Doral Academy

My daughter joined in PreK 4 and I only wish I had enrolled her since Pre K 3. the Pre K program is exceptional! The kids love the school and after the first week of crying (separation anxiety) my daughter now cant wait to get to school. She is 4 and can now read only after about 5 months at school. Yes, as a parent you have to put in the time to read 15 minutes every day to your child as homework, and you have to practice sight words and family words at home, but it pays off!!! My only wish is that the Principal could smile more and get more involved with all the parents, she looks super stressed out all the time. The teachers are FANTASTIC however and the kids are happy and learning, so smile or no smile they must be doing something right! i just hope the elementary school environment is similar so that it will be smooth transition. My work colleague is encouraging me to move my daughter to the Renniassance which is a 9/10 rating, but perhaps we will stay where my daughter has already developed freindships. Hope this helped you choose....and yes there is a lot of Spanish Spoken, but instruction is 70% in English, it is a good thing to get the kids exposed anyway right?
—Submitted by a parent

this school does little to prepare for the fcat, unless your child is put in their special program, where they have the student do 2nd and 3rd at the same time, and then when the student repeats the 3rd grade, they take the 3rd grade fcat and their grades are fantastic, it makes the school look good. they do this until 5th grade.the rest of the students are just fillers. to reassure the parents of the fillers, they concentrate on a group of children and the rest? they tell them that the fcat is not that important?? As for the girl bullies. there is little or no punishment, and they are free to continue with their bad behavior.!as for parent involvement, your not going to hear anything truthful, because 90% are illegal aliens, and don't want to draw attention to themselves.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a good school, my son started in pre-k and now is going into first grade. The only thing is am concerned about is the use of proper English in and out of the class room, by the teachers and the administration. I listen to some of the teachers speak grammaticaly incorrect english, and concern that my son will develop such habbits and think its the correct way to speak. I also don't think there is proper facilities for sports i.e football, track and field, basketball, proper Gym with equipment. I give the school average, because other than the few issues academically they do a good job.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is in Kindergarten and completing his second year at Doral Academy. My experience has been excellent, wonderful teachers, administration and school employees. I'm pleased with the overall educational program and looking forward to having my other children attend the school as well.
—Submitted by a parent

Our daughter is in the early elementary years. She just completed her second year at the DA. We are thrilled with the school and the personal attention our daughter receives in terms of academic and social development. The environment is extremely supportive for the kids, and almost all the kids I see at the school love being there. The after-school programs are superb and offer a wide array activities such as swimming, dance, music, mandarin, guitar lessons,art, sports.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attends pre-k and i can say from experience i was a little bit concerned at the beginning with the educational program, field trips and extracurricular activities. However, the teachers have worked with me in all the areas. I always ask questions. As a parent am very much involved in all the areas my child is involved. Bottom line, excellent school so far, excellent educational program.
—Submitted by a parent

P-K is good academically. The kids will be reading and writing well before the end of the school year. However, there is a high price to pay for that! It is not a place if you want a great foundation. The facilities are inadequate and kids do not have enough time playing or doing arts, music or activities that a little one enjoys most! There are so many irregularities that they must to keep parents out. Too many kids in each classroom (34:2) so they have to adopt military discipline. All the staff is a joke! There is not a possibility to accommodate any simple needs for your child (they are not really interest about it! They told me that!). Tons of homework. Parents normally register their kids in P-K, which it is private, to make sure they will get a place in kindergarten. Mistake! Too little space for write more...
—Submitted by a parent

it's very academical and familiar school.
—Submitted by a parent

Because my grandson is going there and I am very happy with it, is a wonderfull school

This is a grat school!!!!. My daughter is there since pre K, now she is in 7th grade . I have no complain. This is an A+ school.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school! teachers are awesome and the new principal is so great! The school had a great score on Fcat again last year. The 5th grade teachers do prepare the kids to Middle school. The art teacher is 100% dedicated, Music teacher is excellent, spanish teachers are very nice... Cant complain at all. Its a great choice, specially if you start early with them in Prek for example
—Submitted by a parent

this is an awesome school and ms.rodriguez(4th grade) is a great teacher
—Submitted by a student

Outstanding teachers!!! Unlike many comments I've read my experience volunteering at this school has been great. All parents are involved and that is the way it should be. Overall the school has exceeded my expectations in every way.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a teacher at this school and coming from a public school that was not a charter school which also had an A rating, I can say the difference is night and day. There is a high degree of accountability for the teachers, students and parents alike. The administration at the school expects a lot from the teachers and in turn the students; the students are given a lot of material to learn, above and beyond what Dade County public schools requires; their is Prometheium boards in all of the classrooms as well as computers. It is a safe, clean school, which offers free tutoring to students who need it. I feel fortunate to work at a school with such a high degree of parent involvement; the only down side is that the school is lacking in extra curricular activities and the building itself is not too kid friendly.
—Submitted by a teacher

I have had both of my children at Doral elementary. ONe of them is now in 5th grade and my other just entered Doral academy of performing arts (high) school. I am very happy with the school and the teachers they have had.
—Submitted by a parent

The school administration has not made themselves adequately available for any concerns that parents have. In addition of the added pressure of teaching to the FCAT's, the administration has become one dimensional in their goals. We need to put the children's future above all else, and for right now, it seems more of a fiscal challenge with added state funds to compensate FCAT results without any regard for the kid's own plight. This school has the potential to do better for their students!! Stop robbing the teachers of their true potential and the children of their own potential learning capabilities!! It's unfair to all of them!!
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are great!! My daughter is learning a lot, and she is very happy, the only thing that I don't agree with the school policy is that I want to help,as a volunteer, but the teacher said that she needs supplies, that she doesn't need extra help.
—Submitted by Veronica, a parent

Excellent School, I strongly recommend it to my friends. My daughter thanks me for bringing her to this school. My son had improved his grades from C to A. Teachers are very professional and nice, kids love them.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been enrolled at Doral Academy since the summer before Pre-k 4 and will start 1st grade in August. My experiences so far have all been outstanding. I love the fact that teachers are young and energetic...and we should not fault them for their ages as long as they are good teachers. The administration is always there when you need them. Of course, we as adults need to understand that appointments are necessary and we can't expect immediate attention 100% of the time. I assure you, from personal experience, that if it is an emergency, Ms Gomez herself will make it a point of attending to the situation immediately. Regarding the 30 hours required of parents annually, I volunteered at one of the holiday parties for 2 hours, at the book fair for another 2 hours, assisted in the cheerleading show for another 2 hours, bought some materials for
—Submitted by a parent

I highly recommend this school. My daughter has been happy here from day one. The education program is second to none. Excellent all round school.
—Submitted by a parent