Cumberland Academy of Georgia

My biggest complaint with this school is, like others have said, substandard academics. But what are you looking for? A respite from the bullying, the hostile public school environment your child has thus far endured? You'll find that here. They do get an A for bravado and a B+ for effort. Here's my other complaint: Their ambitions are bigger than what they can deliver. Nothing wrong with having a great attitude or being preternaturally optimistic. But they don't have everything. They simply don't have the resources to offer higher level professional input. It mostly feels like a place to 'park' your ASD kid while you figure out what the heck to do with them after high school. Most parents here aren't optimistic about their children's prospects post-high school and mostly they're just grateful to have a welcoming environment for them in the interim. I think it is a great place in many ways, but i would never see it as an endgame or a solution for my child's future. They want to promise you everything. They do. The staff is great in many ways. It just feels more like a great daycare than a school to me.

Other reviewers have talked about the substandard academics , so I will comment on the social and school environment. The HS is almost all boys, not the schools fault, but I think it is important for people to know. Most of the boys are nice, but some have serious behavioral problems. I've heard the boys call themselves "freaks"! Where did they get that idea from? Nobody wants to hear their kid think that way about themselves! Also, despite the expensive tuition and massive fundraisers, the teachers were bringing space heaters into the classroom during the winter. The open areas were drafty! My kid was wearing coats in the classroom! Even public schools turn on the heat when its cold. Unless you have no other options, inquire carefully before you enroll your child in this school. Most important, ask for referrals. If you choose this school, make sure spend plenty of time at the school advocating. And if you are lucky enough to have your kid in your carpool or other off campus meetups, pay close attention to what the boys say about their school experiences so you can take action on your child's behalf if you need to. If I had seen this coming, would have left long ago.
—Submitted by a parent

I rate this school average because they do try to do the right thing. Academically and in some other ways they are below average however. There is a clear lack of organization and academics are weak - as someone else mentioned in their review. Some great caring teachers...and some not. There are better options in Atlanta area.
—Submitted by a parent

The review from Feb 2013 is right on. This school is very weak academically and many teachers don't understand kids. Some are not special Ed certified. Graduates not attending college or moving on to big things.
—Submitted by a parent

Cumberland Academy has been a safe haven for my child for over 5 years now. Since coming to Cumberland he is not only learning academically but is learning social skills that he would never have gotten at any other school. He has made friends and is blossoming into a wonderful, social young man. I would recommend this school to any parent with a child on the spectrum as a safe and exceptional learning environment.
—Submitted by a parent

We are finishing our 3rd year at Cumberland Academy and we have been so pleased. We attended public school for 6 years - some good, some not-so-good - but we've had a sense of peace since we moved to Cumberland. The school is growing and evolving they welcome parent input, ideas and involvement. While the students are all similar in some ways they are so different in others. Even with the same diagnosis there are no two alike. The staff does a great job of getting to know each students academic and social/emotional needs. That doesn t mean everything is perfect, but that wouldn t be real world. The important thing is they help the students overcome difficulties and the school isn t too proud or set in its ways to try new things.
—Submitted by a parent

Although the school claims to be specialized in teaching children on the spectrum that could not be further from the truth. The do not know the difference between a behavioral plan vs. an academic plan. They do not pay attention to a child's IEP or Psychological report in lieu of teaching your child. Children on the spectrum are so different and so it is difficult to meet each students' individual needs if a school only focuses on one (or two) aspect(s) of the child or has several students with various diagnoses (something will fall short). This is one of those instances. There is no individualized teaching as they would lead you to believe and class size is 10-12 students. The head of the school had the best of intentions in developing a school by hiring the best but the teaching staff is sub par and academics are lacking as well. I would encourage you to proceed with caution if you are considering placement of your child with this school. Perhaps the flaws will be fixed over time if they hire more experienced teachers with specialized training.
—Submitted by a parent

Cumberland Academy of GA is wonderful place to work. It's wonderful to see how happy the staff and students are each day. It's a great environment.
—Submitted by a teacher

Our son is now completing his second successful year at Cumberland Academy. I cannot say enough good things about this school! It is truly a one-of-a-kind environment, where children with social and educational challenges can thrive. We are so happy to have found Cumberland!impressed
—Submitted by a parent

We are a young school striving to improve academic skills and interpersonal skills of students that weren't successful in traditional school settings. We consider our school a family and strive to teach on a personal level for all our students.
—Submitted by a teacher

I went to visit the school in April 2008 and then visited it again. I was so impressed that I had my 8th grade daughter come and visit, and within weeks, she was transferred in to Cumberland Academy. The teachers and staff are great, the facility is great, they schedule lots of interesting activities (Young Chefs, team building trips, etc) and they have a growing program that gives equal attention to academics as well as life skills/transition to life. I highly recommend that prospective parents come visit the school.
—Submitted by a parent

Cumberland has helped our daughter tremendously. The public scool she attended couldn't give her the invidual attention she needed.
—Submitted by a parent