Bates Academy

I have three children at Bates. Overall, Bates is a good school. However, I have been disappointed in the new administration. The principal and the Asst. Principal are not out and about and making themselves visual. The school sign has been laying on the ground since the beginning of the year. It has been reported several times and with the weather opening up, will become a hazard (children playing on the sign).
—Submitted by a parent

I am an 8th grade student at Bates Academy and have been there since kindergarten. Yes, it is for gifted and talented students, and can be a challenge for some, but that is what makes it a great school. The teachers do there best to help you in any way they can and I am proud to say that I will be graduating from a school such as Bates Academy.
—Submitted by a student

Bates is an excellen school. It is a school for gifted childred. My daughter has atteneded Bates k-2 and has excelled well. She reads on a 4th grade reading levle. Bates challenges her mind. This school is not for everyone though. If you child is not advanced or you don't have time for homework, it will not be and enjoyable experience for your child. They don't offer a lot of sport programs, but they offer thing that challenge your mind. My daughter goes to the chess club. I don't think that sports are really necessary for a child to excell, they can play at home. I give bates 5 stars. The teachers are wonderful!!
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school. It is better than I expected even though this is my first year. So far I like the fact that we really get treated like middle schoolers and more things to do around the school. The academic levels are great and so is being able to make new friends quick.
—Submitted by a student

this is the best school i've ever been to. out of the 4 years i have attended this fine school i've never had any problems there. all the teachers are excellent and highly sophisticated. i'm a sixth grader and all 8 of my teachers are respectful and highly sophisticated.
—Submitted by a student

I will agree that Bates is a great school for academics. However, I also think the work load for home is too much for elementary children and there is not a balance. The parents and some of the teachers make it a great place to learn. The principal on the otherhand she is rude and lacks tact. If there is one thing I would suggest they change it would be the principal she is not a good leader for the school. I encourage you to stop by the office and talk with her and form your own opinion, that is if she has the time.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent with two children in Bates -I can not say enough great things about this school and the wonderful teacher -parent -student relationship. It is such a shame that all schools within DPS could not function like Bates. I know my children not only excel in academics advanced but also socially well rounded. I thank God for Bates Academy.
—Submitted by a parent

In accordance with what another parent said, subsequently, Bates is a good school, academically; but it does not provide a well balanced education. Art is an elective, only at middle school level, if you happen to get it. There are no performing arts, no school plays, no talent shows. Children are not introduced to any musical instruments unless they select band or orchestra as an elective at middle school level, and only if they get it. The school focuses on the academically 'gifted' part of its name- but what happened to the nurturing and enhancement of 'talented'? The children excel academically, but through stress, ridiculous amounts of homework, and a lot of parent involvement and 'homeschooling' to aid with homework comprehension. Bates is a good program if you look at the academic outcomes of the children, but I prefer a more balanced program where my children love learning, while excelling.
—Submitted by a parent

Bates is a school for children who are academically gifted. My child is not good in sports or music, so it took away the pressure to perform in this way. Children have a lot of homework. You must be willing to push your child academically and teach them independence. I wish the school offered tutoring. Sometimes a child just needs a little help and working parents can sometimes be short on patience when it comes to helping with homework. There is no extracurricular activities for lower elementary students. Bates is moving to a new location that is larger. I hope they will take this opportunity to put in place some programs like art for the lower elementary students. Overall Bates provided what my child needed when it comes to an academically gifted program. I understand that the other activities are extras.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended Bates from kindergarten until the third grade. We decided to take him out this year as he enters the fourth grade and put him in a private school. Bates is wonderful school, but it lacks an overall balanced education. Yes, they stress academics, but there is more to school than academics. A child must be nurtured and given the opportunity to play and be creative. Recess and fun is a premium at Bates. The amount of homework is ridiculous. (2 hours a night easily) There are few extracurricular activities. When my son first entered the school, I was told as a parent if I was in school as well, that I might as well quit because my time would be spent helping my child. (We both remained on the honor roll.) In addition, you find yourself teaching your child how to do the homework.
—Submitted by a parent

My desire to have my child attend Bates was based on many recommendations throughout the district. My child possessed a 4.0 upon entering Bates in 4th grade. Based on both our involvement he moved to 5th grade with a 3.8 gpa. Bates is academically stressful to those not starting at entry level (K) and progressively moving forward with each grade level, those students become accustom to the rigorous demands placed on them. However, for a child entering at any other grade level, it is truly an adjustment. I personally think that learning should be an enjoyable and fun experience. Invoking interest and a desire to see and understand more. When you take away those elements of learning you chance losing the child as well as losing the child's desire to learn!
—Submitted by a parent

I love my school and couldnt imagine a better school than bates!
—Submitted by a student

I feel that Bates is an excellent school. My daughter have attended Bates for four years now. All I have received is excellent they encourage my daughter to grow academically and socially.She has intensive homework but it keeps her challenged to do her best and keeps them out off the Phone. She enjoys her extracurricular classes and this gives them a since of balance. The teachers are great and are willing to work with them.I agree Bates is not for everyone that is not willing to be challenged and they are going to need parental support to attend this kind of program.With great organized study habits and parental support they can succeed in this accelerated program for the gifted and talented. Which will prepare them not only for high school but also,college.
—Submitted by Tisha Taylor, a parent

Bates students work at a grade level above their own, so they are advanced in all of their work. So, they're well prepared for standardized tests and high school. Students from Bates have gone on to be some of the most successful in the city in college and professional careers afterwards. The school is not for everyone, so parents should be sure that they are able to be actively involved in their child's educational experience before sending them to Bates. The school is moving to a new building in Fall 2007, which should alleviate some of the crowding and allow for more extracurricular activities.
—Submitted by a parent

Bates is not a school for gifted and talented children. It is a school for kids who want to work their little fingers to the bone and do absolutely nothing else. The program is not well rounded at all. The homework load is excessive, at best. I took my daughter out and put her in another school district altogether. The students, even the very young kids, rarely got recess, or music or art and their was no foreign language available in K 2nd grades. They teach those kids to score well on the MEAP at the expense of the child. It was simply a very disappointing experience.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children who attend Bates Academy and have been disappointed from the first week there, they have now been there for three years, thankfully this is our last. The classrooms are overcrowded, the children are rude and disrespectful, and the teachers are out of control. I am so happy to be leaving this place, and yeah they get excellent MEAP scores, they only have honor roll students, so good scores really are not a true measure.
—Submitted by a parent

Bates has been a terrible experience! Every year my child has attended there has been a teacher to tear down many of the children's self-esteem. The principal overlooks their negative impact on the students. If you have a truly gifted and bright child, do not send them to this school unless you want them to become disengaged. If you want a neighborhood teacher, send them to Bates.
—Submitted by Private Education, a parent

Bates Academy is an all around academic school. You must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain at the school. This really doesn't come until 3rd grade, when the students actually get letter grades. My daughter unfortunately was released from Bates, b/c of her GPA. It wasn't b/c she didn't understand the work, but because of many missing assignments. Students have a average of 2-3 hrs of homework every night. As a working single mother, who travels for work approx. 40%, this did not work well for us, since I was not physically able to stay on top of her, and check her homework. Her MEAP scores 'exceeded the standard', and when she did do her homework, she received 90%+. I guess I'll have her go to a school that's a little lenient on homework. The world doesn't end without Bates. However, I do recommend Bates to others.
—Submitted by a parent

Our daughter has attended Bates since Kindergarten and is currently in the fifth grade. We plan to have her continue her education at Bates through the eighth grade. The foundation for higher learning is set early on. The first few years prepare the student for what the school expects academically and socially. The third grade tends to be the most challenging however, with organized study habits and parental support the student can succeed in this accelerated program. The students have a variety of electives to select from including music, orchestra, journalism, Spanish and gym to name a few. My husband and I enjoy being chaperones for a variety of exciting field trips each year. It is always nice to see how beautifully the children have grown when we celebrate the end of each school year with a promotion ceremony. Although the building needs minor repairs, the teachers are the best!
—Submitted by Doreen Head, a parent

My child graduated from Bates a couple of years ago and was very dissatisfied from the atmosphere and learning experience. My opinion in terms of the environment, class size, and cleanliness of the school was poor. My child would often have over 30 students in the classroom. The restroom would be filthy and lacking any supplies. The students were lacking discipline and the overall management. The science program, as with all inner city schools, was severely lacking in experiments and field trips. The computer courses were basic and the library was outdated.
—Submitted by a parent