Life School Red Oak

We have two children that go to LSRO and we think very highly of the educators there and the education that our kids are receiving. We have been there for 4 years and have had a great experience. The school has grown a lot so it is not as tight knit as it was but because of the great teaching people are drawn to the school from many area districts. It is a school that has many Christian teachers and leadership who care deeply for the students and want them to be excellent in learning and life! I would highly recommend this school!
--Submitted by a parent

Lifeschool RO has been our school for past six years and we love it. We have an elementary age child and middle school age child at LSRO. Our children are being taught to be critical thinkers, display great character and the value of working diligently to task. LSRO reinforces the character traits, work ethics and respectful behavior that we teach at home. It is a perfect fit. Yes, LSRO is firm on expectations for parental involvement, consistent respectful character of our children and excellence in academics. Even with changes in curriculum and administration LSRO has been true and consistent with their core goals. As in "life" no pun intended, we have had some challenges on occasions at LSRO but we were always welcomed and heard when we spoke to administration. There truly is a "Lifeschool Way" at LSRO and it comforts me to know that even as new teachers come in or there are administration changes it's not LSRO's "first rodeo" and communication, core goals, academics remain consistent. That consistency is evident as you do your classroom observations, walk the halls, sit in main corridor. You will find caring teachers with excellent classroom management skills.
--Submitted by a parent

We love love love this school! Great teachers and staff! My children have leaned more than book work at this school they have learned how to be leaders; Thank you Life School!
--Submitted by a parent

I am disappointed and frustrated trying to communicate to solve any problem that you need to discuss. It appears some students more or singled out for special watchingt. First of all, the parents pay for cell phones and the school takes them up from (not all students using theirs only the ones they have decided to watch closer). The RULES (I am sick of hearing that too) require they keep them five days and then pay $15.00. This RULE needs to be modified because some students have the only way of communicating with their parents if they have a car problem or need to work or anything else, but the school does not care about all of its students. I would like to stand in the hallway between classes and see how many phones I can collect and receive $15.00 per phone. It is not just the phone incident that is a problem. I had a child wear a jacket that the school said was against the rules and it was taken by a staff. She knew who the jacket belonged to but put it in the Lost and Found area and the jacket was stolen. Of course it never the school's problem. The rule does not want any negative remarks made. That is not a fair representation of how some feel.

Standards have risen! My son attended Life School Red Oak from 2nd - 6th grade. We moved him to a privace school due to the need for more academic challenge. After 3 years away, he wanted to return and finish high school at Life. I reluctantly looked in to it. What I found is that the school had stepped it up academically and in sports, drama, music and more. They offer AP, Honors and dual credit classes. The boys basketball program is better than any in the DFW area due to the top notch positive and highly disciplined coaching staff. So very happy our son is back there. NO REGRETS!! Thank you Life School for always striving for excellence!
--Submitted by a parent

We had high hopes, but were very disappointed. The teaching staff is almost exclusively young and from SAGU in Waxahachie, with very little experience. Dr. Wilson paints a very rosey picture, but be sure that you do your research before putting your child through this school. It has a very narrow curriculum. We pulled our child and will be attending ROISD, where our child's peers have been involved in so many wonderful classes and extracurricular activities. Be sure to visit the TEA website and jot down the official scores before buying into what is presented at parenting meetings. You should definitely visit before putting your child here.
--Submitted by a parent

Life School is a good choice if safety is a concern but if you are looking for sound academics, go somewhere else. Do not be deluded into thinking that high TAKS scores are indicators of sound academics. Please note that the new state tests, STAR for elementary and EOC for secondary will be made with the help of College Board, who produce the SAT, ACT, and PSAT. These tests are assessments that Texas students are notorious for failing. Recent data shows that Texas students can pass the TAKS and get commended for 9 years but these same students cannot pass the SAT. Two years ago I asked an administrator at the admin. building why they do not offer AP classes when PreAP classes can be taken. His response, It s not like these kids are going to Ivy League colleges or anything. Until two years ago high school students were accountable for only reading 3-4 books a YEAR chosen by the teacher based on her preference! Questions to ask counselors: What are your average SAT scores? What are your recent scores in math on PSAT? Why have you been allowing students to take PreAP classes by teachers who have had zero training? On average, how many teachers leave per year?
--Submitted by a parent

Coming from public schools myself, Life School Red Oak has been a a great alternative for our girls. Our girls, now in 4th grade and 5th grade, love LSRO. Like any school it has its issues but to call the school superficial is untrue. We are encouraged to volunteer in classrooms, required to earn parenting points by participating and we must sit in on our childs classroom to earn some of those points. Thats not superficial. In comparing our girls academic level to other children in other schools we know our girls are way ahead. My 4th grader is doing algebra at life school, my 5th grader has read over 70 books this year alone, this thanks to the foundation of LSRO and good parenting. As for bullying yes like any school there are bullies but when my 5th grader was bullied while she was in 4th grade by another child the teacher took care of it immediately and before the other child was walked to the principals office my husband was called to inform him of what happened and so were the other childs parents. The other childs behavior was dealt with before the hour was over on that same day. Bullying is taken very seriously at LSRO when reported. Truthfully speaking
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter attends this school. This year was her first year at LSRO. As a parent I was underwhelmed by the administration and teaching staff. Student body is diverse; however, administration and teaching staff lack diversity. Academics are average. As a parent I was disappointed in the treatment I received from my daughter's teacher - clearly not an experienced professional. We were accustomed to receiving homework, but rarely received any homework at LSRO. Parents receive requests for money or supplies daily. School portraits were substandard. Classrooms are small and overcrowded.
--Submitted by a parent

The student to teacher ratios are wrong on this site. At Life School it is 25:1 from Kindergarten to 4th grade. From 5th grade on the class sizes are larger. Dismissal is hectic. Because Life School is a charter school that serives many different cities in the area, it does not have a bus system. Parents know this going in, so it comes as no surprise. The staff and administration care about the children and do the best with what they have. As with any school, it has its pros and cons. Life School is doing its best to raise student leaders. I think that they are doing a good job!
--Submitted by a parent