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Nea Community Learning Center School

Charter | K-12 | 500 students

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3 stars

Based on 33 ratings

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33 reviews of this school

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Posted December 30, 2011

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I just wish I could take back the 2 years of my kids' life that we wasted at Nea. And thank god that they're now in a school where they are led, and not just pushed from behind. Nea's administration was complete chaos and also hypocritical because they demanded a high level of organization from everyone around them. The whole thing felt very amateurish. What a horror it was to discover just how much of the basics my kids hadn't been getting at Nea. We're full of regret. I give the teachers 3 stars because some of them were great and others were just awful.
—Submitted by a parent

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Posted October 9, 2011

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To the previous "reviewer", yes, my kids love Nea, but that is because of their facilitators. And yes, both my wife and I have but in many hours towards helping build Nea, to have he principal encourage us to push farther and put in more hours, and then to have her suddenly change her mind and throw away all our work. But, putting our work aside, take a look at the facilitators. They look worn out, and over he years I have witnessed several of them coming from the principal's office red eyed and upset.
—Submitted by a parent

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Posted September 20, 2011

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NEA TEACHER ARE AMAZING, but so many other things need some work. There's a huge disconnect between the administration and the families. Communication is a huge issue. Any info or questions gets sucked into an information black hole. We seem to get info at the very last minute. The administrators don't seem to care much for parents input/ideas. The focus is more on growing the school and less on providing what is stated in the charter. The head facilitator publicly scolded and banned a parent on the message board recently for inviting parents to plan academic afterschool activities for kids. You can be banned for that? Makes parents feel like we can't post or suggest anything we think may be helpful especially with the current budget crisis. The PTA can use some transparency- there's no minutes on their website, no info stating how funds are being spent (some AUSD schools have this info on their websites). Parents want to know how their kids are benefiting from PTA contributions. On the plus side, NEA has STELLAR teachers and committed families that are really trying to do a lot to make the school thrive.
—Submitted by a parent

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Posted September 10, 2011

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Teachers are very nice and seem to care. In theory "learner led" education and a more project based approach. What should have been experiments in how to implement the "model" became rigid structures that are foisted on children even when it is not developmentally appropriate. The "model" is ill defined, parents are not welcome and their input about their own children ignored. Communication with home is dreadful. The lead facilitator (pricnciple) says community, but walks a very different walk. Parents' input about what their kids need is largely ignored. The school has had a wait list and that makes the leadership feel that no family is all that important. Take it or leave it. On the up side, I think the kids are getting a good education, they do some nice work on helping kids become more independent. My child is in the lower school and all the teachers I know care alot about the kids and run thoughtful carriculums. The school as a whole though can be erratic, with a lot of last minute decisions and changes. Yes its new, but the problems stem more from an attitude problem and basic disrespect for families on the one hand, and disorganized work flow on the other hand.
—Submitted by a parent

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Posted June 21, 2011

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How did I miss this great site where you can post things about our school! Ok, so, I am a parent of a new 4th grader and I have to say that I am excited about the possibilities at NEA! I have been to recent meetings for the new community and I hear the questions and criticisms about the school that people pose to the facilitators and leaders. I see the defensiveness in the answers, too. Though the leadership may need to polish up a little, I can understand the defensiveness because they are trying a model that most of us know nothing about. We can't look to the sister school about the elementary part...this is one great experiment! I think that they should keep defending their ideas so that people can't come in and try to change what they don't understand. I see NEA as a hopeful place of choice. If people don't like it, they should make other choices, not try to change what are clearly the things that make NEA different from every other school in Alameda. Exercise your right to choose. For only two years in existence, this school is great! I can't wait to help it improve. More parents should help, too. See you there!
—Submitted by a parent

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Posted June 19, 2011

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An excellent model placing great emphasis on the progressive idea of self-guided learning, which has been very successfully applied at its sister charter school, ACLC. However, although Nea's leadership is strong and inspired it is also often too defensive for its own good, so suggestions for improvement are too often perceived as a negative response to the philosophy itself and dismissed with the notion that "this is model is not for everybody but this is how it is, take it or leave it," instead of giving it some thought and tweaking it where needed. I also agree with a previous reviewer about the PTA being too exclusive and not at all representative of the school's diversity. If these issues are addressed it has the potential to become another charter success story, but it's not quite there yet.
—Submitted by a parent

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Posted June 4, 2011

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The school and CLCS leadership is primarily focused on promoting "their model", so they can market it nationwide.I went from being one of this school's biggest proponents to one of its biggest naysayers. I gave them so much of my time and there was never any gratitude expressed. The Lead Facilitator is very much about "self promotion", and not so much about "listening". The staff seems totally intimidated since she has hired her son to "supervise" the "playground", an asphalt patch that's good for basketball and street hockey. Once I informed the leadership that my child was not coming back next year, we immediately "didn't exist" any more.
—Submitted by a parent

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Posted March 30, 2011

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I go to this school currently and I have to say that it's pretty good, but at times in the tree it can use some help

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Posted March 18, 2011

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Nea operates under a great project based curriculum, good teachers, and has a lot of potential, but it also has some serious flaws. Namely, the communication between the school and the parents. There really isn't any. As a parent I feel like a second class citizen. I also think they are very punitive and don't really promote community.
—Submitted by a parent

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Posted March 10, 2011

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excellent school, very fortunate to have found this option. I appreciate the alternative curriculum. The project based approach is inspiring for my child and allows her to excel and push herself. She always did well, but wasn't inspired. Teachers are very good and very engaged in what they do. very active parental community in K-5 that does a lot for the school, but definitely a core group that runs things...a little hard to figure out what's going on as a new parent and to 'break in' but I think attributable to it being a new school too (only in it's 2nd year).
—Submitted by a parent

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Posted March 3, 2011

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School leadership is not supporting the staff the way they should be. Teachers are excellent, parents are supportive and involved.
—Submitted by a parent

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Posted February 20, 2011

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1. Good, inspired, strong leadership - not yet refined, but most of the important ingredients to set this school apart from most others in the area are there... a good start for a new school (K-12!) ...in trying times 2. Overall some excellent teachers, with a progressive approach to the learning process towards self-guided development 3. Small clique of very controlling parents run the PTA...- so not exactly welcoming of newcomers or inclusive of the wider parent community
—Submitted by a parent

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Posted January 10, 2011

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We feel very fortunate to have found Nea. My son started at Washington and complained about school (in kindergarten!). Now in second grade at Nea, he loves school. The first and second grade teachers are fantastic.
—Submitted by a parent

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500 Pacific Ave.
Alameda, CA 94501
Website: Click here
Phone: (510) 748-4008

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All Students	92%
Females	95%
Males	88%
African American	n/a
Asian	n/a
Filipino	n/a
Hispanic or Latino	n/a
American Indian or Alaska Native	n/a
White (not Hispanic)	88%
Economically disadvantaged	n/a
Non-economically disadvantaged	91%
Students with disability	n/a
Students with no reported disability	92%
English learner	n/a
Fluent-English proficient and English only	91%
Migrant education	n/a
Gifted and talented	n/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)	n/a
Parent education - college graduate	93%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate	94%
Parent education - declined to state	n/a

All Students	95%
Females	95%
Males	94%
African American	n/a
Asian	n/a
Filipino	n/a
Hispanic or Latino	n/a
American Indian or Alaska Native	n/a
White (not Hispanic)	100%
Economically disadvantaged	n/a
Non-economically disadvantaged	94%
Students with disability	n/a
Students with no reported disability	95%
English learner	n/a
Fluent-English proficient and English only	97%
Migrant education	n/a
Gifted and talented	n/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)	n/a
Parent education - college graduate	93%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate	100%
Parent education - declined to state	n/a

All Students	66%
Females	71%
Males	64%
African American	n/a
Asian	n/a
Filipino	n/a
Hispanic or Latino	n/a
American Indian or Alaska Native	n/a
White (not Hispanic)	65%
Economically disadvantaged	n/a
Non-economically disadvantaged	65%
Students with disability	n/a
Students with no reported disability	71%
English learner	n/a
Fluent-English proficient and English only	63%
Migrant education	n/a
Gifted and talented	n/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)	n/a
Parent education - college graduate	67%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate	n/a
Parent education - declined to state	n/a

All Students	83%
Females	79%
Males	86%
African American	n/a
Asian	n/a
Filipino	n/a
Hispanic or Latino	n/a
American Indian or Alaska Native	n/a
White (not Hispanic)	78%
Economically disadvantaged	n/a
Non-economically disadvantaged	82%
Students with disability	n/a
Students with no reported disability	82%
English learner	n/a
Fluent-English proficient and English only	81%
Migrant education	n/a
Gifted and talented	n/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)	n/a
Parent education - college graduate	89%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate	n/a
Parent education - declined to state	n/a

All Students	86%
Females	90%
Males	79%
African American	n/a
Asian	n/a
Filipino	n/a
Hispanic or Latino	n/a
American Indian or Alaska Native	n/a
White (not Hispanic)	89%
Economically disadvantaged	n/a
Non-economically disadvantaged	85%
Students with disability	n/a
Students with no reported disability	87%
English learner	n/a
Fluent-English proficient and English only	84%
Migrant education	n/a
Gifted and talented	n/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)	83%
Parent education - college graduate	n/a
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate	89%
Parent education - declined to state	n/a

All Students	75%
Females	86%
Males	63%
African American	n/a
Asian	n/a
Filipino	n/a
Hispanic or Latino	n/a
American Indian or Alaska Native	n/a
White (not Hispanic)	68%
Economically disadvantaged	n/a
Non-economically disadvantaged	76%
Students with disability	n/a
Students with no reported disability	77%
English learner	n/a
Fluent-English proficient and English only	76%
Migrant education	n/a
Gifted and talented	n/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)	58%
Parent education - college graduate	n/a
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate	84%
Parent education - declined to state	n/a

All Students	55%
Females	50%
Males	61%
African American	n/a
Asian	n/a
Filipino	n/a
Hispanic or Latino	n/a
American Indian or Alaska Native	n/a
White (not Hispanic)	65%
Economically disadvantaged	n/a
Non-economically disadvantaged	59%
Students with disability	n/a
Students with no reported disability	57%
English learner	n/a
Fluent-English proficient and English only	58%
Migrant education	n/a
Gifted and talented	n/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)	n/a
Parent education - college graduate	57%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate	82%
Parent education - declined to state	n/a

All Students	56%
Females	50%
Males	67%
African American	n/a
Asian	n/a
Filipino	n/a
Hispanic or Latino	64%
White (not Hispanic)	56%
Economically disadvantaged	58%
Non-economically disadvantaged	55%
Students with disability	n/a
Students with no reported disability	60%
English learner	62%
Fluent-English proficient and English only	53%
Migrant education	n/a
Gifted and talented	n/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)	52%
Parent education - college graduate	69%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate	n/a
Parent education - declined to state	n/a

All Students	34%
Females	37%
Males	29%
African American	n/a
Asian	n/a
Filipino	n/a
Hispanic or Latino	n/a
White (not Hispanic)	n/a
Economically disadvantaged	n/a
Non-economically disadvantaged	42%
Students with disability	n/a
Students with no reported disability	33%
English learner	n/a
Fluent-English proficient and English only	32%
Migrant education	n/a
Gifted and talented	n/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)	n/a
Parent education - college graduate	33%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate	n/a
Parent education - declined to state	n/a

All Students	70%
Females	81%
Males	56%
African American	n/a
Asian	n/a
Filipino	n/a
Hispanic or Latino	73%
White (not Hispanic)	91%
Economically disadvantaged	47%
Non-economically disadvantaged	78%
Students with disability	n/a
Students with no reported disability	70%
English learner	55%
Fluent-English proficient and English only	73%
Migrant education	n/a
Gifted and talented	n/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)	69%
Parent education - college graduate	75%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate	n/a
Parent education - declined to state	n/a

All Students	23%
Females	n/a
Males	n/a
African American	n/a
Asian	n/a
Filipino	n/a
Hispanic or Latino	n/a
White (not Hispanic)	n/a
Economically disadvantaged	n/a
Non-economically disadvantaged	n/a
Students with disability	n/a
Students with no reported disability	n/a
English learner	n/a
Fluent-English proficient and English only	27%
Gifted and talented	n/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)	n/a
Parent education - college graduate	n/a
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate	n/a
Parent education - declined to state	n/a

All Students	38%
Females	29%
Males	48%
African American	n/a
Asian	n/a
Filipino	n/a
Hispanic or Latino	21%
White (not Hispanic)	67%
Economically disadvantaged	27%
Non-economically disadvantaged	42%
Students with disability	n/a
Students with no reported disability	40%
English learner	36%
Fluent-English proficient and English only	39%
Migrant education	n/a
Gifted and talented	n/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)	21%
Parent education - college graduate	31%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate	n/a
Parent education - declined to state	n/a

All Students	49%
Females	9%
Males	75%
African American	n/a
Asian	50%
Filipino	n/a
Hispanic or Latino	n/a
American Indian or Alaska Native	n/a
White (not Hispanic)	n/a
Economically disadvantaged	57%
Non-economically disadvantaged	38%
Students with disability	n/a
Students with no reported disability	46%
English learner	50%
Fluent-English proficient and English only	47%
Gifted and talented	n/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - high school graduate	n/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)	n/a
Parent education - college graduate	n/a
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate	n/a
Parent education - declined to state	n/a

Students typically attend these schools prior to attending this school	From all over Alameda
Colleges most students attend after graduation	No graduates until 2013
Read more about resources at this school

Before school or after school care / program onsite	Before school: starts at 7:30 a.m. After school: ends at 6:00 p.m.
School Leader's name	Maafi Gueye
Best ways for parents to contact the school	Email
Gender	Coed
Is there an application process?	Yes
Fax number	(510) 864-4281

Instructional and/or curriculum models used Don't understand these terms?	Internships Project-based Standards-based
Bi-lingual or language immersion programs offered Don't understand these terms?	No
Foreign languages taught	Japanese Mandarin Spanish
Vocational or skills-based training offered	None

Extra learning resources offered	Career/college counseling Counseling Differentiated learning programs
Transportation provided for students by the school / district	None
School facilities	Internet access Multi-purpose room ("cafegymatorium") Playground

Dress Code	Neither uniforms nor dress code
Bullying policy	This school has a bullying and/or cyber bullying policy in place.
Parent involvement	Attend parent nights Chaperone school trips Join PTO/PTA Monitor the playground Organize cultural events Organize fundraising events (school auction, bake sales, etc.) Serve on school improvement team or governance council

Students accepted for the 2012-2013 school year	73
Applications received for the 2012-2013 school year	300
Students typically come from these schools	From all over Alameda

Nea Community Learning Center School

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3 stars

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33 reviews of this school

837

+14

6 / 10

5 / 10

API Growth scores over time

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API Growth scores by subgroup

Did this school meet all the API goals for student subgroups this year?

837

What is the API?

+14

Change from 2011 to 2012

6 / 10

API Statewide Rank (2011)

5 / 10

API Similar Schools Rank (2011)

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