Summerville Preparatory Academy

This school building is new and beautiful. The landscaping is calming and inviting. Very clean grounds, parking lots. The teachers smile a lot and are friendly yet firm. Four of my grandchildren are attending for their first year. Three of the four love going to school. They are happier than they were in a different county school.

My child was being bullied. Notified the school several times to find out what was going on and see if they were doing something about it. They tried to blame it on my child saying maybe it was her not being able to keep up with the schools fast pace education. 3 weeks dealing with it until more children got hit and they finally did something. Checked my other childs work half wasn't finished and work not checked. It got worse when realization that the school work wasn't going it be looked at. So in school she colors on the back of the schoolwork all day and made to do it at home. Transferred to a new school that checks all assignments and not just what they feel like. 1st grade shouldn't be allowed to play in school all day without doing any school work. Sets a poor example for the rest of the school life. I don't mind helping further my children's education but the school needs to do their part also. That's why it's there in the first place.

My ex wife enrolled our children without my permission and we have joint custody. I’d read previous reviews and let me say, they are understated. This is the WORST school in the area. My daughter has had issues with teachers(Ms. Simmons) who also rolled her eyes, smirked and was condescending towards me in a meeting. Mr. Matthews, an Asst. Principal, had the audacity to speak to my child like she was his; as did Ms. Simmons. The principal, Ms. Castelli, lied about the time of our first meeting and cancelled the second. I wanted to discuss these issues regarding my daughter but have been ignored by faculty and staff there along with being told they’d not talk to me, a parent, about his own child. This came from the principal, by way of Lane Morris, Deputy Director of Charter Schools USA. I reached out to a Mr. Christiansen, Lane’s boss, and have been ignored there also. Someone let me know what I should do next as I’m about to withdraw my children. Did I mention I’d tried to withdraw them, completed the forms and submitted them only to have that ignored thanks to my ex-wife. Any suggestions and help from other concerned parents is appreciated.

I have two kids attending the school. It's a new school and have had to figure things out on the fly. Both children have done well with reapect to state testing and have regular homework which they didn’t have at their other school. Overall is a good safe learning environment.

I went to the open house and was very impressed with the enthusiasm of the teachers, their desire to help the students thrive and recogizing that all children do not learn and thrive the same way, hence the village model for the k-2. My 2nd grader needs extra help with reading. I feel confident that not only will she get the help she needs to bring her up to grade level but she will not feel "less than" because she struggles today. My 3rd grader excels at reading. Most school work seems to come easy for her so she has been bored in the past but now she can be challenged with other children who excel in school lije she does. She did not like math in the past but the 3rd grade math teacher's goal was to make learning math fun. My 3rd grader has only been in school for 2 weeks but she says now she likes math and she feels she can be good at it!! That is a huge blessing that SHE feels she can be good at it! I know there was some confusion and disorganization for a little bit at the open house and the 1st few days but I think that is expected with a brand new school. We all learn and adjust as we embark on something new but the heart and vision of the faculty and leadership are great! They love the students, love education and they have a desire to help each child succeed, with the understanding every child is different. I'm really looking forward to a great year for my 2, not only academically but also with their self esteem! They will thrive because they are surrounded by educators who love children.