Van Nest Academy

I am writing this after attending a PTA meeting. I believe that two major components of a great school are strong leadership and parent involvement.. VNA has the first. The principal is harworking, approachable and hands on with parents, teachers and students. When I read the post about a parent's disappointment with the principal and staff, I cannot believe he/she is talking about VNA. The principal and teachers should not be working with children??Really?? I have met such dedicated and professional educators at VNA! I'm a parent of a child who has been attending the school since it opened. I cannot be more pleased. The principal is open to parent input and the teachers are respectful and easy to reach. Whenever I have had a concern or question, I have had no problem meeting with the principal and any staff I would like to know if the writer of the negative post was at the PTA meeting this evening. Was he/she at any PTA meetings in the past year? VNA wholeheartedly encourages parent involvement. The sad fact is that some parents complain but do nothing to positively contribute to a school's success. I could not be happier with VNA and I recommend it highly!
—Submitted by a parent

I have been so dissapointed in this school. The principal, assistant principal and some of the teachers are rude, not friendly, and not helpful at all. They have never been willing to help me the parent nor my child. Whenever i get a call from a staff member it is always so stressful and frustating. These people should not be working with children. If i feel this way as a parent imagine how my child feels. This school needs a full overhaul! The whole staff needs to be replaced with people who actually care and have the best interest of the children and parents. i dread taking my child to school. I can't say that my child has learned anything since attending this school. This is a shame. Something must be changed or this school will keep failing our children. P.S. the only friendly staff memebers are the security guards. They always great me and my child with a smile.
—Submitted by a parent

If you enjoy mediocracy, then this is the school for you and your child. After reading some of the stellar reviews this school received, and picking myself up off the floor, I questioned whether it was actually school personnel writing the reviews and posting them as parents. My opinions reflect those of my child in the middle school. The principal is condescending, the vice-principal lacks leadership, the school social worker is unprofessional and I despise the "buddy" or teacher acting as a "friend" to the students.
—Submitted by a parent

i am a 7 grader at vna and i can say that this school is not a dream come true. when students think middle school they think lockers, independence, more friends. but yea you do get to meet new people but the kids mostly stick with their friends so you should have someone you are always gonna be friends with because it's harder to make friends especially if you coming mid-semester. like in elementary school you still have boys line girls line and teachers not even letting out of the room by yourself. there are no lockers just closets like elementary school. the rules in this school are pretty good but if someone goes over the limit just a little they get strict, such as a BR incident we had almost 2 months ago we still cannot go to the BR without signing at the security desk. this is a no bullying school but there still is name calling and "joking around" but major fights don't happen. overall the school is NORMAL. nothing too special. i am in seventh grade and honestly, i think most of the students here come to school every day more to spend time with friends than to learn and be educated.
—Submitted by a student

I love this school!!!!!!! <3 <3 the teachers are nice, and r good to joke around (like they r really friednly there like friends to the students, and u feel like u can discuss anything with them) and it really feels like a second family. this is a no bullying school, which means NO ONE will get bullied. i admit my first day i was scared but everyone was super nice and now i have a ton of friends i m in the the 7 grade presently and top of my class. :D, any one who has a complaint, u should try thinking its yourself becuase everyone truly loves this school. sure there r a little bumps but nothing is perfect. the principal is super supportive and if u introduce a problem to her she gets to the bottom of it right away. we live in a caring envionment and since we spened most of the time were awake at school it should be that way. never once had i had to complaint and i never will. there r so many opportunies at this school. all of the teachers teach and care, and make learning fun. i used to be queit and shy but now i have spoken up, smiling all the time. VNA has changed me. this isn't like your normal school nowadays, u don't find anything that will encourge your child to do negative.
—Submitted by a student

i love this school --it's been one year my daugther enter this school-she loves to wake up in the morning and rushing me as the parent out of the house. my daugther tells me-mom please i don't want to be absent from school. i am happy and the principal-staffs and teachers are very friendly and the school is super clean i'll give this school a 5 stars-great teaching too especially in reading!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

At first I had my doubts about the school. I was concerned with it being new and staff being inexperienced within the facilities. I am so glad to say, that with one year under our belt and 7th grade ahead of us, it was a wonderful year. The principal is gracious and extrememly personable. I had a personal issue with my daughter, that is all a part of growing up and I didnt know how to handle it. The Parent Coordinator helped me through it and exceeded my expectations by following up on how I WAS!!!! its a great school, great learning enviornment and Im proud to call it "our school".
—Submitted by a parent

My son just finished kindergarten. He reads with ease and is interested in the reading. He is also adding and subtracting two digit numbers. I measure the success of the school by what my son is capable of doing, and he is doing great. He exceeds the kindergarten standards, and I am grateful for all the work his teachers are doing with him.
—Submitted by a parent

at first i was so please that my child got accepted, but today i can say the school has let my child & my family down.... i'm going to try my best to get a transfer.. he went from being an honor student to a failing student in my world that's not acceptable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i NEVER had a problem with my child's work or behavior. all his teacher prior to this year have always praised him, you do the math....
—Submitted by a parent

My child enrolled this year at Van Nest Academy in its first year of existence. There have been a few bumps in the road, but with it being a brand new school that was anticipated. However, the teachers the principal, parent coordinator, and all staff has worked together to really make this school outstanding! Due to the intimate setting, everyone knows everyone and even the school safety officers make up part of this warm welcoming environment. I am excited that my son has such great support and a technologically advanced school with smart boards and computers in every classroom and opportunities to use the community every which way possible. A partnership has been made with a neighboring medical school having scientist come in and do age appropriate teachings. I know going forward the school will have access to many more things as it is more established and out of its "acting" phase and all the great things that the principal has in the works will be put into motion. I also hope that in the future parent involvement increases so that all of the wonderful ideas that are planned can be put into motion. Van Nest really is the Best!
—Submitted by a parent