Our time at Candeo Peoria was brief, and I cannot recommend this school based on our experience. At…read morefirst, everything seemed positive--the school environment felt safe, the uniform policy was well-implemented, and the principal, Mr. Davenport, was welcoming. However, things quickly went downhill.
My daughter, a seventh grader, had a distressing experience with her Latin teacher, Ms. Moline, on just the second day of school. She was publicly criticized for not completing her homework and was reprimanded for her lack of organization. This was particularly upsetting because it was only her second day, and she had started several weeks late due to her acceptance date. Furthermore, she had no prior experience in sixth-grade Latin, which is a prerequisite for the class.
There was no clear communication from the school or the teacher about how new students were expected to handle these assignments, and the instructions given were vague. When I met with Ms. Moline and Mr. Davenport to discuss these concerns, I was disappointed by the lack of resolution. Mr. Davenport seemed to excuse Ms. Moline's behavior rather than address it directly, and Ms. Moline herself was unsympathetic and unapologetic. Her demeanor was stern and unfriendly, which added to our discomfort, and it became apparent that many students share a similar view of her. I believe kindness and compassion are essential qualities for any educator.
Additionally, my children were burdened with over three hours of homework each night, which disrupted a healthy school-life balance, especially given their extracurricular activities. I also noticed that the school's approach felt outdated; there was minimal use of technology, and their classical education model prioritized Latin--a language that is not widely used in the U.S. I would prefer my children learn Spanish, which is more practical and can fulfill high school or college language requirements.
Ultimately, the lack of care and understanding of our concerns led us to conclude that Candeo Peoria was not the right fit for our family. We have returned to homeschooling through ASU Prep, which offers a rigorous curriculum that prepares students for college while also maintaining a healthy school-life balance.
In conclusion, while Candeo Peoria has some positives, our experience did not meet our expectations, and we have found a better fit elsewhere.