Orange County Academy

Orange County Academy is for "at risk" youth. A lot of the students are coming out of really difficult situations and have been failed by the public school system. There are a lot of learning disabilities and most of the children come to the school already grades behind where they should be in their education. With time and a lot of love I can see this school being great. Many of the children who attended showed a dramatic improvement in their test scores. It's all a process. You should exercise wisdom when concerning the target student base for this school. You have to measure success from how far each student has come, rather than how they "measure up" to other students.

If there was ANY way to give zero stars, it would be given. After 3 1/2 years at OCA, my step daughter is unable to count past 14, can't read, doesn't know letter sounds, nor the days of the week. She was kept in kindergarden for 2 1/2 years, and then placed in 1st because the school felt bad for her. We, her REAL family, feel they just kept her there to collect her McKay money, because, according to OCA, never turn a child away from their "education." Meaning, none of the children, or their families are capable of paying a tuition, so the school forces the childrens families to apply for any grants/scholarships they can get. They take advantage of the kids that actually qualify for these scholarships and use that money to exist. It's a waste of space. At least if those kids went to public school, the state could keep an eye on their progress so no other child would fall behind or, like in my daughter's case, never learn anything at all. This school is affiliated with UGO a program that begs the diplomatic of Orlando to donate free clothing, shoes and bikes, etc to the students. Which is why the kids like it, so they get a bike, not because they are learning anything.
—Submitted by a parent