Allen ISD
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3/4/2010
My children have attended schools in 3 different states including TX and I feel compelled to warn prospective Allen ISD parents about this school district's attitude toward parents. I have been involved in PTA in all three states from elementary to high school in addition to volunteering within the schools and I have never experienced the hostility toward parents that I have experienced in Allen.
My kids have been identified as gifted, and consistently listed on honor roll and recipients of several accolades in all three states. They are not discipline problems, however when the teachers at a local elementary school as a group complained about my son's behavior, they never communicated their concerns with me. And when the principal met with my son, she threatened my son that she would have to discuss it with his parents if his behavior did not improve. My son was the one who told me of the incident, not the teachers, not the principal. Upon my investigating the complaints it was discovered that he was having difficulty adjusting to the move and his poor behavior would have been curtailed early on if the teachers/principal had partnered with the parents to acheive mutual goals for the child rather than circumventing our authority.
When the issue was brought to the attention of the assistant-super, she interviewed the principal, but never spoke to us. From the way the volunteers are managed to the way student behavior is managed, parents are treated as a liablility and circumvented at every level. There is a reason volunteerism drops significantly in 4th-6th grade and there is a reason communities are opting to create districts separate from Allen ISD (Lovejoy ISD).
You would be wise to investigate the culture at the schools before you invest in a home in this school district. Property values are closely tied to the success of schools in TX. Invest wisely.
Nancy | Allen, TX