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Review of Desert Academy in Santa Fe

My daughter started in middle school at Desert Aca...

My daughter started in middle school at Desert Academy and is still there, getting stronger by the day. We have been much impressed with her improvements in writing, research and thinking for herself. She has become so much more thoughtful about education and the world. Students are not taught to just memorize at Desert. They don't have to waste time on standardized tests. They actually solve problems and they actually learn the why and how behind things. Teachers can coordinate projects together across subjects and make sure the progression from one level to another is there and smooth. The low numbers of students per teacher in class allow for lots of real discussion. Kids can't just disappear like in large school classrooms. Class time is not wasted getting 25 kids under control or dealing with trouble makers as we saw in the public school. The teachers are all accessible to parents and students. They even show up to students outside events and support kids on their own time! As with any school, a new teacher might not be the greatest fit in the end. But in those cases, they don't last long here. A less than stellar teacher does NOT stay here like we have seen in some other schools. The long term teachers and faculty at Desert are incredible and most newer ones are fantastic too.

The school may not be top notch in athletic rankings and awards in recent times but anyone who wants to play can play. No one is cut from a team or shut out. It is fair and welcoming for anyone to participate and becoming better as a team.

A plus is that the school lunches have healthy options and all kinds of foods. The exact menu is never repeated twice the entire year! So my child has tried and grown to eat things I never thought she would.