The Founders Classical Academy

Great concept and very good, dedicated teachers. Yes, the curriculum is rigorous and the homework level is intense, but that is to be expected at a college prep school. However, the number of discipline issues at this school is the real problem. Theft, vandalism, fights and bullying run rampant through this school and the administration is out of touch and refuses to deal with any issues. It is no wonder so many people won't be returning next year. Changes are needed if this school is ever to reach it's potential.
—Submitted by a parent

Too much homework is rough on those students who are not gifted OR not fortunate enough to transition from a "private school". Communication is poor, very poor, between teachers & parents and while the head master is professional his staff most definitely is not, he needs to re-evaluate the current administration. Great concept school, our expectations were high but sadly disappointed. School has potential.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is Amazing!!! The staff are professional and care about our kids!!! What a blessing to be a part of the Founders Family!
—Submitted by a parent

Both my boys entered the school in the middle of the year and are adjusting great. We came from a private classical school so the transition was not that hard. Neither of my middle school boys have 2 hours of homework a day. Actually they have less work here than at the private school they were attending. I would not say my boys are gifted and talented but they are use to working hard and have been taught good study skills. My only complaint is sometimes the communication between teachers and parents could be improved. Both my boys are very happy here and it is the closest thing to a private school without paying tuition.
—Submitted by a parent

I definitely 'not' for every child, this is a college preparatory school with an advanced and rigorous curriculum. Our student is struggling, really struggling in this environment and the 2.5 hours of school work every night is burdensome and it's true as the parent wrote below there is no downtime for the students. Gifted & Talented students will excel here but the majority of students here are not G&T students. The headmaster is good but his immediate support staff are not in his league, he needs to revisit those he surrounds himself with. Last Word: This school is NOT for every child only those students who are "truly" top students.
—Submitted by a parent

Founders is a wonderful school with very caring personnel, administration and teachers. I disagree with the previous comment slamming the headmaster..I have found him to be very engaging and caring. The principal leads the school in a loving and kind manner, we adore her! My son has always been a straight A student and transferred to Founders from a private school this year. He is a very bright kid and has always excelled at the top of his class; he loves to learn! This is the same at Founders and he is excelling, but this has been a tough transition. He attended a school with a rigorous curriculum before, but the homework was not near as intense and extensive. The estimated 10 min per grade level per night is a complete misnomer. Mine works diligently and doesn't mess around and get distracted..yet his average homework load is more than 2 hours on an average night for elementary. Assigned reading is 30-45 min.. remaining time is spent on assignments, latin, math, and studying for quizzes & exams. This school is definitely not for every kid. There is not sufficient time for downtime at night. I hope they can strike more of a balance in the future as we do love the school.
—Submitted by a parent

If you are a Vista family this is NOT a Vista school do not expect it to be like all the Vista Academys. Our kids were at this location last year when it was Vista and all the familys were told everything was going to be the same except the name will change and that the school will now go thru highschool. It is completley different. Very stressful for the kids and parents. There was a turnover at the beginning of the year with all the changes and there will be a large turnover of kids and teachers that will not be returning after the summer. If you child works well in a very hard demanding stressful class then great. If your child is used to the Visa environment this is not for you.
—Submitted by a parent

Founders has been a great fit for our family. The teachers are caring, education exceptional and virtue is taught and modeled throughout its halls. The Head Master has open lines of communication and meets with parents on a regular basis. With any new school, there are growing pains. Part of what has impressed me with Founders is the administration's ability to recognize and act when an aspect of the curriculum or schedule needs to be revisited and or changed in order to improve. Founders teaches kids to think critically, not just regurgitate facts.
—Submitted by a parent

My childrens' (3) experience at Founders has been excellent. It has been challenging, in a good way, the teachers are passionate and very knowledgeable, the front office personnel are friendly and attentive, and the admin are definitely of the highest quality. Mr. Caros, the headmaster, is obviously in his element in a classical school. He communicates the classical school vision often and clearly, he leads by example and even teaches a class (1 of my children is in his class), he is friendly and approachable to both children and parents, and he is a good judge of educators - I am amazed at the teachers and other adults who work at the school. The best thing about Founders is the knowledge and skills the students are gaining and the focus on virtue and citizenship. I have to disagree with two points from other parents. The first reviewer seems to have an axe to grind. Easy to ignore. One of the other parents said the school isn't for all children. I'm not sure. I guess if a child comes in really behind I can see where it would be difficult to keep up at a challenging school. Otherwise, why shouldn't every child have the chance at such an excellent education?
—Submitted by a parent

We were with Vista Academy prior to the conversion to Founders Classical Academy and yes, there were some hiccups in the transition, which were to be expected. Over the first half of this year I have found the teachers and the paraprofessional staff and administration to be superb. I believe that in anything we get out what we put in. If a parent puts in negativity and complaining then that is all they will get out. I choose to invest my time and talent into this school as a volunteer and have more opportunity to see both positives and negatives and find that the positives far outweigh any negatives. Founders Classical is designed for bright and dedicated students who are willing to put for the effort to learn and achieve in an environment designed to make them capable and responsible leaders within their community. Neither my elementary student or my middle school student have two hours of homework a night. Both are A students and still have plenty of time for downtime, extracurricular activities, sports and hobbies. This environment is rigid. There is less free dress and more structure than at Vista, Quest or iSchool High. It's a good fit for us. Not ideal for all.
—Submitted by a parent

Founders is a former Vista Academy. Hillsdale college took over our loving and cohesive Vista Academy with the promise of providing children a classical education. Unfortunately the change in administration has shaken the foundation of the school to the core. There is repression within the walls and deception without. The Vista teachers from the past two years are awesome but the pressures on them to glean their classes for the top 10 percent of students has left everyone disillusioned. The new headmaster has no rapport with the staff, students or parents. There will be a massive turnover in teachers over the summer as well as students. If your child is in the top 10 percent of their class, works well under extreme pressure, learns from a full day of lectures, and can handle 2-3 hours of homework a night by all means enroll. If you want more than classical curriculum and you want a loving, nurturing learning environment that fosters intellectual curiosity,trust, acheivement and respect, then find a Vista Academy! Founders needs time to sort out their vision and direction. BTW my kid is an "A" student with excellent behavior. We fear the future of Founders with admin as is
—Submitted by a parent