Sequoyah School

I am a parent with 3 kids at Sequoyah School. The biggest testament I can give is that it works for each of my kids and their individual learning styles. They are supported to grow and learn with respectful and knowledgeable teachers and staff. Students are curious and have high self-​esteems, leading to a lifelong love of learning. The community is diverse and incredibly supportive.

Sequoyah is a private K-​8 school. The mission statement says «A Sequoyah education challenges the mind, nurtures the heart and celebrates human dignity.»
No one investigating this school should base it on Unilocal reviews, but since I’ve watched my two nephews went there and I’m a donor to the school, I feel I can offer my opinion. Both of my nephews are now in public schools, so it’s interesting to see the contrast to the education they received at Sequoyah.
Unlike public schools, students call teachers by their first name and there’s a whole «I’m OK, you’re OK» feel to the school. There’s not a lot of emphasis on test taking, but there is a lot of emphasis on asking good questions and thinking critically. I’m seeing my younger nephew struggle with the whole testing «thing» that is so prevalent in public schools and had to laugh at the older nephew’s complaint that «Grades are just unfair!» Yes, Sequoyah doesn’t give grades per se, at least, not the «A-​F» variety.
While I have some misgivings about how «touchy feely» Sequoyah is, I think my nephews have learned about the process of learning and its value, avoiding the parroting and regurgitation of facts that many public school students are forced into by a system overwhelmed by testing and too many demands with limited funds. This last comments isn’t meant as a criticism of teachers in the public schools, many who labor under tremendous obstacles and despite them, inspire and teach students. Perhaps it’s more a lament that we don’t have more schools like Sequoyah where learning challenges the mind, nurtures the heart and human dignity and diversity is celebrated.