Odyssey Charter School

Had the worst experience at this school if you treasure your kids education i would NOT recommend this school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

My child has had another successful year at Odyssey. Fourth grade was tough, but her teachers were wonderful. They encouraged her creativity yet kept her on track with her work. Today I enjoyed an Award Ceremony the teachers put together for the class. Every student was awarded for their hard work, the superlatives were very creative and we had so much fun! Thank you, thank you, thank you to two amazing teachers!! :)
—Submitted by a parent

Traumatic Pre-K experience: Preschoolers are impressionable. Often Pre-k is the first time children attend school. It should be an event looked upon with wonder and positive expectations. Unfortunately for my child, it has been nothing but daily stress. My child will always have a negative impression of school because of the psychological damage from the teacher. Many other parents feel the same way I do about this Pre-k program. The children are expected to be perfect robots. If your child demonstrates any normal 4/5 yr. old behavior like restlessness; rest assured you will sign incident reports daily. Because the teacher constantly singles out my child; other students have learned to treat my child as a pariah. My child is ostracized by some children because of this teacher. My child is intellectually advanced, so this has nothing to do with capability. I urge you, if you love your child and want a positive and successful experience for your "baby"; do not allow him/her to attend this pre-k program. It was a waste of an entire year and we can never get that time back.
—Submitted by a parent

Being a parent of a kindergarten student who attends Odyssey is a great experience not just for my daughter, but for me as a parent as well.. It was even a wonderful experience when she attended VPK there. The communication of the teachers with parents is awesome. You even establish a bond with your child's teachers as well as their classmates. I know this cause I am a parent volunteer for the school. Not only for the classroom, but I also help out in the office, book fairs, events and field trips. The feeling you get by being a part of your childs learning is a great feeling. Odyssey has made learning not only educational but inspiring to the young minds. I am very pleased with the learning and teaching that my daughter gets from Odyssey. I am looking forward to her return as a 1st grader for the 2013-2014 school year. And my return as a volunteer. My overall experience with Odyssey is one I will not forget. I love the relationship you as a parent and/or student can have with the teachers as well as any of the staff. I hope you get to experience what my daughter and I have with Odyssey.
—Submitted by a parent

We have had a very successful Kindergarten and fourth grade this year, Highlights being - a very fun learning experience with the hundred days of school for Kindergarten and an allround positive and fun learning experience. Great teachers :) Fourth grades highlights has to be learning about the Holocaust, it is done in such an age appropriate way my children loved it. Also the great books read together by the class and reading skills taught this year. A great teacher team:) All in all we had a very good year my children enjoyed these grades and had a very positive learning experience.
—Submitted by a parent

I would not recommend this school. The teachers are rude to the students & when you advise the prinicipal of the issue she backs up her teachers & make you child look like lier. I have never seen a school that suspends kids for ridiculous reasons until now. My child has never gotten suspended until she has attended this school. They claim to be a healthy school but the food is so bad that your child is starving then they come home so you might want to pack your own lunch. The teacher show a lot of favoritism towards other students which is not right. They claim that they are trying to protect your child but when your child needs protecting they don't do it. When having a teachers conference they said that your child is great & doing fine when in reality they don't remember your child or how they are doing academically. You will know the truth of how your child is doing when they get a progress report & its totally the opposite of what they told you at the conference.
—Submitted by a parent

The Pre-k program here is horrible. I would not recommend this program! Neither of my children learned anything and the teachers need to retire! If you want your children to be expected to act like robots for 3 hours a day, go ahead and apply. What a waste of a year!
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent curriculum! I am impressed! The teachers and staff treat the children with the utmost respect in every circumstance. I am impressed with the teachers ability to spark creativity and I love Gorge the school mascot, so funny! The children are very well behaved, for the most part. My boys have had nothing but wonderful things to say about this school. They have convenient bus transportation. The bus drivers are very alert and friendly. They do require a bit more material than other public schools, but it is all justified, this is a charter school. Plan on paying for uniforms ($9-$11 per shirt) $7.00 tech fee, $5.00 atlas fee. You will need to rent or purchase a violin (around $60 or rent to own) and option to purchase music book for $4.00. They also have the book fairs and more expensive field trips, but it all worth it! I have no problem paying $60 for a year worth of violin lessons. It's really not much more than they require at public schools. With my experiences, I am amazed to find a school this good Palm Bay. Thank you to all the staff!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

i Must agree with parent which they are teaching the kids to be zombies,follow direction without questioning, i realized the school is more concern with not to step out of line by 1 inch and and everyday bringing money in for different reason. some parents might not object but a lot of families might not be able to afford it at these hard times. classes crowded we find that we are doing the teachings at home with homework, teachers just review one time my son had couple failing grades we requested a conf. but to no avail. send request for conf. with second report still no word. emailed and left phone message for new princ. several times no return call. don't see homework but great to respond and send request for money. they should open up gift shop there instead with pic. taking booth. if a kid is not progressing they don't care have extera for smarter kids so they get better rating. it's all about rating for better funding from the state. previous princ. were attentive cordial and great response but this new lady just like to hold her coffee in the morning and look cool and come and in control. teachers leaving left and right my kid is confuse, you can figure why.
—Submitted by a parent

Odyssey Charter School is the BEST choice for my family. I would not consider sending my children to any other school. It is an A plus school with teachers and staff who are truly dedicated to helping each child learn and grow into happy, healthy, well prepared adults with the skills to become whatever they choose in life. Adding a healthy food kitchen and holistic programs (that go beyond basic character education) makes Odyssey Charter School a world-class model. All of this AND a healthy high performance GREEN facility .WOW. I am truly grateful for the existence of this educational treasure! I would move to Brevard County if I didn t already live here just so my children could attend this school!
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school! I have been a student here since Kindergarten. All of my teachers have been great. This is a school of choice and I am very glad my parents applied to send me to Odyssey. I am in the gifted student program and enjoy the additional special projects and activities. I wish the school could open an Odyssey High School!

I have been a teacher at Odyssey Charter School since its founding in 1999. The school has a unique mission and vision to help children reach their full potential and has been growing and achieving milestones in this area throughout the years. The faculty is strong and devoted to the children and focuses upon each child's needs. We have implemented wellness programs and nutrition education to help children make better choices. I love this school, the children, and its mission.
—Submitted by a teacher

I have to say that i am extremely dissapointed by this school. I don't think I have enough room for the list I have. First, my sons teachers are insincere and don't even acknowledge him. Second, they have no homework and we get no progress reports, but yet, we are told "if you find your child falling behind....", how are we supposed to know? Third, they teach your kids to be zombies with no importance on creativity or logic. Yes, their lunches are healthier than most, but not by much, in all honesty. Another thing, my wife and I were excited about the motessori theology... which they dont implement unless it really means "your kid is smart, so they get no attention". If you value your kids well being and their growth, DO NOT send them there, unless of course you want confusion or headaches.
—Submitted by a parent

I can't complain, the education here is well rounded, and really is about the whole child. The curriculum is very thoughtful, when it comes to how it will help students. The teachers have been very helpful, even when my child hasn't been. The food is far healthier then the stuff in the regular public schools, and the children are taught about healthy foods, environment, and more. I wouldn't want my children anywhere else. The only complaint is that the class sizes could be smaller, then again they have 2 qualified teachers in each class.
—Submitted by a parent

Beautiful environment for children. Good leadership. Caring teachers. State-of-the art made-from-scratch healthy lunch program. Strong academics. Good extra-curricular choices and remedial programs. Needs to improve communications.
—Submitted by a parent

Doesn't get much better than this. Gret environment, nice administration, lots of help for struggling students, extracurricular activities, and wonderful lunch.
—Submitted by a parent

So far not overly impressed. My daughter is in Kindergarten this year and I do not like having 29 kids in her class, yes that is two teachers in one room but that is way to many kids for my taste. I'm not feeling it right now and neither is my daughter.
—Submitted by a parent

The children begin violin in the second grade. Healthy kitchen that prepares nutritious food for students. 2 teachers per class. great variety of affordable after school activities. their approach to history does not focus on the wars.

The school is excellent and keeps getting better each year. The wholistic approach considers every child. The lunch program is refreshing and focuses on fresh vegetables and fruits and leaves behind processed foods. This school, is by far, the best in the area.

I can't claim that Odyssey is perfect, but they are pretty close. They have done so much to improve the school, and continue to do more improvements. The school is all about the children, their health, safety, wellbeing, and life. The whole child as many call it. The cafe is healthy food rather than junk. The curriculum incorporates health awareness, sound nutrition, gardening, and citizenship. There is some Montessori but also other style education taught here as well. They started out at a local church then moved here. They had lots of complaints after the move due to confusion, portables, and other things but most of that has been resolved once the school was completely built and back in order. There are no longer any portables and the school is being expanded. The healthy curriculum is also being expanded. I honestly wouldn't want my children in any other school.
—Submitted by a parent