Kennesaw Charter Science & Math Academy

Our son won enrollment lottery for '12-'13 yr but couldn't attend till Jan '13 due to 3 surgeries on leg. Enrollment admin spoke with principal and said this wasn't a problem, place would be held. Inquiries placed with school from Aug '12-Jan '13 to rcv coursework for son to "keep up" resulted in responses that such measures were unnecessary. (Most Cobb Cty schools do help with this and some even send tutors to your home). Upon son's recovery, our son's spot wasn't available as it had been given away. We would have to resubmit to '13-'14 lottery if we wanted our child to attend following year. Poor experiences with administration of this school as the parent of a child with special needs makes me unlikely to ever attempt to place my child there again. Especially given the fact that my child will likely require surgeries at irregular intervals until he is fully grown.
—Submitted by a parent

We could not be happier. Our two children are polar opposites but the teachers at KCSMA creatively find ways to address their needs, strengths and interests. This is our third year. Just found out this site exists. We are active in school events and help out where we can where needed. I think you get out of something what you put into it, and we are thankful for teachers and administration who enjoy our visits and participation. Being in the school often gives me a chance to see the real concern people at KCSMA have for children. They really enjoy teaching them, listening to them, joking around with them. That's refreshing. Don't misunderstand - Mrs. Frey and the teachers hold my kids and all children to a high standard for behavior, manners, and academics. They give them all the challenge they can handle, all the help they need, and all the praise they could ever want, but the tolerance level for not taking responsibility for one's actions, is low. Be prepared for a call and a consequence if rules are not followed. They don't play when it comes to that. One of the reasons I love it.
—Submitted by a parent

Our son needed to be challenged and also needed more individual attention. Since we withdrew him and placed him in the new school he was actually tested and found to be a right brain based learner. This means he needs to do the task and is not a verbal learner. Showing and explaining the task to him doesn't do it. No One at KCSMA suggested he be tested and no one gave him one on one learning.
—Submitted by a parent

We have two children at this school and love it! We have been there two years. We have been very involved parents and researched our local public schools and private schools in great depth. My oldest child tried the public elementary school and found he was not challenged enough, he needed more individual attention and teachers that would challenge him. I really like that they have a separate science lab, computer room, and art room just to name a few specials. The education is tough, I am often stumped with the homework that comes home but that is what I wanted out of an education for my children, I want it to be tough and challenging forcing them to be pushed to their fullest. The children do start getting daily homework assignments in kindergarten even, which I believe prepares them. The school does a lot of "real life" projects, the teachers do not have to follow the required curriculum required of teachers of the regular public schools so they have more room to teach how they feel will have the most impact on each individual student and class. Great school, students, parents, and teachers!
—Submitted by a parent

The lack of academics? For Kindergarten? I guess they should be learning calculus. Just wow.

We are a second year family to KCSMA. My oldest child entered kindergarten last year and my youngest this year. That being said we had what I would consider an average year last year. The teacher/parent relationship was strong. The only complaint I had was the lack of academics. I equated it to trying to get as many kids on the same page as possible. I figured home supplementation would at least get him through Kindergarten. Well thus far 1st grade has been much the same. They are not pushing my oldest to reach that potential. We have also had issues with his teacher this year. I am a firm believer in discipline however I also feel like it needs to fit the action. The teacher is praised for her control of the classroom however she is not discipling middle school children. They are first graders and should be treated as such & not bullied. For awhile I have told my husband that most of these problems are probably par for most schools. I am beginning to second guess that theory. I pray things turn around because for my children stability is key. I would really actually hate to leave the school as most of the parents and staff are very kind & loving. There is a sense of family there.
—Submitted by a parent

I highly recommend Kennesaw Charter. My Son will start second grade this fall and my daughter will start kindergarten. The school building is brand-new. I deeply appreciate the personal attention that the staff has given to my son during his two years at this school. He has seen great improvement in his behavior and learning. In my experience, the staff has always demonstrated a professional attitude. I look forward to another great year at Kennesaw Charter!
—Submitted by a parent

I have read through many of these postings and have found value from all of them. Although, as a teacher at the school, I can say that I see things differently than some of what a have read. I see how Mrs. Frey puts the well being of her staff and students about all else. I also have had the opportunity to see the academic scores rise through her leadership and guidance. The student centered programs, new thought processes and accountability she has implemented have played a vital role in the cultural and environmental changes that have occurred. We have an amazing brand new facility because of her and the hard work of our amazing board members. As teachers, we have been encouraged to disregard textbooks and other methods of "traditional" learning and think outside of the box. We are asked to teach the students in ways that are best practice, as well as keep them motivated through movement, music and with real world/hands on activities. I am proud to say I work at KCSMA and I work with the most amazing and caring staff I have ever experienced. This place is truly my home and Mrs. Frey and her staff are a second family.
—Submitted by a teacher

I agree with another reviewer here who stated the school is good, but that it could be GREAT. My son is going into his second year here, and last year we had a few issues come up discipline wise. The teacher's were not my issue, it was the way the principal handled the issue with me and my child that had me concerned. Accusing my child of doing something that even the teacher said he did not do, and never apologizing for it, well, that is a questionable practice. Needless to say my son was diagnosed with a condition this summer and will now be on a 504. We really love the teacher's, students, and the parental involvement here and would hate to leave. But if it doesn't get any better for him I will have to pull him out.
—Submitted by a parent

We are very pleased with Kennesaw Charter School. My two children are gifted, and the Quest Program has proved to be a fantastic experience for them both. The brand new school building is georgeous,, eco-friendly, and will provide lots of opportunities for outdoor scientific investigation. I am most pleased that Science has been added to the "Specials" schedule along with Art, music , technology and PE. This will give my chidren additional hands on science experience apart from regular classroom curriculum. I can't ask for more than that!
—Submitted by a parent

As a Kindergarten parent , I am so excited about the upcoming school year. I feel so grateful that my child will be able to begin first grade at Kennesaw Charter. The school offers band and chorus, which are not available in my district school. Another reason we chose this school is the reduced class sizes. My district school is allowing 35 students in a classroom! To me,Kennesaw Charter seems to understand what parent want, and what makes for a progressive educational environment.
—Submitted by a parent

This is not a great school but is probably better than most in the area. It has many things to work on to become great. ie: staff team work, uniform parent communication, standardized parent conferences, improved conflict resolution and communication to parents. They do a great job teaching GA standards but unfortunately they dont go above or beyond those standards. GA standards are not upto par with other states. The Principal - she has done a good job stabilizing the school after many years of ups and downs . She has also been able to bring pride back to our teachers and students, but she lacks interpersonal skills and her discipline practices are somewhat questionable. Her ideas sound good but once you deal with her on student conflict you can tell her apathy, disdain and disrespect for children and parents. Very unfortunate. After 6 years my child will leave KCSMA, I have been happy with the education they have provided and turned my back on many of the issues due to the school's challenges but is time they get their act together and start working as a team if they want to be GREAT.
—Submitted by a parent

This is the best school in the great state of georgia. I love the teachers and the staff
—Submitted by a parent

I am writing to express my profound appreciation for KCSMA. My family actually moved out of the area of the school and I enrolled my daughter at another school that would be closer to our new home, however, one week into the school year, I clearly saw that I had made a mistake and I pulled my daughter out of the school and we returned to KCSMA. My daughter was able to thrive throughout the school year. Mrs. Lawrence and Ms. Smith are a dynamic team and I am amazed at the amount of information that they were able to teach to the students. Their hands- on approach really helped my daughter to get the most of the school year. During the year my daughter was able to get involved with many extracurricular activities including chorus, band, cheerleading and volleyball, which she has been able to take with her into the seventh grade. The skills that my daughter developed during her time in the sixth grade at KCSMA, has helped her adjust to seventh grade and are skills that she will be able to use throughout her entire academic career. I personally thank KCSMA as a parent for a wonderful year and I will always appreciate our time at the school.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended KCSMA. Upon entering, my daughter's interest in school was indifferent to say the least. KCSMA sparked her curiosity and challenged her in many ways. She began to take an interest in many subjects. She received the support of her peers and teachers and she began to improve greatly. She was proud of her school and came home every day with a new story to tell. I commend this school for the efforts made by the teachers and staff to encourage my daughter to ask questions and to aid my daughter in improving her grades. KCSMA teachers are incredible and they made every effort to ensure my daughter was knowledgeable in all suject matters. She graduated from KCSMA well prepared for middle school and is doing great this year. I attribute this to all of her wonderful teachers and their interest in her. They always kept me apprised of her progress and provided input when improvement was neeeded. Her CRCT scores speak for themselves. I was so proud of her when I received them this year. She exceeded expectations in most all subjects. Way to go KCSMA! I would recommend this school to anyone seeking a quality education for their child.
—Submitted by a parent

We are ready for back to school at KCSMA! The teachers are enthusiastic and have high expectations of all of the kids. The school administration has vision and a plan. Strong leadership is evident. The respect the teachers obviously have for administration is also evident. My children's teachers spoke of the planned science and math enrichment for this year. The academic program has really been taken up several notches in the last 2 years. In short, a strong academic program with high expectations and enrichment in math and science, strong leadership, dedicated and caring teachers. The perfect recipe for school success!
—Submitted by a parent

We are entering our 6th year at KCSMA and I continue to be happy with the choice to send my children here. The school has been through a lot of challenges and changes but is now on a great path. Mrs Frey has turned many things around and has made such a difference. I admit to being skeptical in the past about if we would ever see a new building but I've never been so happy to be proven wrong. It is so exciting to see a building growing up out of the dirt on Cobb Parkway! We can't wait to walk through the doors.
—Submitted by a parent

As the holiday season approaches, we all start to consider our circumstances and "count our blessings". I count being part of KCSMA as a true blessing , to me and to the community we serve. I have been part of this school since its founding in 2003-2004 and have seen many changes over the years. Despite many seemingly insurmountable obstacles, KCSMA has remained strong , and has reinvented intself into a high performing. science and math academy. We have endured two floods, a string of administration changes, and have escaped the grip of a stifling management company. KCSMA has emerged, stronger than ever, due in large part to our exemplary principal, whose vision, compassion and leadership paved the way for the passage of a second five year charter and the building of a new school. From our administration on down this school our commitment to our students goes "above and beyond". We have been told my our SACS review committee that our school "has the love of the children in our soul". I think that says in all.
—Submitted by a teacher

So glad we found this school. I love the learning environment they create for the kids. The teachers do a lot of hands on learning, which I really believe helps the kids lock in the concepts much better than just pencil and paper learning. Teachers are enthusiastic and really seem to connect to each kid with their optimal learning style and their individual level. Every child is challenged to reach their highest potential. I feel like the are really working to teach the material and not just teach to the CRCT test. Class sizes are reasonable. My son has 14 kids in his class, my daughter has about 20. I love that everyone knows all the kids. They aren't just a number here, and that shows.
—Submitted by a parent

No school is perfect for absolutely everyone, but KCSMA is a terrific option for a lot of us! I resent the implication that the only people who feel this is a 5-star school are board members and school employees. I am neither and I'm happy with our KCSMA experience. My child is happy and thriving. For anyone considering KCSMA, look at the test scores, visit the school for a tour, talk to parents and teachers and get a feel for the reality of KCSMA. I volunteer often and am active in the new PTO. I've witnessed Mrs. Frey interacting with students and teachers often. It is clear that the staff has more respect for her than they have had for any other principal and that speaks volumes to me. I have a very high level of confidence in the people steering the school right now. I firmly believe that while I'm happy now, the best is yet to come, and come it will! There are 500+ kids at KCSMA and I would wager that there are far more happy parents than there are disgruntled parents.
—Submitted by a parent