Guajome Park Academy Charter School

I've been going to GPA and it is amazing! I'm in 6th grade and the charter experience is awesome. They have a large area of performing arts and they have approximately 1,500 students from grades 6-12 (the profile is a typo, it's 6-12, not 4-12). Instead of science or history/social studies, they have humanities and technology. There is math/algebra, English, and then either Spanish or German in the same period of Physical Education. The teachers are nice but they do demand you to follow the rules. Detention is not as common as other schools, but that's because they keep everyone in such a straight and orderly fashion. They take control and this school is just...beyond exceptional. The campus is very large, with two stories. My friend since first or second grade is a dancer and is very pleased with their performing arts section. My friend since last grade is very mathematically talented and is proud to be challenged. Luckily, or fortunately, whichever you prefer, they don't slow down for just one student, they keep everyone at a certain pace. They only have one elective choice for each grade, but it doesn't matter, because the teachers know how to teach you quickly and well.

This is my daughter's second year at GPA, now a 7th grader. She loves going to middle school here. Enjoys her classes, teachers, and fellow students.
--Submitted by a parent

I'm an alumnus to this school and I can honestly say I don't wish to have gone to any other school. This school is everything one looks for. All students know each other due to the small population relative to other schools. Those that say this school doesn't prepare you for anything in life, they are completely wrong. The resources are available to those that want to utilize them. Obviously if they decide they don't want to learn then they won't learn. They have IB and AP available; that really shapes up a student for college and are good to take. Everything is available and the teachers are great; most of them are, at least. This school definitely, not only meets, but exceeds the level at which neighboring schools are at. The staff truly care about the students and that is a heart-warming aspect. Of course, though, students need to take advantage of these opportunities.

Terrible teachers, terrible leaning environment. This WILL NOT prepare you/your child for college/ the real world. Academics are extremely lackluster and so are sports. Honestly just go somewhere else. The middle school portion is good but the high school portion is not. If you are a student and attend GPA be prepare to not have a real high school experience. Just stop by the campus and ask some of the students that have been going there for a while about the school. And if you want a good laugh ask seniors how good of a teacher Ms.Fallman is. Honestly half the teachers shouldn't be teaching. Half the time in class i find that we are doing absolutely nothing. If you missed a month of school you could probably get caught back up within a few days. There is THAT little going on in the classroom.

This school is in disarray. If you need day care, this is the place for you. If you want your children safe and educated, do not come to this school. The teachers allow chaos in the classrom and the superintendent wants it that way. I feel sorry for the teachers, although there are only one or two are can actually teach.They are proud that the expulsion and suspensions are "down" but that is only because the teachers do not enforce the rules. Do not come to this school.
--Submitted by a parent

Guajome has low test scores, weak in math, and who really needs German unless you are just keeping someone gainfully employed. Duh, this is California, you need more Spanish. Anway, when you have to cut arts and music that would cost 6 to 10 thousand dollars a year while the top three administrators earn over $600,000.00 a year, which is 10 percent of these clowns' income, people need to get a clue. I bet Guajome will be shut down within a year or two. MLK is still the best. I wouldn't send my dog to Guajome.

GPA is dropping most of its AP classes, not giving any honors classes and decreasing graduation requirement as well as decreasing classes per day but increasing students per classs [35+]!. Adding administrators but firing teachers...Students and parents used to be involved now its encouraged to 'leave it to the adminisration' . When asking questions about change the ceo [is the principal] states ' ...we have a waiting list' GPA used to be A+++ now it is scary at best.
--Submitted by a parent

Guajome is such a diverse school with great teachers and a real world attitude to the children's education. One of the best schools around.
--Submitted by a parent

My student loves GPA and so do I. She loves the drama dept., her German class, and that she can take a higher leval math course. As a parent I love that as a student she has the opporunity to be exposed to a lot of different disciplines. I love the teachers and the over-all school environment. The economy and budget cuts are impacting all schools. I sincerely hope that GPA can retain what makes it special with all of the changes for the next school year.
--Submitted by a parent

I have a 7th Grader currently attending GPA and I've never seen him more focused in his education. He shows true intrest in the subjects being taught and the teach to standard not the test approach has really worked for him. My son is retaining the information and expresses it very well. The teachers and staff are great and are always on hand to assist in any matter. Go GPA.
--Submitted by a parent