Calibre Academy of Surprise

Carden is a wonderful learning community. All the teachers are great. The front office is amazing. The principal and assitant prinicpal take the time to know the students and are visible all of the time. Keep up the amazing job!
—Submitted by a parent

We have been a Carden family for seven years. My two oldest children were very prepared for high school. In fact they have taken honors and AP classes. My youngest child is doing well. Carden has proved year after year that they care about the students and they push the students to their full capability. Any family looking for a wonderful school, Carden is your choice!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter just finished 5th grade & we were happy with most everything this year. It seemed to be a difficult year for her, but she had a wonderful teacher that helped her out a lot.
—Submitted by a parent

my son hoes here and he loves it the what manners they teach my son and the other kids are great
—Submitted by a parent

My son has just finished kidergarten at Carden. He started when he was 4 years old, when he was unable to go to public school. His teacher was outstanding and gave him an excellent start to his acedmic future. He was taught and exceed the states expectations, along with develping great social skills We look forward to returning next year.
—Submitted by a parent

I also agree, my son is in 2nd grade and his teacher has made this year at Carden a wonderful year. He is now reading at grade level and now we see he has had a break through with his writing. If it was not for this school and Mrs. Vance his teacher we do not know what we would have done.
—Submitted by a parent

My son started kindergarden here at Carden he is now in 2nd grade and has improved so much this school year. The parents here are very involved which makes it easier for the teachers. I have talked to other parents from other schools and found that Carden is way more advanced. I strongly recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been a teacher for twenty-three years. I was an educator in Peoria and Pendergast school districts prior to coming to Carden. In all those years I have never worked with a more qualified, dedicated group of educators then here at Carden! I am priviledged to call them my colleagues and friends. Leah S. Bowers IBMYP/Gifted Coordinator here at Carden.
—Submitted by a teacher

I strongly believe if you do not have a good teacher it will make or break your childs education. I had good teachers for the first 2 yrs. now i have consent problems with this teacher. My child has always gotten A-B's but now lacking in reading. I have to corner the teacher for her to even talk to me. I just want the best education for my child. Now 2 months before school is out i was told that they just figured out my child is not at grade level for reading. My child is behind 1 year! All this time i have been very active with my childs education. My child can read but since i have not been trained in know what level she is actually at. Now i have to pay for a tutor this summer. Little late to be telling me now!!! unhappy
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended for nearly two years in pre-school and it was awesome. She will be attending Kindergarten this year. She has learned and known so much since the age of 2 1/2 years. Her Teacher and assistant are awesome!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is great for all students. I have a student that is so far outside of the box and the teachers and administrators work really well with him. I have been very grateful for the guidance that he has received. The academics are remarkable. He is so much farther ahead then his friends that are in the public schools. The teachers are amazing. They work so well with all of the students. They teach to very high standards. Carden is a highly performing school and I can see this first hand. The front office, teachers, administrators and everyone else on the Carden campus is awesome! Keep up the amazing work for our kids!
—Submitted by a parent

I think this school is great if you have a child that fits in the 'box' of a child that is just going to sit in their seats and do as they are told. If you have a child that thinks outside of the box forget it. Thier zero tollerance policy is teaching kids to be sissies and not deal with life issues. I agree completely with the other postings, you are not heard as a parent, its what they think happened in certain situations. My son got suspended for a week for throwing a football at a boy who didnt catch it. During that suspension he missed finals. A bit harsh I think and they are only setting him up for failure. I think the downfall is that the actual principal for some reason is never involved anymore. I am trying to find him somewhere else to go now!
—Submitted by a parent

My child has been attending for the past few years. Our daughter had special needs that were addressed from the very start by the entire staff. They seem genuinely invested in her education and progress. No school is perfect. If you were to ask parents of other local schools, the turnover rate is high there, as well. Carden does a great job of trying to meet the needs of everyone, and that is hard to do. I have very high expectations for the school we choose to send our child to. Quality of education comes first, and Carden more than measures up.
—Submitted by a parent

Sadly, after several years I removed my children from this school this year. They have lost many great teachers and do little to retain them. Late contracts compared to the other schools leave some teachers no choice. They don't want to work with any child that might be difficult or going through trying times. I had tried going to the principal with poor results as teachers are always right. Some of the longer tenured teachers were previously allowed to 'pick' their students so new teachers got to work with the students that were handfuls leading the students and new teachers to failure. I do understand this year that has changed but at the cost to my kids education. They are flourishing at another school now.
—Submitted by a parent

My kids have been going to Carden for 4 years nw. They did teach french untill last year. Many parents, me included thought that this was a waste of the kids school time, and that spanish would be a better choice, given that spanish helps when getting future jobs and french does not. The teach spanish to the middle school kids now, but not to the younger kids. I think the change is great but that they should also include the elementary ages as well.
—Submitted by a parent

Carden is a great school to go to except 3rd,4th,6th,7th,8th have moblie homes and 5th grade have rooms indoors which Carden has to deal with.
—Submitted by a student

Interesting, Carden advertised offering French, including in their student orientations...only to find out, there is no foreign language offered at all!
—Submitted by a parent

I have one child that has graduated and another who will this year. Combined they have attended Carden since 6th grade. While there are a few things the school is lacking such as a cafeteria, I think that out weighs the fact that the classrooms are small enough that children are offered the opportunity to actually learn something and be challenged. My kids have been in charter school their whole education minus one year in a dysart district school that had 47 kids to one teacher. The middle school core teachers communicate well with one another and the parents.
—Submitted by a parent

My kids went to this school for 4 years. The school gradually got worse. When an issue with a teacher would come up it would be blamed on the child. I pulled my kids out. I had teachers from Carden telling me about the 'inside scoop'. I did not want to be a part of that school any longer.
—Submitted by a parent

I like this school. My child has been attending since kindergarten. The class sizes are smaller than traditional school and the curriculum is challenging for him. We love the arts emphasis and french class.
—Submitted by a parent