Torchlight Academy

I am so happy with the education that he is receiving. I took him out of the public schools because he was having behavior problems that they did not deal with, they suspended him or kept him in a room all day long. I have only had good interactions with the school. They are friendly and accessible. One thing that I learned early on is that you have to be proactive with my sons education. You have to be on the ball, they do not baby you at that school. They provide NWEA testing so that parents know where their child stands academically. I like the parent/teacher conferences they offer. They usually have them all day so every parent can come. If I had known about the schhol 3 years ago, my son would have been there. They deal with the issues head on. At first I tried not to believe that my Son was doing the things that they reported, but when I started to take responsibility and popping up at the school to check on my son, things got right in line. I learned that I had to be apart of the teacm with the school if my son was going to do better. I love the way the teacher and staff care for my son. I have a daughter that will be starting next year as well. Can't wait!!!
—Submitted by a parent

For any parent who cares and are interested in their childs educational life would not put their child in this school. My son has been going to this school for only 4 months and I am already disgusted. My son was an honor roll student in the public school system and his grades have declined tremendously. The teachers do not have a communication line with concerned parents. If your child is failing it is not the teacher's responsibility to make the parents aware. My son comes home hungry all of the time. His classroom has about 40 students in it, which is rediculous for it to have a "private school setting." When you try to contact administration such as the principal or director you can never get them. I always get the front office staff. The martial arts that the children were supposed to have is not there. This school is horrible and I am sadened that I took my children out of public schools and wasted a valuable part of my childs education. The teachers and "supporting staff" do not care about the children which are supposed to be the main focus. It is definitely time for a change when your child becomes depressed and not interested in school. Do not put your child in Torchlight
—Submitted by a parent

I would recommend Torchlight Academy to any parent that cares about the well being of their child's future. Not only does the school offer excellent core academics but they also offer a lot of extra classes; Chinese, Spanish, Martial Arts, Physical Education, Music and even Art! I am so happy that my child is getting a well-rounded.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a daughter that attended Torchlight Academy for her 1st and 2nd grade sschool year's and I am completely disgusted. For starters, I could never reach my child's teachers when I had a concern or issue. I would always reach a secretary who always said she would take a message but the teachers never called back. My child always complained of the food they serve and she would come home starving and extra thirsty to the point where I would have to have dinner ready when she got home. Her second grde year was the worst. My daughter completed the whole year at Torchlight and I decided that was her last year there. According to her report card, she had been promoted to 3rd grade but when I enrolled her back in public school, she failed to meet the educational requirements for 3rd grade and was sent back a grade. The teachers are uneducated and re not qualified, their curriculum is worksheets printed off of a website and they don't feed your kids properly. I will never send my child back there and I wouldn't advise anyone else send their child either.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a daughter in kindergaten(Ms Ferguson's class)i must say i have seen great impovement since she started.I am greatly impressed with what the school is doing !She is disciplined,doing well academically and her communication skills excellent!!!GOOD JOB TORCHLIGHT!!!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

When my child first started at Torchlight Academy she was in kindergarten. Her teacher was excellent. We thought this would be a great school, but now there has been so many changes. The owner is very nice her husband is rude. The staff are not nice at all, they do not want to help at all. The kids are not served a proper lunch. My child would come home hungry and very thirsty. Plus if you try and talk with the teachers they have nasty attitudes. My child will not be attending this school next year. I hope that they get better.
—Submitted by a parent

I definately agree all they care about is whats going wrong! Teacher is ok til you step on their toes then the child has to suffer the rudeness of the adults! I apologize to my baby everyday that she's had to endure such verbal abuse as she has here at this school! I wouldnt recomend this school to my worse enemy!
—Submitted by a parent

Torchlight Academy is the best school for Hispanic and African American children for grades K-5. K-8 for that matter. Why? Because we don't only focus on education but also moral understand and reality. We tell our children to dress appropriate, wear clothes that will suit not only that child but in the business world when they get older. We are here to guide these children, away from self destruction or self termination of their lives by the negative influences of this world, but instead guide this generation to the everlasting standards of God. We can't forget God and through these children we can establish a righteous kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven. Torchlight is the ONLY way for our kids.
—Submitted by a teacher

This school focus on more than education. Morals, Ethics,Respect, and understanding of the world. The whole school cares.
—Submitted by a parent

Torchlight Academy is a school that has educated our youth for the past 10 years, turning out well educated and mannered young boys and girls not only for the present but for the future. i have seen the excitement on my children faces when they wake up to go to school. torchlight is very family orientated and parent involved, the teachers want to help the children and has went out of their way in helping them. i would recommend torchlight to any mother who wants her child to have bright future and a made up mind, because as we know nothing is more powerful than a made up mind.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of a _ grader that attends the school at the principal is ok she seems to have a lot on her plate the sectary is great she is very helpful but the over all school I will probley be pulling my child out of there soon or will not be attending next year due to there displine policy and the communication with the teacher , the teacher seem to only caer about behavoir the teacher was quick to tell how the child was misbehaving but slow to tell that the childs grades was good far as the displine policy, they belive in corpral punishment something I totaly dont belive in and my child is not learning that much and its like 25 kids to 1 teacher so by these satements u use your own judgement about letting ur child attend this school
—Submitted by a parent

Better than public schools as they show that they care about their students needs and address them.
—Submitted by a parent

I am pleased with the education and committment of Torchlight. Their mission is in line with the needs of the communities it serves. My son attend Kindergarten there and his teacher Ms. Denning accepts nothing but the best from him. He has learned and grown tremendously since coming to the school. I am anxious for my daughter to start. My son has also learned advanced 1st grade curriculum. Anything new and advanced I want to teach my children, I am creative, innovative, and educated enough to teach them at home. The admin is very helpful and my only observation is for more parents to step in and take the school to the next level of excellency. Parent involvement is what makes great charter schools!
—Submitted by Donellia Chives-Davis, a parent

I have twins that are in Torchlight's Kindergarten class and I could not be happier. I have been so busy that I was not able to help my child the way that I should have been, so my child did not know how to color very well, make shapes, etc. Mrs. Muhammad's teaching strategies has impressed me, because my child is now able to tell time, understands the concepts of math facts (mostly impressed with the fact that they were working on beginning fractions), my child's sentence structure, counting by 3's, having a much better vocabulary, Black History facts, etc. Mrs. Muhammad has created such a strong foundation for my child, and it shows. With regards to parent envolvement, I had been receiving courtesy calls monthly with regards to my child's progress and what I can do to help at home. I loved the fact that she sent homework daily.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree on some level with both of the opinions above. When my child was first enrolled at the school, things were very much different. I was extremely happy with the school and referred a number of my friends. They have grown somewhat since that time and now there do appear to be too many children for the space and parents are NOT allowed in the classrooms. And frankly, there are some teachers who need some help in the area of communication area. But they are overall good people who genuinely care about the children and want the best for them. I can't say that about the public school system where teachers seem to be there just to collect a paycheck. All that having been said, I am pleased with this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I beg to differ with the former review. I have a son attending first grade and have always been invited into the classroom. I also love the fact that my son can learn his own culture at this school. I think the school is awesome. My son is on target with where he should be coursewise. The reason why parents are stopped at the door is for safety reasons. I don't know of any Wake County School that doesn't make you check into the office before walking around school grounds.
—Submitted by a parent

Do not enroll your child here if you want them to have a good education. I have had 3 children to attend, kindergarten,1st grade and 5th grade. My biggest dissapointment was the lack of communication between teacher and parent. There was also no encouragement of parental involvement, I was always stopped at the front door as if they were trying to hide something. The class sizes were too big for the amount of space they had. If your child has any kind of weakness this is not the place for him/her. The public school system has alot more to offer.
—Submitted by a parent