Windemere Park Charter Academy

My son has attended NHA-WPCA since Fall 2006 as a first grade student. His formal academic inception began in Lansing School District where he was evaluated for speech and developmental services prior to 3 years of age. His cognitive and speech needs were identified and referred to a site to receive developmental services. The speech pathologist was absent most of the year. After experiencing an additional disappointing year in the developmental program, I advocated for my child to be promoted to Kindergarten so he could at least be challenged. His education team promoted him to 1st grade and referred us to another district elementary school with a focus on reading on writing. The next year my son was subject to a militant teacher that was not sensitive or able to meet his academic needs because of a classroom full of behavior-challenged students. Finally we joined WPCA where his 1, 2/4 grade teachers and IEP team were OUTSTANDING and instrumental to his growth. In 3rd and 5th grades we again dealt with staff changes in key resource areas at WPCA. His progress has now declined at WPCA in 6 grade. I will continue to monitor, evaluate and update regarding his progress.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has attended Windemere since Kindergarten and she is now in the third grade. Our experience has been wonderful. The teaching style, curriculum, and current technology are also an asset to the excellent educational environment. The teachers, administrators, and staff are friendly and dedicated to help students succeed.
—Submitted by a parent

We have been at this school for going on 8 years and drive 40 minutes to get our children to the best school in the area hands down. We wouldn't take them anywhere else. The safe, secure environment is comforting to us as parents, our kids are challenged, and are taught morals and values that are modeled by the teachers. You should take the time to check it out!!
—Submitted by a parent

great school! my daughter has been at wpca for 4 yrs and we love it. my son did young 5's this year and by the end of the year he has a head start on kindergarten for next year. nice to walk in the school and everyone knows who you are which child belongs to you. a very family feeling!
—Submitted by a parent

We have been part of the WPCA family now for 8 years and have been very pleased. It has been a great alternative to sending my children to LPS. I love the family friendly atmosphere and the fact that I am encouraged to be involved in my childrens classrooms. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers that work so hard everyday to make a wonderful enviroment for our children to learn.
—Submitted by a parent

WPCA is AMAZING! We are so lucky to have a school that holds high moral character as a standard. I love how they hold parents and students accountable for their actions. This is not very common in a public school now adays! My daughter has done wonderful there and my son will be starting there in the fall. He is super excited to go to Kindergarten.
—Submitted by a parent

We can't say enough great things about WPCA! We love it. The standard of education, quality of the staff, and parent involvement are unparalleled in this area. We've been at the school for two years and intend to spend the next decade in partnership with WPCA as we send each of our children through. We'd love to see an NHA high school in Lansing!
—Submitted by a parent

Our family has been a part of this school for almost for years now, and we love it. I pick my girls up every day, and their is a teacher or staff person - the same people every day - that personally brings my kids out to my van, puts them in, shuts the door, and proceeds with the next car. The principal, as well as many teachers and staff, are outside making sure that kids get safely to their car, that no kids are in the parking lot, and that parents are parking safely to pick up their kids. If you are a parent that has an idea of what goes on at the school, you would know that there is a school board at WPCA, a principal that has monthy meetings so parents can ask questions and be informed of what is going on at the school, and a DSQ (Director of School Quality) which we just had a meeting with him in the fall, as well as NHA to be held accountable.The principal is also accessible if you have a concern or problem - and that would be who you would go to first on the chain of command. No school is perfect, but I have gotten to know the staff and parents at this school and they have created a safe environment for the kids to learn and grow. We love it here!
—Submitted by a parent

WPCA is AWESOME! I have 1 child currently in school and 1 in the fall. I have no complaints about any of the teachers or staff that I have encountered. My child is excelling way beyond our expectations and we couldn't be more pleased. We wave to the principal every day in the parking lot, while he is directing the cars, making sure all students get in the school safely. In regards to the parent that complained about the security. I bet a majority of the students that are leaving the building unnattended is because their parent/gaurdian is parked across the street or somewhere else other than the parking lot where they should be picking up their children. If all of the parents followed the drop off/ pick up rules, some of these security issues could be minimized. My family loves WPCA and are hoping that there will be a high school by the time our kids finish the 8th grade!
—Submitted by a parent

Security is a big issue. There are many kids coming out of the building and not enough staff to ensure the right person is taking the correct kid. Very scary. There seems to be a huge secret about the "chain of command" with this company, as well. When searching for the CEO, Jeff Clark, on the NHA website, there are no search results (had to Google a CEO to find even his name). There is nothing but a generic contact form, and when calling the main office in GR, they always seem to want to have someone call YOU back. Weird. Truly isn't like a public school where you have a school board, superintendent, etc. Just bizarre that everything seems to be "secretive" and that is disturbing.
—Submitted by a parent

Our kids have always attended a charter school. We move here 2 1/2 years ago and we did not know anything about the area. We are vey pleased with Windemere Park. They just recently had their Harvest Festival. My husband and I were blown away by the teacher volunteers that we there at every table helping. I have been a past PTO president for four years and on a PTO board for five. It was very difficult to get teachers to come to events that we were putting on let alone volunteer in the capacity that we saw at the Harvest Festival. The staff and principal are wonderful. Being new to the school this year has been a awesome experience. We are looking forward to many more years at Windemere.
—Submitted by a parent

To the person who criticized our Principal for directing traffic in the morning from 7:45 - 8:00 am (15 minutes) and from 3:00 - 3:30 pm (30 minutes). A great person once said "To be the greatest of all, you must be the servant of all." To your claim that he should be inside dealing with the middle school problem, just wondered how a Principal deals with kids who have just arrived and are in the care of capable teachers or are on their way out? And if you weren't there for all the excitement you should have been, because within a short period of time after he arrived, some troublemakers were expelled. And then another round in the fall. Order was quickly restored to the school and as of today, Sept 29, 2010 all is well at WPCA. Come see for yourself!
—Submitted by a parent

I have four children, two older boys who attended all the way up to the 8th grade and have moved on to public school. I currently have two younger son s attending. The staffs at Windermere are like family, they are helpful, kind and loving towards our boys. I appreciate them and respect them and will continue to drive my boys every day to and from school in winter, spring and fall because the school is great. The curriculum is outstanding and challenging the emphases in reading, self discipline, character building is great.
—Submitted by a parent

To "hardly found it amazing" Every school had disicpline issues, especially middle schools! They have a highly qualified assistant principle who deals mainly with this. To bad you can't get past the parking lot and see the great things this school has done in an area where a lot of schools don't cut it. Probably a good idea that you and your student won't be there! We have been at WPCA for 6 years now and our daughters are both straight A students who are challenged to do their best. We find it enlightening that an administrator would be willing to stand in ALL kinds of weather to welcome the students and parents to his school. What a great way to connect with parents on a daily basis. He also is VERY visible on a daily basis around the building and interacting daily with students and staff!
—Submitted by a parent

I hardly found it "amazing" that such a highly ranking school administrator stands in the school parking lot to "direct traffic" when they should be INSIDE dealing with the students face to face. Esp. in the middle school section of this school. This school has some major security issues there. Just ask around and you will uncover what happened both this year and last year at this school. Logic would dictate that a parent volunteer or lower ranking staff member should be directing traffic. Look under the surface at this school. Proceed with caution. F- Note-Greatschools please do not remove my review this time. thank you.

my husband, myself and dtr love this WPCA! My dtr is excelling in kdg and is turning into a respectful young girl. I love the monthy moral focus, even I learn from them! I love the diversity, that was important to us in choosing a school for our kids. I love the warmth that the school has. My dtr's classmates come up to me and say 'hi' and are excited to see you. My youngest son can't wait to go to school there. When we leave the parking lot we have to roll down the window to say goodbye to whoever teacher is available and also the Principle Mr. T.! Amazing that the Principle is directing the cars in the parking lot during arrival and dismissal! A+
—Submitted by a parent

I have three sons that attend Windemere and two of them took the MEAP test this year and scored Advanced in all areas on the test. This schools prides itself on academic excellence and will make sure they do everything in their power to provide that for all students. I know as a parent I need to partner with the teachers to get the best education for my children and to continue their education at home. I also appreciate the well roundedness( if a word:) ) of Windemere: the sports teams, musical productions, science fair, art that is displayed, after school classes, and by far the High school fair they put on.
—Submitted by a parent

My son went to young 5s here and is now in kindergarten. I love this school and both teachers so far. The young 5s teacher is the best, and I hope she is still teaching when my 2nd son enters in the fall of 2011. The principal is also great, and I love the focus on moral values and personal responsibility. I also like that the children wear uniforms. I refuse to send my children to Lansing public schools, so I am very lucky that this charter school (more like a private school) is available to us. Thank goodness for 'schools of choice!'
—Submitted by a parent

The private school? Actually, it WAS perfect. I've never heard the language out of those students that I heard out of Windemere kids! Where is the teacher when this stuff is going on? The teasing, the ridicule....UNREAL. Should be ZERO tolerance. ZERO! At a private school level (at least ours), it wasn't. The only thing 'wrong' with the private level is that they don't have funding to help everyone in need of tuition assistance. But to sit there and criticize someone else's experience and opinion is COMPLETELY uncalled for and downright rude. But....it proves my experiences and reinforces my opinion of the school and the clientele (can't even respect someone else's experience and opinions!!! Unreal!!) If you go to schoolmatters.com, you will SEE the actual test scores and how they compare to East Lansing, Okemos, etc. They DON'T!! That, too, speaks clearly. .
—Submitted by a parent

What a great school. We have truly had a great experience here ever since my son started Windemere Park in the Young 5s. He is now in 1st grade. We truthfully only intended to 'do' Young 5s here and then transfer into Waverly (our district). However, we have had such a great experience I am willing to do the pick up/drop off (which truthfully run very smoothly) instead of putting him on the bus. Windemere is a diverse school and the fact that my son attends school with students from different backgrounds is a benefit. However, I strongly believe that education should open our minds to the world and people around us (in all their differences). Clearly, I disagree with the parent who defined Windemere as a 'ghetto.'
—Submitted by a parent