Blooming Grove Academy

Open minded willingness to teach children at their pace prevents children being held back and helps them move ahead, despite what the rest of the class is doing.
--Submitted by a parent

I have been a teacher at BGA for six years. Previously, I taught in three different school districts. I started here as a sub and was amazed at what I saw at this school! Older students were helpful and kind to preschoolers, students cared about each other and their teachers, children were given a voice and were totally respected, etc. I knew immediately that I wanted to become part of this school. I can't tell you how much I have learned while working here. Previously, I thought it was my job to solve all the problems children would encounter; soon, I learned that if you give your students the necessary tools, they can solve their own problems. At BGA, the children are taught the 4Rs, (Respectfulness, Responsibility, Resourcefulness, and Responsiveness). We are sending good citizens into our community! I am proud to be a part of BGA!
--Submitted by a teacher

I am a past parent of BGA, and I can say nothing but great things about this school. I have 2 children, and they have both been students here. (including the elementary program) They both received the attention that they needed, and didn't get lost in a huge classroom of kids. When they had a question, it was answered, when they had a concern, it was listened to and addressesd. BGA functions on the 4 R's: Responsibility, respect, resourcefulness, and responsiveness. They live and breath these 4 things in everything they do! In closing: everyone is entitled to their opinion. With that being said, if you do not come away from this school understanding that BGA fosters the WHOLE child (intellectual, academic, creative, and social ) you have missed the boat . What you could have(and should have)taken away from this program would have lasted your child a lifetime~
--Submitted by a parent

This is a place for parents to bring children when they want a more attention & a family like enviornment for their child. At BGA, the small class size and passionate teachers allow kids to grow and become the individuals that they are. The 'selectives' let kids try a variety of classes and experiences in the world around them. My goals for my kids have been to develop a love of learning, not just to get the work done and jump through the 'hoops' of their educators. I have graduated 2 children from this setting who are honor-role high schoolers now. My other children are still receiving the benefit of an independent school education and are becoming people who are not just followers of the croud or leaders, but leaders and thinkers for themselves for the good of the community. Something we believe in strongly and gets reinforced daily at BGA.
--Submitted by a parent

At first I was really excited about this school, however that faded as soon as we hit mid year. My child was hit and tormented by the same little girl for months and the admidistration nor the child's parents did anything about it. They don't screen their applicants for compatibility at all! If you can pay you can go even though they don't have the recourses to deal with emotionally damaged children. The academics were awful. My poor daughter wanted to learn to read and we had to teach her at home because what was supposed to be amazing circumlunar turned out to be dumbed down for all the non english speaking students. I found this school inconsistent and inconsiderate of families. It was a waste of a year and 6 grand.
--Submitted by a parent

The BGA-Alderian way is fine for preschoolers and perhaps kindergarten, but after that you really want a much stronger academics-based curriculum that other schools may offer. Our first child went through a real culture shock after coming from the sheltered life of BGA to second grade at a public school, where everything wasn't handed to her on a silver platter like at BGA. Do yourself and your kids a favor and get them into real school after 5 or 6. Also, be wary as they tend to over-emphasize diversity, to the point that in some cases the teachers spend more time working with non-English speaking kids than is spent on teaching the class as a whole. Our second child is leaving BGA after 5 years.
--Submitted by a parent

Small class sizes (average is about 12 students per class). Lots of one-on-one attention and individualized curriculum. Adlerian psychology positive discipline approach. Corsini 4-Rs (Respect, Responsibility, Resourcefulness, Responsiveness). Our son (8) has been at BGA for 4 years now, and has been able to excel in this environment. Programs include Spanish and P.E., and a separate Art program is being reintroduced soon. To help tailor to special interests, they have a 'Selectives' program, where students choose from different topics for 6 week courses ranging from swimming to sewing to special science topics. A chess club was also started this year which met with great response. Topical seminars to help BGA parents/families are offered throughout the school year. This is the school's 20th anniversary.
--Submitted by Lane Hansen, a parent