Tipton-Rosemark Academy

Curriculum changes are made but not communicated to parents until after the re-enrollment deadline. Teachers are allowed to bully students. Communication is last minute, if at all; next day events are often publicized by text the afternoon before. The tuition continues to increase without added value. Common phrase used by families who have left: "we weren't getting our money's worth". Typical private school population with all elements represented including drug users, promiscuous students, and snobs. The staff puts on a great show when you tour. Prospective "stakeholders" should talk to current and former students to get the real picture. The board and headmaster call all the shots. They decide what is going to happen and then tell everyone else when it works best for them. It is really unfortunate because in years past there were waiting lists to get in. The area is in great need of good, quality private schools as the public system is in disarray.
—Submitted by a parent

I have enjoyed TRA. I have been there 9 years this year I'm in seventh grade and love it. It is a very Christian environment even though there are a few clicks but I recommend this school for anyone looking for a good school. --A Student from TRA

Don't waste your money. It's is not worth it. Definitely not a Christian environment. Been in existence 40+ years & still doesn't have a band. During the first few weeks of school, my child was subjected, without my approval, to a movie during PE which contained the F word more than one time, a rectal exam and several other inappropriate content scenes. The movie pertained to obesity which has made my child think him/her is fat, when in fact, is not. There are also several children on the verge of eating disorders and this movie has only encourage this behavior for the worse, including my child. The parents are snooty and have their clicks. Elementary administrative staff is rude, nobody smiles. They are always more wanting money for something-tshirts, $2 not have to wear uniform, some other event that my child hates. The only reason I send my child here is because our house hasn't sold yet. Not a positive classroom environment for my child--hates it here. The teachers tweet during class and don't care that this interferes with the childen's learning. They offer no special help for the children who aren't up to snuff and make them feel inferior when they try to ask a question.
—Submitted by a parent

Put it this way, my children attended TRA for four years, tuition kept going up, we couldn't afford it any longer. Now they are in public school for free and are happier, learning just as much, and less stressed. I was pleasantly surprised!
—Submitted by a parent

I attended school at TRA for 5 years. At the end of those 5 years, I had to undergo 2 months of psychological counseling and I transferred to a different school due to the treatment I received from the "Christian" children there. This school is probably the least-Christian of an environment that I have ever been in. The school administrators are happy to tout Christian ideals and morals to prospective parents. They dispose of that when it comes to disciplining bullying or protecting students from the psychological abuse of their fellow students. You are gambling with your child's future sending them to TRA. They may fit in, they may not, but if you are at all concerned about their emotional and intellectual development, and particularly if you have reason to believe that your child is "different" in any way--intelligence, race, height, weight, sexual orientation, income or anything else that may come to your mind, you need to keep looking. This is an unhealthy environment, and frankly, the return on your investment is marginal even if your child excels at TRA. Their curriculum is unremarkable compared to public schools in the area.

This school offers a well-rounded Christian education. Although it is a small school, it offers many extracurricular activities for the students.
—Submitted by a parent

I love Rosemark! Everyone that says they don't recommend it is wrong! They have gotten a lot better with the whole Christian situation. We have great chapels every Thursday and we pray in our classes before we start! Come to this school!

If anyone believes this school stands on Biblical beliefs need to think again. Our oldest child attended one yr and it was horrible. We placed him back into a public school in our district and have already had 2 christian speakers for the dads and moms. Did we have it at TRA no! The leadership of the administration only listens to the certain ones of the school. My money was wasted.
—Submitted by a parent

We have 2 children that have been at TRA for 6 years. Before that, they were in Tipton County schools and the difference is unbelievable. The safe, Christian environment at TRA makes school feel like home to them. They are comfortable with their peers and their teachers and therefore able to relax and learn. The administration has changed over the years for the better of the school. The headmaster is dedicated to the advancement of technology and school facilities and also to the professional development of the faculty. The education that my children are receiving is top notch and their test scores are consistently high. We feel like the tuition is very reasonable compared to other private schools in the Memphis area, and the facilities are better. As with all schools, there have been a few bumps in the road, but they have been handled in a professional and timely manner.
—Submitted by a parent

I love that we have chosen TRA. My child is learning so much, and he is loved by his teachers. He is learning things that my students did not learn when I was teaching a grade level higher. Parents are involved with their children's education here and they are accepted by the teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

Tipton-Rosemark Academy is a great school. It is small enough where my child and I are know by all the teachers and administrators. The only downside to the school is that the headmaster wants it to constantly be more of a public school rather than a private school. Homecoming has been listed as only being one day instead of the usual week. Most parents have forgotten about homecoming and how it was a big part of our high school lives, but I do and I realize that it will allow my kids to have a week off and have fun so that they will be focused for the next.
—Submitted by a parent

This school was the biggest disappointment I've ever experienced. The people that run this school are more concerned about appearance and parental conduct than the welfare and general education of the students that attend. Christian ethics are not practiced at this school, contrary to what is published on their website or in their mission statement. Tipton County schools are excellent schools and the curriculum is the same. The test scores of some of the T. county schools are actually even higher. This school is very known for it's student expulsion rate. I do not recommend it.
—Submitted by a parent

Our children have been in private schools all their life. We have two at TRA and they have been there for two years. I am thinking of making the switch to Tipton County schools. The tuition keeps going up and I think they would get the same education at a public school. My kids have so much homework every night I am wondering what they are doing in school all day. Middle school has started slacking on the feed back from teachers. We use to get weekly reports on our children's grades. Now I have to wait for a progress report. There is no program available or help offered if a child is not doing well in a subject. The clicks are also pretty evident. I do feel like my kids are very safe here.
—Submitted by a parent

We have three children at TRA (5K, 4th, and 5th)and have been very happy with the school. We would be keeping them in the school if we weren't moving out of state. Although we were a little disappointed that there is no GT program, the school was very responsive to our children's needs. For example, we showed them the Readers Digest Word Challenge information, and they signed up enough students to participate. The academics are solid, and the teachers love their jobs. The only thing we won't miss is the high expectation in terms of parental involvement, specifically with incessant requests for money for projects and fund-raisers. It's not a lot of money, but I wish they had a buy-out option at the beginning of the year, because it's hard to keep up with all the requests. Still, it keeps the tuition cost down, and some parents enjoy it.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a loving school that is a bit misguided. It needs some strong leadership that will help grow the school into a real college prep school instead of a 5 day a week church. I am an extremely faithful Christian that takes my child to church and provides a nurturing home. Why am I paying five hundren dollars a month for my child to get no better an education than what she could get in the public system I am zoned for? I have 2 nieces in 2 different school zones near here that are in the same grade as my child and they are learning the same or more advanced subject matter than my child. Also, TRA is not as safe an environment as the public schools in Tipton County. We are transferring to Tipton County schools fall of 2006.
—Submitted by a parent

When we moved to Tennessee, we were blessed to find Tipton-Rosemark Academy. It is a small Christian school offering a strong academic foundation. We have been here over 4 years, and our children have blossomed academically and socially. It is a great school at a reasonable price. All the teachers know our children and us, as do many of the parents. This provides a wonderful comfort zone for all.
—Submitted by a parent

Like any other school, this school has its problems. But I feel as if my children are recieving a good value for the education dollar that we are investing here. The school is small so participation in all facets of school life are encouraged. Moral, ethical and religious standards are taught and upheld.
—Submitted by a parent