Champions at The Cottonwood School of Civics and Science

Reviews

• MZ

  Mahriah Zimmerman

  May 7, 2025
  1.0
  I’m Speaking Out Because I Couldn’t Stay Silent As a mother and a long-standing advocate for educational equity and child safety, it’s incredibly painful for me to write this. I once believed in Cottonwood School of Civics and Science. I spoke highly of it, recommended it, and entrusted my only child and nephew to their care. That trust was severely broken. My son experienced emotional distress, classroom chaos, racial taunting and repeated instances of feeling unsafe—physically, emotionally, and academically. Despite my many attempts to advocate through proper channels, I was dismissed, silenced, and, in the end, "publicly shamed" for speaking out. I was even trespassed!! — Classrooms were left unsupervised. VIOLENCE WAS NORMALIZED. Teachers came and went—six in one school year. Students were told - not to tattle. Parents were discouraged or outright forbidden from communicating with one another. Mediation sessions were conducted involving my child without my consent. I am still receiving enrollment emails, and I feel a moral obligation to speak—because the truth matters, and the safety of our children matters more than any reputation. This is not an attack. This is a witness statement. In my son's class - a child was punched, a childs arm was broken, a child was very nearly pushed off the Tillicum Bridge and my child almost pushed off the rockwall. I heard from numerous other parents with similar experiences, resulting in a mass exodus. Our children were referenced as SPED, because this school & teachers failed to educate them. The most crucial years for learning are until the age of 7, their brains most sponge like with rapid brain growth. My child's second/third grade split class. Failed to teach basic reading or math. When a child cannot read or do basic math by the age of 7, it can have profound effects on the both their brain development and educational trajectory. Triggering low self esteem, shame, anxiety and avoidance of School . Children who aren't reading fluently by 3rd grade are 4x more likely to be high school drop outs. I feel called to say: if your child is struggling or if your gut is telling you something is off, please listen. This school may have started with beautiful intentions, but somewhere along the way, it stopped putting children first. I hope this review helps another family make an informed decision. I speak now — because silence is no longer acceptable when it comes to our kids.

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