Research Woodward Academy charter Schools in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

“I am not pleased with the new arrival and departure procedures for the 2008-2009 school year. Some of the class rooms do not have enough lighting”

“This school so far has been great. My child completed kindergarten there with Mrs. Washington (She was the best!) He learned so much I could definately see his progress. Now he is in the 1st grade with Ms. Seppala and he is constantly improving. The teachers that I have experienced thus far have been great leaders of instruction. The MEAP scores may not reflect it, but in my opinion the teachers are doing a great job especially with my child. Also, it is important for parents to remember that learning starts in the home. You have to work with your child just like you expect for the teachers too. I tell my son you have a great teacher but I am the best teacher.”

“My son developed significant intermittent health challenges while in another school. The difference in the way that Woodward's teachers, staff and administrators have responded has been incredible. It is very clear that they are invested in the students and will go way beyond 'the call of duty'. I am so very impressed and pleased. We as parents need to become more involved in building the resources for them to work with.”

“Needs improvement in parent / teacher communication”

“This school is awsome. My son jerimiah went there and boy did his grades improve. I thought that no school would be able to help my son in achieving thos great goals he has set from that school.! Thanks woodward academy and to those pricipals.”

“My daughter goes to WA and would be graduating from the upper school. High school grades are important for college admission and by grading the child unfairly and too strictly puts the children in a disadvantage.”

“I am a proud parent of a child at this school, recently the school held a parent appreciation luncheon and it was wonderful, The children,teachers, and administrators are all moving in the right direction. I am very pleased with my child's enthusiasm about the school.My son is a member of the chorus at the school and I am very pleased with the other extracurricular activities that this school offers.”

“I am a student at Woodward Academy and i say its a good school. My grades have improved triple my GPA at my old school. I have earned a 4.0 for the second trimester of 8th grade. I have been at this school since 6th grade and I will be graduating this year(class of 07). Before I came to this school my GPA was a 2.5(which I never had a 3.0)But since then i've been on the honor roll 3 years straight! Thanks to Woodward Academy!”

“Do not put your child in Woodward! The teachers that are in the school are not equipped to deal with this urban students. The MEAP score speak for themselves, the children are failing. Far as extracurricular activities every child can not play basketball and every child can not cheer. This school would rather have security then to have program put into place to help the children here, also Woodward needs quality teachers that are able to relate with the body of students in the school. The administrative staff is the worst I can only say look at there leader Central Michigan really need to take a look into the school they are funding.(Bad school for learning)”

“I have had a son graduate from Woodward Academy in 2006 and my daughter will graduate in 2007. I also have twins that are enrolled who has been attending Woodward since Pre-K. I really enjoy the school because of working parents as myself. They don't have half days. It is either a whole day or no school day and I love that. I am also very impressed with their staff. My son had a few challenges and the staff worked with him to get him prepared for graduation. Needless to say it was very successful. My daughter is doing excellent and plan on attending a pretigious High school. Thanks to Woodward. Also my twins are succeeding successful and I plan for them staying at Woodward until their 8th grade year, unless they extend their School to a High School and then they will attend until their 12th grade year.”

“'I attend Woodward Academy im in the 8th grade, the teachers have full plans for us to learn everyday the extracurricular activites are fun we have a double dutch team, book club,cheerleading, basketball,etc. and me and my friends are about to make a step team there I think parents should pt there chilen in this school. Are behavior might be a little off but we can calm our selfs down if you give us a minute I love Woodward Academy'”

“I am currently going to Woodward Academy. We do have extra curricular activitis such as cheerleading and basketball, just to name a few. At this school they are pushing students to eat hEalthy to stimulate their brain. I feel so safe at this school. We have security gaurds and security cameras.”

“I had to remove my child from that school. The students are uncontrollable. They lack discipline and respect. They are rude. That school should have HIGHER standards and NOT allow just any kind of students to attend. It's not fair to the students that want to learn! I would not recommend this school to anyone. If the teachers and staff had controll, I feel that the students would behave better.”

“The administration at the school lacked compassion for these students. There were no extracurricular activities available to the kindergarten students. The school seemed to be divided with no unity amongst teachers and administrators.”

“The academics are not up to par, admin. is not attainable, the teachers for the most part are not equipped to deal with inner city students and the discipline is not consistent. My experience was not pleasant and I would not recommend this school to anyone”

“My child has been going to woodward academy since kindergarden and he is now in fourth grade. He has never had a bad teacher. yes the administration is difficult at times. But I do think The children should not bring food that is not healthy and i like that the shcool care enough to have the kids eat healthy. i still talk to my childs old teachers and they care so much! thank you to all the teachers.”

“I feel does not focus on academics more than they do with the student's uniforms or what they have for lunch. Also, the teachers need to be better trained to deal with 'problem' students. In my point of view and from what I have witnessed, they just ignore the problem students and that's not fair to the kids that want to learn.”

“I love Woodward Academy! This the first school that I have found that actually has teachers that care about ALL the students. These teachers follow former students, they care if they may have be having issues with other teachers in upper grades. My children love it there, they feel like they are actually learning something, and they feel safe. I couldn't have picked a better school. I hope they follow through with the plans for the High School with the same caliber of teachers! Thanks Woodward Academy for all that you do!”

“I think that Woodward Academy is a diamond in the ruff. It has the potential to be an excellent school, but first many of the kinks must be worked out. There must be consistency on discipline policies, more positive parent involvement and feedback as well more student accountability. The teachers and support staff have the students best interest at heart and yet it's like pulling hair to get people to come in for conferences. I just wish the parents cared more and were more active in the school.”

“I am very unhappy with Woodward Academy, if it were not for my childrens teachers I would have removed them months ago. The administration is not consist with the policy on discipline. The superindentent is difficult to deal with and I feel that she does not have the best interest of the children in mind when she makes decisions. The teachers really can't express the way the truly feel with feeling that their job is at stake. I have never know of a school that could not provide the funding for transportation for field trips. If this was the last school in the city, I would not send my children back.”

“The school seems to place more emphasis on areas other than academics. I am not happy with the education my first grader is receiving and have chosen to remove my child. The superintendent seems to hide in her office like she's untouchable and the elementary principal is very uncompromisable and doesn't listen to a true concern. I feel that my child is learning beneath her capability due to the school's curriculum. She is being cheated out of true physical education, the Spanish class has been removed, there are not many extra-curriculum classes being offered and no after school programs to participate in. The school is constantly requesting supplies for the class but doesn't give back to the parents and students. They have implemented a tardy/detention policy which I feel is unacceptable for a child that has no control over what time she arrives. Just not happy!”