Great Hearts Academies - Mesa Prep

The previous post must have come from a parent whose child has been in constant trouble. The school. and Mr Wagoner, are not there to babysit. Rather, they are there to ensure our children get a well rounded education (including respect for others). Since he has been headmaster, we have found him approachable for all students as well as parents. The students respect him and find him fair to deal with. Yes, there have been withdrawals. Some have happened because the children weren't able to keep up with the program (it is highly accelerated), some had difficulty behaving (discipline and respect for others begins at home), and others relocated out of state. We have been with MPA for two years and have seen a marked improvement since Mr Wagoner stepped in. He knows students and parents by name and acknowledges their activities and achievements when he sees them. Love it!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is good only if your goal is for your child to go to a liberal arts or Ivy league college- provided they are not burned out by then. The curriculum does not prepare our kids for the world they will be entering. They spend years reading the classics, learning latin, poetry etc. but yet have no computers, little instruction in communication/writing, typing, spanish, etc. I like the concept of teaching them to be so well rounded but not at the expense of necessities. Our other issue is the lack of teacher certifications and actual teaching experience at an age appropriate level. This is a huge problem. We started here with straight A's from a top charter school and one year at this school ended with C''s and D's, not to mention low self esteem and lower SAT scores. His IQ clearly did not go down...... It was a disaster.
—Submitted by a parent

Changes have been made for the better. The education my kids receive is top notch. As with anything new, there have been growing pains. However, I know my kids are getting a great education. KUDOS to Great Hearts for making tough decisions and changes!
—Submitted by a parent

Mesa Prep is a great school as long as your child does not require any special services. The school is very new, 2006 est. and most of the teachers are new to the Great Hearts system. Some of the grades have had more than one teacher turnover in a year. Very demanding school. Great for well organized brainiacs,the rest will weed out by 9th grade.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been extremely disappointed with Mesa Prep. The first year was very good, but this school year took a turn for the worse. The academics are amazing, but the teachers are not good. They act like they don't care, and you have almost no support. The kids that go there are no different than at a public school, there are cliques, and fights, though more rare it still happens. The school is too small for so many people. I feel that with the absence of Ms. Mercado [former principal] the school has disappointed me. Mesa Prep is basically a smaller high school with AP courses.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has very good academics, and very few cliques

MPA has turned out to be everything that we had wanted in a prep school. Small class sizes, engaging teachers and challenging curriculum. There are plenty of extra curricular activities available despite this being the first year of the school. If you or your child is looking for a school that you just drop them off and pick em up everyday, stay at your neighborhood public school. This school has a great sense of community and parents play an active role in the school. If you are looking for a school that will challenge your child academically, look no further than MPA.
—Submitted by a parent