Texas Connections Academy at Houston

Ok so i actually went to this school my sophomore year of high school in 10-11... honestly if your considering this school i would just forget about it and consider something else. First of all not lying i didn't learn NOTHING the whole year i went here. There are no teachers no lessons just test and video things that are hard to get anything out of it. The "teachers" never answer the phone and when they do it's quite awkward. speaking of awkward there are like these live lessons 2x a week for every class where like there is this chat room and the teacher like talks into the computer which made me feel really umm awkward. The test Answers for this school are ALL OVER THE INTERNET, parents. so if your a kid that just wants to do nothing and learn nothing and sit at home and play zelda for a whole school year, then this place is for you. when i was ready for 11th grade i went back to a public school and ALL of my credits from connections academy transfered and the people at TCAH were soooo helpful. thats why they get two stars and not one. well i got things to do goodbye.

This is quality educations that challenges a childs mind, takes parental involvement and dedication. Connections Academy has well qualified, caring teachers that are always available.. I am proud that our family gets to be part of better education, and a great oppurtunity. This is not "homeschool", this is an online public school. Your children will have a teacher and a principal, attend live lessons and go on fieldtrips and yes take the state mandated test required by law.
--Submitted by a parent

Bypass this school they are disorganized, takes weeks to get supplies and books regardless what the issues are tech(computer theres) The blame is always no parent involvement so the family is unsuccessful. When really its there product and slow site! In the 17 days my kids was in this school there was no real support. They talk about it not being like regular 8-4 school but then tell you and your kids should work with in those hours. But the parent is a unsuccessful coach regardless of the amount of time spent on the phone, if there not a stay at home parent!
--Submitted by a parent

TCAH has given my son the opportunity to learn at his own pace, which he wasn't allowed to do at his regular public school. At 8 years old, he was able to move quickly from 5th grade math thru Pre-Algebra, all in one year. I recommend this school highly for subject acceleration as the staff and teachers make every effort to accommodate to your child's learning needs. The teachers are well prepared and make the live lessons fun and interesting. The curriculum is very demanding but it can be done with organization and a desire to learn. My son was able to focus his energy on academics while having enough time to devote to other areas such as beginning programming, soccer, and Spanish. All of this without having to be "at school" from 8-3 everyday. We were also able to participate in 3-4 educational field trips per month. Our overall experience was wonderful and we don't have any complaints.
--Submitted by a parent

TCAH is awesome! It is not for everyone, and it isn't perfect. We have been at this school since the pilot year and have loved it-many opportunities for challenges and different experiences educationally. Many wonderful teachers! My child has blossomed and matured educationally. The staff is focused on developing potential and allowing the kids to actually LEARN, not just regurgitate facts for test scores.
--Submitted by a parent

School will receive the lowest possible rating in Texas- Academically Unacceptable, does not meet AYP. The school is on an improvement plan from TEA. The Principal has a history of troubled academic performance with her last school in Spring Branch as well.
--Submitted by a parent

I just finished my first year of teaching at TCAH and was reallty impressed with the rigor of the curriculum. I also enjoyed how the teaching process involves the teacher, parent, and student. The staff and administration is awesome as well.
--Submitted by a teacher

The best thing I can say about TCAH even with their great curriculum, staff, etc., is that they really put the kids first. (With the priority on the kids, all of the other stuff falls into place.) My son was enrolled in another virtual charter for two years, and he (and we, his parents) had a really bad experience there. When I first heard about TCAH, I'd thought about it for my son, but we held off, because I'd heard that they had more restrictions on their school due to the way their charter was written. We finally decided to try TCAH when the other school had become unbearable. Our biggest hurdle to enroll was that our son, on paper, looked like he wasn't working at grade level, because of his grades. He failed practically every course because of their methods. But, because he passed all of his TAKS tests, TCAH allowed him to enroll and at his correct grade level. The difference has been night & day. My son is now a straight-A student, because he now understands the lessons. The teachers are happy to work with parents to make sure the kids are on track. The Live Lessons are relevant to what the kids are working on. My only regret is that we didn't enroll sooner.
--Submitted by a parent

In the last 2 years, we have had wonderful curriculum, teachers and success in the program. The teachers are available immediately to help the students, all you have to do is call or email. They regularly have live lessons with students each week. My daughter went from barely passing public school and spending 6+ hours each night studying. Now she spends about 6 hours a day on school and has carried a straight A average for the entire 2 years. She is in 9th grade and was recently one of 18 students accepted into the Junior Honor's Society. The curriculum is much harder than public school, but she finally understands it. They link to great programs like Discovery Channel's educational curriculum, but it is in the lessons exactly where it applies. I have access to all the learning resources I need to help my daughter succeed, including extra worksheets and answers. We regularly participate in monthly field trips in the Dallas area and have met a lot of other great TCAH families all having similar success. Finally there is a free public school that values teachers and treats parents as a partner for your child's success!
--Submitted by a parent

I have NO IDEA why Texas Connections Academy would get a rating of 3 out of 10. According to this site's report, TCAH received ratings of 80% or greater in every subject on the TAKS test except for 7th grade math. We are in our 2nd year of Texas Connections Academy. We have 3 very bright children. We have tried public, private, home school and charter schools and we feel we have finally found the answer to all our problems in Texas Connections Academy. The material is challenging so my children are being pushed and the material is engaging so they are not bored. This semester ALL of my children's teachers have a Master's degree so there is no doubt of their qualifications. Most of the teachers are seasoned teachers and all are passionate about helping kids learn. My 11 year old went from barely passing the TAKS test to commended performance in ONE YEAR attending Texas Connections Academy. If you are looking for a program where you plop your child down in front of a monitor and walk away expecting miracles this is not the program for you but if you are able to be a part of your child's learning experience this program can provide your child with an OUTSTANDING education.
--Submitted by a parent