Ada Merritt K-8 Center

Reviews

• Submitted by parent on April 20, 2024
  We were very excited to get in this school. You have to get lucky to win the lottery and it is the best public school in the area. Teachers in kindergarten are amazing and our little one learned a lot during her first year in Ada Merrit. School staff is very nice for the most part. The only person who really ruins the impression about the school is Patricia Marty. She is one of the ladies who works in the front office, she processes excuse notes for absences. She never does it on time, it takes several emails and reminders in person for her to do her job. And every time she will give you an attitude. She is the rudest person in the whole school. The principle should have a conversation with her. I hope my kids don’t get sick so I don’t have to deal with her. Otherwise it is an amazing school.
• Submitted by parent on January 29, 2024
  My daughter is in Kindergarten. We were thrilled to get to this school. It was really hard initially as children are still small. It is differ from Daycare very much. But Teachers and stuff are extremely friendly and professional. They help at all stages. Really easy to connect with them! Very responsive. Yes. This school is for hardworking kids - they do require homework. But most of the children get used to that routine very quickly and it becomes normal- no stress-just do what you need. The progress is visible every week. I'm really happy with ADA Merritt.
• Submitted by parent on September 27, 2023
  The expectations are way too high at elementary school level. At that age children should have fun learning , be exposed to art , music and learn through hands on activities. It doesn’t relate to the IB program in Switzerland at all. Elementary school aged children shouldn’t be tested nor do homework or being graded for performance. However teachers and office staff are great. Good parent involvement.
• Submitted by parent on September 12, 2023
  They have a high score because they push kids with exceptionalities out. Constant behavior charts and terrible “classroom management strategies” that pit kids against each other, which results in bullying of any kid that’s different. No meaningful support, just inflexibility. Absurd levels of pressure and stress for very young kids. The amount of homework takes more than 2 hours nightly to complete. All the money the PTA fundraises, which is TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars gets wasted on constant loud parties and special events. It’s chaotic. A nightmare for neurodivergent kids.
• Submitted by parent on August 02, 2022
  The teachers are excellent. They are extremely dedicated to their students and genuinely concerned for their progress and well-being. The magnet program is demanding. There is a lot required of the students (and parents), but the hard work they put in is evident in their test scores, academic progress, and overall development.
• Submitted by parent on July 02, 2022
  This is a school that protects bullies and gaslights your child. They do not care about providing a safe learning environment. While we had amazing kindergarten teachers, first grade. Second grade, and on have been horrible. If you dont speak Spanish, run, The teachers will purposefully yell at your child, and discriminate against them for not knowing the Spanish language nor do they even try to teach them it, If you are a native Spanish speaker, they will bend over backwards. If you want to see your child stressed to the max, and attending a school that only cares about piling on loads of hmwk emphasizing academics, only, then this is the school for you. Its sad because the parents are wonderful. Avoid Josefina Gonzalez!
• Submitted by parent on April 23, 2022
  My daughter is in the Portuguese curriculum for 5 years and we are very happy with the school in both aspects academic and social.
• Submitted by parent on December 09, 2021
  We are very happy with Ada Merrit and our son recently started there in the fall of 2021. He is in the Spanish immersion program and is new to speaking Spanish. His teacher (Ms. Russo) is excellent and we're very happy that we switched schools.
• Submitted by parent on January 20, 2021
  Very good school for academics. A lot of homework but if education is your priority this is the best school in the country to send them to.
• Submitted by parent on January 11, 2021
  Eventhough the class work is difficult, the students are there to learn and Ada Merritt teachers are top notch. Ada Merritt also has an amazing Spanish program.
• Submitted by parent on March 12, 2019
  Would rate experience as disappointing overall as it appears to be a good school, but the administration/staff does not have the best interest of students in mind.
• Submitted by parent on February 18, 2019
  When of the worst schools ever possible much due to the terrible culture set by the principle. The students are just taught to do busy work and the homework is equally overwhelming and unnecessary. Bullying is covered up by the Principle and Administration, with an arrogant attitude. Children’s well being definitely do not come first at this school, there is no compassion or sense of care the only thing that is important is for the principle to keep her ranking of the school at the price of miserable students.The school is dirty, has brown depressing interiors and there is no life our soul to this education environment. The school area is not safe and there is no sport facility at the school, very limited sports and the younger kids do not even have PE. Nor does the school have a proper playground so the kids have to exit the school and go to a public park in little Havana where the homeless walk around. Whatever you do not send you child to this school.
• Submitted by parent on November 03, 2018
  Being a bilingual school I am impressed on how fast children become fluent and write in two languages simultaneously. Homework is not light but it definitely pays off. Everything is very well structured and nothing is left to chance. Teachers are extremely professional and committed to the students.
• Submitted by parent on June 20, 2018
  My daughter struggled from the very beginning with emotional outbursts. They had the school psychologist on staff, and their solution was to just keep calling me in the office. We left the school and went to a different one, where they actually started the evaluation process despite not having a counselor on staff. She now has a diagnosis and an IEP and unfortunately had to switch schools again. I only found out later that Ada Merritt has an EBD classroom and could have started to process so much sooner without having to switch schools. They literally have SPED professionals on staff and we never referred to them or it was even discussed to have her transfer to that room. It was a nightmare for years not knowing what to do, I had no idea what options were available and I was never even given the IEP as a solution. They failed my daughter and failed me.
• Submitted by parent on March 15, 2018
  Great school, great principal and staff. Teachers care about students and parents are involved
• Submitted by parent on December 08, 2017
  Overall it offers the same education as any other FL public school, but the Teachers believe and act like This is a High End School. Lots of Discrimination happens here. Rich Kids are treated different than normal / ordinary ones. The Principal is more concerned of how She looks, more than how successful her school could be. Teachers put lots of pressure loading students with Lots of Homework and They Constantly Ask (weekly) for Money, that seems to a Priority instead of the Education.
• Submitted by parent on November 09, 2017
  Overall it offers the same education as any other FL public school; they all follow the same common core type curriculum designed by the state. Kids are given lots of homework and the parents are forewarned about it. It doesn't offer much apart from academics. There no music or art program. The art teacher does the best she can considering she has all the grades and no assistant. The 2 PE teachers are swamped too and one is over teaching already and it shows. It only offers cross country in middle school and some teachers penalize students for missing class whilst representing the school if it impacts their classroom but not all teachers do that. There is no special program for kids with disabilities. The middle school director is self involved and a true politician with no interest in engaging her students. She is cold, unsympathetic, and disengaged, which is a shame because she is in education. She is more interested in meeting foreign supporters than in her students morale and academic and or individual development. There isn't a real guidance counselor. Depending on your child's drive, it can be a great environment, otherwise its like all the rest of the public schools in FL. And there's a lot of politics. If your kid is quiet, studious, and not athletic , then the school is perfect. If your kid is active, talkative, bright, and has a mind of their own, then its a terrible place because most teachers aren't interested in roundtable discussion. They are trying to get through the curriculum and day.
• Submitted by parent on October 25, 2017
  Excellent!!! The BEST!!!! I feel blessed and extremely satisfied with the school and the education that both of my children were exposed to in this school.
• Submitted by teacher on August 11, 2017
  Ada Merritt is on of the best PUBLIC schools in Miami Dade County. Learners get an opportunity to become bilingual which is essential in todays competitive society. There are opportunities to become a lifelong learner. Which is the goal of a good education! You learn by working in groups, completing interesting projects and presenting learning in more than one language. The attributes of open minded, thinker, caring and knowledgeable are emphasize daily in lesson, by other peers and all faculty member. Also there are many community activities that make learning fun and real!!
• Submitted by parent on May 01, 2017
  I find that certain children will do well but most will not. teachers have clear favorites regardless of attitude, conduct and effort. Money talk at this school as well as personal relationships between certain parents and teachers.

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