Chandler Park Academy - Elementary

chandler park academy...i had my child in this school for several years and couldn't wait to get outtttt! if your child is doing well at chandler park its because she's a girl. boys have a difficult time there. in my child's own words the work was too easy and not challenging. i am an advocate and an educator and the schools cirriculum and policy are way beyond expectations. Don't believe it ???Spend some times in the classrooms. I had to write a letter to the people who hold the charter CMU to rectify some local issues, parking police presence ,classroom management, behavior correction policy,etc. No response until i contacted them. In my son's own words the work was not challenging at all. I even had an experience once where my child overheard one teacher telling another oh he's in your class he is so bad! 2 Thumbs doen on care and concern for our children . what do you do when the teachers and administration are bullying the children??? Moving my child was the best mover ever! The best thing about CPA is location location location.

CPA Middle has definitely gone downhill. The school looks nice, the staff seem professional, but it is no better than a typical DPS school from the 90s. They give you good lip service but that's it. The classrooms are overcrowded & you can't bring home text books. If you have a problem they listen but it takes days to act IF they do. I have had a child there through elementary to middle and my child is not even going to stay any longer. The disruptive students are never expelled. The security staff is very juvenile and only react after problems have already started. A lot of the good teachers have given up & left. Many that stay just try to get through the day. Think about it, classes are about 31 students every 55 minutes. Its about the dollar & not the students. Don't believe me, monitor the school for a week. The Harper Woods Police are called there at least once a week.
—Submitted by a parent

BEWARE!!! I was very satisfied with the elementary school, which is why I let my children go to the middle school. However, a staff member told me that this was not a good school, and although I let my children come to the middle school, definitely do not let them attend the high school. Well lets just say, I am learning that my children should have let CPA after elementary. Some teachers and staff are wonderful but many are terrible, mistreat and talk to the children in a disrespectful manner, and the worst part is the administration backs the staff. I know, I know, but guess what, my children did not have problems getting on the elementary level either.Once they get to middle school, FIND ANOTHER SCHOOL!
—Submitted by a parent

My children have attented CPA for several years now. We have had nothing but pleasant experiences. They are both honor roll students and the teachers are very committed to giving your child a well rounded educational experience. They most encourage parent involvement and truly live up to the statement that it takes a village to raise a child. The extra curricular activites are outstanding with award winning sports team as well as an oustanding drama department. I would recommend this school for anyone who seriously wants there child to have a successful school life.
—Submitted by a parent

So far, I have found the staff to be pleasant and very helpful. My son is in the kindergarten and loves to go to school. What I can say is that this is your child and you (the parent) will get out of the school as much as you put into your child. This being said...it can be perceived as a school not caring, but I don't see that. It is just a school that expects the parent(s) to be involved. I am a single parent and I do expect the best for my child. But in order to get the best you must put in the best. So far because I'm giving excellent involvement I'm receiving an excellent experience from the school. So before giving the school a bad grade think about your commitment to the success of your child(ren) and how much you are involved.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are great my son been attending CPA elementary for 4 years now and I'm pleased with his grades. 4.0 gpa. The school is have a great curriculum, sports activties and is clean. I have seen a change and the school and that's not for the better as of .... The things I don't like is the staff and the office they are so unpleasant and disrespectful, rude to the parents and don't show No concerns. They don't like to solve things it's like they just brush you off. They don't have no remorse and unconsidered to the parents at times. In the parking lot is still a big mess after school mainly haven't been address yet. The security guards just sit and there cars what's the point! I don't think I could do another year and putting up with this it's stressful on the parents. The parents suppose to feel at ease where the child goes to school. If they could fix those things that I mention then the school would be excellent.
—Submitted by a parent

I believe this to be a very good school. Far better than any other school my daughter has attended. She was a DPS student from pre-k to 5th grade and remained on the honor roll until she moved to 4th grade. We moved her to CPA and she began to excel again. She loves the teachers. She says the teachers are so committed to making sure the students learn. They also have no problem spending extra time assisting students when they are having a hard time understanding assignments. My daughter is now on the National Junior Honor Society and her g.p.a has not dropped below a 3.6. She struggled in math and now when she brings her homework home, she truly understands what she is doing. I love this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent school, beautiful and clean building, excellent staff that will work with you, and many extra programs for kids.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm not impressed ! I feel suspending 3rd graders and having kids clean and wipe floor as a discipline is ridiculous! The upper administration is in denial about the staffs procedures and trying to get assistance is a wild goose chase! Our child will be leaving also! The teacher sent a letter hoe stating she was 'frustrated.'
—Submitted by a parent

I have one child that goes to cpa ,and she never has(HW)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! im very angry with the school and staff only good part is that it is a very clean school So if you have a child you should take them out and put them in bates. But before you do that look it up on here and you will see that bates (is a 10) and does way better than cpa's (2&3).this is my dauhter my and teacher iz meen
—Submitted by a parent

Overall great educational system but the parking structure is ridiculous
—Submitted by a parent

My child has attended this school for four years and I must say that i am very pleased with this school. My daughter went to Europe and the Junior olympics with this school. Many parents have complaints but do very litle when it comes to getting involved and thats the key to doing it yourself. Chandler Park Academy have made some poor choices when it came to letting go staff members but I do believe that they are making wonderful progress!
—Submitted by a parent

When CPA first opened on Kelly, I was very pleased. Even after they expanded to 2 buildings,I was still satisfied. My son had some excellent teachers. He has learned alot and the work was very challenging. This year I transfered him because in my opinion they are starting to let some good teachers and support staff get away. I noticed his work wasn't challenging enough in his new grade. I don't know if its because of the expansion, but the philosophy of the school seems to be changing. Some of the organization problems are continuing on from earlier years. You expect a few bugs when a school first opens, but some things aren't getting solved. I think they need to get back to the reasons the school was started and they should keep a staff that supports that.
—Submitted by a parent

I have three children that attends, they are all Honor Roll students. Because I work diligently with them. Chandler Park is failing our children. The fourth graders have yet to recieve a Math teacher. The children are not being challenged. The teachers can be rude at times.Their are a few excellent teachers (Ms.A.Moore Mrs Powers Ms.Hill) but they cant teach them forever. The Fifth graders are doing second and third grade work. The State mandated test scores are terrible. Lunches are cold. But they do have an Excellent record when it comes to sports. So if you're looking for your child to be an athlete its superb! The secretaries in the office are not most welcoming. They are not trained to answer the basic questions . The children had a computers course for two years now and thats gone . And the parking is terrible.
—Submitted by a parent

I expected much more than my son has received at Chandler Park. Communication is very poor. Every note that has been sent home has had typo/spelling errors (buses not busses). If you call to inquire about dismissal, incorrect information is given. There are no dictionaries and at 5th grade, my daughter is given 'spelling' tests, not vocabulary tests. It does no good if you can spell a word but do not know what it means. The class sizes are too large! My Kindegartener has 27 class mates!!! They state they can have that class size because they have a parapro in the class, yes, but she is also assigned to numerous other duties besides assisting the class.
—Submitted by a parent

My child is new to this school and I expected better and greater things. Although the school is very neat, clean and safe; The school administrators and teachers have parent . The communication is poor to non existant. During orientation the administratiors really did a fantastic marketing job but in reality they appear cold and distant and non-caring when it comes to answering specific questions (when is parent teacher conference and why isn't there written communition about upcoming events). The schools phone system was out for 3-5 days with no mention as to how parents could communicate with their children as well as the staff. What my child is learning has yet to be seen. A trip to France is scheduled for May of 08 no written communication was ever sent home which decreased the opportunity for all who would like to go. Would that communication fall into the important category?
—Submitted by a parent

This school has come a long way since it first opened. This is the second year and the school has become very structured. The learning environment is excellent and the teachers, many new this year, have a vested interest in the education of the children. The first year was a rough one for everyone, but to have come this far in a matter of one year shows hard work and dedication on the Academy's part. This is the type of role modeling that my daughters need. I am glad that I stuck through the rough times because in the long run, this education has paid off. My children are not only excelling acedemically, but they are very mannerable and pleasent. Now, this does come from Parent/Teacher interaction, which they encourage and are committed to. Here, Education is taken Seriously; and discipline is an important part. Chandler Park gets KUDOS.
—Submitted by Monica S., a parent

Level of professionalism leaves much to be desired. Teachers are often tardy and uncompassionate. Parking lot/drop off area dangerous yet unmonitored. No dedicated lunchroom or gymnasium facilities. No outdoor recreation/playscape area. No air conditioning or ventilation in summer. Stuffy/musty even in colder months. Needs much improvement
—Submitted by a parent