West Village Academy

This school is terrible. It use to be a really nice, I been there since kindergarten, but now the students are out of control. There are so many fights everyday in the middle school. The teachers are really good but the students are terrible. I would not recommend your kid to go to this school.

I love my WVA my child is in 2nd grade and have been at WVA since Kindergarten...and might I say because of the values and expctations, my child is very independent and have been selected as leader of his class. I don't like the bashing from parents who are new to our school and want to their spoiled kids to do whatever they want to do. West Village Academy works hard to maintain high expectations from all kids. I love it!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is over bearing ! Do not send any child under 3 rd grade their .Ive had the worst experience , The staff does not like you to check on your child you almost wonder what are they hiding?This school is for older kids that can take care of themselves! Do not send any little people there! Save yourself the stress parents!
—Submitted by a parent

my daughter went to school here for two years and I have to say that she fell behind during her time here. When ever she turned in projects i would'nt know her grade on them. Once she turned in a research paper and it was returned to her without a grade. I took it up to the school and asked what the grade was and the principle had to call the teacher. His response was if there was no grade on it then it was a 100%. I know for a fact that there were some grammer errors and missing punctuation marks. There was no feed back on the paper. When I spoke to her teachers in regards to her grades and missing assignments, I was told that she wasn't missing anything or failing any classes, but when I got her report card days later. She was failing a class and missing assignments. I'm not sure what is going on at this school, but I do know that there needs to be a major improvement at this school.
—Submitted by a parent

The sentence was incorrect. Mrs Willus not only taught my son,but she taught him how to be responsible for his own education. To not depend on his parents but himself. She made him accountable with no excuses. Thanks Mrs.Tarver
—Submitted by a parent

This school prepare your children for nothing. I am so glad my mother took me out in 7th grade and enrolled me in a public school. Now that I have graduated high school & off to college, I'm happy I have the chance to rate this school from a couple years back. I have witnessed myself a teacher choking a child in the classroom. The students are undisciplined. I remember a couple of students in the morning class started throwing shoes at each other. I suspect nothing has changed due to some comments i have already read. Oh and by the way, when my mom moved me to a public school i was very much behind the other kids and had to work extra. WORST SCHOOL EVER.

I Love my student's 4th & 5th Grade Teacher's....They ROCK! Always supporting me in my ups and downs and cares for my kids!
—Submitted by a parent

This was my daughters first year at this school and I would say she learned a whole lot in one year here. She has excelled in reading, math, writing, and other subjects. The teachers here are very friendly and helpful. The parent involvement is better than a lot of schools. Her teacher Mrs. Adler was great and I would love if she could be my daughters first grade teacher. This school was a wonderful experience even the teacher assistant Mrs. Smith was great.
—Submitted by a parent

This a wonderful school and since Mrs. White has been leading our Wildcats I have seen a significant differences with my student and the teachers!!! Hopefully she stays around because she is awesome and she is well respected because she gives respect in return. You can go and talk to her about anything and she will help you solve the matter. The teachers talk highly of her and thats great when you get good feedback from staff so that means she is genuine and its not just a front.
—Submitted by a parent

The new admin and school board are good they care a lot for our children.
—Submitted by a parent

Since there has been an administartion change, once again, maybe things will get better. The old administration and people in charge of discipline management were bullies and unprofessional. Administrators do not have to have state teaching credentials or even administrative education to be They used suspension and expulsion as a remedy instead of providing assistance and management.
—Submitted by a parent

First of all, I find it hard for a child to be educated without resources like books. For some of the curriculum it seems as thoughit was pulled out of a hat. I took my child out for that reason.WHen my child entered Detroit Public Schools they were at least a year behind, compared to what they had previously been taught at W.V.A South. The school is not preparing the students academically. They are failing them at a rapid pace. Charter schools need to properly use the money given to them on behalf of the students from the state. I frequently pick my nephew up from W.V.A. South and it still boggles my mind that with an increasing number of African American students enrolled, there is less than 1 percent of African American teachers. The couple that I have seen seems to 'our 'children.
—Submitted by a parent

I understand there are specialists helping teachers give good instruction for students. I just wish there was a music class.
—Submitted by a parent

As a teacher at West Viallge Academy, I would like for prospective parents to know that we do not have a high teacher turnover, we have a great caring staff that have been with the school for years. We have rules and expectations like any other school and the students that get suspended have major behavior problems that take away from teaching and learning. Parents are always welcome and teachers do ask for volunteers to come and help with field trips, parties and special classroom activities.
—Submitted by a teacher

This school focuses on Suspension of Students more than anything else. The Principle is not seen by parents and though the administration asks for parental involvement, it is a lie... There is a high teacher turnover here and high student turnover, I am taking my children out of this school. This is a horrible school and I do not recommend anyone sending their children here.!!!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

Quite frankly, the current administration is leaps and bounds ahead of the previous administration.
—Submitted by a parent

Congratulations on making AYP. Since MEAP is taken in early October, however, it is a true reflection of the previous year's staff. The teachers work very hard at this school and show how much they care. There have been a lot of good cosmetic changes to the building, but the administration has a long way to go.
—Submitted by a teacher

'We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.' Excellence is what we strive for daily at WVA. The MOST important focus is our students. How we act is a direct reflection of who we are. We are ALL educators who wish nothing less than excellence for our students. It is my hope that current and former educators at West Village Academy share this sentiment, at ALL times. It is dangerous when opinion supercedes fact. West Village Academy South has made AYP this year and improved MEAP scores in almost every subject and grade. Mr. Heflin was nominated for administrator of the year with MAPSA. Hard work pays off. Way to go Wildcats and congratulations Mr. Heflin!

As a former teacher, I find the principal to be a self-centered person. He thinks that his way is the only way. The school needs a solid data driven curriculum that will help the teachers better help the students. The teachers need to be given guidance and not spend so much time writing lesson plans. The focus of the lesson plans should be to better educate the children, not make the teachers go insane. The teachers need to be given support and not always put down. WVA has a great staff, but they are being bullied by the principal. Parents need to understand the pressure that the teachers are under. They are working under horrible conditions and yet smile every day. They need a pat on the back. They need a principal that cares about the children, not his reputation. Start supporting your teachers Mr. Heflin. Don't send your child there.
—Submitted by a teacher

The information on this web site is not false. It is hard to understand someone getting upset over a parent's real experiences. I don't see how any parent would find west village's abominable test scores acceptable. Thank goodness parents have other options.
—Submitted by a parent