Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies

My child has been attending Mesa Academy for 2 years. It has been a struggle since the beginning. The expectations are very high for even advanced students. There is minimal direction given by the science instructors and they are cold and unhelpful. For example, the first year, 4th grade, my child was expected to invent something. My child is very bright but asking a 9 year old to invent something with minimal instruction was a bit much. Every year we have gone to the principal to discuss our concerns and went away feeling reassured and confident to later be disappointed when promises were not followed through. I was also surprised to find out that this school didn't have parent teacher conferences. My child would be doing excellent in classes and then the final grades would be sent home and he was failing. I never received any calls from his teachers or guidance counselor. Getting in touch with the teachers took days and they didn't seem interested in helping my child succeed. If your 9 year old can function as a high school student then this might be the school for your child. If your child needs more direction and encouragement then you may need to keep looking.
—Submitted by a parent

I used to go to the Mesa Academy, and I can honestly say that it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me, but before saying anything too convincing, you should know this school is not for those not ready for a challenge. This is a school where everyone can be friends, the principal knows every last student by name, where you get a special academic edge, and if you're struggling, you can ask any single of the teachers for extra help.

My child is a 6th grader at MAAS and absolutely loves it. This is her 2nd year at The Academy and it just keeps getting better. The teachers are very approachable and willing to give extra help if needed. The after school activities are varied enough to appeal to all students. The staff and principal are wonderful. I highly recommend this school to any family who wants their child to be challenged and grow both academically and socially.
—Submitted by a parent

A truly super school!!! Our daughter has just started her second year at MAAS (she's now a 5th grader, she'll be proud to tell you!), and spent much of the summer anxiously looking forward to the start of school again. The staff at MAAS is superb...and the principle is FANTASTIC! There is such a clear view of not just what these kids are capable of, but how they are really anxious to be cjallenged! On the personal front, our daughter has made so many good friends... We couldn't hope for more. Kudos to the Mesa school system for recognizing the opportunities represented with this school and staff, and allowing Mr. Crispin and his team teach, not just outside of the box, but way above it! THANK YOU!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has just started her second year at Mesa Academy and is more excited about returning than she was about starting her first year. She was previously enrolled in a 5 Star Charter School (according to Great Schools ratings) where she skipped second grade. After interviewing with the school, we were fearful that she might not do well with already advanced students who were also a year older than she, but in the interest of her getting the best education possible, we enrolled her in Mesa Academy. She wound up getting the President's Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement at the end of the school year due in no short measure to the quality and attention of the administration, the teachers, and of course her parents! Mesa Academy is indeed a GREAT SCHOOL, but we as parents must also take an active role in our children's education, and recognize both their talents AND weaknesses, and not always blame the institution for their shortcomings. Mesa Academy is not for all students...only those capable of participating in advanced studies...not whining about curriculum, homework, note-taking, the prinicpal and/or teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

To people who think that students that go to this school only study is wrong. I am currently a student in the 7th grade at the Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies, and I have been here for 3 years. Students here don't get a lot of homework and you do NOT only take notes and study. Personally, I only take about two hours, and the rest of the day I can do whatever I want. Sure, two hours is a lot, but it's not studying the whole day. My friends also don't have that much homework. In fact, they have only about an hour or less. If a student does just study all day, that means they don't know how to organize their time. I would recommend this school to anyone.

To all the people who say that you cannot have a social life if you go here and it's all about studying, NEWS CHECK! I have only been at this school for one year and I'm a straight A student with lots of friends, thank you very much. The staff and students are really nice and the principal actually goes out of his way to know you. He even knows most of the students personally. The teachers may be hard but, then again, this is an ADVANCED school. It has been the best school I ever attended.

As a graduate of the MAAS program, I am proud to say that it has made me very successful in my high school career. Because of the rigorous preparation for the International Baccalaureate program (ibo.org) I have continued into tenth grade at the nearest IB-accredited school and have found it EASIER than my ninth grade year. The extracurricular activities provided excellent learning opportunities. For those who say that students can't have a social life or are bombarded by homework, that is not always true. Students have plenty of time to work in class, and the homework load is very spread out along the course of a week. The teachers communicate and try not to schedule tests or quizzes on the same days, and make sure that students have very few projects at the same time. The teachers themselves take control of the classroom, keeping the students focused and on task at all times. All of the teachers have a great sense of humor and are well versed in just about anything under their subject matter. Please consider this excellent educational opportunity if you have a student who is smart and really is passionate about learning and wants to be successful in their post-schooling career.

I think this is a very disappointing school..... .They need to have better teachers who truly can handle advanced kids. A lot of the teachers think that children do not need any guidance because they are advanced. Well guess what... they still are children and they need to be molded and need a decent guidance counselor.. they have a few good teachers but the majority lack control over the kids. i have sub teachers who come in and sit and text while the children can do as they please. The principal does not care as long as few of the smart kids are busy winning awards to build his reputation up.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has attending MAAS since its inception. The principal is AWESOME, the teachers are life changing and the curriculum is challenging. This school is for students who want to be challenged and look for more than just a diploma at the end of High School. Yes it is hard, but the benefits going into college are enormous! Highly recommend MAAS IF your child is ready to be challenged academically. Again, the benefits of working hard pay off!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been at this school for 2 years now and really dislikes it. the students mostly sit and take notes at school and at home, do nothing but study. They seem to want every student to fit into a perfect mold, and alow nobody to be creative. I wouldnt reccomend this school to any kid who still wants a social life.
—Submitted by a parent

There are a lot of cliques at this chool and there is a lot of bias shown towards certain students and repeatdly so. The english curriculum needs a lot of improvement as does foreign langauges. great school if you are realte dto a staff memeber or someone else who is. A lot of things are superficial but there are a lot of positives such as a safe and drug free environment. Smaller classes/ Lots of computers. PE could do with improvement . Music dept good. Your child must know other students prior to going or they will find it hard to fit in.
—Submitted by a parent

Can someone compare this school to Mesa PREParatory Acadamy? challenges, differences, testing, how classes are graded My son currently attends Mesa Prep on Univ/power
—Submitted by a parent

The Mesa Academy is extremely challenging, I am in classes my parents took in college. All aspects of it are amazing, the teachers really do awaken you. The overall staff and students have respect for everything you try, even if you fail.
—Submitted by a parent

WOW! I cannot say enough about this school. I attended this school in 8th grade. I cannot find another school that matches the standards of Mesa Academy. The principal is the best I have ever had, and all of the teachers geniunely care about your education, and you develop a friendship with your teachers. The kids are nice and so is the building. The technology is so advanced, and I learned so much about computers and such because of this school!
—Submitted by a student

The school is very challenging, and coming from Fremont in the middle of 7th grade was rough to get used to, but it was fun. The teachers care about the students, the students try hard to get good grades, and its a very safe place. This is my 9th grade year, and it's so hard that I don't at all get any free time. If you want absolutely no social life, then it's a good school.
—Submitted by a student

I am a recent graduate from the Mesa Academy, and from all that I've experienced here, all I can say is -wow! The teachers, the staff, fellow classmates- all are awesome! Of course, you get challenging courses, but that's what distinguishes it from other schools- here, there aren't any boring lectures and teachers that sit at their desk and have you take notes all day; here, teachers interact with the students, encourage you to not only do your best and believe in yourself, but to also think outside of the box, to understand that other people (with their opinions) can also be right, and that encourage students to see past our own little 'bubbles.'
—Submitted by a student

i go to this school and it is amazing the teachers are so great and the school is very friendly.
—Submitted by a student

We have 2 kids that go to Mesa Academy. They love the school. Most of the teachers are great. They can advance in their learning which is so much better than the school they came from. I highly recommend this school to anyone I talk to. Thanks to all who came up with the idea of this great school.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school. I go to this school and it is amazing, what we learn. We have and advanced program and with that, advanced tecnology.
—Submitted by a student