Chester Academy

Horrible administration- unprofessional, overpaid lunch monitors, micro managers. Just there for the ride especially the retired super! The children deserve new leadership that will concentrate on their education into the next century. IPADS for children not administrators!

We have 2 children at CA and are looking to move, as 3 of our friends have, to another town due to the lack of intervention with learning disabilities and poor follow through with academics across the board. Some of the CA teachers are great but many are very inadequate and do not seem to care about all students equally.
—Submitted by a parent

CA is getting so much better every day. Just being nominated for the 'NH School of the Year' is an honor. Our school has come so far with the new administration! Keep up the great work!
—Submitted by a parent

I just heard at an awards ceremony last month that Chester Academy was nominated for the 'school of the year' award. This award is given out for the state's top schools. The academic program is outstanding. The administration is great with their new principal. Keep up the Great Work!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

We have 3 children at Chester Academy and 1 child who just started Pinkerton. We are so fortunate to have teachers who actually care about our children. I am so impressed at the hands on treatment my children receive at Chester Academy. The new principal is fantastic. She goes above and beyond to make sure everyone is satisfied. We are looking foward to many more years here. about the her
—Submitted by a parent

I've had four children attend Chester Acad.My children attended from 1993 -2005.The level of parent involvement is good.Availability of programs is good.Academics is another story. Some of the teachers at CA are great,some teachers are burnt out! And some of the great teachers either retired or left. And I lost count of the amount of school principals CA has had in the past 12 years!
—Submitted by a parent

Chester academy used to be a great school - they have made way too many changes in their curriculum over the years again and again. They should have stuck with what was working. Unfortunately I still have a child in the school.
—Submitted by a parent

Very poor quality school. Favoriets are played with coaches and teachers. Curriculum is poor, changed too many times over the years - as have the principals. I don't know why people move to Chester.
—Submitted by a parent

I've had 3 children go through CA over the course of 8 years and have found the school to be mediocre at best. Some teachers are excellent (esp. grades 1-3), but many of the upper grade teachers are simply awful. They lack creativity, and as others have pointed out, they do little to inspire students. They lack professionalism & talk to the kids like they are peers! If you're moving to Chester (which is a beautiful town), check into private schools in the area.
—Submitted by a parent

This is my daughters third year at ca and i am very pleased i have not always agreed with certain things but i think that is found in life in general. My child has many opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities and i as parent also have had many chances to get involved. The teachers and the pto communicate quite well. If my daughter has had a problem academically or otherwise i have had no problem getting it resolved. I also think the new asst. Principal is doing a great job.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have been provided with a very good educational program and I've found the school to be responsive to any parent concerns.
—Submitted by Informed Parent, a parent

They have put far too much pressure on the kids for the testing that is occurring now.
—Submitted by a parent

Chester Academy is very disappointing. There is so much emphasis on making the grade and passing the State test that the students' needs are overlooked. We need to go back to the basics--literally. There has been so many changes with the curriculum that the teachers can't retool between academic years and everyone is lost. Our new principal is more concerned with looking good than with being good. What happened to recess? The kids need downtime. Too many changes too quickly makes for huge cracks for students to fall into--all students. What has happened to Chester Academy? It used to be a really good school, or so I thought.
—Submitted by a parent

I noticed all basically negative reviews of C.A. I on the other hand have had nothing but a positive experience with the special ed department. This is especially true for the teachers and speech, occupational and physical therapists. My child's needs were caught early and he entered the preschool at age 3 with an integrated classroom. I do understand that the speech therapy department is understaffed. However, I have not seen that issue. At this time, my review is a positive one. Hopefully it will not change. I recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I've lived here 15+ years. The school is the same. I have 1 child left in elementary, I am so disgusted with the teachers, they have such poor educational attitudes. I did a classroom observation, I was shocked how learning was passed over so many kids heads, and they lost out because they didn't get it, the teacher never noticed or cared. It's more important to give a grade than to learn something here.
—Submitted by a parent

Most of the regular teachers push through the curriculum, don't offer extra help and never communicate with parents. They are not open to different teaching styles to reach more of the children. Your child is on their own to sink or swim. I'm looking into private school because I am so disgusted.
—Submitted by a parent

I have 2 children in this school and am very disappointed w/the quality of the education in general. Most of the teachers are unwilling to be creative in their learning style so as to connect with a greater number of students. I feel the staff tells you what you want to hear and then does what they want, which is nothing. I don't feel this school is preparing my children academically and am contemplating private school or moving.
—Submitted by a parent

Sadly, this school is not equipped to provide a meaningful education to children with accelerated learning abilities. Teachers & administration show very little creativity & flexibilty in their ability to develop productive educational approaches for this population. The educational mindset of this school does not corresponded to validated best pratice approaches for gifted & talented students. The bottom line: If your child is bright,look elsewhere.
—Submitted by a parent

The special ed dept. is very poor in overall help for the kids with any kind of special needs. They simply have too many case loads and not enough staff. Budget issues and state funding add to the neglect in this area.
—Submitted by a parent