Paideia Academy Charter School

We have been at Paideia for 4 years and have gone through 2 directors and a current interim director. Kids need consistency, not rules to be made and have changed and not enforced by the interim stand in. Paideia is a great school with great teachers. We just need a director that will stay longer than 8 months and be be the rock that Paideia needs to succeed. T
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been with Paideia since day one - in her 7th year there now. As a new school, there have bee a few hiccups, but overall I give it top rank. We have never regretted choosing this school and wish there was a similar option for high school. As to the comments about the director, she has left and they have chosen a wonderful interim director.
--Submitted by a parent

Regarding the 9/4/2011 comment: The curriculum is under review (along with several other potential curricula) and has not been purchased. Additionally, the staff has not been trained in the curriculum as it has not been purchased.

Paideia is a good school working hard to become great. They finally have a focused purpose and meaningful 3 year plan. The majority of the staff is wonderful and work hard even though they are paid less than regular public schools. They do it because they love to teach. No school is perfect but as long as a school is working to get better, the closer to perfection they become. I like Paideia a lot. My kids love it. The new director brought in some much needed changes like new food, friendliness, and better training for teachers. I'm happy that a number of really negative people have left the school. Everyone needs to remember that Paideia is a school of choice. No one is forced to stay here if tthey are that unhappy. I do wish more parents were involved, especially those that sit back and complain and don't ever offer to help improve the school.
--Submitted by a parent

Unfortunately the last comment was from a past parent who left the school because she stomped her feet and the administration did not jump... Paideia Academy is truly a wonderful community. It is a public school and people are free to come as they please. I am sure if you were to meet this parent at a store out in the community she would be stomping her feet there as well. Some are just never happy in life. This school has done more for my daughter than I could ever hope for. If I were to have more children everyone would go to Paideia! Parents must remember - they do not run the school...
--Submitted by a parent

I moved my children to Paideia because they were not being challenged at the local public school and were quickly losing interest in academics. At Paideia, they are continually being evaluated to be sure they are working at the appropriate level for them in reading, math, science, etc. Now, my kids are no longer "bored" at school and look forward to each day of school. I as a parent am also very pleased with the dedication of the staff, the small class sizes (22 per section), the excellent art & music instruction, and the opportunity to study a foreign language. With a new director recently hired, I expect Paideia will continue to grow and provide a very high level of education for my kids!
--Submitted by a parent

My grandson attends Paideia Academy and I am totally impressed by what he has achieved. The curriculum is well-rounded and suited to his grade level. From what I gather during our conversations his instructors are not only knowledgeable of the subject matter, but also present it in such a fashion as to make it challenging yet interesting. Another factor which impresses me about Paideia Academy, which is definitely lacking in the public school sector, is parent involvement. To me this is just as important as the academic curriculum. I have nothing but praise for this outstanding institution.

The positives are smaller class sizes, a float teacher in each grade level, and a year round schedule. The negatives include a weak administration with no accountability, unprofessional staff, and a lack of technology available to students. Paideia has potential to be a great school but is lacking a great leader.
--Submitted by a parent

We have been with Paideia since the playdates before the school opened. We loved the idea of the principles on which the school was founded. Students, parents and staff all had to sign a covenant at the beginning of each year, committing to a standard of conduct and character building. The latest administration has let go of all those principals. Staff and particularly the director have adopted a very condescending and disrespectful attitude. In the beginning, there was a definite policy not to hire parents of students to work at the school, and that all teachers would either have a masters or be working on their master's in education. There was supposed to be a strong classical focus, but the music program has been cut to a point where it may as well not exist. They have won budgeting awards, now it's time to achieve educational excellence!!!! Stick with a plan!!!

My daughter started at this school when it first opened, and went there for 5 yrs. We just took her out. Was going into 8th gr. We were very pleased with teachers and directors until recently. They are constantly changing teachers and staff inappropriately and saying it's because of budget cuts, but rehiring other teachers that are friends of administrative staff. It has become a big click of hiring friends and terminating others. The director has total control and has no human resource to answer too. If there is a complaint you are told if you don't like it here, we have a waiting list. The school board lets her get by with all these action. Teachers and staff are working under a fear factor of losing their jobs. This director needs to be replaced.