John Motley Morehead Elementary School

I have a wonderful 6 year old son that attends John Motley Morehead STEM Academy as a first grader. He is currently making all 3's. He attended Kindergarten at University Meadows. It is obvious that the teachers and administrative staff at Morehead STEM desire to see their students succeed. The teachers work very hard and dedicate much of their time to the school. I love that my son's teacher encourages her students to participate in class and encourages good character growth through a barrage of different techniques. Students work algebra problems in class and are also required to complete some for homework (with parental assistance). I also love that every Monday the school ask that parents send their students to school in professional dress. This was just instituted as a means to teach kids about the importance of professionalism. My son's teacher needs to do a better job at communicating the curriculum to parents. If I did not ask my son daily about his school activities, I would not know about them at all. Or I would have to reach out to the teacher by emailing or classroom visit. I can do a better job at home if I knew where the finish line was located.
—Submitted by a parent

A 4th grade teacher announced to the class that she should have been a doctor instead of a teacher. Now what kind of role model is this? And the new principal want reprimand her because he is new to the school. I'm not impressed. And the homework assignments are put together so bad that your child or the parent can't understand how to solve it. So sick of school like this they make your child want to give up.
—Submitted by a parent

It is a great school! Our daughter loves her teachers and going to school everyday!
—Submitted by a parent

The wonderful thing about a magnet school is if you are not happy with it then your child can go some where else. I don't understand if you feel this way why you keep them there. There were 700+ people on the waitlist that would love that spot. Our experience has been nothing but positive but I understand with any school that will not always be the case. The school states at the start of the year it is a tough program, that will require hard work on the part of the child and the parent. There are days we struggle to keep up with the work load but it is worth it when you look at what they are learning.
—Submitted by a parent

These teachers are THE hardest working educators in Charlotte. While they are given updates in technology and work hard to write grants for more opportunities for students, they are expected to give their entire lives (24-7) to meet the demands of administration. JMM can go so much farther with parents who are RESPECTFUL, UNDERSTANDING, and SUPPORTIVE. Overall, parents do not trust the faculty when their child's misbehavior is disciplined. JMM needs a PTA that is organized and welcoming! Parents get turned off by the PTA when it is not inviting. The administration seems to be the source of the high turnover rate. Since the latest principal joined, more than half of the teachers have left JMM to move onto other schools. The principal even left in the middle of this year! The school will benefit ten-fold with a STRONG, SUPPORTIVE, and ORGANIZED administration! The teachers are incredibly dedicated to the students and school, and they need to be better respected and appreciated by students, parents, and administration. Clean Facilities, Tight Schedule, Heavy STEM integration in all subjects, DEDICATED teachers, Use of new teaching strategies, Challenging & rigorous curriculum

I am so impressed with this school!!! My son started Kindergarten this year and I can't believe how challenged and happy he is. He loves it. The teachers are so supportive and wonderful, we could not be happier!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter was a kindergartener this past school year and we had a great experience with Morehead. She learned so much! She is already reading and writing and her math skills are great for her age. I am very happy that she attends this school.
—Submitted by a parent

My son loves this school as the teachers are cooperative and extra curricular activities like Spelling Bee, Math Superstars, Science Fair and other events like egg-drop. They are organized very well. This is a perfect school to nurture the kids as responsible citizens.
—Submitted by a parent

We love the school. My son finished Kindergarten and is going to first grade this fall. He has learnt a lot even in KG and we can really see the difference in his behaviour and discipline so far. The teachers are very caring and we love the fact that he gets homework to improve on what he learns at school.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a 1st grader and this is our 2nd yr at Morehead. Because of the no child left behind act, and the area that I live in this is unfortunately the highest graded, non title I school that is in my area and pool of schools to choose from. This school is not that great. They hide behind their Magnet compact, while they break your child down, give work above grade level, and fail to give you the tools that are needed to help your child be successful at shcool.My child was assessed and not taught, from day 1 it was she is unable to do this, and couldn't tell me that. My question is ARE YOU HEAR TO ASSESS FOR 'DATA' OR ARE YOU HERE TO TEACH?
—Submitted by a parent

I am very pleased with Morehead Elementary School. My two older children graduated from the school, and my younger two are there now. I am happy to know that middle school program has been added to the school. I am glad that my daughter will be one of the pioneers of the 6th grade class starting 2011. Parents should take more responsibilities for their child's behavior rather than putting all blames onto the staff at Morehead.
—Submitted by a parent

It is the only math and science magnet elementary school in the district. We will soon add grades 6-8 over the next 3 years. We are working to become the premier math and science school in the state. Most of our students come from low income households, and monetary suport is all but nonexistant. We have become a flagship school for a number of programs, and we're hoping to increase availability of technology around the school. We're on our way to the top!
—Submitted by a teacher

It has the best first grade teachers!!!

My child was enrolled last year at Morehead. My experience was very negative. The teacher was inadequate...they did not want to be there and it reflected their classroom performance. The staff was not inviting when I tried to voluntary at my child's school or visit. The PTA was non existing because the Principal was not very cooperative. I am very blessed to have a teacher this year that is new to CMS and not tainted by the system yet. Although the school as a whole is not where I would like them... my child's classroom teacher is exceptional and out weighs the negative factors.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been at Morehead since her 1st grade year. I must say how dissappointed I was at how the teachers response to parent inquires has not been effective. My daughter talks about how the principle has no compassion for the students at all. She is very unhappy and I must say so am I. The teachers do not take an active role in notifying parents when problems are needed to be handled. They wait until it is too late to contact you when your child is doing poorly. I cannot give Morehead the seal of approval because I have not seen anything to be happy of to motivate the parents or students. My child has had to deal with bullying on the buses. She has be verbally abused by other children. The response was not in a timely manner. Morehead needs to get it together!
—Submitted by a parent

We feel fortunate that our 2 sons have had some of the best teachers at Morehead. We have been pleased with their level of commitment as teachers to bring out the best in each student. We are also impressed by the fact that the Principal knows each student by name and is very personable and available. Even the front office staff are kind and very helpful. We feel we made a good choice by choosing Morehead.
—Submitted by a parent

I have an older daughter that attended this school last year and is now in middle school this year. Prior to that,she was on the A/B honor roll for each of the three years she attended this school. Her teachers were very consistent as far as reporting her progress and responding to concerns that I might have had. I now have twins that attend as well since last year and I can't describe the amazing progress they have made in such little time while being enrolled at this school. The teachers are very dedicated and committed to their jobs and have kept my attitude of my children's education very positive. I now have two more children that will be attending this year and next due to the hard work of the principal that assisted me in a transferring problem I had with my newly enrolled Kindergartener. The office secretary that took my message for the pricipal was very understanding and knowledgable after hearing my problem and delivered my message with such promptness,I was blown away. I am the least worried about my children's safety and know that they are in great hands.There is no doubt in my mind that the decision I made to keep all of my children at this school was one of the best decisions I've made in my life. I'd like to congratulate the staff of Morehead Elementary for such a commendable job. Thank you and keep up the good work!
—Submitted by a parent

I have 4 children in this school and last year I had a total of 5. I am very disappointed with the safety and discipline this school provides. Last year my son had a big problem with being harassed in the class room. He had an excellent teacher, but the children that were doing the harassing, basically kept getting slapped on the wrist. One of his best friends was pulled out of school because of the harassment and the ability or lack there of, of the principle to put a stop to it. Another applied to a different school. For the same reasons. Their teacher who was tired of all this, resigned and went to a private school because of this problem. This year, there is the same problem with a child in my daughter s class room. This 5th grader is very violent and has physically and verbally hurt a few children, including my daughter. I have wrote to the principle and the assistant principle about this problem and nothing much has been done. I don't know if other parents have any idea how much our children are put in this kind of danger by returning these violent and harassing children to our public schools. I will make it my goal, to inform as many parents of what happens in this school. Please help me to change this kind of tolerance towards the harassing children. Thank you, Rena Crews