North Star Academy

My both children go to North Star. We are so HAPPY to be here. The Principal at this school sets very high standards for the children and her staff!! This school is exceptional in every way!!!
—Submitted by a parent

Our children have attended NSA for the last five years, and we are very pleased with the curriculum, teachers and character education. While the school is probably not a perfect fit for every child, both of our children were ready for an academic challenge--which they were not getting at our neighborhood school. The teachers, curriculum & approach keep them engaged. In addition, the classes are small--so kids get the attention they need.
—Submitted by a parent

School is as advertised. We have been at NSA for several years and are very pleased with the school. The teachers are amazing, and care for the students. The programs are challenging and the children show great improvement each year. We have a gifted child, an average child, and one that needed help. In all cases, the students have been treated with respect and have all improved in their ability greatly. The school is advertised as a very rigorous curriculum, and strives as an educational first institution. I do hear complaints occasionally about homework load, but in my opinion it is the parents responsibility to assess their children and get them help or put them in school that is right for them. Our child that needed help was struggling at NSA, we chose to hire a tutor and work with her to see if we could get her back on track, which we did. It frustrates me when I hear parents complain that NSA is too rigorous, and their kids can't play, soccer, dance, and 10 other things because of the work at school. Educations should come first, and if a student is not achieving their academic potential, then maybe they shouldn't be involved in 15 extra curricular activities.
—Submitted by a parent

Unlike many families at NSA, we attended a wonderful school in another state so we had something to compare it to. There was no transparency upon enrolling our children. Parents were never told major changes had been made to the math program beginning with the 2009 kinder classes. We learned after school started, they would be teaching 1st grade math in kinder rather than kinder math. The '09 class were the guinea pigs for the new advanced math curriculum. We also came to learn that the principal is extremely opposed to ability grouping children. All children are in the classroom together whether they "get it" or not. They pull those that do not "get it" (not 1 yr advanced in math as they believe all children should be) out in front of their peers across the hall for "help". In 1st grade, they were doing 2nd-grade Saxon math and were doing multiplication and division by the end of the yr. Children who transfer in will be one year behind! Nightly 1st grade homework: 15 min reading, 2 math sheets, phonics sheet, study for spelling & SS +100 math facts per night was added by end of yr. NSA has no balance and is geared toward the academic elite mindset. Principal & board were unhelpful
—Submitted by a parent

North Star Academy did not meet the needs of my child, he is gifted in the reading area, and always felt bored. Further more, a teacher picked on him throughout a couple of years for being a little bit different. And he was a very good student, he got all A's in all subjects that the teacher taught. The citizenship they teach is ok, but a couple teachers don't abide by the citizenship that is taught. There is also a big popularity issue in every grade, and class and it made his self esteem very low. We will not be returning.
—Submitted by a parent

Northstar Academy has been an incredible experience for our two children. We have never attended a school that has such incredible teachers and principal. The school is highly focused on the student s education. It is a warm and friendly environment with extremely dedicated teachers. I can t say enough about the principal, Ms. Haw s. What a very talented educator and woman she is. Under her leadership, the students are disciplined, and are taught good citizenship. We feel privileged to have our children attend such a fine school.
—Submitted by a parent

This is our first year at NSA. We moved from our neighborhood school. This was the best academic decision we have made for our children. The curriculum is rigorous, but the teachers do an amazing job of teaching the children. Classrooms are organized and interesting. The lessons are thorough, consistent and fun. There is constant feedback on how our children are progressing. The principal is a dynamic leader who is always visible. She often has lunch with the students and has an open door policy. The character development is reinforced daily. Overall, we could not be happier with this school.
—Submitted by a parent

An excellent school with great leadership from the principal, great discipline enforced by teachers and principal, and great academic curriculum including Spanish program.
—Submitted by a parent

This was our first year at North Star. We enrolled our two students here after spending 3 years at another charter school in the area; so, we're familiar with the charter school culture and its demands. We are ecstatic to be here at North Star. Our students, one elementary and one middle schooler, are thriving. In fact, our family is thriving. I could not disagree more with a previous comment on the middle school teachers. Without exception, North Star's middle school teachers are consummate professionals with a genuine interest in their students. Our family has seven years' experience in regular public and charter schools; I'd say we're in an ideal situation at North Star Academy.
—Submitted by a parent

My 2 children have been at Northstar for 3 years now and I am very pleased with their progress. I have high expectations and NSA is meeting them with a challenging curriculum and grading scale, excellent Spanish program that is taught every day, solid curriculum and amazing teachers. My high achieving middle school student has excelled this past year in the smaller environment where she received a lot of individual attention. Also, NSA has a variety of electives she can select for the 2010-11 school year including cycling, health and first aid, photography, robotics, 3D modeling and animation, Science Olympiad, and team sports.
—Submitted by a parent

North Star Academy Charter is a school of choice...a choice I am proud to be a part of! This school has a back to basics philosophy with a well defined curriculum that has helped my two daughters to thrive. The expectations in the school are set high both for academics and behavior...but those expectations are taught and modeled by the teachers and administration. One of the best qualities that sets NSA apart from other schools is the community feel throughout the school that leads to outstanding communication between teachers and parents. NSA is a cut above!
—Submitted by a parent

NSA is an excellent school with high academic standards and fairly rigorous discipline. I would definitely consider it a cut above most public schools, and close to what I imagine a private school would be like. I can definitely say that my kids are well ahead of where they probably would be in a normal school. Some things it requires of parents are committment, involvement, and engagement. You need to pay attention to what's expected of your kids, as I think it can be a little hard for kids to keep up with the demands on their own. For example there is a fair amount of homework and frequent projects, events, etc. Curriculum is challenging but with your support it is acheivable.
—Submitted by a parent

I only wish I had found North Star Academy sooner! For an unbiased overview of the school, take the time to review the North Star website (www.nstaracademy.org) and read the 90-page Parent Survey which is posted online by their School Academic Advisory Committee (SAAC - a Parent Committee). This will give you a much better overall picture of North Star Academy and North Star parents' opinions of the school and its administration/teachers. This is an excellent school with Core Knowledge Curriculum, a daily Spanish program, and students who, through example and a principal-taught Character Education Program, are expected to behave appropriately. If your child is allowed to dress inappropriately, bring weapons to school, smart-mouth teachers or loves to pick fights with other children, this may not be the school for you! This school actually has consequences for bad and/or inappropriate behavior. How refreshing!
—Submitted by a parent

I am very pleased with the leadership, discipline, and academics in the school. North Star provides children with an excellent learning environment. The school is very lucky to have a strong Principal. She sets the tone for the school. We have had our two children in the school since it opened, and are very pleased with the excellent teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

I would agree that the initial reaction to North Star is a great one!! My child has attended since it's inception in 2006. One thing this school does not comprehend is that as children grow they change. This school wants to mold each student into the perfect scholar soldier. If they do not fit the mold, the principal/administration will do everything in their power to get you out. They threaten with expulsion/suspension and there is no partnership between student/parent/faculty to help. "Zero Tolerance" is their mission! The teachers are great but driven by the principal, they are required to move through courses quickly, not taking into consideration comprehension. Not all children learn the same or behave the same and I'm sure the Prinicipal has great intentions but if your child does not fit the mold, you can plan on many encounters with the Principal. Good Luck!
—Submitted by a parent

We have been at North Star since the first year it opened. What an amazing experience! I will say I had plenty of doubts when choosing a 'brand new' school. Fortunately we made the best decision! The environment is wonderful and the education spectacular. Both of my students perform well above grade level, and are challenged through the Word Masters, Junior Great Books and Character Education Programs. The school itself has a very tight, 'no tolerance' policy. Any issues we've had socially have been addressed in an imediate manner! I don't think they are afraid to say, 'We don't want the behavior issues here!' Looking forward to what the future holds at North Star!
—Submitted by a parent

My child has also had issues at NSA and will not be returning next year. While the building expansion is beautiful, the middle school faculty is not. The teachers do not motivate the kids and have made math, science and social studies absolutely boring. I had high hopes for my child being in a charter school, but found the results to be extremely disappointing. This school could benefit from a change in administration.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter had a horrible experience at North Star. Her academic needs were not met (she is gifted) and she was teased. The principal did nothing to help academically nor with the teasing. The teachers seem highly stressed and in fear whenever the principal is around. The public schools offer much more in both academic capability and extra-curricular activities.
—Submitted by a parent

We recently left North Star for greener pastures. The school is great in that they do a lot to make it a special experience for kids. Field days are amazing, art shows are great, etc. One of my sons had an excellent experience there and a teacher who really went out of her way to help him. If that had been my only experience I would have rated them a 5. However, my other son had multiple problems. Without going into detail just know that if you have a child who is gifted or significantly advanced this school does not have programs in place to teach them. Which is why I rated them a 3. If your child fits into their program this school is and will be a wonderful experience for them. If your child has needs not the best choice
—Submitted by a parent

This is our 4th year attending North Star Academy and we still love it!! For a school that has literally started from the ground up with parent support the whole way it is amazing to see all that they have accomplished. We have a 40 minute round trip every day and I don't mind doing it for the education my children are receiving. We have never had an issue with the teachers, the principal or completing the 40 hours of volunteering, I'm usually between 60-80 hours by the time the year is done. I am always recommending this school to anyone that feels their children are not receiving all they can at their neighborhood school. 5 stars for North Star Academy!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent