Carmel Academy

I have three children at the school and each of my children have been pushed to maxamize their potential, including ranking within the top 5th percetile nationally on standardized assessments. Unlike schools which only teach to the middle, Carmel Academy has been able to address a wide array of learning styles and teaches each child and his/her level. It is a warm, caring environment, which encourages ease of access and communication with teachers and administration. The excellence in both their secular and judaic studies is unparalleled. This is the only Jewish day school in the area that actually encourages families from all different walks of life to come together and be united. You should go see the school fo yourself because it far exceeds the other Jewish day schools in the area with respect to important skills like critical thinking, working together with peers, and gaining the skills necessary to be strong learners.
—Submitted by a parent

Our kids have had a wonderful educational experience at the school. Our son had some learning challenges, which the school identified and corrected with a well-conceived plan. Our daughter loves the school, particularly Hebrew classes, and at age 9, her accent and fluency are amazing. I have found the teachers to be well-trained and amazingly caring. Thank you for such a good experience for our kids.
—Submitted by a parent

We took our children out last year and put them in Schechter in White Plains. Best parenting decision that we ever made. I agree with the last poster that one of the biggest problems with this school is the administration's refusal to listen to suggestions and the attitude that anyone who disagrees is bad mouthing the school. We had also been told not to say anything critical about the school. The place is like a cult and the community building is limited to the individuals who follow the party line. They desparately need a new administration.
—Submitted by a parent

Now Carmel Academy, the school does not live up to its mission for children who fall in the middle of the bell curve. Although they recognized my daughter's issues, the procedures put in place to work with her were the polar opposite of what they should have been. The head of school was insulted when I suggested the wrong tack had been followed. We are changing to another school next year. I have literally been told not to "bad mouth" the school. And for a school that prides itself on community building - I am treated as a leper when I go on campus with teachers turning their backs on me. So now I have no problem with stating that they are in need of a great number of changes to be a top rated school.
—Submitted by a parent

Disappointing. Our hopes and expectations for your kids education were, generally, not met at WFHA. While the lower school education is competent, and runs smoothly, the upper school was a major disappointment. With a couple of notable exceptions, the teachers were incompetent, and correspondingly, there is a high turnover rate. For whatever reason, there is a consistent failure to attract and retain quality teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

Our daughter was one of the only nine students who graduated last year. Overall, we were happy with the school while she was there. She brought home very good grade and was considered a strong student. Unfortunately, over the last couple of months we had to spend a lot of time and money on tutoring in order for her to catch up. It was clear from the first day of this school year that academically she was very deficient and was not prepared for high school.
—Submitted by a parent

Look if you are interested in WFHA, come see it for yourself. If you want to speak with parents at the school to learn about what they like best, just ask. If you want to talk to a teacher to hear about their experience, just ask. If you want names of families who left the school to find out why they did, just ask. WFHA has been nothing but open and honest and living up to the values it teaches.
—Submitted by a parent

The midot (good- values) that WFHA teaches is second to none. Kol Yisrael Aravim zeh ba zeh (all Jews are responsible for each other) is lived and breathed here. Every minute is a teaching point for students and parents to understand the importance of accepting all people, not just those that are like them. In this day and age where bullying is on the rise, terrorism continues to haunt the world, this is something I am so happy WFHA is taking so seriously. In addition, the school has a rigorous academic education where students are consistently being accepted into Hopkins gifted program, the school has won E2K and continues to be invited to academic competitions. WFHA was the ONLY day school in the region to view Race to Nowhere with a Q/A with the director following! Amazing school!!!
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children at this school and couldn't be happier. My children are as different as night and day and both have had their academic and social needs met in different ways. The teachers love their students and love what they are doing. The administration works hard to ensure we have the best curriculum, best teachers, and low teacher-student ratios. We feel blessed to have found this school.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a school where there are no incident reports, so if or when your child is injured, it is dismissed as child's play. Some children have suffered serious physical injuries. Academically, it was a mixed bag, but bizarre behavior was tolerated, such as teachers who routinely gave out candy, and overtly picked class pets. Standardized tests were given, but the results never reviewed. Class trips were cancelled beccause they forgot to send out permission slips. The list goes on. Too bad, this was a school that was started with high hopes. Running into other former parents in the grocery store is like being part of a recovering addicts program.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children in the lower school. We have been with the school for 4 years. Overall, we are very happy. There have been teachers that were not up to par, and the school did not waste time "cleaning house". My children are VERY different and both have had their needs met - both academically and behaviorally. I have seen a change in the curriculum from year to year. This shows me that the administration has been responsive to parents feedback. We are not wed to a jewish dayschool education and have many excellent options where we live -both public and private. Education is a first priority for our family, and we choose to stick with WFHA.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a son who is currently in 2nd grade and started WFHA in kindergarten. He will not be returning to WFHA next year. The grade has 24 children (total) and I know of 5 who are definately not returning and another 3 who will likely not return. The overall complaint is the same - that the school is poorly run, there is no set curriculum, everything is done on the fly, and parents are promised everything by the principal but there is no follow through. I do agree with 2 positives posted below. Beautiful campus and a good pe teacher/program. However, that is not enough to make a schoool.
—Submitted by a parent

I would be very concerned about sending my children to a school that raises this kind of controversy. I find it quite troubling that anyone who criticizes the school is viewed as 'spewing venom.' Like many other families we have either left the school or are leaving this year. The school takes kids from Norwalk to Riverdale (providing bussing) and cannot even fill 2 classes per grade. Interestingly it is often the very involved parents who leave since they see what is going on. In my child's grade, at least half of the kids have either left in the last 2 years or are leaving this year. The school is a mess.
—Submitted by a parent

One of the things I really do not like about this school is the 'cult like' menality and the hostility to all the families who leave the school. When I have visited the other Jewish day schools in the area I did not feel the desparation to keep families and silence criticism that I feel at WFHA. The administration may not even know how many families are leaving this year since so many are scared that there will be a negative impact on their children when it is known they are leaving. A number of families have asked me to keep it quiet that they are leaving. The number of families leaving the school and disasterous enrollment speaks for itself. If you send your kids here have a back-up plan in case the school closes midyear.
—Submitted by a parent

I am surprised by the negative reviews here. The personal attention my 2 lower school children receive is unparalled. They have both done extremely well at school and they are confident and happy students. The secular curriculum is cutting edge and creative, and I feel that the Judaic studies program has helped my kids become confident young Jews. The few bumps we felt along the way last year have been smoothed over and corrected. WFHA feels like home to us and we always highly recommend the school to anyone who asks. I feel that our kids are on a great educational path, in the hands of a most competent faculty.
—Submitted by a parent

Wow, a friend alerted me to the negative reviews and I had to respond. Some parents simply don't take responsibility for their children's education. They want everything to be the responsibility of the school and that is why I think you see some negative reviews. We have a child who graduated from WFHA and who is doing beautifully in a very competitive high school and a middle schooler at WFHA who is likewise doing very well. The school makes a commitment to provide whatever enrichment a student can use and support they may need, and with our kids they have always followed through on that promise. Our children have had fabulous science and math experiences, both in regular classes as well as the school's super E2K enrichment program. They have an innovative language arts curriculum and truly inspirational judaic program. Our children love school, as well.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have been students of WFHA for 5 years. There have been a few, not many, teachers who were not up to par, and they have been let go over that time. The administration has not wanted to sacrifice quality of teaching in favor of lack of turnover. It's the right choice. My children all receive a high quality education which is well-tailored to my kids' abilities. My children have been in advanced classes and received enrichment that has enabled them to flourish as learners. We are grateful to the dedicated professional teaching staff and the administrators who direct them. I really don't get the negative reviews at all, and wonder if they aren't all written by one person with sour grapes. Look at the school yourself, and be assured the mission is being lived on every level at this wonderful school.
—Submitted by a parent

Great teachers, a really well-though out curriculum, modern Hebrew instruction that really teaches the language, top-notch secular studies instruction wrapped up with not just the promise to educate each individual child, but they follow through. My kids have done well, love to go to school each day, and are way ahead of peers at other schools in all areas of their studies. Go see the school before you accept the reviews here that are not positive--I'm pretty sure I know who wrote them and why--I guess when nothing makes you happy and a school suggests you try some place else, that you need to find someplace to spew your venom Don't believe it, WFHA is the best thing going to educate your Jewish children.. I would choose it again in a second.
—Submitted by a parent

I wrote a review previously on March 18, 2008. Two years later, after my daughter graduated last year, I am happy to tell you that we are grateful every day for WFHA and the education the school has provided our three children. Our daughter is a freshman at Greenwich Academy (so now if you know our school, you know who I am). This is one of the most competitive high schools in the area, and rated among the top private high schools in the country. She is doing extremely well and was well-prepared by WFHA for the rigors of this program. My two sons continue to have wonderful experiences aWFHA. A forum like this, which permits anonymous postings, allows unhappy people to voice their opinions without any danger that their points would be refuted. See the school personally and make up your own mind-the school really does live its mission.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a wonderful school! I am shocked and dismayed by the reviews on this site. WFHA is a great school that believes in always trying to better itself . The lower elementary section (this is where my child is) is solid and filled with dedicated, hard-working teachers who spend countless extra hours designing curriculum for their students. Their math, science, and social studies programs are top-notch! My child is thrilled by the experiments and lessons at the end of each day. Her math skills are great and her teacher is always challenging her to the next level. She is getting amazing support in reading and writing and is writing wonderful stories. The PE coach does an amazing job at making exciting active lessons for all different grades. My husband and I couldn't be happier with the care, attention and academic rigor our child is receiving - check it out!
—Submitted by a parent