Century School is the BEST THING WE EVER DID FOR OUR KIDS. I feel bad for the person who gave…read moreCentury a 1 star review - I REALLY do- but her experience is not one that I, nor any parents or kids I know have experienced. Frankly, I find the claims of "academic malpractice" not only insulting to those of us that LOVE this school but bordering on libelous. The reviewer speaks to a number of issues I can readily contradict. I feel strange about posting a school review on Yelp of all places, but feel compelled to do so.
First, there is mention of testing and progress. Each child at Century takes a standardized assessment every 6 months and parents are provided with written results showing academic progress in relation to previous years. Additionally, parents can opt into the Lawrence Virtual School K12 curriculum that includes additional state tests to measure your child's performance. On top of that, every child's academic progress is MEASURED DAILY. All you have to do is ask and any teacher will walk you through exactly what they've learned THAT DAY. Our children regularly bring home completed workbooks. We receive emails and texts, not just about performance but what each teacher appreciates about our children (and what they don't) as well as who their friends are, pictures, etc. On many occasions, we have had lengthy "parent-teacher conferences" when dropping off/picking up our children. The teachers have always been gracious with their time.
Second, the reviewer mentions transitioning to public school. We have friends whose children attend other private schools and ALL of our children have had to figure out how to transition to public school. There are a number of differences between Century and public school that our son encountered in his transition - moving to larger class sizes, less peer tutoring, and group instruction. There are more kids, more distractions, changing classes, and more peer pressure. Fortunately, Century prepares parents and kids for this transition. The principal partnered with and introduced the kids to their public-school counselors, taking them on a group tour of their new school, sharing tips for success, and addressing any challenges he anticipated prior to the transition. For example, they knew our son would need to show more of his math work in middle school. Our son struggled for 3-4 weeks with the transition. And, so did we with everything that was new. But now he's settled in and at our most recent teacher conference we were told how he stands out as a leader and is making A's in most of his classes. Century prepared him extremely well and deserves credit for it.
Third, on the subject of follow ups to find out if Century's "methods are successful." My first thought is - This isn't a research experiment. It's a school. My elementary school teachers never followed up with my progress. Did yours? However, Century school teachers HAVE FOLLOWED UP. The principal asked all 5th grade graduates to come back 2 weeks into their 6th grade year so he could give them a graduation gift and to find out how things were going. The teachers let kids know they always have a place at Century. Many former Century students volunteer during afternoons, days off, or summer vacations to mentor and work with current students. And some Century students come back as teachers while in college.
Fourth, the reviewer states that Century just wants to cash you checks without interest in your children. The reviewer makes it seem like they are all about money. This is offensive. Century is NOT-FOR-PROFIT. The teachers and principal love what they do, work long hours, and run on a lean budget. Frankly, it's sad what we pay teachers at ANY school, public or private, who spend 8+ hours a day with our kids teaching them things we don't have time to teach them. Century is very inexpensive considering it's year round, runs from 7:30-5:30 daily, and provides breakfast, lunch, snacks, downtown treat trips, and field trips.
More than that, I've never experienced a more caring environment for our children. I know how much the teachers care because of the texts they send when my child isn't feeling well, the fun pictures they send when they are on a field trip we can't attend, and the fact that our children ask us to invite their teachers to every single birthday party or social event we host. Our children LOVE their teachers and principal as much as they love their friends. And the teachers love them too.
Century has taught our kids to be good human beings - emphasizing kindness, responsibility, compassion, hard work, courtesy, and honesty. They have learned to be intellectually curious and love learning for the sake of learning. The previous reviewer's experience is so different from my own and from everyone I know at Century that I felt it was important to counter it with our experience over the past 7 years. With certainty, I can say - Century is the best decision we've made for our kids.
