I'm very grateful for this unique public charter school that my kids love. They enjoy going on frequent field trips, learning through projects, not having homework, and having great friends and kind teachers. I appreciate that their curriculum includes SEL (social emotional learning) and that the students aren't allowed to have cell phones while on campus. The highlight of our experience has definitely been the fantastic teachers! Adrienne Reighard has been a phenomenal teacher for my third grader. She's genuinely interested in getting to know each of her students and finding ways to support their learning. She's so calm, patient and kind, yet firm enough that the kids listen and respect her. She goes above and beyond to create a supportive and efficient classroom environment. And as a parent, I really appreciate her clear, consistent communication. Becca, the 3rd grade teacher's assistant, is also proactive and really gets the kids. Patrick, the Spanish teacher, is one of the most dynamic, engaging, and effective teachers ever. His students love the fun activities and catchy songs he incorporates in his class. He makes learning fun! He also teaches chess and woodcarving and it seems like he can make any subject interesting. Kristy Fitts and Christie Fullerton were also great teachers, and planned lots of engaging projects, field trips, and holiday-themed activities. Nathan, the nature studies teacher, is fantastic and plans some great hands-on activities for the kids, like making their own salads to eat and making their own hugenkultur beds for gardening. For families who prioritize a nurturing environment with smaller class sizes and a variety of electives, this school has a lot to offer. The academics are more relaxed than rigorous, which would be a good fit for those prioritizing a balanced lifestyle. That said, we have found that the school has been navigating some challenges with managing disruptive behavior effectively, which impacts the learning environment. read more

We have been at this school since my son was in 1st grade and my daughter started Kindergarten. It is truly a special and unique school. My son particularly loves learning about animals and the ocean, and there is a Nature Studies class offered, taught originally by Mary and now Nathan. Both excellent! They learn not only about animals, but ecosystems and plants. My daughter told me the other day that they are growing things in the outside garden and making salads from what they grew that they actually get to eat! We have been pleased with all of their teachers so far, but my son's 4th teacher Alexa really stands out. She is vibrant, engaged, and kind, and I can tell genuinely interested in the students and eager for them to learn. My son is sad to see this year come to a close because he has enjoyed the year so much. He has generally not been one to seek out opportunities to lead but Alexa has trusted him to do that, and I can tell it has boosted his confidence. My daughter's teacher this year for third grade is Adrienne. My daughter loves her. She said she is so patient and kind, but she get's the kids to learn. My daughter told me the other day that she wants to become a teacher because of Adrienne- what better testament to her teaching skills than that! My daughter will be sad to see the year come to a close as well. And finally I want to give a shout out to Natasha, the theatre teacher, and Sam, who teaches ceramics. Just wow. The theatre program at Innovations is truly one of a kind. She puts on so many shows, it is hard to see them all! I have enjoyed each and every show I have seen. My kids have also enjoyed classes with Sam. This is also a unique opportunity that not every school has to learn pottery, and working with ceramics to make various things like flowers, pizzas, ghosts, snow men. I love the projects they bring home. No school is going to be perfect, but as a family we are very grateful we found such an amazing school. read more

My daughter is in Kindergarten at Innovations and loves her teacher, Gaby. We love Gaby's approach to teaching and her dedication to the kids. My daughter is always excited to go to school because Gaby makes learning fun and engaging. She is incredibly patient and kind. She lets the kids be kids while still teaching them so much. We are grateful for Gaby! read more

My kids (middle school) really appreciate Coach Adam Fussell because he makes PE interesting. It's far more than repetitive exercises and drills. Coach Adam has put effort into creating a competitive sports ladder set-up similar to March Madness. (The kids love it!) What's really cool is that advancing on the ladder is more elaborate than just which team scores the most points in a game. It considers things like team spirit and playing by the rules as well, so that even a team that may not be the strongest at the sport can advance by working hard on the other aspects. read more

We moved to San Diego 2 years ago and could not be happier we settled on Innovations Academy after reviewing all of the school district choices online and multiple in person. It helped that after we toured the school both of our girls immediately asked to start there the next day. :-) The ethos of the school, practical problem based learning in a supportive environment, and emphasis on family relationships and community, permeate every classroom and school activity. They have a dedication to exploring the world and go on field trips related to the projects the kids are working on EVERY MONTH. They also have an incredible theater program and not only do all the kids get a chance to participate in theatre in their classes, but they can work with Natasha Starbuck-Smith on fascinating and really fun plays, both of our kids have loved working with her! Riley Gray was an excellent first grade teacher who showed incredible kindness, compassion, and tenderness to her class (which I got to experience many times first hand as a volunteer) while getting them excited about learning. Alexa Pacheco went above and beyond what I thought was possible for a 4th grade class, and our daughter participated in a class congressional committee which developed and voted on laws, curating a realistic experience for parents traveling across the country during the gold rush, making a podcast, and learning interviewing skills by performing interviews of people at the mall just to name a few projects. Kristy Fitts and Christy Fullerton provide a spectacular 5th grade experience, including field trips to Sea Camp and Pathfinders ranch where the 5th graders have safe environments to get out of there shells, work together, and appreciate each other for their various strengths and help people work on their weaknesses. They have incredible projects on space and our environment and multiple electives the kids can choose from. Dana Anderegg teaching her 2nd grade class has a seemingly endless amount of energy and curated field trips allowing the class to explore the best parts of San Diego and learning about the importance of nature and habitats in the process. In short, this is a school I wish I could have attended, and am so glad my kiddos can. If you're even thinking this might work for your kiddos, come tour! read more

We love Innovations Academy. I love their focus on project-based learning and connecting with the real world. For my kids kindergarten class, they brought firefighters to visit during their neighborhood project and visited a farm while learning about where our food comes from. I also love their explorations program, which allows the kids to rotate through visits with specialty teachers in subjects like natural science, robotics, art, ceramics, theater, and Spanish language, enhancing their learning experience. My son is in Makenna's class, and I could tell right away when we met her that she cares about her students! She asked lots of questions about my son, feeling out his strengths, weaknesses, and interests. She always has a positive, friendly attitude and is so communicative about what the kids are learning and doing in class. I highly recommend Innovations Academy for anyone who really wants to see their child excel and grow, and a friendly, caring school environment. read more

Coming out of COVID in 2021, we were searching for a Kindergarten for my son. We applied but did not get into High Tech, and were not excited by the start time of our choice school (7:30am YIKES!). My friend mentioned that if she were to send her child to a school, she would go to Innovations Academy. When I checked out the school, the only program that was open at that time was the HLC. On a whim, we decided to apply and I have to say it was the best decision ever. Teresa was my son's teacher for three years and am now my daughters. My son has moved up a class to Jill. We've interviewed and visited a ton of classrooms when we were searching for a school pre-covid and I have to say that Teresa is one of the most thoughtful and kind teachers we found. She is a teacher that understand the core of each child and know everyone's strengths and weaknesses and always strive for what is best for your child. Her classroom always has the coolest projects. This year, they centered their class around saving the arctics, last year they built a rainforest (and then built cardboard boats to race in a swimming pool) - I don't know any other K-2 class that do such cool projects. Jill has been a great transition for my son. She is so caring and understanding but also has a higher standard for the older kids. As the students go through Jill's class, they work more on group dynamics, individualism, and developing a stronger sense of responsibility. She fosters an environment where students are encouraged to express themselves, support one another, and rise to meet new challenges. I've seen real growth in my son's confidence, social skills, and independence thanks to her guidance. Overall, if you are looking for a school that has small class sizes, fantastic teachers, and a nurturing environment that truly supports each child's growth--I highly recommend checking out IA HLC program. read more

This school is a joke. My son has gone here since Kindergarten and the schools focus is definitely not on learning or academics. The principal is the problem, most of the teachers are great. I just received a report card and for my son he did well all the basic areas, reading, math, social studies, writing, science & Art. His main teacher this year is amazing. Somehow on PE, Nature studies and Performing arts he did poorly but there is no actual feedback from the teachers regarding why. The principal will message you multiple times a month about random playground tiffs, but all year long not a single message from the teachers or principal to indicate there is some type of performance issue in the other classes... not even when you attend the exhibition night where you go and see the teachers. When inquiring with the teachers what lead to the grade and how to help your child most do not respond and the one that does blames it on a new grading system and tells you not to worry about it it's just points and is not indicative of the students content knowledge. The whole point of going to school is to learn why are the grades not indicative of the child's content knowledge? I thought this place was great because of the class sizes and extracurricular activities but save yourself and lot of frustration and find a school that places more focus on learning and your child's knowledge base and academic performance. read more

Our experience at IA has been incredible. My kiddo has been here 1-3rd grade. We have loved all 3 teachers. This year he has Briana Rabb who has provided such a calm, welcoming and positive learning environment. I always feel welcomed to come into her class and help out which is a lot of fun. My son feels engaged and challenged with the interesting projects in her classroom. He loves going to school every day. IA is a small school so he knows all 50 kids in his grade. There is a big focus on social emotional and positive discipline which is so helpful for young children. It's a fun and welcoming community with lots of great events on campus. The "exploration classes" offered are top notch. IA employs a full time teacher in: Engineering, Spanish, Phys Ed, Performing Arts, 2D Art, 3D Art, and Nature studies. I feel like we are at a fancy private school! My son did kinder at our local public school and it was ok but not the best fit for him. He has ADHD and is very smart and was not interested in the standard school worksheet type learning. When we came to IA in 1st grade they immediately recognized a reading deficit and got him an IEP (he's now above grade level). I know people at other schools fighting for years to get their kids this kind of services. I love that they are proactive and have the resources to make sure each kid is thriving. read more

We love our 4th grade teacher Ms Alexa! Truly inspiring projects and field trips! What they have learned about history, science, and vocabulary through their project based learning is incredible. Highly recommend! read more

Reviews of our current teachers: Savannah-Rose Ferrer - one of my 7th graders teachers. My kiddo really likes Savannah's teaching style and her ability to connect with students on a personal level (she says she's really good at listening and is fair). I appreciate how she speaks to the students and I've had no issues having conversations with her about tricky middle school dynamics amongst students. Johnathan Flowers - this is my 7th graders other teacher. He's a nice guy with a real interest in the kids learning. My kid has really liked his teaching style as well (they've had a fun time this year developing and playing a world-building role play game). He's got the ability to be authoritative without sounding demanding or rude, which seems like a key skill to have with middle schoolers. Teresa Draguicevich (Homeschool/HLC teacher) - my youngest has had Teresa for a few years now in the K-2nd grade classroom and I can't say enough good things about her. She is the most patient and kind teacher I've ever known and I'm always amazed at her capacity to navigate the wild and always-fluctuating emotions and desires of young children. I've learned so much from her as a parent who is often present in her classroom. Her many years of experience is evident in how she speaks to kids, approaches learning, and talks with parents who are often nervous that we aren't doing enough in the homeschooling landscape. Her class is the MOST fun - some of the projects we've worked on over the years include: building 2-person rowboats wont cardboard and tape; conceptualizing and hosting a rain forest cafe fundraiser in the classroom for families; building the classroom out over the semester to look like an arctic tundra this year and a rainforest last year; and putting on a musical. read more

We've been at IA for 5 years and love it! Every teacher we've had has been so dedicated and compassionate. This year my son has Riley in 1st and he adores her. I'm often in the class and am so impressed how she handles all the different personalities. My daughter is in 5th and has Jill in HLC. She couldn't be happier, which is saying a lot for a kid who isn't very fond of formal education... HLC is a hybrid homeschool option; perfect for my daughter. read more

STAY AWAY! No backpacks allowed for middle schoolers after an incident of......-- that's the first red flag. While the school may seem good at first, the problems become clear over time. They claim to practice "positive discipline," but in reality, that means total freedom with zero accountability or consequences -- even for bullies. The director often resorts to victim-blaming instead of protecting students. On top of that, the academics are weak, and the overall environment is chaotic. read more

I have been so impressed with my son's second grade teacher Dana Anderegg. She helps her class stay on topic in a light, patient, and fun way. Her balance between structure and play is phenomenal and she has been a key player in my son's success and comfort in school. read more

Really enjoying the experience at this school! Was a homeschool mom for many years as well as a private school teacher, and I have also tried a few different public/charter school/co-op programs when needing to adjust from our moves - so I can say, we found a winner! The teachers have been great to collaborate with during our transition to a new school this year (even through challenges!) and I'm also very thankful that all three of my boys are enjoying themselves and all the school has to offer. Special shout out to Ms. Jillian, Mr. Flowers and Ms. Savannah (left a separate similar review for my 5th grader's teacher). They're all very special in different ways (patient, humble and kind to name a few) but my favorite thing is the combined efforts that they all commonly share in truly caring about their students - yes academically but more importantly relationally! I believe it's getting tougher on teachers as each generation moves along, so kudos to all the ones that stick it out victoriously and I'm truly grateful that we've been blessed to have landed upon these kind Thanks for a great year and looking forward to all that's yet to come Love you guys read more

It took us a long time to make the decision to move our daughter from our neighborhood school after a interesting TK year to start Kindergarten at IA. We couldn't be happier! Ms. Gaby and Jesse care about the students so much and it shows in the effort they put into planning classroom activities and the communication with the parents. The project based and child-led learning philosophy makes learning so organic and the teachers treat the students like they are all part of a team. The kids are learning valuable team building, communication, critical thinking and problem solving skills daily. The smaller class sizes, electives, and assortment of afterschool programs are a few of the other things we love too. read more

I am writing specifically for Makenna G, my child's Kindergarten teacher, and Cindy her TA. They are the best!!! From the start, Makenna has taken the time to get to know all of her students and always has an amazing attitude with them. Her littles can be a handful at times, but she knows how to interact with every single one of them individually to motivate them to learn! Makenna really is a fantastic teacher! Her classroom is so colorful and inviting, and just fun to be in. Cindy is so calm and caring with the littles and has so much patience for them! They are a great team and I am so thankful that my child has gotten to learn from them this year! read more

This place offers students more than just the 3 Rs. They can experience hands on theater training even at a young age.

Innovations Academy is a hidden gem, a treasure hard to find. 3 years ago, I found out that Innovations Academy not only offers a 5 days program, but also a 2 days program, for homeschooled kids. The program is run by three amazing teachers: Ms. Teresa, Ms. Jill, and Ms. Jen, who respectively teach the youngest kids, lower and upper elementary, and middle schoolers. These teachers come with the expertise and leadership of educators, coupled with the knowledge of the homeschoolers. The offer the best of both worlds. The teachers, over the years, created a wonderful inclusive community of parents and children, who, guided by a strength based, collaborative, firm, yet non punitive philosophy, develop social-emotional skills such as emotional awareness, communication of needs, problem solving, and conflict resolution. As a result, kids feel connected to one another, as well as the adults that support them. They feel safe to be themselves, they trust their own bodies, feelings, and judgment. Parents also feel connected and supported by one another, as they grow with their children. Thank you Teresa, Jill, Jen, and Innovations Academy for creating this wonderful program and community! read more

We are really grateful to have found Innovations Academy. We are part of the HLC program at IA and love the hybrid version of homeschooling and some in person time and instruction. This year both of my kids have been in Jen's class and have been thriving. We really appreciate that Jen takes time to partner with our family to support a really great learning experience for them based on their needs and interests. She always has really insightful and unique suggestions and recommendations for learning subjects or resources that my kids love. Another thing that I really appreciate about Jen is the in class activities and opportunities for learning. I love hearing from my kids about all the different ways they are engaging in learning and collaborating with their friends. It feels really great to have found a school program and teacher that appreciate our kids' individuality and foster a student lead approach. Thanks IA and thanks Jen!! read more

I am writing after both my experiences and as a response/addition to Rosario B.'s I graduated from Innovations in 2022 and my experience is similar to many current and former students. It is true it's a toxic environment. But as scathing and truthful as Rosario's review is, I want to provide an inside perspective from a former student. When I was a student I was undiagnosed with ADHD, however I had a diagnosis for anxiety. In my final year I had a panic attack in class and instead of calling my parents I was locked in a room by Ali Kolb unable to call my parents. My screams in her office were ignored by the principal and other ladies in the office and they needed to call in the guidance counselor who finally let me call my parents. They preach positive reinforcement but that is nowhere to be seen. When I started going to therapy (because of the damage I suffered from Innovations) the guidance counselor Jennifer Kuebler tried to bully me into making her my therapist while not believing any of my diagnosis'. She brought me in for check ins and despite saying she was neutral was clearly not on my side. She is a bully and half the reason I am currently in therapy. Currently I am aware that they have cameras outside of the bathroom to monitor students. I have no idea why a principal and school administration would need to monitor who goes to the bathroom and even though I am no longer a student I am disturbed. Their teacher turnover is 100% the administration's fault. They constantly shame their teachers and when it isn't the administration it's the other teachers. There is a hierarchy upon the teachers and many will bully the others. Mainly the current PE coach Rich Curry who screamed at my former teacher after she made a small mistake. He also would often shame students and make comments about their race. On a field trip there were suspicions about one of the teachers and another one of the chaperones being drunk. This school was involved in a controversy around COVID. Including 2 students who did not wear masks and Christine threatening to drive them home. There are a few teachers here who are truly amazing and I don't want to diminish their work. There are moments of my IA experience I treasure and I made lifelong friends, but the good outweighs the bad. Please read these reviews especially the negative ones as they are the most realistic. read more

I am writing this review in hopes of warning prospective teachers and parents about the toxic environment at Innovations Academy. I have been a parent there for 8 years and I taught for 6 weeks. I don't want new people to have to go through what I saw new parents, students and teachers have gone through this year. I had known about the high teacher turnover and heard from past teachers about their heartbreaking experiences, but decided I wanted to see for myself. I believe in giving people a chance and that we all ultimately want the same things, to be happy, safe and successful. Unfortunately, the small amount of time I spent there, I was able to first hand experience what all the previous teachers and parents had been describing. I attempted to talk kindly and positively with administration and was met with shame and denial. I have also written letters explaining my personal experience and perspective, in the hopes that they would be able to reflect on the situation and make the necessary changes. I have copied the board of directors and I will also be sending in a formal complaint. My goal was to help communicate my experience and help inspire the necessary changes so that our school community could improve and faculty members would be supported and valued, but unfortunately they do not want to hear any of this. I am very sad to have had to give up my classroom and my community of parents. I hope and pray that there will be changes, but please, if you are thinking of working there, or sending your kids, I URGE you to investigate. Don't take my word, find out for yourself. There are TOO MANY stories from teachers and parents, about unprofessional and inappropriate ways of treating children, parents and faculty members. There is no respect or value given to teachers. This results in a hostile environment where positive discipline is not practiced and a healthy community is not nourished. Without discipline very little learning occurs. There are great memories and stories at this school, but these happen at the expense of the individual teachers and parents who dedicate time and energy to make this so for their students. I give thanks to those teachers who have sacrificed their mental and physical health for this cause, and also those who continue to cope with the mismanagement that exists around you. It is time to stop this toxic cycle and hold the board of directors and administration accountable for their contribution to this unfortunate situation. I hope this review helps you. read more

My twins have been attending Innovations Academy since kindergarten and are now in 5th grade. My family is extremely happy with the school, even my husband who has a bit more "traditional" viewpoint on education than I do. As others have mentioned Innovations practices "project- based" or "inquiry- based" learning which keeps the kids interested, while still following state standards for education. The school doesn't "teach to the test" but instead instills a deeper learning by diving deep into topics. They make things interesting, and I'm always happy to hear my kids excited to talk about what they learned in school. My main reason for choosing Innovations, however, is the positive discipline philosophy. More time is spent on social/ emotional learning than at most public schools, so our kids are learning to be kind and get along with people, very important traits to learn in this increasingly volatile world. The kids learn self- awareness, self- regulation, and conflict resolution that will be useful to them - and the world - for all their lives. For example, it's very important to me that my son is not shamed or made to feel bad as he learns impulse control; and my daughter is learning to be empowered and speak up. I don't feel that a traditional school's discipline policies would be addressing those things, only likely labeling my son as a "bad kid," and ignoring my daughter because she is a "good, easy kid." IA meets each child where they are and helps them develop both their strengths and their weaknesses. The school's learning and discipline philosophies boost kids' confidence which helps the kids become better learners and well- adjusted, happy humans. My 5th grade daughter reads at an 8th grade level, and my 5th grade son reads at a 3rd grade level. And that's ok. The teacher and I are working together to help my son in the ways that help him best so that he isn't made to feel bad, but is learning to enjoy reading while increasing his skills. I feel extremely grateful for Innovations Academy and I'm not sure what we would do without it! This school is our extended family. The teachers, counselors, other parents, and principal are amazing and have supported our family above and beyond what one would expect from any school! read more

I have read all the reviews on here and I am really surprised by the bad ones. Our experience at Innovations Academy has been life changing. We moved our son out of PUSD at the beginning of 2nd grade. He is an intelligent kid but is severely dyslexic. His 2 previous schools did not have the tools to teach him to read and the class sizes were way too large for one teacher. He did not feel a connection with his classmates because he didn't get to participate in any learning. The class work was structured around reading and paper and pencil test taking and he really needed something more project based. Our son was frustrated and extremely unhappy. We finally found Innovations Academy! When we first went to visit we were a little hesitant because of the reviews and the appearance of the school, which is very old but we knew the school would be moving to a new location. Our son spent a day in the classroom and within a few days he was attending IA. He is getting amazing support from everyone he works with. The Spec Ed team is amazing with him and trained in Lindamood Bell which is essential for my son's learning. He has an incredible 2nd grade teacher again, since it was best to hold him back a year because he was so behind. She is caring but firm, patient and loves what she does. All the teachers have smaller class sizes (20-23) with a full-time teacher's aide, which was very important to us. The school office staff are also very invested in the students. They are always helpful and friendly and their doors are always open. I would like to address the social and emotional piece that previous reviewers have complained about. We feel that if our son did not have this type of support, he would not be doing as well as he is. He struggles quite a bit with his insecurities due to his learning disabilities. At Innovations Academy, he feels safe and he feels encouraged to try harder even if he fails at first. Lastly, we do believe that IA is not for everyone. It has a different philosophy than your typical public school, which puts them in the 5 star category for us. If you want a school that fully supports your child with all their individual strengths and weaknesses, allows them to learn hands on, teaches your child the importance of kindness and mindfulness all while getting a great academic education, then Innovations Academy would be the school for you! read more

Note: He requested to do this, so my son is writing this review. Enjoy! I don't know if this entire post may count in the long run, but I feel like this page needs something interesting. So here it is, a completely unbiased review of my school, Innovations Academy. So heres how It happened. I was going to a private school for a while (about K-2nd grade) up until this school. And when I learned I couldn't stay at that school for 3rd grade and above, I was so emotionally distraught. I was sad almost every day of that summer when I found out I had to go to a new school. So my parents introduced me to IA. I didn't think much of it at first, thinking it would just be some public school crap I wouldn't be used to, but that was where I was completely wrong. Ever since the first day, everyone was so nice and so accepting of me, as if they had gone through the same thing as me and wanted me to feel loved here. Due to me not being used to public schools, I had so many embarrassments and screwups that year it was uncountable, but they didn't care. Everyone, teachers, students, and even our principal were so nice to me all year. Their curriculum is amazing too and data shows that alumni students in high school are exceeding normal expectations. There is all sorts of engaging work there not just academically but so much on I don't really know how to put it into words how amazing this school is to everyone, newcomers or returning students. There may be things that might confuse people (who are more used to regular public schools for example), to be continued... read more

I don't think words alone can really express my gratitude for this school. Their values and educational believes align up with how we think and until now we have always had to "swim upstream" in our other schools, "unschooling" my kids from so much that they have picked up on. It's really such a blessing to see my kids smile when we talk about school and learning and that is all thanks to IA and the caring staff. read more

We love IA. My son began attending Innovations Academy in kindergarten when we lived in the neighborhood. When we moved out of Scripps Ranch mid year, we decided to keep him at the school and commute because the school is such a good fit for our family and his learning style. He is now entering fifth grade. The teachers have been excellent, the small class size is a huge benefit to students, and the individual attention from administration is superb. My son is always sad on the last day of school! :). read more

We brought our daughter here 3 years ago, after leaving an awful class at another San Diego Unified school. Small class sizes, a focus on social-emotional development, a thriving arts program, nature studies, robotics....It's like a free private school! We have loved being part of this community and watching our daughter grow and thrive here. read more

We came to innovation academy 5 years ago after terrible experience with our neighborhood school! We found so much support in so many different areas but very helpful with social emotional support! We have a kindergartener now and a 5th grader and are so happy to part of such an amazing community!! Between all the amazing plays, family events , after school clubs... it's really a great school and community to be part of!! My children enjoy getting to go to school every day and it's not because they like school, its because they love being part of Innovation Academy!!! read more

This review is my experience in a 1st grade class my son was in. It would not be truly fair to say this is a 2-star school because we only experienced one teacher. We recently moved to San Diego and we were way passed registration deadlines. IA was the only school out of several schools we applied for that called us with an open slot for first grade. My wife researched this school before attending the parent's orientation and she was impressed with their teaching philosophy and methods...particularly when they mentioned they make learning fun through exploratory techniques. The first thing we noticed during the orientation was the school is old...the playground is weathered and run down. The bathroom was filthy with ants crawling everywhere. My son attended for a month until we found another school. The reasons why switched school are: -No teacher to parent relationship. Out of all the teachers my son has ever had, his teacher here was the least informative and least vocal. Maybe I've been spoiled by a 1-2 minute daily conversation with teachers telling me about how my son did that day and anything that can help further the child learning and development. -No homework policy. Put it this way...you'll be wondering why your kid even has a backpack because day after day, it will be empty. How are you going to see what your child is doing and learning if nothing is ever sent home? We do our own homework through workbooks we bought and our son has regressed in some areas like math. Conclusion: I've met teachers who absolutely love their career and what they do...and reflected onto their students in attitude and academics. I didn't get that sense of feeling here. It's like putting regular gas in a premium car...it will get you where you need to go but it won't be as expected. A teacher has to love what they do...everything stems from that alone...if this teacher did love what she did, then my son would probably still be at this school and this request would be 5 stars. I hope and pray that the teacher gets back to the roots of why she chose her profession and the love she had for it back then. read more

Although my daughter only attended Innovations for a short time (thank goodness) it was a totally wasted period. They are more concerned with mindfulness, celebrating mediocracy and applauding the loss of any competitions. No homework sounds good, but no classroom reviews to go along with it produces little success in the final analysis. The teacher she had was very disorganized in her teaching and in her daily activities. These students will be unprepared to go on to a less "mindful" and more typical/normal high school experience little lone the real world. I can't imagine many of them going on to college when the time comes, after their experience at Innovations. The head of the school showed little concern for any issues presented to her. I would highly recommend looking elsewhere for a middle school setting for my child...I did and have been totally happy with the change. My daughter was able to bring all of her grades up to high honor roll status with the help of really competent teachers and staff. read more

My daughter has gone to IA from Kinder. She is now in 4th Grade. After my own life experiences, I thought allowing her to learn in a different kind of environment would be beneficial to her. My overall opinion of this school is that it is great for my child. She is able to learn at her pace. What I mostly love about it here is that it is project based. These kids are learning by life experience. The have field trips monthly that allow them to experience things outside normal classroom. This schools allows many extras such as music, performing arts classes and shows, Art, Robotics, and Nature Studies and more. I often give the example of the project they did in 2nd Grade. 2nd grades learned the history of technology. Then they learned how to use apps such as google maps, Uber eats, and so much more. They wrote manuals and they they took it to a senior center to show seniors how to use these programs. It was wonderful experience to see the cross generational learning experience. I will end with saying that this school is great for my child but it is not for everyone. Kids are given a bit more freedom that some kids just are good with and/or prepared to take on. We sometimes have students that are trying to find the perfect home for their learning environment and this may not be the place for them. If you are looking for a different way to learn, where kids are also taught social and emotional health and positive discipline, this maybe be worth taking a look. We have an amazingly supportive parent group that is open and always looking for volunteers to help support are kids journey of learning. read more

We have 3 kids attending here (3RD-8TH). Our family ranges from advanced to needing IEPs and all my kids are happy here. They thrived on the social emotional curriculum, which helped them overcome so much. Small class sizes, diverse students. All my kids loved their teachers and all grew as people and students. They all did way better on their state tests, even without the emphasis and stress about them. We Loved their math program. We are so glad to have found a school that treats each kid as individuals and celebrates their accomplishments. Each IEP meeting starts with my child's strengths, which seemed unseen at their previous school. WE LOVE IA read more

My kids love it. They are flourishing. Feel connected and want to go to school. One is very academically oriented and excels at math and science, the other less so and more interested in art but they both have had positive experiences. Their teachers are younger but professional and know how to manage a classroom and keep the classes focused. As for the poorer reviews, 30% will hate it no matter what you do. If the 'traditional' classroom and hours of homework are your thing Innovations is not for your kids. read more

There are some very detailed reviews here and it seems they swing wildly in either a positive or negative direction. School for our children is of utmost importance so I want to leave a review here for others who may be searching for a place for their little humans. I have 2 children at IA, one currently in 4th the other in 6th. This is their second year. My children have only known charter schools and hands on learning so this was a perfect fit for them when we moved to the area. Innovations Academy has a few core values and principles that you will find throughout the school: project based hands on learning, peaceful discipline, self regulation, no bullying, self expression, and monthly field trips for every class. What you will find there: students expressing themselves with their own sense of fashion, students with disabilities in classrooms, students helping other students, tolerance, diversity and a great acceptance of differences. There are many students here that may move often and therefore have experienced many different environments and know that differences exist among us all and that is ok. IA does mandated testing and I can only speak for my own children but they have both tested well above average every year. IA uses a computer based math program called ST Math among most grades. My children have had classes in Nature Studies, Spanish (Patrick is a great, fun teacher), Robotics, Pottery, Dance, Drama and Art. The Drama teacher is fantastic and the plays she puts on are really creative and impressive. They have 2 productions a year. I completely understand a difference of opinions and it is true this school is not for everyone but it is perfect for some and it is perfect sometimes for just a certain amount of time. I think it is especially beneficial in the younger years where our children are still just babies who want to learn but truly learn best through a play based structure, and to be able to learn tolerance and self regulation at a young age is priceless. There is a lot of parent involvement at the school. The average class size is 24 students with 1 main teacher and at least 1 TA although there are often more TA's as many budding teachers come here to learn. The school is not beautifully groomed but it is well taken care of. The state/government only gives so much to the school and at IA you will not find that they are constantly bombarding the parents with more requests for funding/fundraising. They ask once a year and thats it. I just wanted to give a clearer picture of what this school may offer to those that are interested. It is a very big decision to decide where to send your precious human to learn on a daily basis. We are lucky that we have choices. IA may be an option for some. read more

This place shouldn't exist, and I mean that on multiple levels. This is a long review, but read the whole thing for an accurate picture if you are deciding whether or not to take your kid here. This is a big decision and I believe is potentially hazardous to your kids in the long run. A big part of the problem with this place is that the kids who are a wrong fit for this place stay and ruin it for the rest. That will make sense as you read this further. To Joy's point, what does better and better every year entail? You can make continual improvement and still be terrible. On one hand the director that started this school has a full plate and I can only imagine what goes into starting a school. But on the other hand, I also have to look at the end product for the end user..do you want your kid to be the guinea pig for an experimental school that doesn't even know what wrinkles exist to iron out? There is no process or structure here for...anything, and therefore they don't know how to track or fix issues. In the end, your child will be prepared for NOTHING at any school once they leave here. Really, 7th graders who have never seen a fraction? 8th graders who have never even seen a structured sample of writing? Finding out what looked like was a cool project was half done by the teacher or an outside professional for showboating purposes in their showcase nights? The sad truth is that our kids didn't make that or have much of a part in it and neither did yours. Passive aggressive teachers and director, and I have seen that nutjob of a kindergarten teacher chastise her poor aides publicly for her own lack of clear direction. Totally unprofessional place and kids repeatedly got lice at this place. Out of all the middle school grade teachers, one is good, and unfortunately, my child did not get her. The rest are just awful. The philosophy on their website is sound on the surface. Project based learning. Great, learn by doing. But what isn't said until you get there is that it's also based in positive reinforcement behavior philosophy, which sounds okay at first, but then you find out that there are NO consequences or discipline. The positive behavior reinforcement is supposed to create an intrinsic will to do the right thing. And again that's great, but must be started early on and needs parental support too. But when kids are joining the school from grades 4-8 and don't buy into the philosophy and aren't getting the same messages at home, there is little recourse for the teachers and if your kids get bullied, expect no resolution, just enabling that will often come straight from the director of this place. It is supposed to be modeled after the philosophy at High Tech, but if you go and visit there, it runs smoothly and efficiently, a complete counter to this place. Here, it seems to be the black hole where kids that couldn't keep up in a school that actually does academics or got kicked out for bad behavior they just blatantly didn't want to correct end up. As a parent, spend some time here and you will see this is probably the biggest most disorganized mess you can ever put your kid in. They tout that they have a lot of programs and the reality is that they have some of them at a very superficial level and your kids will leave here without being able to do anything well. Teachers here have no idea what they are doing, probably because there is no direction from the top. There are some good teachers here, but I get the feeling that they are so underpaid and exhausted from being spread thin that most of them won't stick around for any appreciable time. It's a small staff of about 30, and while my kids were there, I think 8 staff members left, including two they really liked and my kids didn't even finish the year as I learned more and more about how bad this place really is on the inside. I recently heard that this place had such bad AYP scores that the state was ready to shut them down until Common Core was implemented by the state and gave them some breathing room. So they only still exist due to a technicality? Do yourself and your kids a favor before enrolling your kids. Spend a day or two around this place to see what it's really all about. If you do the math, you'll realize that in a week, kids only spend 19 hours in a classroom. And when they are not allowed to assign homework, well, ask yourself where the time is to really learn anything while they are trying to be all things to all people and can't even get the basics right. read more

A very poor experience. The Teacher our child had was big on new age, zen and eastern religion. (which was represented all over in the classroom) Asked students how their "water" was, (karma, etc) singled out children he was not happy with, and was passive aggressive. Teacher clearly laid out a biased philosophy in the classroom of young children. At one point during the year, the teacher told one of the students to "stop being a d---! (insert male anatomy slang here) We found this to be unacceptable. This was a class of young children, and we did not expect something like this. After talking to the administrator, the teacher would apologize the next day, but then passively take it out on the students, and tell the students how upsetting it was that someone told their parents! Administration seems to be helpful with issues at first, but then eventually sides with the teacher- and that was enough for us. The school also tended to bash the local public middle school, and we found that to be very unprofessional. If they simply concentrate on their own issues, correct clear problems and listen to student/parent concerns, the school could have some great potential. read more

I would like to let parents know what an awesome school this is. My daughter was having a difficult time at Mesa Verde. Admittedly she has ADHD and could not keep up with the home work and classwork. B's and C's on tests but I think classwork and homework is weighed heavily on the grade since she was getting an overall D or F in classes in which she had passing test grades. Since starting this school she is happy. She is doing better than I have ever seen her do. She comes home and exited to tell me about what she did today. 7 th grade: she has math, science, ceramics, Spanish, vocabulary, PE, and now has a part in the play ( after school practice) as well as social studies. (I'm sure I have left out other studies) My student in ENGAGED ! I could not be happier. And is doing fine. If you are having doubts or questioning if you should do this I would say: DO IT! read more

We transferred our kindergartener son to Innovations Academy in early November after 2.5 months at our local highly-rated PUSD elementary school. It's possible that the teacher just wasn't a good fit but I found such an emphasis on negative reinforcement and shaming children at his old school. Since our son is quiet and well-behaved, he was pretty much ignored, yet still exposed to all the threats and negativity. And there was no accommodation for his advanced reading and math levels. Innovations Academy has been a godsend! Within two weeks of being in Gaby's kindergarten, our son began to demonstrate more confidence. The positive discipline and compassionate communication is so refreshing and humane! Through project-based learning, the children are empowered to make their own decisions and take responsibility for their learning. The no-meaningless-homework policy avoids the struggles about sitting down to do way-too-easy-but-time-consuming work and leaves time for reading, nature and time with family. There are wonderful classes such as American Sign Language, Nature and Garden studies, Outdoor Education. The school has an emphasis on community service and is committed to the growth of the whole child. Nearly-monthly field trips have been fun and informative as well. Parents and siblings are welcome in the classroom, as readers, volunteers or observers. We are so happy we made the change to IA! read more

Pleased to have found a school whose values match ours. Time is dedicated to mindfulness and resolving emotional moments and social conflicts among students. Each teacher is very autonomous and yet the basic values of the school permeate its general atmosphere. Art, nature studies, some Spanish... It is a school that takes care of children's natural curiosity and creativity. My child is excited about learning. read more