Littleton Academy

we've been at LA since 2006 and my child just entered middle school there -- I was prepared to set aside hours each evening for homework but it has been totally manageable. The teachers give them plenty of direction and time at school plus there are study halls available -- in addition to teachers asking that students come see them if they need extra help. With a new principal and vice principal on board, the school is taking lots of steps to ensure that a core knowledge rigorous education through 8th grade is not only attainable it can also be FUN. Kudos to all the great staff and teachers at LA -- it is so obvious that you all really care about the kids.
—Submitted by a parent

to all those that insist that the homework is ridiculous, i know that - i am a student! however hard all that homework is, the teachers give you tools to help manage it. they also make sure that you use the tools. as far as i know, the uniforms help keep bullying down, and the rules are mostly pretty reasonable. i might be wrong about this, but it seems to me that what matters most is how the teachers, not the administration, interact with the kids. all the teachers are super nice (i think) and to me as a student, that's what matters most.

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

There is a significant difference between Littleton Academy's Middle School and Elementary School. Elementary staff and curriculum is fantastic (5 stars) but the kids are still young enough that compliance with the strict envirionment is easy to enforce. We've had 3 kids at the school, one is still there and will stay through 5th grade. Unless they get their hands around dealing with Middle School better, we will likely pull him for 6th grade like his siblings.
—Submitted by a parent

We have two kids at LA and are extremely happy with the school. Great curriculum and staff. This school is very challenging and certainly not for everyone. I agree with the statement in one of the reviews "that the standards are not unreasonable. Many parents choose LA because of it's high academic, behavioral and test standards and then complain when they are upheld." The school has a strong math and science program. In 2009, science and math CSAP results for LA were extremely high (top 5 in the state and #1 in the district). This is a great school.
—Submitted by a parent

Littleton Academy is losing 8 more middle school kids to Powell next year. (mostly boys) The admin. comes down hard on boys who step over the line a few times. The lines drawn give little room. Their philosophy is to give as many infractions as possible to force change. Humiliation in front of their peers is also a part of the discipline system. Read the handbook. If you have a middle school boy who is outgoing and not passive think carefully about sending him to L.A.They forget the pre-frontal cortex of these boys is under developed. Instead of meeting the situation with some discipline and some humor, they are militant. There is no grace. This also happens in the elementary.
—Submitted by a parent

Littleton Acadamy has the most amazing teachers around. Through structured curriculum, the children build a wonderful base of knowledge that will help them throughout their education.
—Submitted by a parent

Littleton Academy is a top rated school in the state due to the curriculum and the staff that works together to teach the students. The parent community play a huge part in keeping the staff and students motivated.
—Submitted by a parent

I love that the kids will be well prepared for college and life after attending this school. The teachers really care for the students and are top notch in their teaching. We love the uniforms which helps alleviate peer pressure for clothing.
—Submitted by a parent

If all you care about is academics this is the school for you. If you care about your child being treated with respect and consideration don't go to this school. There is very little teacher acountability and even less administration acountability, so anything goes! I think it is a shame that such a great idea for a school is being destroyed.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent the parent of 2 children that graduated from Littleton Academy, I could not be happier with their transition to highschool. both of my kids were able to start on the honors track in all subjects. the attention to grammar and writing technique have been especially useful and put my children ahead of their peers in highschool. the Saxon Math program produed a solid foundation with it's attention to mastering concepts and nightly homework. Both Social Studies and Science were challenging. The Spanish program took both of my students to AP Spanish in high School as a Junior. Our experience at Littleton Academy was only positive.
—Submitted by a parent