Healthy Learning Academy Charter School

My grandson has attended HLA since Kindergarden and is now in the 4th grade.He wil continue next year to the 5th grade with this excellent world-conscious classroom. The FCAT scores this past year revealed that you can have an excellent curriculum reflected in test scores without relinguishing class time to teacher directed test study.The principal keeps teachers,students and parents in mind as she prepares for each class.The staff is capable of opening paths for information,responsibility and understanding for each student.They respect and educate the whole child, preparing each one for their step out into a bigger world.The kids plant their own garden and eat from it. They are quite physical with morning yoga, zumba and mile run/walk in progress.They attend community events throughout the year to experience what is offered in arts, music and entertainement for children.They learn the importance of service by group participation in several events each year.The parental involvment is quite phenomenal to include programs and committees, along with numerous volunteer hours.I cannot say enough wonderful things about this school and it's leadership for our children. I only say thanks.

My deepest sympathy truly goes to the challenges your family faces with your sick little one. I would like to share my experience at HLA with my child's retention. My 1st grader had been struggling with math throughout the year; was at grade level but struggled and was insecure, despite receiving extra help from Mrs. Little (the teacher's asst). One evening I received a call from the principal who suggested, in an utmost courteous manner, retaining my child. She left the decision in our hands and our hands only since he was testing at grade level, although barely. Because I knew how he struggled, felt ashamed and imcompetent, I was on board with no questions asked. It was my thought and still is that it would be better to go ahead and address the issue while he was still young, rather than down the road when it would likely be more distrupting to his self esteem. He repeated the 1st grade the following year with great success and confidence. He took the FCAT this year and received 3 and 4s but more importantly, feels good about himself. I never felt pressured to retain him by the principal and in fact was made to feel very supported even if my decision had been to not retain him.
--Submitted by a parent

The principal of this school wanted to retain my kindergartner, she showed me my sons writing journal & a drawing. I was shown NO test scores, or work in any other subjects. She then told me my son was developmentally delayed, which she is not qualified to do, and had little to support her statement. Not to mention if that were the case she should have ordered testing on him during the school year. She then used my 4 yr old son that has leukemia as an excuse to retain my son, citing that if we put my son in to 1st grade & something were to happen to my 4yr old, we wouldn't be able to meet my older sons educational needs. She has not complied with our requests to see proof of testing done on my son to suggest a delay...because there was none done. Since this has happened to us, I have learned from other parents of ways that this school is ran, and had I known what I know now, I NEVER would have sent my child there.
--Submitted by a parent

We love HLA. I was so afraid to send my child to school. I was concerned about my sweet little child getting exposed to children that have grown up in less than perfect family environments and picking up bad behavior, or being subject to bad behavior. The families at HLA are so involved and caring and have similar child rearing practices as my wife and I do. As a selfish parent, I am grateful when I see the discipline problem children pulled out by their parents. Who needs them in our peaceful school?
--Submitted by a parent

We LOVE HLA!! We love the teachers, the curriculum, & the families who send their children to school here. It is mandatory that each family volunteer a certain number of hours each year, but that just goes to show that your child will be in school with children who's families actually care about their education. HLA communicates with parents regularly via email & letters home, so you always know what's going on & what the kids are learning. Their philosophy is much more holistic - they look at your child as a whole, as opposed to diagnosing every problem as ADHD. I will say that HLA isn't for everyone... if you make demands that they should change the way they do things - then you're probably not HLA material. The way they teach / run the school is fantastic & works for so many, they're not going to change everything for one person. Don t get me wrong, they are very accommodating & have an excellent resource teacher that gives students extra help when needed. But I have seen situations where either the parents or child did not fit the mold, or started making demands that strayed from HLA s mission statement. We have been extremely happy & look forward another year at HLA!
--Submitted by a parent

The staff and Principal at this school are the most dedicated group of educatiors I have seen at a school. They have every child's best interest at heart and will do everything within their powers to ensure that each child is receiving the maximum benefit from their education at HLA. The curriculum is top-notch, covering all Sunshine State Standards, while intergrating movement, music and hands-on activities throughout the day. Parent involvement is high and students love actually look forward to attending school each and every day!

Absolutely fabulous! I cannot say enough about this school. My kids are given close attention by the faculty and their individual needs are addressed. One is a very active child and the focus on health and exercise has been an excellent way to keep him both engaged and excited to for school. As a result, he has been able to stay focused longer and his reading skills have improved dramatically. I tell everyone I know to bring their children to Healthy Learning Academy.
--Submitted by a parent

We've been at Healthy Learning Academy for three years and now have a second child who started kindergarten here this year. The teachers and administrators of the school have been caring and considerate, in addition to being excellent educators. They offer a strong curriculum that challenges students, mentally and physically. My children come home excited to show and tell me new things (yoga poses, Spanish words, math facts, and songs) they are learning at school. The teachers encourage learning at all levels by providing extra challenges for students who need more or one-on-one time for students who need additional academic support. The volunteerism at the school is also superb! Each time I have volunteered in class, there have been other parents or grandparents volunteering in school as well. And as a parent, you are ALWAYS welcome to observe or assist your child's class. This is one of the initial reasons we chose this school over our zoned public school. We also love that our kids start off the day with exercise and are encouraged to choose healthy foods -- and even make them in class with ingredients grown in the school's garden!
--Submitted by a parent

I sent my kindergarten son to this school for one month and removed him. We had a terrible experience with this school. There was no positive reinforcement, punishment that would include 10 laps around the field that would occur the DAY AFTER the behavior, and a my son kept asking to not be "forced" to go there. I enrolled him in an "A" rated elementary school and he (and I) have never been happier.
--Submitted by a parent

My son is a first grader at Healthy Learning Academy in Gainesville and I am so pleased that we are part of the HLA family. The women who run this school and teach at this school do it because they love this school's philosophy, love to teach and love our kids. They all truly have our kids' best interests at heart. My son is excelling in his studies and he loves being at school. He has made some wonderful friends. It's a joy to be welcomed into the school and classroom to volunteer and be part of my son's school day. We love having the healthy perspective at school, making health, yoga, PE and healthy foods a normal everyday part of life. With several friends at other public schools in town, it's nice to see that HLA's curriculum is even with and/or above that of the other schools. Good choice!
--Submitted by a parent