Crooms Academy of Information Technology

I'd end up writing 3000 characters of details to go into how this school has an illusion of magnificence. To put it short, most teachers don't teach, a few are even horrid and rather cruel. I've had a teacher who put down the entire class because one student got a question wrong, and even got involved in personal lives for no good purposes. The technology is rather behind, hardware and mostly-software-wise. We have the money to pay for the entire Adobe Master Collection CS6, all Autodesk software, etc., but the stuff for running web content is behind monthes, maybe a year in updates. The staff usually doesn't do anything to help a student who has a problem, usual response is to "deal with it." One student had a teacher who forced her into an Honors-level course when she wanted Standard, and the staff did nothing to fix it. The only plus sides are how the school has a focus on technology and certifications for getting in a good place in the IT field, be it for the computers or the entertainment. The uniform code we have is lenient. Dye your hair pink, they don't care. If you're planning to come here, come here for the IT education, not the "perfect school" of Seminole County.
—Submitted by a student

I'm a student graduating the 2010 school year. I attended crooms for two years and winter springs high school for two years. The guidance works more with you to get into college at crooms but i feel you see and interact with the winter springs staff more. Crooms lacks the money to afford good equipment for their gym classes, its all old or passed down. The clubs aren't really there, they tend to fall apart after the first month of school. There tends to be alot of arguing with the staff of crooms. The teachers are more leant into what the students do. Personally i believe my two years spent at crooms should have been spent at winter springs.
—Submitted by a student

This was a perfect school match for my son. They offer a variety of classes with small class sizes and definitely equip the students for college (or career). The teachers assist with completing the FAFSA- offer SAT prep and tutoring of Math and Reading. The principal, Dr. Collins, was awarded Principal of the Year for all of Seminole County and maintains an open door policy. 8th graders with an inclination for technology should definitely consider this an option! Class sizes are kept small, so apply early. It is a very tight knit community with an active parental involvement. 5 STARS!!!
—Submitted by a parent

awesome school. small class sizes. i want to be intechnology but changed my mind to medicene but the school still taught me many important things plus knowing how to work a computer always helps. its in a ok neighborhood but nothing really happens its just a historic part of town and may be described as ghetto but it isnt. nothing ever happens there...well at least bad things
—Submitted by a student

I feel the students who are saying that this school is lacking teachers who can actually teach are wrong. The teachers here are great. You do need to be motivated to go here in order to do well and excel . But besides that the IT courses are awesome. If you come here , you will need to challenge yourself . But in the end it will pay off. Trust Me!!
—Submitted by a student

Crooms is a pretty good place to go as far as schools go. I think the smaller school size has helped me a lot. I came here for the technology, but if you find that this is not your chosen field, you will be very disillusioned as you go along. All in all though, you will get a lot out of it if you put a lot into it.
—Submitted by a student

This is a great school for kids mainly interested in Technology. The Programming and Web Design progams are on par with most colleges and university's. I've known kids who were able to get web design jobs right out of high school. While the IT areas are exceptional, the school lags behind in other areas. The English and Social Studies programs are a joke. These teachers don't care about teaching kids who only interested in computers about literature, government, or any other social science. Great school, Great Administrators, Great IT program, Sub par core classes
—Submitted by a student

Awesome IT School, makes the best non-magnet schools in the county look pathetic. The only bad thing is the area it is in, but when you step foot inside Crooms, you enter a different world.
—Submitted by a student

I say this as a student, Crooms is like a 2.5 out of 5. You need to be able to stand up for your self to go there
—Submitted by a student

Best local school bye far,smaller class size is just whats needed. A place for your child to grow and aspire
—Submitted by a parent

The quality of Crooms has dropped greatly in the recent years. I m a 2005 graduate, the first graduating class. I have noticed my predecessors have been in a steady decline of intellectuals. I remember the days when Crooms was thought to be the 'Geek School' where intellectuals could go and seek out higher education and social surroundings that would be superior to the public schools. The school does not keep to the original standards that it had made for itself. 'Maintaining a GPA of 2.5' for example, but yet they still keep students who can't meet that standard. This sadly, is a distraction for the other students and lowers the schools scores and integrity.
—Submitted by a student

Great high school if you are looking for a small envioronment and personal attention for students.
—Submitted by a parent

Crooms is an excellent school for today's children. The quality of the leadership is outstanding and the faculty creates an environment for learning within the school and beyond the school itself. The young adults seem to thrive and encourage each other to reach beyond their grasp for new worlds to conquer. My son has combined his own enthusiam for learning with the solid opportunity that Crooms provides for him. Any child that does not take full advantage of the positives that Crooms has to offer has only himself or herself to blame. That child, in particular, would have the same problems at any other school. Many of today's Crooms parents are envious of the Crooms experience that there children are having. I am delighted that my son's friends gather over the summer to enlighten and enrich each other socially and educationally. Top Notch in all respects.
—Submitted by Michael Tucker, a parent

Crooms is the best kept secret in Seminole County! Students in the 10th grade are already earning college credits in networking and AP classes. Dr. Collins has always made herself available to meet with parents -- my son is excelling academically and socially. Students are equipped not only for IT positions but prepared for college, also. All in all, a wonderful high school for students who are computer minded and entering the IT field.
—Submitted by Susan Tucker, a parent

CAIT is a cut above. All parents need do is visit the school. My daughter attends the school and loves the small class sizes and the teachers who really care. If this were a private school it would cost thousands of dollars to attend.
—Submitted by a parent

I feel the quality of this school has dropped a significant amount. The Crooms of 2004 is a mere shadow of it s formal self in 2001. The principle is seen probably only 4-5 times in an entire school year. The teacher quality has dropped from what it was, the English teacher who made those incredible high FCAT scores possible no longer works there they have gotten rid of teachers due to the fact that they can t handle teaching. Safety and discipline, there has been arrests due to drug trafficking within the school. I say overall quality of Crooms in 2001 was a 5 and in 2004 it s a low 3. Many of the original enrolled students have left due to this.
—Submitted by a student

I like the fact that it requires students to act resposible and that all the students are there based on their minds and not on financial or social or living situations. All those kids worked hard to get there and have to work even harder to stay there.
—Submitted by a parent

My son greatly enjoys school at Crooms. The teachers keep him motivated and challenged. The small student population adds to a close, friendly atmosphere among the students themselves. The technical and academic education the students receive is unmatched in any high school that I have ever seen, including California's. However, all students should realize that the curriculum is challenging and usually considered to be college equivalent in nature.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a new student going to the 10th grade and just visiting the school makes me feel wonderful they have great hopes for every child I have a cousin that goes there she gets so much help from every one of her teachers before in and after class and mrs.knight is so helpful I let everyone know about this school and i am very proud to now be called a panther of crooms academy of information technology

I have a son who is in his second year at Crooms. I find the leadership there to be excellent, and the teachers to be very well qualified to teach an IT specialization that prepares the kids for sucess in the field as well as college. The students at Crooms have exposure to certifications that I as an adult would love to have, and would need to pay a great deal of money to obtain. Crooms is surely one of a kind!
—Submitted by a parent