Littleton Academy

My kids have received a private school education at a public school by attending Littleton Academy. While they have really disliked some aspects of the school (uniforms and homework) they also knew it was preparing them for high school and life. For years alumni told us high school was a breeze, and then we found out it was true. My youngest no longer complains about the homework because he knows it is getting him ready for high school and beyond.
--Submitted by a parent

i dread going to little academy evry morning, i am a student there. i have piles of home work every night and have bags under my eyes every morining. in class, teachers have infractions ready and watch our every move. at dances, girls wear conservative dresses and boys wear suits under the watchful eyes of the vice principal. i was once yelled at for having the wrong kind of green hair clip. my brother was taken out of the school because my parents were told he would never be at grade level. girls are favored and boys often get infractions for minor things like whispering in class, while girls are shot a warnful glare. i am ready to get out of this school

We sent all of our children through Littleton Academy (from 1996 - 2008), and while each of them found a rule to hate (dress code, or discipline, or something) and each resented the homework from time to time, as they watched the neighbors playing outside, reaching high school cured that! Every single one of our children has thanked us for having the fortitude to withstand the complaints and provide the support to ensure that they received the best educational foundation we could provide. As they met new challenges in high school with less trepidation than their "regular public school" peers and achieved successes that surprised and delighted their sometimes jaded teachers, they realized that the knowledge they'd gained and, more importantly, the ability to think critically that they'd developed at LA far overshadowed any rules or minutes missed outside. My family, knowing what we know now, would make exactly the same decision again to attend this school.
--Submitted by a parent

What Charter Schools like Littleton Academy provide is an opportunity for parents to be intimately involved in their child's education. As a very involved parent of two children at Littleton Academy, this has made all the difference in the quality of their education. Is there a lot of homework? Yes. Is the discipline strict? Yes. Does the school set these high standards because they know these kids are capable of reaching them? Yes. Do I have a voice if I feel something is not right, or my child needs something more? Absolutely. If you are a parent who wants to be very involved in your child's education - including helping with homework every single night, attending multiple parent/teacher meetings, volunteering at least 20-hours per year, supporting the discipline standards at home as well as at school - then Littleton Academy is the school for you. If you answered "no" to any of those questions, then it may not be the right fit.
--Submitted by a parent

I really question the 4 star - when looking at all the reviews they have a few recent good rating (I wonder why??) but many that follow are bad. The adminstration is leaving and I am sure it will be a much more positive experience at the school. Children need to have a school enviroment that is positive, offer experiences of caring and support, not adversarial, this produces great academic learning. Thanks to the governing board it might turn around to be an outstanding school like it was years ago. This would offer a culture that the kids love, teachers can teach and the parents are proud.
--Submitted by a parent

I graduated from Littleton Academy after attending for 8 years. I must admit that as a student I found the rules annoying and silly but when do kids ever know what's best for them? Looking back I am thankful for the uniform, the homework, and the high standards. I know so much about the English language that normal public schools never seem to mention as well as a cursory knowledge of spanish and an outstanding knowledge of mathematics. I learned how to spell and write both cursive and print legibly. I found that I was given enough homework to sufficiently learn the material without ever feeling overwhelmed. I practiced gymnastics 4 nights a week and was still able to complete my homework because my parents and teachers helped me develop good time management skills that I practiced all through high school and still use now in college. My favorite teachers are still at Littleton Academy and I wish I had met anyone as effective in high school. This is an excellent school.

I graduated from Littleton Academy after attending for 6 years. Upon entering high school, I was surprised at how extremely uneducated the rest of my peers seemed to be. As a middle schooler, I used to complain constantly about L.A.: too much homework, too many rules, no one cares about me. I see now that my complaints were nothing but an excuse for attention. I received the best education possible. I received practice in self-discipline. I had the opportunity to be creative and inventive (as opposed to the rote learning that public schools give). I felt safe. Littleton Academy should be considered an EXCELLENT school all-around.

We love this school. It exceeds my expectations in every way. My son is very happy there and enjoys learning very much. Teachers are nice and caring and the staff are great.
--Submitted by a parent

I have submitted 3 reviews of this school and none were shining. Each time my reviews have been removed -- most likely by school administrators themselves. Here's the scoop for prospective parents in a nutshell: the homework is excessive, the families are largely ultra-conservative, there's a religious group that prays for the soccer field's grass to turn green, and there's very little in the curriculum that encourages free-thinking and creativity. Parents drive Lexus SUVs and Maseratis. Parental feedback is unwelcome. If you don't mind relinquishing quality time with your children at home, sign them up to attend Littleton Academy. Childhood is short...3 hours of homework each night is outrageous.
--Submitted by a parent

My children attend LA and they have become increasingly unhappy at this school. The homework workload seems to be overly excessive, they seem more concerned about getting great evaluation test scores out of the students than actually nurturing them, and the behavioral and dress policies are what you would expect from a military school. Many of the teachers are good people and they really care about the students, but like the students themselves, many appear to be unhappy. This may be due to the the fact that the administration is close-minded, strict, and unwilling to compromise.
--Submitted by a parent