Sierra Nevada Academy Charter

I am a pre-service teacher doing my pre-clincial hours with SNAC. I have had such a lovely experience at this school. The teacher I am working with is very educated and is constantly doing new training to perfect her skills. I was surprised to see comments stating no music and art because in my time I have witnessed both a third party music teacher who comes in and works with the students (with instruments) and an art teacher that comes in and works with various mediums with the students. Security is also something I was very impressed with-locked school grounds and locked classrooms. I would feel very safe sending my children here and commend them for taking strong measures to protect their students! Love SNAC

My daughter went to first grade here. While her teacher was nice the class room was chaos. The kids would be allowed in the hall unsupervised to do their "reading". While I am all for different methods of teaching I don't know how they learned anything. The last thing that made me pull my daughter out was that they let her go on a field trip with out my knowledge. She had not not made the "cut" to go but when the teacher asked who was going she raised her hand and was allowed to go. My daughter was sent with no money or things she needed. She was no on any sort of master list so I don't know how they knew she was even with the group. When I confronted the principal about it all he said was "sorry" she made it home safe that should be good enough. Well it wasn't so I pulled her out homeschooled her. This place is a joke!
—Submitted by a parent

Teachers only communicate when telling you what your child did wrong or what they didn't do. No teacher encouragement. Classrooms are chaotic, teachers are constantly screaming while at their desk. Middle school building smells like a gym locker....(there are no windows to open). I feel as though I should do jail time for subjecting my son to this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent teachers and staff, I have gone in and observed multiple classes. The teachers vary in teaching styles, but I've never once have I doubted it. I have a nephew attending now, and my daughter attended when it first started. She is now in the fast track medical school program at the University of Nevada Reno, and I believe the study skills she learned at SNACS, carried on to the future in medicine she is now persuing. I'm extremely excited to see how my nephew develops the next few years at this school! Come to SNACS if you want smaller classroom and more teacher involvement in your students life.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school so far! I'm in 7th grade and I can't wait to come back for 8th grade. The teachers are nice and the homework is decent. I've told my friends about this school and they're coming to this school for 8th grade.
—Submitted by a student

I've been attending SNA since I was in 4th grade, and I will be going into 8th grade on the 24th. This school is great. AT my other school, the teachers treated us like garbage, and they didn't care about homework or classwork, all they cared about was reading out of a textbook. Although some of the teachers at SNA are rude to the students, that doesn't make it a bad school. I think all the teachers pushing me to succeed is what helps me be a good student. I'm now at a freshman in college level in reading, and a freshman in college level in vocabulary. And it's all because I decided to go to SNA! Thank you guys so much!
—Submitted by a student

SNACS is a terrific school. My child has attended this school since 3rd grade & is currently in 7th grade. She has excelled as a student due to the nurturing and caring attitudes of her teachers. She has either acheived Principal's Award (straight A's) or Honor Roll (A's & B's) since she has been a student attending this school. The middle school teachers go out of their way to help students succeed in a variety of ways, including outdoor labs and activities. I am very pleased with the entire staff. They are very accomodating in any way possible. As for another an earlier post from a parent complaining about summer work, there is none, except to read. This does help children succeed. Kudos to the entire SNACS staff and administrators. Thank you!
—Submitted by a parent

I have never seen such a small school with such a large adminstration. It Seems appropritate to spend more of the money on axtracurricular activities for the students, or put more funds towards supplies for classroom. So many problems and unhappy parents makes me think the school is being very poorly managed.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school, great teachers - the best 'before and after school' program for Kindergarten!
—Submitted by a parent

Great school great staff I love it
—Submitted by a parent

This school works hard to dedicate themselves to my children. I have found that other schools do not offer the uniqueness that SNACS does. The teachers, administration, and staff work hard to allow for my children to succeed. I am pleased with the position the school takes.
—Submitted by a parent

You are better off homeschooling your child than attending this school. With the amount of homework and summer work your child receives that you have to do with your child you will wonder what the teacher is doing all day. They have some great teachers yes, but they also have some real lousy ones that do not know how to handle children except for yelling at them all day long. That is the form of discpline they speak of in their mission statement? Attempting to talk to the principal is impossible as you can rarely catch her, though you can usually get a meeting with her now husband the vice principal who appears to listen but does not get anything done about resolving the problem. There is a small playground. There is no PE or music as they claim to have.
—Submitted by a parent

I was a student at SNA for 2nd 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade and I find it to be an awesome school. Yes, I'll agree there is no art, music or p. e. anymore like there use to be, but I still love that school alot. The teachers were always nice and when you needed help with some work they helped out, some classes were large but we still got the one-on-one help we needed. I may just be a student but I'm still standing up for that school because it was one of my favorite schools I had gone to, and I love volunteering there to help out.
—Submitted by a student

I feel this school lacks good leadership and due to the lack of good leadership, SNA is losing good quality teachers. The Board of Directors needs to step in and take control of SNA and look into what is really going on at SNA under the leadership of its Principal and Assistant Principal. I question the morals and ethics of both for several reasons. I also have great concern regarding the schools financials. Its disappointing to see that 2 individuals are allowed to tarnish the reputation of a once great school. I hope that the Board takes a serious look at what is going on and start listening to the parents. My kids love this school and I hope that something is done soon.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a little disapointed with this school. My daughter has a nice teacher but the website for this school states that they have new and inovative curriculum-where? It also says they have a p.E program-where? I feel they have false advertised their school. charter schools are supposed to be known for their curriculum this one disapoints.
—Submitted by a parent

My child has been at this school for more than 5 yrs and has done awesome. No other school would challenge her as much as this school has. She is doing college level spelling and 9th grade math level as well as reading level that is higher than her grade so she is not bored and getting into trouble like previous school. the teachers have been great. I love that I can be helping at school as much as I want as a volunteer, they encourage us parents to be there.
—Submitted by a parent

My children began at SNA when it first opened it's doors. We were skeptical, to say the least, after the first year of operation. However; we stuck with it and all of my children completed 5-7 years there. We had a great experience! My children are successful today in highschool because of their experience at SNA. The entire staff was very supportive of my children's academic and social success. They had personal learning plans and ensured my children met their goals each quarter. They rewarded children for reaching their goals and succeeding. I always felt welcomed and encouraged to attend classes. There were issues that came up along the way, but I always felt the school grew as they found a proper solution. As a newly formed school, they have established themselves as successful in always making AYP (state test scores) and keeping financial ground.
—Submitted by a parent

We moved to nv last year and my daughter attended sna. Her teacher was so unorganized. She never brought home information on events unless they were for fun not education. I live about 4 min from sna and I drive 30 min to take my daughter to another school. I was very disappointed with sna. If you are considering Charter schools you are probably doing it for the same reasons I did, Keep looking!
—Submitted by a parent

My child has been attending SNA for three years and will not be returning for the 07/08 school year. SNA has had good teachers, but it seems that they are constantly burned out from demands placed on them by administration. The class sizes are very large with an assistant for a very short time. The classes lack supplies and curriculum and there is a lack of art, music, or p.e. classes. I have countered incredibly rude staff at school events and have often been surprised as to how the staff communicates so disrespectful to the students. I have really watched this school go downhill over the past several years. Not impressed.
—Submitted by a parent

6/07 SNA has great teacher's, but I have to agree, they have lost a part of their vision. 5 yrs ago when one of my kids started there, there was more involvement 1 on 1 with the kids. Now, if a child gets picked on or beat up they get suspended rather they fought back or not, what is that teaching them? These issue's also affect the kids adademics and ability to learn.
—Submitted by a parent