devoted 11 years of my life to this school--more than a decade building relationships, creating a thriving drama program from the ground up, and believing deeply in the mission of education. All four of my children attended this school. I loved it. I gave it my all. That's why what I'm about to say is not easy, but it is necessary: DO NOT.... DO NOT WORK HERE. DO NOT send your children here. The school I once believed in is no longer a place I can stand behind. The leadership, particularly under Dr. Musser, and the ongoing revolving door of "Heads of School"--many of whom act more like puppets than leaders--have created an increasingly toxic and unstable environment. I honestly wish there was someway to hold them accountable for the many many good teachers, they have hurt. In just the past two months, there have already been two turnovers for the upcoming "Head of school". That level of inconsistency trickles down and deeply affects staff morale, student experience, and the integrity of the institution. Despite the red flags, I stayed for far longer than I should have because of the incredible students. But dedication to the kids can only carry you so far when leadership continuously undermines the core values of education. The teacher turnover rate speaks volumes. I urge anyone considering employment or enrollment here to do your homework: * Look into the school's compliance with charter school laws--especially regarding special education services. * Ask questions about teacher retention and leadership turnover. * Speak to former staff if possible. The stories are there, if you're willing to listen. I used to defend the school because of the hard-working teachers and my own emotional investment. But I can no longer look the other way. When bad things happen and no one is held accountable, silence becomes complicity. The environment has become not just dysfunctional--but harmful. Please look deeper. Don't be fooled by appearances... let me be clear. This is a wolf in sheep's clothing. This is not a healthy place for students or staff. The leadership is not just ineffective--it's dangerous. read more

Our time at Candeo Peoria was brief, and I cannot recommend this school based on our experience. At first, 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. read more

A word of caution. An acceptance into this school is not an acceptance. We were formally accepted on January 9th, 2024, made life plans, and purchases for uniforms and school supplies. We also unenrolled her from her current school only for the offer to be rescinded two weeks into summer vacation. Do your research and have a back up plan in case you're accepted because the acceptance letter isn't a sure thing. read more

This school is amazing! It is demanding and rigorous for students AND PARENTS. Be prepared for your child to experience an exciting and challenging curriculum. Students are held to high academic and behavior expectation. read more

My Grandson Attends Candeo Peoria School He Is Very Happy There And Is Thriving! His Parents Are Very Satisfied With His Progress He was In Kindergarten! Teachers And Staff Were Very zGood! Grandson Had A Good Year! read more

My kids love the school. We have had a great experience with the teachers so far. I feel there are much less distractions here than there was in public school. There are not as many behavior issues taking away from their learning. The music teacher in particular has been great with his communication. The drop off and pick up line are faster than our home public school too. Our only complaint is the parent site isn't that easy to navigate and it's not always easy getting a response from the office for administrative questions. These aren't deal breakers for us though since our kids are thriving- just a pain to deal with. read more

Dont know much about the Peoria school but i know Scottsdale is lacking in administration and most likely is ran by the same person. so probably best to stay away read more

this school is bad, they uniform is so particular it manages hair bows, nail polish, and my son got a detention for his green socks. the principal is rude and never takes care of the middle school and, and my daughter even saw one of the middle school teachers smoking in the parking lot! The school assigns about 3 hours of homework and the extracurriculars are 200 dollars for each thing. 0/10 would recommend this school of you care about your kids. And, I could on and on about the rude comments the teachers make and the stupid policy of the dress code but i have to get started on my homework they assigned me :( PLEASE dont go here!!! read more

Our daughter had attended the last year and 1/2 and I cant say enough great things about this school. From the 1st day of school I was blown away of the leadership and the way they start the day is incredible. Every morning the entire school meets at the flag pole, Dr Musser leads the group in a moment of silence and ask the students to set their attention for the day, look around and share a smile and then on to Pledge of Allegiance. This is a great school and looking forward to having our granddaughter attend next year. read more

Phenomenal school. Good luck getting your student in!

I stopped into this school to see about student enrollment and learn more about the school. The front office staff virtually ignored me for about ten minutes before I finally said something. When I asked about the school, I was told everything I needed to know was online. The counter ladies were extremely rude, did not make eye contact, and dismissed me like I was bothering them. Since I have much higher expectations of my children's learning experiences and the people that work with them, I went elsewhere. I recommend you do the same. read more

My children attended this school for 4 years. The teachers are for the most part amazing. The parents are amazing and so are the students. We decided to leave this year and return to our public home school. What finally did me in was the constant micro managing of the dress code at this school. I am all for school uniforms, but this school takes it to an extreme level. The kids backpacks, socks, shoes, nail color , hair bows just to name a few were just To much for me to keep up with. Oh and even their lunch boxes have to be a certain color. Seriously, I just couldn't keep up. Also Dr. Musser is less than friendly to the parents. She does have her favorites ($$$), that she will actually make eye contact with and speak with. I believe she is just a very shy and anti- social person. Not a true leader that is required for a School such as this. My kids enjoyed their time there, but are over the moon to be back in their public school setting. read more

The school is AWESOME! The Teachers and Administration show great leadership daily and are excellent role models! Our children attended Public School but it wasn't challenging for them...no homework whatsoever through the 4th grade...they were bored and not learning. This school has them excited about the projects they are working on. The curriculum instills self reliance and critical thinking...there is a standard uniform policy so that fashion faux and fobs do not interfere with the learning environment...and does it work! Check out how the school ranks Statewide against others but more importantly ask a parent what they think about the school. Get on the wait list now and good luck with admissions! read more