Space Technology and Arts Academy (Star Academy)

I have three kids that attend STAR and they all love it. I know the parent who commented earlier and she still sends her kids to STAR. I have never see or heard of any teacher talking down to kids. All the teachers that I know of are kind and respectful to parents an kids. My child is also in the advanced kinder class. My child know how to form letter correctly, 200 sight words, nouns, verbs, how to write complete sentences and even stories. The same parent from before told me her daughter in 1st grade is way higher than the district average on her test score and she thinks it's because she sent her to STAR and not a District school. The teacher she is talking about did pull her kids because they moved to a different state. I love this school and I recommend it, especially if you have a child going into Kindergarten. STAR has FREE full day Kindergarten. Plus they have a FREE after school homework club if your child needs extra help in reading or math.
—Submitted by a parent

I would NEVER recommend this school to anyone! While my kids both attend there, they will not be returning. I have seen things that are beyond anything I've ever thought in schools. From boys punching boys with mom's yelling to punch the kid back to the teachers talking down to the students. My children have been taking Spanish as a special for the last year and a half, and they know nothing! In fact, they were taught that you say father as papa. That is actually slang for dad, and padre is father. I have spoken with a teacher that has a student there, and she feels he is falling behind and is looking to pull him out. Furthermore, my child started kindergarten there this year and was placed in advanced reading because he knew all his letters and letter sounds. When I talked to him about what he was doing in reading, he told me that he was learning how to write his name. I was stunned because he had been writing his name since he was 3! I would not recommend you send your child here, they will fall behind! Mine have a date that will be their last day and be moved to a much better school.
—Submitted by a parent

I've watched this school for the past 3 years (from 2010 to 2013) and I can personally atest to the improvements this school has made. The teachers are supported where they were not before, scores have gone up, and rules are being followed. The teachers have a better attitude and the administration does a good job in doing what is best, not what is popular.

Over the last 5 years I have seen this schools rapid growth. The growth is due to the challenging curriculum and innovative approach to learning. I highly recommend STAR Academy. The teachers are excellent and the culture espouses that every child can succeed.

My daughter has been attending Star Academy for 3 years, have never had any issues with any of the staff or teachers. Our experience has been nothing but a great one. My daughter has always been a straight A student and this is in part that I am a responsible parent who takes the time to be involved in my child's education. People are so easy to blame the school and staff but yet are not actively involved with their children's education. Successful students have parents who sit with them at home and help with homework and if the parent cant help then you sign your child up for homework club. If not happy with the school then find another school that meets your childs education needs.
—Submitted by a parent

My children go to this school and I am proud to send them there. I am also a student teacher at this school. I wanted to student teach here because of all the other schools I observed at, none of them made me feel welcome like they do at STAR. STAR Academy is like a family and they take care of their students. The teachers care a great deal and do their absolute best everyday. No school is perfect and if parents want to complain, then I challenge them to spend a day with their child! Take a walk in the teachers shoes, being a teacher is in no way an easy job. This is a great school and the entire staff does their best everyday to ensure the success of every student! But remember teaching doesn't begin or stop at school, parents must work as a team with the school as well!
—Submitted by a parent

I used to defend this school, but now I am not so sure. I am currently on the fence deciding wether or not to send my children to a different school that fits their needs. My main concern at the moment is the classroom sizes. I know there are at least 30 students in many classrooms and I don't feel this is fair to the children or the teachers. The students are not recieving a good education here because there are too many students in the classroom to help them all. I feel like the quantity is more important than the quality. And I do not know the reason for not hiring more staff, but many kids are going to fall through the cracks and this is sad. Researchers have found that gains in achievement generally occur when class size is reduced to less than 20 students. More than 25 is rediculous, the school is making learning hard on the students and teaching a challange for the teachers. Why are they okay with this many students in each classroom? The principles job is to keep the school from closing this next year, at this rate I do not see test scores improving.
—Submitted by a parent

I, too, teach at Star Academy, and am proud to say we are a growing, thriving school with unbelievable potential. The teachers are leaders in their field in technology, science, literacy and math - not to mention the Paragon World Studies. We are blessed with great students, as well. Anyone interested is welcome to check out our high quality education and join us in developing our future!
—Submitted by a teacher

Everyone has their opinion based on their personal experiences. STAR exposes students to the humanities, science (specifically space), and technology. I can't applaud enough STAR's efforts to provide top notch education. Our goal is to nuture and grow the seeds of academic and behavioral success in ALL students.
—Submitted by a teacher

I have been working on my Masters in Secondary Education. I have been doing my in-classroom observations and student teaching at Star Academy. My experience with students and staff at this school has been outstanding and supportive. The Principal and mentor teachers love their jobs and have a caring and supportive way in serving their students. I hold several degrees and have 24 years of successful management experience in the business community. This school is an asset to our community where my family resides. Star Academy is a great place for educators and potential students in our community.

This is a totally different school than it was last year! The middle school has a very fair and involved assistant principal, majority of the teachers are new to the school and they are all enforcing the rules! I am very pleased.

For parents who are considering this school...kid who attend just one year here and then attend another school are 6 months to a 1 year behind their peers.

It is interesting to me that the parents that submitted comments do not use even basic grammer, spelling, or even capital letters. Sounds like this school has some serious issues AND it starts with the parents!!

everytime my child come home i ask what he learned and more times than not i hear he watch a movie. It does not seem like the teachers care but some do i believe the leadership lacks with the principal and behavior person
—Submitted by a parent

education seem really lacking, very unorganized. The office staff does not seem to know how to deal with children. Not sure how this school is still open
—Submitted by a parent

My child has attended this school since it was founded. At first it was a great school with a lot of potential. However, things are going downhill FAST. One of the biggest mistakes they made was opening the school before securing a good location (started in a church basement, then into modular buildings, then into a former shopping center). They have had three principals in three years, and desperately need a fourth at the rate things are going. The top two problems are lack of communication and inconsistenties (discipline, rule enforcement, etc.). The school is more concerned with expanding, growing, and money rather than the current students, their families, the staff and what the school really needs. They need to stop and fix what is wrong before it's too late. Needless to say, my child will not be back next year.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been going to this school since it was founded and I have no complaints. She gets better quality and one on one instruction than she would in the public schools. I highly recommend Star Academy to any and all!!!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is a joke a agree 100% I will not enroll my child next year, it was a mistake to enroll my child there, it is not what they promise.
—Submitted by a parent

This is my sons first year at this school and i have had nothing but problems. He is in kindergaren and the teacher involvement is poor. I have went to the principle and counciler with issues and they have yet to help me solve the problems. This will be my sons first and last year attending this school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is on it's third year of existence, and thus far has gone through three principals. The current principal is dismissive, cranky and unsupportive of the schools' excellent teachers and wonderfully involved parents. I must say, he is a true dissapointment. That being said, the Mosiacia model and cirriculim is unique in and of the fact that the kids get to study cultures that many elementary age children don't even know exist, through Paragon. However, in an area where test scores are appalling, I often wonder how much of the focus is being diverted from the basics to Paragon. The school days are long 8:00-3:30, and the schhol year is several weeks longer as well. However, all this quantity is not being traslated into quality. The teachers do the best they can to teach, but it's difficult when administration sends a troublemaker back to class with nary a reprimand.
—Submitted by a parent