers but also encouraged and supported in exploring and mastering areas that are of interest to her. I have found her level of understanding and ability to inquire is well beyond her years. I thank the schools' progressive philosophy for that. In a time where students are often simply seen as numbers on a data sheet, I am always amazed at everyone's knowledge of my child's individual learning abilities and of her personality traits. I have always found the staff and administration open and willing to discuss my child and her performance in school. Muscota is truly a community of learners.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent at Muscota over the past four years I have watched it progress very nicely into a school where children are encouraged to 'find what they like to do' but are not challenged enough to do even that! Mediocrity would be a step up at this point. The Principal, Judy Menken, has brought down the quality of education to the point that teachers can't teach and children aren't learning! All of the teachers and parents are afraid of Ms. Menken. Muscota is more of a 'neighborhood school' then the neighborhood schools!
—Submitted by a parent

Don't believe the hype about Muscota. No one listens to the parents, but everyone pays lip service to the idea. My child's teacher has zero control in her classroom. This is somehow bizarrely celebrated as being a 'free' atmosphere. The children are allowed to roam around the classroom and get into arguments, there has been no homework assigned since the middle of May, and there was almost no test prep (and the scores show it). The teacher has never contacted me with positive information about my child. The test scores are in, but we don't have them. As an 'Empowerment' school, there is no one to complain to, or I would.
—Submitted by a parent