Great school my daughter loved it here . Good Learning…read morestrategies and good teacher Highly recommend this school

Great school. I love the curriculum. The teachers and staff go above and beyond for the students.read more

I absolutely LOVE this school! I was a little nervous at first, since there are zero reviews and…read moreI'm new to the area. Starting at Orientation day at the beginning of 2018/2019 school year, everyone was on point, well organized and sound like they got their stuff together. 2nd school break coming up and i couldn't be happier to have these people be in charge of my Child's education! Starting with the principal, Mr. Cranston & all the way down to the janitor (who I've also met). They're all very pleasant to be around, they KNOW what they're doing and he key... they LOVE what they do! They're not there just to collect a paycheck. School business is well organized, I love he fact that there's only 1 way in & 1 way out into the school during business hours, and that's THROUGH their main office. My son's teacher is the sweetest person! My son wakes up in the morning WANTING to go to school and learn. So far, zero complaints and I have yet to encounter any type of negativity.

My daughter has been here for a few years and what I have noticed is some teachers refuse to care…read morefor children that struggle, whether it be mentally or physically... My biggest issue is with the staff.. They actually yelled at my husband (I will say never tried it with me) they have made my child uncomfortable, and any time I call they are very rude. I would not recommend this school to anyone. I am literally at the point to where I am just deal with it because my child is in 5th grade!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Attention Parents Do you know Sitting Bull Academy?…read moreDid you know that when new employees are employed, there is no drug test? Did you know some show up to work drunk or high? Did you know these individuals watch your kids during school hours? Did you know that the ones who advocate for your kids are being targeted and destroyed by HR and Administration? Did you know that Sitting Bull has had a high number of good teachers who have left or are already gone? Did you know a proctor hit a child a few years ago and was allowed to continue to work with students? Did you know the children are not being supported in academics? Did you know that they are not being supervised? Do you know how filthy the bathrooms and water fountains are? Did you know how cramped the students are at the cafeteria tables while eating? Did you know that the school district is so financially strained that it cannot afford to hire more staff to support the students? Did you know administrators will tell you they will handle a situation with your student, but will not? Listen to your children when they tell you stuff about what is happening at school. Don't have any doubt about what they are saying; help them resolve the issue. Tell me, how well do you know Sitting Bull Academy or the district? The district has some explaining to do to us parents, and we need to demand some answers and solutions to correct this.

I am a mom of a high functioning special needs child, I was so nervous about her starting junior…read morehigh this year at Sitting Bull- but I did not need to be! The staff at Sitting Bull Academy have gone above and beyond my expectations to help my daughter have a smooth transition. My daughter loves school and gives me a hard time on the weekends because she wants to be there. I feel like she is safe and the school has accommodated all of her needs. I couldn't be more grateful. Autism Mom

Some good teachers and staff made our daughters experience her wonderful. She still to this day…read moresays her favorite teacher is Ms. Lopez.

My 2 year old has been attending for 3 months now and absolutely loves it here! All the teachers…read moreare amazing, loving and very involved with all the kids. The place is very clean, meals are homemade, playground is well staffed and safe (is was a concern of mine as it's close to street) I couldn't be happier with the decision to enroll my son here!!!

Smart Start Academy does NOT care about the children. Initially, I really enjoyed their atmosphere…read moreand cleanliness, but quickly realized that is really all that they had to offer... a clean looking environment. There is absolutely no communication between staff/management/owner to parent and NO CONCERN for the child's emotional needs. Furthermore, the disciplinary practices including, but not limited to, the "sad chair" or "relaxing chair" (time out), is not mentioned in the parent handbook, much like the teachers using their cell phones as televisions to play cartoons like cocomelon, is not. Having open lines of communication, with a team working alongside me to care for my child, is something I take very seriously. They lacked severely in this area. It was nonexistent. On a specific occasion, I was checking in with my daughter via the cameras the school gives parents to access... which most of the time aren't working properly. I didn't see my child anywhere, and got concerned, so I messaged the teacher... no response. So, I called the front desk. They then proceeded to tell me that my daughter had a potty accident and a big emotion ensued from this (lots of tears and vocal frustration), that they claim was "inconsolable." They proceeded to put my daughter in a chair, by herself, surrounded by her peers, isolated and shamed... while she "calmed down" alone. This didn't work, understandably, because in such a vulnerable and embarrassing moment for my 3 year old, she needed connection and empathy more than anything. Instead she got sent to another classroom where she knew no one. To sit, alone, in another chair. The fact that a 3 year old is expected to have to have the tools to deal with such new and complex emotions speaks volumes to this establishments lack of real and valuable child education training and knowledge. The lack of compassion, connection and empathy for my child was appalling, to say the least. I picked my child up early that day and politely emailed the school several times, for a week, requesting an IDT meeting to discuss my concerns. I never heard from them. Again, no communication, care or respect. I had to walk in and speak with the owner, Chad. Although he didn't give me the courtesy to speak privately, I was able to voice my concerns and at least get more information on the occurrences of that day. However, after leaving that meeting, I received an email from his wife, Melissa, whom was not present for my conversation with Chad... That they were proceeding with removing my child from the school. That they can't meet my "requests" they assumed I had, considering no one met with me to ever hear them. I was given no courtesy in being involved in this decision... no meeting, no discussion or involvement. It really hurt me for my daughter. She didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to her friends. How abrupt and sad. With this new understanding I now know that a school that is not willing to work with parents in raising children is not one that I want my child in. It appears that Smart Start has a hard structure and care not about each individual child's needs-which says a lot when child care professionals KNOW (should know) how unique each child's temperament is and that each child may require something slightly different from the standard practice. Also including occurrences that don't regularly happen that may require the same flexibility in care. Clearly their priority isn't the "whole child" as they have expressed they are not staffed enough to foster arguably the most important developmental domain- social emotional, needs of each child individually and specifically. For these reasons, I do NOT support SmartStart Academy. I hope parents think twice before enrolling their child here.

This school was my childhood. Had a lot of great memories, still are friends with people i've known…read moresince first grade going into freshman year. It's a small school so everyone knows eachother and nobody gets left out

My son started school here last year and they were more than accomidating…read more We didn't have a place of residency yet and were living in a hotel which means they can't start school yet. They bypassed this rule for us and even found a way to get him to school since he wasn't on the regular bus route. Everyone in the office, the teachers and the principal are all great, they actually care and take their time with each student/parent. It might not be the fanciest, newest school, but it does the job and my sons happy, what more do you want?

My child was pushed and hit daily on playground and no one did anything. At student pick up…read morechildren who were not mine were brought to my car, this happened more than once which only makes you realize that your child could be given to the wrong person very easily. Teacher we had appeared very unkept and sloppy. Overall bad experience & not recommended. You're better off homeschooling while living in the high desert.

Some people say this school is good, others say it is awful. To be honest, I am disappointed. The…read morekids here are rude, and the staff barely listen. I had a sister who was beat up in the bathroom, and she said the staff did nothing. I think it could be better.

I have a fourth grader here and he actually enjoys going to school. He loves riding the bus and has…read morea ton of friends on the bus. The kids he plays with are older and that doesn't bother me because they all have been very respectful. The neighborhood kids at the bus stop are all very well behaved and the parents are very involved. Every morning you will see many parents at the bus stop keeping an eye on the entire group of kids. The teachers have been great so far and I have always felt welcomed when I visit the school. The office staff is helpful and friendly. Nobody is rude or uncaring. My kindergarten son loves school but that is expected because of him age. He loves his teacher and I enjoy volunteering in both of my kids classes. The PTA has been great and has a ton of fun activities for families and the kids.

One of the best schools to skate at. It's like a little skate park in they! Alhamdulillahread more

Not all students function well at large and overcrowded school sites, Willow Park High School…read moreallowed those students, who for whatever reason were failing to succeed at the much larger Granite & Apple Valley High Schools a chance to excel academically. Sad day for the community and as such a beautiful school site, closing its doors is such a waste of tax payer funding. One can only wonder during this rash of school combining/closings ...... by Apple Valley Unified Schools, if this last school site closing is another example of more of tax dollars - going to Charter Schools instead of strengthing our core educational values to better enhance the learning of our current students?