Ryan Academy of Norfolk

They care nothing for the kids, only for the money and kick your child out of class till they get paid not like other schools that hold transcripts./report cards or everything else. If you pay for anything and are not liked by the administration you will not get paid back, they tell you to submit receipts but then keep them and use it for their taxes. They let dangerous students go here start fights then ignore the fights just so they will have a paying parent. Teachers do not put grades in correctly and get hostile when you prove them wrong. They lose projects if you are a parent that keeps track of what is going on and have proof they screwed up and say it was not done. The Principal is the math teacher and can't even teach, i sat in the class and understand why my son was having problems passing the class. There are no sports the new administration doesn't believe in sports only music and grades. Only 5 kids each from 9th -12th, the preschool has most of the building and they scream all day long, older children can't hear or can't do their work. Public schools won't accept transcripts, they are not accredited, kids have to redo classes /tests to prove they learned something.
—Submitted by a parent

I absolutely love this school. It is affordable. It is small enough that the teache's and principal are very involved with my child. She is well above her reading and math level. Before and after care are attached to the school and she gets to be part of all the athletics and extra curricular activities. I can't give this school enough stars.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is a middle school student at Ryan Academy. Prior to coming to Ryan he was academically troubled. The small classes and focused attention from the teachers is just what he needed. He has made incredible strides in his time at Ryan and we are very impressed.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended Ryan Academy school years 2005 and 2006. The school had great teachers, but their administration is terribly uninformed. My daughter's preschool teacher told the administration that my daughter knew everything she had to teach the class and recommended she be moved up a grade. My daughter went to HeadStart when she was two and three because her great-aunt oversaw the HeadStart program. They kept my daughter in the same class, so my daughter learned nothing new that year. Worse than that, in 2006, her kindergarten teacher was overthrown by the director's daughter, Ms. L. Ms. L at the time had no teaching experience, the real teacher told me this the day she resigned because of Ms. L interfering with her class. Ms. L told me to my face that she couldn't stand my daughter's voice. And at the end of the school year, when certificates were given nearly every child received a improved reader certificate, except my child. No excuse, to make my child believe she was a poor reader. Her reading was on par with her classmates. Thankfully, my daughter was too sweet to see the unkind intentions of her unqualified "teacher." I as a parent wish I had not trusted them.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a very small private school that is trying hard to turn around its academics and parental involvement. The school is almost too small in the lower and middle grades, but the administration is committed to growing the school. If your child needs a very small classroom then this school may work.
—Submitted by a parent

This is an affordable, small school with good extracurriculars and a staff that truly values the education of each child.
—Submitted by a parent

Coming from Oklahoma where my children attended a Blue Ribon School ,the schools in Norfolk are sorry and need help, there is nothing to say about the schools here I 'm just glad that I only have 2 years here and I can go back to Oklahoma where we care about education
—Submitted by a parent

My son has blossomed at Ryan. Every teacher knows you and speaks to us frankly about how our child is doing. He has excelled socially beyond anything I could have expected. His grades are off the charts.
—Submitted by a parent

Ryan is great if you want your child in a small safe setting ,my student is getting a great education but at the same time getting to do team sports,drama and all the other group things offered at public schools. im very glad that we decided to enroll her here
—Submitted by a parent

Ryan Academy is a great small private school that is an excellent alternatvie to the large cold public school system. Students get the individualized attention they deserve.
—Submitted by a parent