I've held back from making this post for a while -- hoping Bacot Autism School would eventually…read moreoffer some kind of explanation. But after countless emails with no response, including a simple request to purchase my own child's school photos, this was the icing on the cake. Parents deserve to know the truth. When my son was accepted into Bacot Autism School, I was genuinely so excited. I even moved closer to the school so his mornings would be easier and I could be more involved. I truly believed this would be the right environment for him. He only attended for three weeks. The tuition through Step Up is about $13,000, but Step Up only covers around $10,000, leaving families to pay $180/month -- which I already made two full payments for. During that time: * One week there was no school * One week he was home sick * And every day in Carline, I asked how he was doing. Every day I was told: "He had a good day," or "He had a few hiccups but recovered well." Then suddenly, I got a call from the Executive Director. When I asked multiple times what had happened, she simply said: "I'm not sure and can't comment." To this day, I've received no explanation for why my son was suddenly dismissed -- or why they accepted payment knowing they would shut the door on him weeks later. The school board said their hands are tied because Bacot is a private school -- but even they agreed the situation is wrong and doesn't make sense. They've even suggested other contacts I could reach out to for answers, which says a lot in itself. The Department of Education also conducted an hour-long interview with my son and confirmed that he is a well-mannered, well-behaved child. They couldn't understand what Bacot claimed had happened and said he doesn't need the level of services Bacot described. After the call, I had to email multiple times just to retrieve his school supplies -- which were eventually left outside the front door with no communication or apology. I also requested to purchase his school photos multiple times, and every email has been ignored. When enrolling him in his new school, I met other parents who also came from Bacot -- many sharing their own serious concerns about how their children were treated. Even during my initial tour of Bacot, I saw a child lying on the floor, wrapped in a blanket, clearly having a hard day. The teacher nearby looked visibly frustrated, not comforting. I brushed it off at the time, but now I wish I had trusted that gut feeling. I still deserve an explanation -- every parent would. How can a school take thousands of dollars, remove a child in three weeks, and never explain why? Even a typical teenager takes longer than three weeks to adjust to a new school. My son spent two years in public school with zero issues, and now he's in a new school where he's thriving. That alone says everything. Parents -- please do your research, trust your instincts, and ask questions. Your child deserves patience, understanding, and compassion -- not silence.

In the now 4 years of starting one child in this school, I find now all 3 of them in Bacot Academy…read more It's a great school who has faculty who are passionate about what they do. Who make sure there one on one needs are met! They are thorough at what they do, and have a strong curriculum. Thanks to Bacot academy my kids are thriving and showing their true potential. I do not regret taking them out of public bay county schools that failed my kids. All 3 have grown academically and show me and go over with me every day when they come home what they learned. The faculty is very personable, classrooms are well balanced and the kids are placed in the right rooms. This school has grown so much since where they began and have moved to bigger locations to accommodate for the kids. I have literally seen this school grow so much and give so much for these kids, it's all about the kids and nothing more. If I didn't have faith in this school or believe in the staff, capabilities for each kid of mine let alone other people kids, mine would not attend here. When I go in to drop off food, snacks, papers, whatever the reason may be, I always see kids being properly taken care. These kids are in great hands and I make it a point to get to know each teacher so I know the whole staff who will daily come across my children. My husband and I are very strict on things that have to deal with our own children and even he has agreed, this school is the best decision we made for our children here in Bay County. Hands down would do this again! Thank you to all of the staff for putting in so much effort, time and love into the kids. I know mine can be rough on days, but you always handle it well and let me know what's going on so we can handle it at home as well. Thank you for literally loving these kids!

I took my child here and quickly learned that they don't care about school schedules. The only…read morefriendly person was Hayden. I called to reschedule an appointment without issue but was later left a message that the appointment was scheduled for the wrong office and I would have to come the next day and at time they adding without asking. I called and let them know I couldn't make that appointment. The woman told me I couldn't schedule appointments for after school. When I told her the previous appointments were after school she told me she couldn't lose her job over this and she would have her supervisor call me back. Today I received a call that my sons case would be closed (because I missed the appointment I called to cancel) and I needed to call in. With in the 5 minutes it took me to call in they closed the account admitted it was their fault and even blamed the governor that I couldn't get his case reopened. Don't waster your time. Go somewhere that actually cares.