Accelerated Learning Laboratory

The math, science, and geography approach is fantastic! My 7 year old is doing 10th grade math and doesn't think twice. I only wish they would adopt a reading program, and offer music and art as part of the curriculae.
—Submitted by a parent

This school seemed to be a fantastic alternantive to public school. This school boasts of self paced personal instruction, not entirely true. Children are expected to move along at the schools pace, not their own. Their curriculum is very limited , academics only. I found that my children were memorizing the work rather than learning .
—Submitted by a parent

My children started the year at sample school and after spending a significant amount of time in the school observing I quickly decided to pull my children out. I was shocked at the lack of organization, the lack of direction, the lack of positive reinforcement or constructive discipline, and the lack of general safety. They treat the children there as if they were little adults. In hind sight I regret placing my children in this facility and yes I say facility because it is nowhere near school quality(This school makes some of the public schools look wonderful). We as parents should not be sacrificing our childrens safety and well being in order for our children to receive an education.
—Submitted by andrea thonvold, a parent

Parents, watch out. This school has so many problems. The director of the school has created a harsh and overly demanding academic environment and is totally unwilling to listen to parents or his staff. The children are not encouraged to have fun or be kids, only to memorize endless data and math operations. The saddest part is that there is a huge need for accelerated education in Tucson and this school is the only one we have found that comes close to providing it, unless you can afford a private school. Unfortunately, the unpleasant atmosphere at the school leaves the children feeling stressed and unhappy. Kindergarteners are expected to do at least 1 hour of difficult homework each night. There are also problems with dangerous desert creatures including swarms of killer bees.
—Submitted by a parent

I appreciate the emphasis on scholastics compared to our neighborhood schools, but would certainly hope that we can work to improve the extracurriculars and get phys ed for all. Improvements to the mechanical plant are ongoing, and the elementary school has a 'sister' middle school on the same grounds. My 4th grader has learned a lot of things and her class seems to be able to ask the teacher lots of questions. I do think there is not enough in-depth learning, i.e., when we learn about a country I'd also like to learn about the people and crops and history to some extent, rather than so much emphasis on rote memorization. My daughter has taken leaps past kids at our neighborhood elementary, and likes the school very much.
—Submitted by grace, a parent

This school's unspoken motto is: 'shift the onus for teaching to the parents.' We spend an average of 2 hours per night doing homework with our daughter. If the school leadership was less concerned with finding paid positions for their spouses, lovers, and relatives, and more focused on reacting to the needs of the children, everyone would be better off. My personal experience with the type of teaching proffered here is that it exposes the student to a wide range of knowledge without providing a solid basis. I recommend the school for the first 3 years of a child's education at most.
—Submitted by a parent

It is embarrassing to read the comments by the other parents. They are complaining that their children haven't learned to read, when it is apparent the parents themselves need to improve their writing skills. Nevertheless, I must agree that ALL tends to push kids through math and science data sheets, without ensuring that the students fully understand the functions they are performing. The campus is fairly vulnerable, as far as security is concerned, but the administration has made some strides in that area lately. There is absolutely no instruction in the arts, as the administration prefers to focus on math and science almost exclusively. The school does not provide education in the arts, nor does it provide physical education, so parents must decide what is important to them.

The school centers it's entire curriculum around math and science. I had to take my children out of the school because by the second grade, they still couldn't read. I had problems with the administration and their lack of concern for the safety of my children. And I really couldn't believe that they refused to fly the flag because it may offend the few Muslims that sent their children there.

I do not believe the cirriculum being used gives students an overall quality education. I have been told several things that have turned out to be untrue about teacher qualifications by administration. These type of inconsitancies make it very difficult to feel comfortable about the education my children are recieving at ALL.

The school's focus is MATH at the expense of EVERYTHING else. They do not teach children HOW to read. If parents don't do it, it will not get done! It's a shame that we pay taxes to support schools and still have to pay others outside the education system to actually TEACH our children. It is a slap in the face for A.L.L. to post signs advertizing reading tutors. (Blatant evidence to parents that there is an UNADDRESSED PROBLEM). Wouldn't it be disconcerting to see a flyer inside a surgeon's office advertizing surgery repair and clean-up elsewhere? The school has the potential to become something very special in Tucson if they would do something now and add reading and writing instruction with the same intensity as they do with math.