Paisley Ib Magnet School

The pair of negative reviews below do not reflect the Paisley at which I teach. To say that I am sorry about the experiences related by these parents expresses my regret in best fashion I can. Because I am at the school daily I can say that there are no "MASSIVE" behavior problems. I will happily compare our faculty with any other school in the district and I categorically deny that teachers are "overwhelmed." Administration support is strong and consistent. I see and teach these same chilren. We do not have five police officers patrolling the building. We are assigned one officer on a daily basis as are all the other schools in the district. IB is not a "marketing hook." IB as a pedagogy is not something I take lighly. International Baccalaureate is integrated into every unit and lesson plan I develop and present in my classroom. I came to Paislety because of the promise of IB. Nothing in the intervening years convinces me that the promise is unfulfilled. There is no other school public or private (other than the IB program at Parkland) to which I want to transfer. That said, I am deeply troubled by the comments posted May 21 and 25. These words portray a Paisley I don't know.
--Submitted by a teacher

My experiences at Paisley have been nothing but positive. My student has had a wealth of experiences that he would not have had any where else. I believe children are children no matter where you go and it is about how active you are as parent in the school. Very diverse in student and faculty population.
--Submitted by a parent

I have had two of our three children attend Paisley for the entire Middle Years Programme (6th - 10th). The program was not around for our oldest. The teacher connection to students is incredible! This is a school that really reaches to teach every child - they push the top and challenge the middle, and work to bring up the bottom. No certification is needed there, and yet they have the same math that another area school has only for its highly gifted students. The broad international scope was wonderful for our two children, and the teachers are the best they ever had!
--Submitted by a parent

I enrolled two of my children in Paisley last year after swallowing the whole "IB Magnet Program" marketing info hook, line, and sinker. I thought my children would be in an environment where they would be challenged to accel and be surrounded by teachers and students who were interested in the same. What I found this year was far from the truth. The classes are overcrowded, there are MASSIVE behavior problems, and the teachers get little to no support from administration. The few good teachers are overwhelmed and the system at Paisley is quickly ruining them. Worse yet, the biggest problem we've had has been bullying - by a teacher! Paisley may have had a good program in the past, but it is far from that now. After getting through our first year there, seeing and hearing what goes on there I feel like I sent my child to penitentiary. We will NOT be returning next year, and I would encourage any parents who care about their children to steer clear and not buy into the line of BS that the district feeds everyone about Paisley and the IB program. This year has been a huge step backwards in my child's education.
--Submitted by a parent

My son is finishing his 1st & LAST year @ this school. He is failing most classes, & his teachers show little interest in helping him to succeed. My son says 5 police officers patrol the school, & he witnessed an older child get handcuffed/escorted out of the building. He says in many of his classes, the students are so disruptive, that he can not focus on his work, so he leaves & goes to his homeroom(homebase?) teacher who lets him stay in her class(he is ADHD & has a modified schedule). Unfortunately, whenever he leaves the class to get away from the disruptions, he misses the assignments w/no recourse. When he complains to the teachers about the distractions, they make excuses, or don't do anything about it. We've had two instances this year with bullies-one was physically abusive to other students. My husband had to go to the school & make a fuss because no one did anything to rectify the situation. This is supposed to be a "magnet" school & the children are supposed to be intellectually challenged? His teachers have done nothing to make this school a learning-friendly environment. Sadly, this gives him absolutely no motivation to even try. I want to give them 0 stars.
--Submitted by a parent

This school does have its problems dealing with the surrounding area but inside of our school teacers are fun, they accect the ideas offered by us and care about us in and out of school. the clubs we have the chance to join make the school more fun for everyone. yes it is a great academic challenge but it creates a better future for us all. Go Panthers!
--Submitted by a student

Paisley is an excellent school and the teachers help the children excell. I had heard a lot about all the homework, while it is challenging some of the teachers allow time at the end of class to work on the assignment. I feel my child will be more than ready for high school.
--Submitted by a parent

Paisley is an outstanding school. If you want your child to get a good education, then you need to send him or her to Paisley. The staff cares so much about educating the students. It is a rigorous curriculum, but I do not want my child to attend an 'easy' school.
--Submitted by a parent

Great group of teachers. Excellent parent involment Very active principal and assistants. The best IB coordinator
--Submitted by a parent

This school has kept its appearance good in both inside and out. I understand that this school may have a bit too intense on education, but I was one of the lucky ones that did not have any trouble. Although Homework is given almost every day, I still feel fine. The clubs are a great addition to this school. The cafeteria food is also GREAT, although more expensive than most schools.
--Submitted by a student