The best move we made was changing our kids from the local district schools to Peoria Academy. We'd heard some not so good things about the school when we arrived in the area back in 2013 so didn't bother to take a look and went with our local school. After experiencing 2 different DCUSD schools and finding ourselves not very comfortable with what our children were experiencing day to day, we decided we needed to be more proactive with their education before it was too late... they only get one go at elementary and in my opinion it can make or break their love of school for the future. Since moving to PA they have thrived. They've found a place where it is safe to be themselves... diversity and differences are learned about and celebrated... in the mid-west it is hard to find a place to educate your kids with such a global outlook. The academic standards are high, as are the standards of politeness and respect throughout the school. The facilities are excellent for such a small school, which is a testament to the quality of the investment from previous and current families that have attended the school. Last but not least, the staff are so skilled, enthusiastic, caring, flexible and willing to work with your child as an individual - we are privileged to have had the opportunity for our children to be educated by them. If you're thinking that your child's current school is not quite giving them the educational experience you'd like, then it's definitely worth scheduling a tour to see the other options out there. read more

Quality is a rare commodity. Which makes Peoria Academy the rarest of commodities, as it is a gold mine in the field of education. Our family is very frugal with money as we have dedicated careers to social service. However, we found opportunity in Peoria Academy's financial aid program. Not only do they have some of the greatest teachers and the most friendly administrative staff, they strive as an institution to make education affordable to lower income families through this aid program. Their class sizes are also small enough to offer a great deal of attention to every student. The head of school greets every single student in front of the building upon entering, even in snow and rain, and waves good bye as we leave after school. The teachers are phenomenal at knowing the precise amount of fun to inject into a lesson plan, as well as knowing when to redirect a student when necessary. They also teach a great deal of art, Spanish, and music. Not only do they have a Spanish class, their gym teacher also incorporates Spanish into sports and games as he is native to Columbia. The institution is well-rounded in education, customer friendly, and a pillar to the Greater Peoria community. My daughter loves this school and as a parent, I have been very willing to volunteer for their fundraisers and events so that it can continue to succeed. There is nothing like Peoria Academy. read more

All three of my kids attend Peoria Academy and I love this school! The small size means it's very friendly and all the kids know each other's name. It's like a big family - and a great community to be a part of. Coming to Peoria from the UK, we wanted a secular option for our children, and the cultural diversity - much like an International School - was what first attracted us to PA. The curriculum is varied, challenging, and hands-on. Not just geared towards passing tests. I believe the kids really benefit from the experimental learning and all the extras PA has to offer above and beyond the public schools - such as the Outdoor Education Center, (a working garden / classroom) and all the diverse extra curricular activities. My kids have enjoyed trying out (among other things) Tae Kwon Do, Robotics club, lego club, Ballet, Yoga, Gymnastics, STEAM art, Scholastic Bowl, Fencing, Scouts, piano, guitar, ukulele, cheerleading, mathletics, cookery, Scholastic Bowl, and pottery (the school even has its own kiln!) Multicultural Night is a highlight of the year, along with Halloween Trunk-or-Treat, Family Picnic /Movie Night, and the Annual Gala. PA is a special place. I highly recommend coming for a tour. read more

Very bad place to send your child. There online reviews are fraud they make students and parents write good 5 star reviews for a discount in there 13 grand education. Teaching is mediocre all the good teachers left after Sarah Rae managed to get the principal fired (which he was a great principal). Sarah Rae has also said and done many major infractions. For example she took a students of campus without permission from the parent she said sh*t and F*ck in front of 10-13 year olds and talks about how she was s*xually abused in her college which is not a appropriate topic for science class. Romel Salazar makes fun of students and openly promotes bullies who harass other kids and call them names he singles out students that are not doing anything and get them in trouble. A parent of a victim of his unfairness told me that Romel made threats against his child to not tell what happend in class he said "what happens in class stays in the class and if it escapes there will be consequences". There are alot of better schools in peoria for the money and the education. But if you want to be treated like sh*t and pay for a crappy education fell free to come here read more

Peoria Academy gave me my child back! When we moved to Peoria our daughter was going into 4th grade and went to school in a highly acclaimed school district. She would come home everyday crying after constantly being bullied by a classmate and lack of attention to the matter by her teacher. When someone told us about Peoria Academy we set up a shadow day. As soon as our daughter got into the car at the end of the day the first thing she said was "Mom, can I go to this school?" I had not seen her this excited in such a long time. She started at Peoria Academy the following week and was welcomed with open arms by both her teachers and classmates. She's now a middle schooler and loves to learn, thrives to do her best. The academics are top notch with teachers who are there to teach and expand their student's mind through creative ways of learning. I believe that the education she's getting at Peoria Academy is giving her a solid foundation for a successful academic future. read more

I am thrilled to send my son to Peoria Academy in the fall. They clearly give students a solid education combined with unique and valuable experiences. I am looking forward to how much my son will learn during his time at this school and I was very impressed by the students that I met during my tour. They seemed very well-rounded, polite and intelligent. The teachers were very friendly and happy answer all of my questions, even when I may have seemed a little overbearing (whoops!). I have friends who send their children here and they have been very happy with everything that Peoria Academy can offer them. It seems like only those who are unhappy go out of their way to post a review, so I wanted to see for myself what this school is all about. I don't know what these other posters are talking about. read more

Peoria academy is a very good school. They have pre-k through 8th grade, though. The teachers are all very friendly and it is a very tight-knit group of friends most of the time. Yes, it costs money, but that is because it is way better than any public school. They offer many extracurriculars and a block schedule, which is very helpful. The reason I did not give it five stars is because there is no band. There is, however, guitar, orchestra, private instrument lessons, many opportunities to participate in sports, and a lot of other fun extracurriculars. Sources: I am a student and before that I went to summer camp there. It has improved a lot since 07 and some people just get bad experiences. A lot of students like Peoria academy. There are a lot of field trip opportunities. read more

I truly cannot say enough great things about PA!! All of the teachers are AMAZING- everytime I see them they are happy to be there! The education is fun and comprehensive! My kids absolutely LOVE learning and the staff do a great job at challenging the kids without making it stressful! The PA family is just as great as the school! Parents are involved and there really is a solid community!! It is worth every penny!!!! I know my kids will not only be prepared for the future but more importantly they are experiencing daily how fun and exciting learning can be!!!! read more

Peoria Academy is hands down the best academic choice in town! Their individual attention and personalized learning plan for each child allows for growth in every subject. One of the first things you notice when you enter Peoria Academy is the sense of welcoming and belonging. They have a global diversity like no other in Peoria and they celebrate all cultures! I love knowing my children's friends, their parents, and their teachers and I especially love that my children look forward to going to school everyday! read more

This is the only independent school in Peoria. Their academics peak in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students being years above their national peers in standardized math and reading tests. They don't teach using PAARK or ISAT or MAP materials. They use carefully picked materials and creative approaches to content. The small class sizes allow teachers to attend the social and emotional components that some kids need and all classes benefit from. I'm happy with Peoria Academy read more

Peoria Academy is such an amazing school! We are so glad we made the decision to send our kids there. If you have children ages 3 (pre-k) through 8th grade, please check it out! (Just give the school a call to set an appointment). It is well worth the investment in a solid educational foundation for your kids as well as amazing extracurricular opportunities from faculty and staff that genuinely care about your kids. read more

Our experience with Peoria Academy has been outstanding. Excellent teachers and staff who are invested in top quality education. Our child's progress while at PA has exceeded our expectations. We started there at the 3-4 class. Extra curricular activities are available after regular hours. We are very pleased. read more

So excited to see all the available enrichment opportunities! The small class sizes are great for teachers and kiddos to get to know each other, and the school is a very diverse, accepting place. I have yet to encounter an instance of bullying, and the kids are all very driven while still being kind. read more

I have three kids at PA and am extremely happy with the education they are receiving. The faculty and staff are excellent and the classes sizes are much more conducive to the learning environment I was looking for. The community feeling you get at PA is second to none! read more

this school offers more than any other private or public school in the whole area. I have been involved with their Tae Kwon Do program for 15 years and would recommend to everyone to ck. it out. Master Dennis Zehr read more

Amazing school, amazing staff and amazing parents. It's our 3rd year at PA and we couldn't be happier. We were very nervous for our 3.5 yr old son to start school, but PA made sure it was a smooth transition. read more

I have been at this school for 10 years and it is an amazing place for education. Teachers and stafff are all very friendly. In general this school has a great atmosphere and community. read more

Great place for early childhood education! My child went from dreading school to loving it. I feel like the teachers really "see" my child--both strengths and areas for support. read more