Research Academy of Oak Park - Elementary School charter Schools in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

“This school has been an absolute dissappointment. I have 2 kids that attend this school and I will be pulling them both out during the middle of the school year. It is not challenging educationally, administration is horrible when it come to displinary actions toward students. The only thing the school has is extra curricular activities basketball, cheerleading, spanish etc. The principle has good intentions for the school, staff and overall vision of the school, but he needs to have a staff that shows that and constant training of the school officals is necessay in order for him to achieve it. I would never reccomned any parent to this school. Parent involvement is at its lowest and the schools administration has no clue what they are doing. Parents if you are concerned w/ your child education do not, do not send them to this school. It will be the worst mistake”

“This school could be a school of excellence but I feel the administration is a big hinderance to the school.”

“The building is old and not very well maintained. The teachers are adequate and I agree with the comments concerning the library class being nothing more than a movie-watching session. They do offer a lot of extra curricular activities such as basketball, cheerleaders, computer club,Girl Scouts, etc. Overall, I would say the school is average, maybe slightly below average.”

“This school is not safe and they don't know what they are doing. This is my children's first year and their last year here. I have no desire to send them back there next year.”

“I have taught at this school for several years and am deeply disappointed in the way it runs. There is no foreign language course (hasn't been for a couple of years) as is stated in the handbook. For the past few years, library has been a glorified movie watching course. For profit schooling is failing our students...as is this school. I'm very sad to say, I won't stay and put up with lack of supplies and lack of teacher support from our own administration.”

“I am very pleased with the school. The principal is amazing. He really cares about the quality of education the children are getting and about the children as a whole. The teachers are great. They really challenge the children and have very high expectations of them. There is always homework, which I absolutely love. And there is a lot of school pride. There are a lot of extra ciricular activities for the children and even for the kindergarteners through 2nd graders. THere is something for everyone.”

“Since the new principal was appointed last year, alot of positive changes have taken place. A great improvement in academic challenges, teachers, accountability, responsibility, & safety. I'm very pleased. The school has a motto & vision statement now. Monthly parent meetings held,sadly there is still lack of parent involvment. Have defined themselves as a entrepeneurial school & teaching kids about govt & how to be business owners. The principal is trying very hard & I applaud his efforts.”

“Was very disappointed with the school. The principal wouldn't back up teachers, no support for teachers, and lack of supplies for students was absolutely appalling. I am amazed at how some of the teachers teach there and do the job that they do even with everything that they are lacking as far as supplies.”

“I did like the school, but it left alot lacking. The teacher was frequently absent, sending students to other classrooms because of an apparent lack of substitute teachers. There were no extra curricular activities that I was aware of, though the ages of the children may be a factor in that. There is very little diversity in the student body. In general, I felt there should have been more effort put into parent involvement and projects combining schools, parents and students. It felt alot like a daycare, just drop them off and pick them up.”

“I was very dissapointed with this school. The principle along with some of the teachers do not have their students best interest in mind. My child was subjected to a form of physical punishment that was completely unacceptable.”