Challenger School - Silverado

Challenger gets an A+ for academics. Challenger provides a challenging program that our kids love. From the start, children are learning rules of phonics and spelling, grammar rules, poems, speeches, math facts, logic and more all while having fun. From what we have seen so far, a child educated at Challenger will be at least a grade level above public and private school counterparts. Challenger is not a school where every child gets an award or trophy, given so that every child can "feel good" about being there. It is really refreshing to be able to escape the mediocrity that is so prevalent is so many schools today, where standards are seem to have been dropped so that all students can feel great and get promoted to the next grade. Challenger is a unique school and with the good we have learned to take the bad. Some areas that could use improvement are: Parent/Teacher/Administration Communication - The school does not encourage proactive communication from parents. They do not have regular parent teacher conferences, no email contact whatsoever. Adopt Technology - Less paper and start sending emails! Class Sizes - The class sizes have increased by 20%-25% this year.
—Submitted by a parent

My child has went to challenger school for a few years now. This school was great intel my child hit the first grade. The classes are as big as public school with only one teacher. The the communication with teachers and parents is very poor. If your child happens to fall behind in firts grade they just keep moving foward without notifying you before its to late. They don't let the childern express there self they are like walking robots, and hope your child doesn't get an altercation because they won't notify you and then all of a sudden your child will be sent home on suspension for even get expelled. What Challenger doesn't understand is first graders are still young and learning in life, they expect them to be perfect and if they aren't they don't have time for it. I use to believe in this school intel my child started first grade and then I realized that all they care about is the money. They make u feel like your child isn't good enough if they have any kind of problems. It sucks that a lot of these private school have become so corporate and really forgot the true meaning of a private school. If you are thinking for taking your child here I would strongly reconsider.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has to be one of the worst private school I have ever seen. They classes are large the teacher don't care if your child falls behind there is no communcation between parents and teachers. They don't let your child express there self at all. If your child mess up at all they make them feel like they are a bad kid. They will suspend or even expel your child for the littlest things. I'm disappointed in myself that I wasted any of my time or money at the school.
—Submitted by a parent

I am so disappointed at this school, the teachers do not really care About the students , they just want results no matter what. They want kids to be robots.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is in the 3 year old preschool program and my husband and I could not be happier! Our son loves the teachers and staff and will push us out of the class room to leave. We are amazed with the level of education he is receiving in a preschool class. He is already reading at a 1st grade level and asks us to write sentances with him! If I can, I would have him in Challenger until he graduates high school.
—Submitted by a parent

Both my daughter and son have attended Challenger beginning at 2 years of age, and we have had nothing but a great experience throughout all of our years there. The teachers are all very nurturing and supportive of the students and their individuals needs. The staff is very consistent with their policies, which made the communication process very seamless. Both of my kids received an outstanding education and social skills from Challenger, and I am forever grateful that their first years in school were so impactful. Although there are costs involved to attend Challenger, we felt that it was worth every penny. You can't put a price on this type of education, especially in the most important years of a child's development.
—Submitted by a parent

Challenger-that's my school! I could not dislike this school if I tried. The staff has been so understanding with my sons transition to a real preschool from daycare. He had a rough beginning, but they stayed consistent with their behavior management techniques and hung in there with us. He is now starting to read at 3, he knows his numbers and can sing me a new song everyday we pick him up from school. My wife and I also love that this school teaches about liberty and values. Go see it for yourself, the bad reviews on here must be bitter about something other than Challenger.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been going to this school since she turned two and half .. I love this school's teacher and way's for teaching. If I could tell you guys anything I would say sign your childern up for this school asap..
—Submitted by a parent

I am sending my daughter in Pre-K and I am really happy at her pace, her confidence building and her ability to read. She is having all the fun activities without omitting the high standard of education. I never faced a rude behaviour from the front desk. I am amazed at how people twist things. Well, for me so far the experience is very good.
—Submitted by a parent

Wow. I have rarely seen a posting board full of so many ghost written entries. It is very obvious that either the staff or the teachers have been hard at work writing pretty little things to overcome the serious drawbacks of such a school. The children are like little robots and are not allowed to express themselves in school which causes behavior issues in the home. Worst of all, I am comparing the study/class materials used by Challenger to places like Kindercare and I am regretting my decision to dump so much money into Challenger. I now know that I was keeping up with the Joneses. What a waste.
—Submitted by a parent

We love this school. My 3 year old son attends Challenger at Silverado. He is reading and loves to read at home. He can't get enough of activity books that include spelling and counting and even beginning math. The staff is great, esp. the preschool director. We wouldn't go anywhere else. They are teaching him to think for himself and to be a leader. Who wouldn't want that for their kids?
—Submitted by a parent

Great School!!!!! The front desk is amazing. My child is reading and she is 3! Not only reading, but is extreamly well rounded and confiedent to take on the world. There are parties and activities every month that parents are encouraged to come to. I can not say it enough, we love Challenger!
—Submitted by a parent

I am a student at Challenger. I absolutely LOVE it there. Compared to all my friends, I am the smartest, because of the challenging acedemic programs. The teachers are great, and friendly, though they teach strongly biased things on the government. The principal is welcoming, and friendly, but also able to listen to a students arguments if they get sent to the office! This school is absolutely WONDERFUL! I highly recommend it, though i go to the LONE MOUNTAIN campus, not the silverado campus! Challenger is a great school that teaches children to be individuals, to respect the rights of others! Challenger is overall AWESOME!

I'm amazed after reading some of the reviews. I have been sending my children there for 5 years now. The curriulm is amazing but so are the teachers. My children love each and every one of them. The front office has always been warm, welcoming and helpful. Yes there is a fun field day on the last day of school but there are also so many other events throughout the year which the children are excited for. The children are so proud when we see them at Western Days, eat with them at their Thanksgiving Feast, sing to us at the Winter and Spring programs. They show us their proud work at the Spelling Bee, Speech Festival, Young Author, and Science Fair presentations. The children receive an amazing education and learn to respect themselves and the rights of others.
—Submitted by a parent

Like the curriculm, some teachers are fantastic, but usually they end up leaving, because the adminstration is so bad. I have spend lots of money at this school. I don't regret it because I feel my child did get a good education (especially compared to public schools in Vegas), but if I were to do it again, I would have chosen a different private school. The school is so sterile. The administration is so cold. We have raised our child in a nuturing, loving environment. Challenger does not parallel our teachings at all.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been at Challenger for going on three years now. She loves it. I am amazed daily at what she learns. Her teachers in the elemetary program have been phenominal. They truely care. I do have issues with Challenger policies. For as much as we pay for the education, you would expect the staff to 'hear' parent's views more readily. It is the Challenger way or the highway. The senior office staff seems to be above all. They don't really care for parent involvement. I also feel that they try and instill certain values in my child that I do NOT agree with them having the right to instill. They have no library. They have no field trips or anything truely fun until the last day of the year. I feel that the kids are missing out on some of the fun of being little.
—Submitted by a parent

This is my daughters second year at Challenger. We love it. We took her out because we relocated but have re-enrolled her because we were so disspointed in the other private school we put her in. I agree that they are very structured and by the book, not allowing the kids to really express themselves at all times, however I think all the other benefits out way this one aspect. They are taught to follow rules and I expect my child to do so in a classroom enviornement. I have never had an issue with the front desk staff as I've read others having. They are super friendly, professional and helpful. My daughter is 4 and came home telling me about constanants and black holes. There is no pefect school out there, but I feel my child is safe here, facility is clean, staff has been friendly and curriculum is impressive.
—Submitted by a parent

I chose this school for my children because of their excellent academic curriculum. Kids here are certainly doing work a grade level above their current year. Although the work is intense at times, the teachers manage to keep students focused and active in the material presented. Homework is at times excessive, however, well worth it, as you look back into the school year. Parents are always encouraged to communicate and to stay involved with teachers. My kindergartener is an excellent reader and my third grader loves to write stories. They feel confident and proud as they compare themselves with other kids of the same age. Mrs. Seitz is one of the most dedicated teachers I have ever met. She genuinely cares for her kids and their performance, even when school's out... You would be so lucky to have her as teacher! Haven't found the perfect school yet but this one is close!
—Submitted by a parent

Academically, Challenger delivers what it promises. We have withdrawn our child from Challenger because of the teachers' and administrations' inflexibility. Because of their rigid adherence to their curriculum, philosophy, and strict time schedules, they just don't use common sense with children. When we disagreed or asked for an accommodation, our child was slighted in the classroom. The curriculum works, but beware, you may end up with 'Stepford' children.
—Submitted by a parent

The school academics are wonderful-if that's all your looking for! There are no extracurricular activities and the children are repromanded for having their own thoughts and opinions if they do not coincide with the 'Challenger Way'. Yes they teach your children to read and yes they teach your children math- but do they teach your children not to be a Challenger Military robot? NO
—Submitted by a parent