Veritas Academy

All four of my children have attended Veritas since kindergarten and done very well. The small classrooms have provided individual attention to meet them where they are, and that sort of attentiveness has increased over the past year and a half. We as parents play a key role in our children's educations and put in the time and effort at school as well as home to be sure it works. Though administration has come and gone the teachers at Veritas have always kept good care of my children. They've achieved at A and B honor roll levels with the help of dedicated staff. Two have since moved on to a private high school with a very rigorous curriculum and are able, with the foundation achieved from Veritas, to continue with more than acceptable grades. There is NO perfect school and Veritas does not claim to be one. Yet, through the challenges faced the school is celebrating it's 10th year and going strong. Two very eye opening short periods in the public schools at different times helped us realize we are in the best school by choice. Thank you Veritas Staff, from Principal to classroom teachers, and special aids for giving us your everything and making it work for our children's best.
--Submitted by a parent

I stepped out on faith by bringing my child to Veritas. A hint and a half should have been when the Principal took half an hour to say hello as i was the only person in the common area. My child has been bullied continually and we have been pleading for months and my child was assaulted. Never got a call from the Principal and she is so unapproachable. My chlld cries almost every morning and hates going to school. I have spoken to others and im not alone. We feel powerless. Teachers pass you in the hallway and dont make efforts to say hello. my child is in elementary. If this is how the adults are treated, it speaks volumes regarding how the kids are treated. I plan to get resolve some how. To Add...its like a gloomy place and geez whose in charge? Must there be state intervention to help the students? HELP
--Submitted by a parent

This school used to be awesome, my children grew there the first two years they went. but the last two years were pathetic, new principal who is unapproachable she has no time to face your concerns. they got rid of half the staff what a joke they got rid of the teacher who would question any authority because they seen a lack of leadership. My children are now in a public school and I really feel we made the right decision to withdrawl them from Veritas. They have excelled leaps and bounds at there new school and they have peace getting the proper education they need. I have absolutely no concerns dropping them off for school I know they are in good hands.
--Submitted by a parent

There have been som rough years behind Veritas. The Board finally made some major changes that resulted in ISTEP scores going up dramatically in one year. Children receiving many extra services from remediation to performing arts. Teachers who remain are happy and want only the best for the children and the school. Change is hard - it seems more for the adults than the children. It sounds like many did not want to see Veritas succeed and are upset that it is! Good luck Veritas as you move toward a positive future.
--Submitted by a parent

I have to agree with the most recent comment. Change is necessary, but I believe that the wrong changes are being made. The only change noticeable is that 50% of the saff is new! I was shocked and now I'm nervous, as my child (who attended last year and knew who their teacher would be) walked into a classroom with an unfamiliar teacher. I was reluctant about sending my child to Veritas again, but had no other alternatives. Last school year was a disaster, and I hoping to see these "changes" turn Veritas into a great school!
--Submitted by a parent

Keep it up. Change is always difficult, but Veritas needed a change. Veritas had an 8.2% increase in Math, 15.9% increase in ELA and 12.7% increase in both Math and ELA in 2011 over its previous 2010 scores.
--Submitted by a parent

This is my child's first year at Veritas. It has been a rock start to the year for the school with the transition of the Administration, and I feel the teachers and staff have made my family feel welcoming and their main focus is my child's academics. I feel they are trying and doing their best to involve parents into the school and my child has flourished, since coming. I feel they are moving in the right direction.
--Submitted by a parent

When my child first started at Veritas 4 years ago it was wonderful. I felt so blessed to have found it. Over the last year and a half it has completely fallen apart. There are power struggles, complete lack of control over students and teachers, and the worst part is that Ball State GIVES the charter but has NOTHING to do with the governing of the school. When there were major bad things happening they point blank told me they do not get involved!!! WHAT?!? There are a few wonderful teachers out of the entire staff and the secretary is also wonderful but WAY over worked. They beg for volunteers but those of us who used to now want nothing to do with them. This is the last year my child will attend. I no longer support charter schools from Ball State because there is no where to turn for help!
--Submitted by a parent

Bad school! No positive leadership, no communication, no organization, safety is even questionable after students were permitted to stay in their rooms while the tornado siren was going off. There is no follow through on anything. Kids yell and swear and are very disruptive during class, with very little consequence. (So do some of the teachers for that matter.) Bullying is not handled properly. Lunch has been cut down to 15 minutes, with the kids usually getting about 8-10 min. to eat. The principal and teachers don't answer your e-mails or return comments on notes sent to school. Errors are consistently made on letters, etc... sent home, which is not acceptable for SCHOOL. Messages (even important ones) that you call and leave for your child are not passed on to them. No one there takes any of your concerns seriously. Teachers come and go, some don't bother coming in at all. Substitutes are a regular thing, especially for certain teachers. My child's grades went from mostly A's and some B's , to mostly B's and C's and some D's. I finally took my child out of this school. Chaos is the best word to describe Veritas Academy.
--Submitted by a parent

Veritas Academy, a K-8 school located on the Southside of South Bend, is moving toward strategically fulfilling its mission to provide its students with a strong academic curriculum and cultural opportunities in a supportive, innovative, and challenging environment that fosters academic success and good citizenship. In a time of budgets cuts and a slow economy, Veritas Academy, the first public charter school in Indiana, has a balanced budget going into the new school year.