The Classical Academy (TCA) (Colorado Springs: neighborhood, schools, living)

[Mike from back east]

One of the local charter schools is featured on today's NPR website: School Devoted to Traditional Teaching, Values : NPR

[Mike from back east]

Classical Academy is in the news again, this time not so nice. Allegations of racial incidents, bullying, and these:
- Failure to demonstrate financial transparency and implement adequate financial controls.
- Failure to eliminate conflicts of interest.
- Failure to demonstrate adequate accountability, maintain open records, and provide the public with access to documents and information.

[Amery523]

Mike, I just read this on the gazette.com website last night! I am amazed at the article. I have a friend whose kids attend TCA....will have to pump her for some inside information!

[lalahartma]

Here's an article from the Indy: A slippery slope : Families, teachers say they've been pushed out of D-20's 'city on a hill' : Local News : Local News : Colorado Springs Independent : Colorado Springs

[froggin4colorado]

Heavens, I know D20 stories that make it comparable to D2 schools. Hence why I keep saying schools differ only by socio-economics. Otherwise we use the same curriculum, teachers meet up together for the same trainings/seminars, teachers rotate through districts, same with students.

[Mike from back east]

Today, the report on the allegations made earlier this year was released.

[SaschaB]

Hello!
My husband and I are considering relocating to Colorado Springs --he loves Colorado and I am eager to get away from the high cost of living and concrete in California. We have put feelers out to a few places (contingent on finding a job, good private and/or charter schools, etc.)

What put Colorado Springs near the top of the list was The Classical Academy: classical schools are hard to come by where we live now, and the educational model (the Trivium) of a classical school is ideal for how our kiddo learns. TCA seems to have a solid academic reputation. Its mission statement correlates to what I want in both education and environment. I have read previous threads on this forum, however, linking to articles that question the school's integrity vis-a-vis bullying, harassment, and administrative transparency. This does, of course, give me pause.

Our kiddo is on the waiting list, and my husband is in CO this week on business and will attend the new parents' meeting to get a feel for whether the school would be a good fit for our child. As it stands, based on the curriculum -on paper anyway- if our kiddo was offered a spot at TCA that would be the catalyst we'd need to pick up and move.

Would anyone kindly share his or her opinions of the school? I'd especially like to hear from parents of students, or friends of families who currently or formerly attended TCA: the reviews on Great Schools only paint a partial picture, and although I'm very excited by the prospect of my kiddo attending a school that appears to be so academically strong, I'm hesitant based on some of the negative things I've read.

Any input that provides additional clarity would be fantastic!

kind regards to everyone! Thanks!

[lurtsman]

Moving based on school? Seems dangerous.

I can agree with getting out of the high CoL in California, but what do you mean about the concrete? Cali has constant gridlock because they refuse to pour enough asphalt for people to drive on. We don't have that problem. Not to come off as insensitive, but our asphalt/concrete to person ratio may be significantly higher, and we are very happy about that.

[SaschaB]

Oh no, what I meant about too much concrete is that our neighborhood is urban and gray, the sky is smoggy, one is constantly in traffic, and nature is a multi- hour drive to get to. CO seems famous for its "outdoorsy" lifestyle, and closer proximity to hiking and whatnot. Not a literal escape from concrete.

And yes, we get many funny looks when we say we'd move for school: to us, it's worth it. We want to invest the effort to encourage the kids' long term happiness (good school, room to run around in)... It isnt as though we are chasing the next best thing, we want to drop roots in a place that offers more of what we want for our family.

[beezle1]

Originally Posted by SaschaB

Oh no, what I meant about too much concrete is that our neighborhood is urban and gray, the sky is smoggy, one is constantly in traffic, and nature is a multi- hour drive to get to.

I left Orange County California for many of the same reasons. Moved here when my daughter was 4 so she could start school here. The crowded conditions in southern California really got to me. And yes, they do have beaches and mountains, but even those 'getaways' were crowded with people. You will love it here!