The Craig School

10 Tower Hill Road

Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046

12 Reviews

School District
Grade

2-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on May 18, 2022

The Craig Lower school has an excellent program to remediate dyslexia with the Orton Gillingham program. After receiving this program my child got on reading level in less than 1 year. The high school however does not help students be accountable, gives them little to no homework, and the academics don’t seem to have the same standards as a public school. The English / Language arts program and teacher were strong.My kid cannot succeed in college because they were ill prepared. Best to see how many Craig HS students make it into regular colleges with standard academic metrics, and how many actually STAY in college and graduate. I think the answer may be surprising. If you want your kid to follow a college path a different school should be considered. My child failed ALL (wow) of their college classes this semester… except for English and I understand the English teacher will not be back in the 2022 /2023 school year. This school does not prepare kids for college success and needs stronger academic standards to better prepare their students.
Submitted by parent on September 13, 2020

Meh. Get your kid out before 8th grade. Does not prepare kids for mainstream college prep high school.
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2020

My 10 year old son has been at the Craig school for only 5 months and his experience has been nothing short of amazing. He comes home every day happy and eager to do his homework. He is enjoying reading and has made several great friends. His confidence has soared as his reading comprehension and overall schoolwork has improved. I highly recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on June 12, 2019

Excellent school for addressing learning disabilities. Our son has been there since 3rd grade thru 10th and grown as a person since being at the High School. Highly recommended.
Submitted by parent on February 04, 2019

This school transformed my child at an early age and I will never forget this gift. The level of training of the teachers, the engaging curriculum and friends he has made is invaluble. I highly recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on July 12, 2018

I have just had my second child graduate from The Craig School this year. Our journey began 6 years ago when my son joined Craig in 4th grade. He went from a student with no confidence in his ability to learn to someone who knows that he can. This is due to the amazing faculty and the application of great teaching/learning techniques, organizational tools and a caring atmosphere. I took great comfort when my daughter began having trouble with learning that The Craig School was there to change that for her. She joined Craig in seventh grade, blossomed and has graduated. She has gained confidence in her academic abilities as well her artistic ones. As a parent, I appreciate The Craig School’s willingness to find new ways to help the children. The mindfulness program that they introduced this year is a wonderful example. And the incorporation of STEM into the science curriculum over the past few years has been great.Both of my children are now attending The Craig High School - with my son just completing a wonderful freshman year and daughter entering. I know with the help of The Craig School, they will both continue to have success in their academic journey to becoming lifelong learners. I feel blessed to have found The Craig School for my kids!
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2017

We attended the Craig School for one year, then moved to another school. Simply put, the Craig School does a great job with its reading education but is mediocre in other subjects and is a terrible social environment. While my child’s reading progressed significantly in one year, the Craig School was damaging socially and emotionally. Academically, the science and social studies classes are very weak. The teachers rely heavily on videos/movies to teach the students. Math is ok, but if your child has above average math abilities the school has no way to push them. Socially, the school was full of bullying. If you tour the school, be sure to observe unstructured times when the students are not in class. For example, ask to see the morning drop off. 100 students go into the gym together with little adult oversight while they wait for first period. It’s a chaotic experience that students undergo every morning as they start the day. Lunch, recess and after school are similarly chaotic and full of bullying. Summer camp counselors are college students not equipped to handle the social issues of special ed students. Social media was out of control. The administrators are out of touch with modern media and did nothing to stop students taking videos of each other and posting them on social media during the day. Ask the teachers or administrators how Craig teaches students to use social media responsibly.If you consider this school, ask how many students stay for 1-2 years in fourth and fifth grades and then leave. I think it’s a shockingly high number and related to out of touch administrators and social problems. If your child might need a counselor be sure to talk with the counselors on your tour. They are very weak. And then there’s the diversity issues. Look around. Look for teachers who are any other ethnicity than white. If you are brave, ask how many non-white teachers have ever worked at the Craig School. This whiteness has an impact on the students. I observed double standards for white and black students and Craig will teach your child that white students get a pass and black students cause “incidents.” Whatever ethnicity you are, this is a serious problem. If your child needs reading help and you are willing to compromise their social and emotional health then the Craig School will work for you. Otherwise, there’s other good schools out there.
Submitted by other on January 10, 2017

I love this school they have great resources as well as a super cool basketball program! For a so called dyslexic kid like me this school uses the multi-sensory thing that I enjoy! and what's right for me.
Submitted by parent on July 28, 2015

My daughter just finished her first year at Craig, and it has been amazing. She is a happy girl that has learned to read and has been given strategies to help her write and organize. I'm so grateful for this school, the teachers and the warm community.
Submitted by student on March 15, 2015

This school improved my reading and writing skills by two grade levels in only and short amount of time. I would highly recommend this school to everybody who is trying to get an individualised aprouched to learning. The hole school is just a big family and all the teachers and students new my name, even on the first day of school my teachers and dean knew my name witch surprised me.
Submitted by parent on September 24, 2014

I find it ironic that the parent of a learning disabled student at this school would be so insensitive about "these children" (read: "students on the autism spectrum"). As the Craig School knows (and apparently the previous poster does not), Language Based Learning Disabilities often go hand in hand with HF ASD. As for my student, she was described as "spectrummy" and diagnosed Aspergers until she was old enough for professionals to really tease out her issues. Non-Verbal Learning Disability and Dyslexia to some, Aspergers and Dyslexia diagnosis from others. The Craig School admits children they feel can be helped by their program, and if an ASD child has co-morbid dyslexia or other LBLD then they have as much right to Craig School's wonderful program than a child with "classic Dyslexia and ADHD". Do not blindly categorize and exclude children with learning disabilities who can be helped at the Craig School, as it has been a wonderful experience and immense help for my "difficult to categorize" child.
Submitted by parent on July 02, 2014

My child graduated from The Craig School, after spending the 5th through 8th grades there. For the most part, we were very impressed with the school. Our child has learning challenges, due to dyslexia and ADHD. The student/teacher ratio and teaching methodology were the perfect fit for our child. However, in the last two years, the school started admitting children who did not fall under the same criteria as relayed their mission statement. More than one of the new students was on the autism spectrum. These children had no difficulties learning. In fact they excelled, rather than struggled. Sadly some of the other children were intimidated, when they could not keep up. It's a great school, but has lost sight of its mission. I would still highly recommend Craig. Our child made leaps and bounds there and will be attending our local public high school. We never would have dreamed that would be possible.