Landmark Academy at Reunion

Landmark Academy is one of the worst schools I've been too, im extremely impressed with how they can really SQUASH the fun in anything, for an example at an assembly a kindergardner clapped after a certain announcement and the was taken out by the princable and looked like a stern talking to out side the door. As a student undiagnosed with ADD I was labeled LAZY, STUPID, AND NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR THEIR SCHOOL! I have letters and emails to my Mom saying so. Sure their academics are through the roof, they start cramming COLLEGE into elementary kids! And then stress you out about it for your whole time there and it continues to stress you out even after you graduate! They are not there emotionally for their students, my little sister was severely bullied for 4 years, we voices it so many times I can't even count, the problem contenued though. Their teachers either pay attention to you and help you or like how they where with me is they ignored me to the best of their abilities. I agree with all of the ratings below under a 3 star and are unbelievably true,Landmark Academy is the worst school to send you child, coming from a student..

Landmark is a great place for kids. Teachers care about the students on a personal level. The adminsitration makes decision based on kid needs. Parents are involved and are at school daily to support students. I can't think of a place I would rather have my child. It would be great to habe a high school nearby that would continue the path my child is on.
—Submitted by a parent

At Landmark your child is just a number. What matters most are they numbers they produce. I have 2 very different children. One who excels and one who works hard but it just doesn't come to him quite as easily and because he doesn't produce the super high numbers, his best was never good enough. It's heartbreaking to see only a few children's work hanging outside of the classroom because the others just aren't good enough (even in kindergarten). I kept my kids here for 3 years hoping for the best but they just don't deliver .
—Submitted by a parent

Not as great as it sounds! I belive it gets a 7 because so many parents are so happy to get away from the really bad schools in the area that they uppraise Landmark Academy. I actually believe Landmark is more like a 5 or 6 on the highend of the scale. They have an extrememly high teacher turnover rate. Also the teacher to student ratio is something along the lines of 27:1 which is just ridiculous. They are in the business of running a business and your child is simply a number to them. They put a inexperienced and young teachers in grades that they should not be in. eg: Kindergarten teacher has no experience, and has a horrible time managing her students. The Kindergartners are developing self-confidences issues at an age that they shouldn't be. I believe Landmark is better situated for students from 3rd to 8th grade, but kinder through 2nd grade students need a diffrent approach to curriculum than Landmarks strict College thinking "Sit still and don't move around" approach that kinder through 2nd graders naturally are not programmed to do. The younger years are best spent being imaginitive and creative, instead of landmarks unimaginative boring self-confidence killing curriculum!
—Submitted by a parent

Landmark is top in the district in academic acheievement and growth. My kids are in elementary school at Landmark and our experiences have been nothing but positive. I believe that the supportive nature of the staff and the academic rigor at Landmark enhance student charater, motivation, and engagement in learning.
—Submitted by a parent

My children and I love this school. The staff is wonderful and my children's teachers are amazing. They have worked with them and personalized some of the curriculum to accomodate their levels. My only complaint is that not enough parents are involved.
—Submitted by a parent

This was NOT the school for my children. Only children who fit into their curriculum mold fit in here. They do not think outside of the box, or allow for individual creativity in learning. Children struggling with academic challenges and/or behavior are not understood and labeled very quickly. They made a lot of promises, but never once followed through. The school atmosphere is generally judgmental and unfriendly. There are a few teachers that went against the grain, but didn't last very long. They are also very selective in letting parents be involved in the classroom. They tended to be very territorial and would state that parent presence in the classroom was just "too disruptive for students to continue learning". They have no additional resources for children; such as, school psychologist, social worker, nurse, or behavior specialist. There is no "fun" student motivation. It is all based on academic scores. This doesn't work for children who are challenged and not motivated by competition. We pulled our children after trying to make this school work for over 2 years.
—Submitted by a parent

I am so glad that we decided to enroll our son here in the Middle School! I feel confident that he is getting the best in our community. The school leadership & teachers are making sure things continue at a high level. I feel good about the direction of this school. We look forward to all the terrific things the Middle School will accomplish, this year & next. He will actually be able to finish 8th grade having already completed Geometry... Go Lynx!
—Submitted by a parent

My child has attended Landmark for the past two years. What a blessing the middle school has been for my daughter. The teachers were amazingly hard working and dedicated to my child's success. Many teachers were willing to work with her before or after school with difficult concepts. I saw my child excel in math and writing these past years; both of which were areas of struggle for my daughter previously. The teachers are all highly qualified in there field. Teachers are approachable and easy to work with. It was so nice to have my child in such a structured and academic focused school. It was nice to have my child in a school where the teachers know her and encourage her success.
—Submitted by a parent

Our daughter started in the Spring of 5th grade. All was well till 7th grade. They went through several teachers in the first few months of school. The students are not held accountable for their behavior and disrupt classes, have no respect for the teachers. This year the bullying continues and lost one teacher two months into school. Dress code went down hill. There seems to be more parties/free time in 8th grade.
—Submitted by a parent

I feel so lucky to work with such a dedicated and passionate staff and administration. The professional development we receive through our parent company is unparalled. It shows in continued growth and achievement in our students. We engage the students in fun research based learning activities that are motivating and get them up and moving. It's wonderful to have an administration that supports our growth as professionals. I love the Landmark community of parents, teachers, and students that all work together to achieve the common goal of making learning fun.
—Submitted by a teacher

When we first started at Landmark we were very happy. There are many great teachers who really care about the students. There is very little physical activity with one small recess for most grades. The kids in K-2 have a very difficult time sitting still and as a result act out with poor behavior. Academic standards have gone down, parents concerns are not heard, and there is an unwelcome feeling throughout the school. There is no joy or fun in the school. The middle school offers nothing for the students and many of the teachers seem to dislike the students. There is no technology in the school and while they have computers they are Never used. The new grading system continues to be a mess with each teacher grading differently. Awards change without notice or criteria given. There is no help given to kids who are struggling and there are no extra programs for the gifted and talented kids.
—Submitted by a parent

I have 4 students in Landmark- 6th, 4th, 3rd and Kindergarten. They LOVE it here!! The moral focus, virtues, values and praise they receive to build self esteem and character is fantastic. They have truly developed as leaders. The fact that every teacher knows every student and their siblings and their parents is an invaluable tool in their education. It keeps accountability high and the bar is set high for every student to excel. I have 2 honor roll kids (and YES they are getting the extra challenge work they need to stay that way!) I have "average" kid who has improved greatly since being here and 1 who was in danger of being held back last year at Jeffco schools. The admin at Landmark worked with him all summer and tutoring and as a result, he missed this semesters honor roll by only 1 class....... We will be at Landmark until our Kindergartner is in 8th grade. All I can say NHA is PLEASE PLEASE open up a high school!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

My children have attended this school since it opened. At first I was very happy with the school, but as time goes on and my children advance, I see the cracks. This school does an excellent job in motivating parents to "believe" that what they are doing is superior, but sadly, the business of selling the school is their greatest strength. The teachers and staff have little experience. Yes, this is so they can pay them less, but also so they can teach their teachers how to constantly pitch the product. The teaching philosophies are dogmatic, passed off as advanced, without being so. This school really falls apart when it comes to middle school, as it simply isn't capable of meeting the needs of these grades in the slightest. The enrichment aspect of this school is laughable. It's all smoke and mirrors. This will be our last year at Landmark.
—Submitted by a parent

This has been the BEST school my son has been to, and he has been to 3 in our area. The teachers CARE about our children and it is like one big happy family. The staff is truly amazing! They help you out in any way they can. The teachers are great and the parents are kept in the loop on everything. I can't think of any other place I'd want my son to go to school.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a former teacher of Landmark Academy, and I have to say it was the worst experience I've had in my teaching career. Almost the entire teaching staff had 0-3 years of experience; administrators specifically seek out inexperienced, less educated (no master's degree preferred) teachers so that they don't have to pay them as much. It was such a disappointing experience, and I felt bad for the kids and parents who had been led to believe that they were receiving a rigorous, "top-notch" education. It was all about parent perception, and it looks as though many of the parents are beginning to see through the hype.
—Submitted by a teacher

My children attended this school the first year it opened, it was amazing. However after the first year the student/teacher ratio went from being on average 22-25 students to having 30 or more students per teacher. The middle school section of the school is not large enough for all of the students, the 6th graders were sharing lockers, not sure how they would handle introducing the 8th graders. By the end of the 2009-2010 school year the 7th graders were on their 3rd science teacher. The middle school kids are also treated like the elementary kiddos and were not in any way being prepared for high school. I will also third and fourth the bullying being out of control!! It is not taken seriously at this school! My kids will not be returning to Landmark Academy.
—Submitted by a parent

While I do think that the school does a remarkable job of teaching most of their students, it is unfortunate that children who are gifted or who have certain learning challenges are not getting their needs met. Unfortunately the special education team is relatively inexperienced, and they don't get a lot of support from the district or from their parent company, NHA (in Michigan). I agree that they definitely spend their fair share of time talking about moral virtues and the benefits of a college education; however, I also agree that it the morning assemblies and constant awards ceremonies are a bit much and do ultimately squelch many children's spirits at all academic levels. Additionally, I would like to echo that the new grading system is a nightmare that takes the meaning, understanding, and standardization out of what used to be a very simple process. No school-wide standard! Highly subjective!
—Submitted by a parent

I have 2 very different kids enrolled at Landmark. One excels, the other...not so much. I value academic excellence, but really feel they miss the mark in terms of inspiring the kids to be lifetime learners. I have never in my life seen a school (and it IS the WHOLE school) that can squash excitement like Landmark. I'm guessing a lot of the kids will eventually say, "no thanks...this is just not achievable and seriously no fun!!". I have attended the most incredibly boring "awards" ceremonies & graduations imaginable at this school. The principle scolds you for showing excitement and accuses you of clapping as though you were at a sporting event as the kids receive their awards. She is like a Disney caricature of an evil head mistress who says things to the zombie like students like, " Now children, I know you're excited for your classmates..."
—Submitted by a parent

This school is losing speed. The new grading system is a nightmare. This school puts on a facade of being an elite school, yet has nothing to offer your child if they are a high learner. In such a technologically advanced world they don't even offer computer or technology instruction until the 7th grade.
—Submitted by a parent