Lisa Academy

My son went here for seventh grade.. He was grouped with the most uncontrolled group of kids because of how he scored on his test. So you can imagine with him having ADHD being distracted all the time and not being able to participate in any sports he did not do well here. He didnt pass math and Social studies so they wanted him to repeat the grade. The curriculum was rigorous with homework everyday and every weekend.. Multiple projects worth and obscured amount if points. He complained repeatedly about not understanding the foreign staff. They had a nice music teacher and a nice counselor and Spanish teacher .. The rest of the teachers drove him down the entire year. The disciplinary system was tedious so you find out every time you kids chews some gum. They have mandatory tutoring that does not help with school work so your kid will have to stay late when he needs to be home doing a pile of homework . The study guides they hand out are vague not letting the kid know what content will actually be covered on the test. He did develop a string relationship with his classmates because he was with the same group in every class. Traffic is horrible!!!! West campus
—Submitted by a parent

This school is terrible. I was a former student there for 7th and half of 8th grade, and I had terrible years there. Most of the teachers have the lack of English skills, but TEACH ENGLISH. Also, the languages you learn at the school are totally unimportant, such as turkish. Sure, the diversity is amazing in the school, but the way the school groups the students is awful. The schedules look like they threw darts at a board, and they group the students by intelligence. If you group a bunch of higher scoring kids together, they're going to think they're better than everyone else! Basically, bad students, bad teachers, bad curriculum, bad school.

I am a student for this school and i hate it. People say you get good grades but really its just because most of the teachers pass us and never give us real work, unless its a core class. You are grouped up by how smart you are and you can probably guess how mean kids are if you aren't in advanced class. It is an okay school for science and math, but besides that, it is horrible. You really have no chance of a decent social life.

I no longer recommend LISA Academy to anyone. Their scheduling is a joke and student academic support this year (2012-2013) for my 8th grade daughter is non-existent. There are textbooks in class, but none for the students' use and no other resources readily available for most classes for students to use at home. On scheduling, my daughter has 5 different classes that she has only once a week each. How exactly do the students learn anything going only once a week? Why is PE only once a week? Students need more physical activity than that. I will be pulling my daughter out of LISA as soon as possible, and not looking back.
—Submitted by a parent

I was a former student at LISA. I attended for 5 years. It was a superb experience and deeply formative. The teachers care about students. I won't deny that there were administrative organization issues, but those couldn't possibly overshadow the success the school has clearly been having. Don't believe for a second that a student wouldn't excel because of a language barrier at this school. I can assure all parents that I was never taught by a teacher who didn't have full fluency. All of my teachers were clear in their vocabulary and had easily discernible accents. Most students would use this excuse if they were failing the class, because it is an easy excuse. Anyone who claims that admins or teachers are sexist or racist are also misleading you. Never before have I seen teachers with such a joy for teaching. It is very different from the apathy many students are used to seeing in public schools these days. Anyone who claims there is no community or that your student will be "socially awkward" as a result of attending LISA is also misleading you. I met my closest friends at LISA, and I'm a pretty sociable guy. If I had kids, they'd be at LISA Academy.

I am relieved to say I am a former parent. Although I loved the diversity and quality of the student body (and by the way, start with bright high achieving students and your test scores had better be good--no need to start three hour practice benchmarks in August as Lisa does), the school has many problems. In addition to an apparently sexist, unresponsive administration (I could not get either an email response from nor an appointment with the principal), many of the teachers my child had seemed to range from "boring but nice" to "boring and mean." Only one teacher of a core subject seemed to engage my child. Yes, it is a safe school, but also mindlessly rigid about discipline, and extremely test-driven. Do not even consider it if your child is interested in arts, creativity, or subjects in the humanities.
—Submitted by a parent

Lots of problems at Lisa, starting with the traffic problems. Teachers seem to change at a faster than normal rate, also teaching important subjects when English is not well spoken and cannot be understood. No control of the students in or out of the classrooms. Some very good elements, clubs and toutoring, some need a lot of work. Visit the school a few times and you will get a good feel how the school operates. Several teachers excellent. New high school is good.
—Submitted by a parent

...worksheets as classwork and I feel as if I have wasted science classes the past few years. Biology and Human Anatomy are the only classes I can remember anything from. The Admin usually changes every 2 years, but I feel as if they don't really listen to students. If I were to take every AP course available, I know I would really see LISA at it's worth, but if you get stuck with most of the foreign teachers who teach the basic courses, it's almost a lost cause because you have to teach yourself from the book. Now, I don't want to say that LISA's downfalls are due to the Turkish teachers and admin, but I blame it on the cultural difference as to how to run a high school. I have learned a lot, but I know that the school could be so much more if they would just make a few changes. The atmosphere is wonderful, there is a real sense of community, and the History and English departments are sub-par. The Math is on the right track, and the Science department just needs to start fresh. We are building a new 3 story building, and we have a practice gym and soccer practice field. Take a chance while your student is early in their school career to see if it works for you. You may love it.

A real school for learning that teaches the kids not only academics but character ed and proper behavior. No room for bullying, drugs and behaviors that stop or interupts learning. Extra curricular clubs offer sports, music, maths, languages, geography etc. Programmes also for expanding knowledge and voluntary work. For those kids struggling in any subject they provide free tutoring. They have the friendliest, most caring staff. Your child will come away from this school well educated and with an appreciation and respect for their future. More opportunities ahead for college and a good career.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a student at LISA. Im going to be honest. While the academics ARE really good, socially, the school is horrible. I do not like the fact the 1) you stay in one particular group and go from class to class with the same kids. We as young, developing children need balance. Its MAINLY about grades, but what help will grades be if we're scared of the outside world. This isnt a place someone would want to spend their senior year if they wanted to get a real senior year experience. I have faced racist teachers that won't admit to being racist but show it through everything they do. 2) LISA is really small. It's REALLLLLYYYY small. I go to LISA West, but i was first accepted into LISA North, they are both small. It's very boring and they rarely do anything fun that doesnt get canceled bc of lack of funds. Its crazy and ridiculous. i hate it. We rejoice when we have an assembly that lasts 52 minutes (length of classes). LISA is absurd and a horrible excuse for a school. Do NOT send your child there unless you want them to be socially awkward and experience culture shock from the lack of... culture. BYE!

I was very impressed with the schools curriculum so I enrolled my son in LISA North Middle School. BIG MISTAKE! First: The students are "grouped" A,B,C. They go to EVERY class with their "group" ALL YEAR, Homeroom - 6th period. No info on what determines which group your child will be in. You later learn from the student that it's based on performance. You know what that leads to from peers. Second: Too rigorous! 13 courses all year! This I wasn't warned about. Also I discovered at the end of the year, after hounding my son about his GPA, they had something going on with how they calculate GPA that they can not explain how it's calculated and no one on the staff can recalculate. Third: They are nonresponsive to emails to the account they have on their website to contact them.
—Submitted by a parent

lisa is great high school they take care of our children with their great friendship,nobody does this before
—Submitted by a parent

LISA is an excellent school in providing our children with a solid foundation for their continued education. It's a very safe enviornment which fosters a good atomosphere for learning. There are several systems in place that we are not too fond of, such as the amount of time for lunch and downtime for the children. But, it's something we will live with, as the benefits far outweigh the negative. It's good to know that our son is in a safe school, receiving a great education. LISA is a great school and the test scores prove that educating our children is the top priority
—Submitted by a parent

I have 3 kids at Lisa schools 1 west 2 north, if you want your kids to have the best possible foundation for higher learning and life this the place! my boys have won many awards and honors on the local and international level in the science fairs, and my daughter couldn't be a happier honor role student!!!! If you want the best here it is come and get it!!!
—Submitted by a parent

What can I say? Where do I begin? Since my first day of walking through the doors at LISA Academy North, I have been speechless. For a school in its very beginning stages, I feel as though we have made great strides! The staff is available from 7:30 in the morning with many not leaving until 5:00 or 6:00 in the evening. 'Why?' you ask...because not only do we provide a proper educational experience for all children, but we also include after-school clubs and CARE...for free, mind you. Throughout the week, as well as on weekends, you can see cars in the parking lot of dedicated employees still putting in long hours at nine and ten o'clock at night. Every school has its highs and lows, pros and cons, etc. But it is the smile of the children that prove to me that we're doing something worth being apart of!
—Submitted by a teacher

We heard much about Lisa Academy, this year we enrolled our child there. The school is academically challenging for the students. They have very strict discipline rules and are well enforced. Emphasis is definitely on science and math. The teachers are well versed in their fields, they are very good with the students - although some are extremely difficult to understand due to their accents. Extra help for students is always available. Unfortunately, they have no area, inside or out, for PE class. The back parking lot is used and can be dangerous at times either from traffic or the gravel/pavement they play on. Overall we are happy with academics here, we will be back next year. Remember, this is not a school with athletics, purely science, math, and computers. It is a safe environment with discipline that is well enforced. The only real issue we have is why learn Turkish?
—Submitted by a parent

This school is not very child oriented. As the student said, there is no gym, pe is 2hrs and no place to exercise, especially if the weather is bad. The teachers come and go. Sometimes don't show up or call in. They expect respect and responsibility from the students, but the teachers are neither responsibile nor respectful. Their grammar is bad, but require the ap students to take....Turkish.
—Submitted by a parent

One of the best schools I have ever seen. Thank you.
—Submitted by a parent

it is very wonderful how my child learned so much at this school.She loves it, I love it.what more can I say?
—Submitted by a parent

You cannot understand the teachers. They are not kind and patient. But you can learn a lot in this school. It is a math and science school. It doesn't have very many extracurricular progams. Your child has to be pretty smart to go here.
—Submitted by a parent