Gloria Dei Lutheran Academy

I moved here from a small low crime mid-western town, where you left your purse in the front seat of your car to run your child into school and it was still there when you got back. I have three children, and have been a stay at home mom most of their lives. Needless to say I was in shock when we moved here, how rude people are how there really isnt a community feeling. My children went to A+ public schools when we moved because I believed the real estate agent we have been working with for 6 months. I sent my 11 year old girl to IRMS with 1300 in just the 6th grade, we had 600 in the whole school she was coming from. She was a number at here really a number, they didn't care they were all numbers. She would run into one of her teachers they didn't even know who she was. When I read what some of you wrote about Gloria-Dei, I was in disbelief. They are some of the greatest people I know. My kids feel important again, they make all their kids feel special. There is a community at Gloria-Dei, and that in itself is one of the best things for a child it makes them feel safe. And we are way ahead in academics then the public schools..
--Submitted by a parent

My son started Gloria Dei after ther first quarter of kindergarten in public school. Thank God we were able to transfer him to Gloria Dei then. He has been there three years now and it has been a wonderful experience. The teachers and staff are great. They work so hard and are so caring. It is such a great Christian environment. I can't say enough good about the school. We Love It! The Bozemans
--Submitted by a parent

My 17 year old attended GDLA for middle school after a horrible year in the public middle school we are xoned for. So when it came time for my youngest to attend middle school, there was no second thought of where he would be going, GDLA. I have nothing but praise to say about this school and the loving, compassionate, caring staff that hold it together. These are teachers at their best who truly love what they do and the children they teach. How wonderful it is to see so many children greeted with a hug in the car line drop off in the morning, it is truly an extended family and I cannot think of a better learning environment for my children and any other child where academics is taught hand in hand with values, morals and respect for the world around us.
--Submitted by a parent

My three kids have been blessed to attend Gloria Dei Lutheran Academy for the past 10 years. We have one that graduated from GDLA last year(2008) and is now attending Nova H.S. and doing great. GDLA prepared her very well academically, spiritually, and athletically. Our son is in the eighth grade and will graduate this year(2009) and our youngest is in the fifth grade. They have all benefited from the small class sizes and excellent, caring christian teachers all the way through. It has always felt like a family atmosphere as they love parent involvement in many ways. The extracurricular activities my children have been involved in over the years have included: cheerleading (regular and competitive), track, soccer, volleyball, basketball,drama,band and sacred dance.What a great variety. An activity based on whatever talent of gift your child has mixed with christian teachers and coaches. God bless you GDLA, Love,The Lawson's
--Submitted by a parent

Gloria Dei is a good school to go to. It has teachers that care and want to be around their students. Learing is not based on teaching the FCAT like public school so children are able to learn at a steady pace. As far as advanced or below classes go it depends on the parent volunteers. They do not have a teacher that can work with children with special needs or the latest materials. I feel that the children attending this school truly love it because of the teachers and the friends that they have aquired, not because of the principal or the equipment that is available...some money does need to go into appearance, like the poor looking after care room and equipment inside, as well as learning material...Not just church stuff.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been at this school since kindergarten and it has always just been the best! I would highly reccomend it to any one who wants love, affection and education for their child. She is graduating this year and I so hate to see her leave such a great school.
--Submitted by a parent

This may have been a really nice school once but I firmly believe it is a ghost of it's former self. What was probably a fantastic school has given way to a mess of small towny ideologies that will see this school on it's way to closing it's doors shortly. there is too much favoritism and not enough attention pais to the quality of the education given . Elementary is still at a good level but the Middle school is a mess! and do not send your child to their Summer Camp!
--Submitted by a parent

This is a great school... The teachers and staff care so much for our children. The children are getting a wonderful education and the teachers are very focused on teaching.

Well the school does have a good past but a bad future. They a few nice teachers but they have some teachers that mostly focus on getting there pay check because they are so poor. The school only has lost so many students in the last couple of years. last year the books weren't even approven that they were allegible to teach students. So my recomendation lutheran schools aren't doing so good so they wont give the best education a student needs so don't waste money.
--Submitted by a parent

My son has been attending GDL since he was 2 and now will be going into 1st grade. This school is wonderful. The teachers and all the staff are so compassionate with the children. The small class size allows personal attention to the children and the teachers are all wonderful!
--Submitted by a parent