Imagine Wesley International Academy Charter Facility in Atlanta, Georgia

“Our child is currently in kindergarten. She has a superb teacher. The students are beyond grade level and parents in our room are intelligent and involved beyond what you would expect at a top private school. It's terrific that we have the education of a high quality top reputation private school this year, but for no tuition and with the socioeconomic and racial diversity that you could not find in any private school. On the other hand, it's not like that in every room - there are spotty teachers (particularly at the higher grades), and in the higher grades I see kids coming in unprepared. Overall, I think the sense of community is terrific, and I think this school has a chance of being an amazing school, so we are thrilled to be there.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I agree that this school has great potential. However, more emphasis should be placed on the quality of middle grade instruction. The 6th grade teachers haven't enhanced the edcuational experience as much as I would have liked this year. There hasn't been one field trip for the 6th graders this year, no guest speakers, nothing. My kids seemed excited about learning last year; they were challenged. This year they are not. I was hoping for a more unique educational experience to enlighten the kids. Needless to say this has been a bit disappointing. The class sizes are no less than 25 which makes it very challenging with educational instruction. My kids are primarily there for the Chinese language which they seem to enjoy a great deal.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We've been at Imagine Wesley since the beginning. We've had great teachers and wonderful classmates. Not to mention the Chinese language instruction...! My kids love it and are thriving! I am very pleased with the school, and agree that we are on our way to becoming an amazing school. Starting a charter school is no easy task and doesn't happen over night.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I have never been happier. It is on its way to being an amazing school.”
This review was posted by a other.

“If I could take the teachers and ditch the principal, the office people and everyone above them this would be good. Imagine Schools needs to be gone ASAP. This school needs an experienced principal who knows what he or she is doing and won't just spout the Imagine baloney and ride around in he regional directors pocket. Teachers are great, they are just way too hindered by the foolishness that is Imagine schools. I would tell anyone looking at this school that if there ever comes a day that little sun drops off of everything, you better run to get your kid a spot. Til then it's going to be inconsistent and have all the priorities out of line.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“As a former teacher there, I'm inclined to agree with the last review. The quality of many of the teachers there (especially in the lower grades and specialist areas) is very high. The current administration is hamstrung by the 'business' practices of Imagineschools. Get the company out of the equation and this school would be among the best in Atlanta.”
This review was posted by a teacher.

“My child was at Imagine Wesley the first two years. We have moved out of state and are currently in a really fantastic school - high rankings in both testing and overall performance (10 on great schools), but looking back at the education my child received at Imagine Wesley I think it's gotten a bit of a raw deal in these 'rankings.' The school is in its third year - a charter with a management company that doesn't REALLY grasp the concept of what a charter school is about... That being said, I had very high expectations and academically her last year was unparalleled! We love her new school, but the academic expectations and delivery at IWIA actually exceeded her current school at the grade level! Once the leadership issues settle down, I believe IWIA will offer one of the best educations in Atlanta!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Disappointing. I brought my children here this year with the promise of great things. Leadership at the school was all talk. Now that they have my kids, and the $$$ they get from the government for my kids, there is no action. The teachers seems uneasy. There is too many kids crammed in the class. The principal doesn't want to hear concerns or she says she will do something but then doesn't.The curriculum sounds great but if it is so great, why aren't the test scores higher?having uniforms is nice. The teachers seem good but they don't seem happy. There is obviously problems behind the scenes.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“School was good last year. This year it is horrible. New principal will tell you what you want to hear but doesn't do what she says. She plays favorites. Very disappointed and regional director doesn't care. The changes have hurt the staff moral. Not sure I will stay.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I really wanted to like this school and I really tried to like it but it falls short in too many ways. There is a new principal every single year. Staff turnover is too high. The only thing consistent is the inconsistency. Too much disorganization and too much disrespect for families. Some of the new staff members seem to have an attitude like they are doing us a favor to work with our kids and our community. We aren't rich but we are still good people who care about our kids education. I lack confidence in this newest principal. Classrooms are overcrowded and they don't care. A lot more kids this year but I don't think the school was prepared for them. Overall very disorganized and disappointing.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am a parent who has just dis-enrolled my child from Imagine Wesley after two years. Year 1 had many bumps in the road and I thought things were finally heading in the right direction after last year. I believe the IB curriculum is superior to the constructivism taught at her new school, and the teachers were outstanding. But the alarming trend of increasing classroom size forced me to make the leap when an oppty came up at another school with a 2/20 ratio. If you are considering this school, I urge you to research the ratios. IWIA's stated policy is to fill every class to the state maximum, which last year was 1 teacher/21 children in 1st grade. The state has loosened the limits due to the economy and IWIA has taken advantage of that fact to get even more students ($$$) per worker.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I thought we were finally getting somewhere at IIAW but I am quite disappointed in the happenings this year. I am not impressed at all with the new principal. The staff seems more on edge since she is being hired. There is a feeling of division rather than of community. She came in bringing with her teachers from her old school and creating jobs for people from her old school. She tells us she came because this school is so much better but then why did she have to drag half of of the other school over here with her? Parents are no longer welcomed in the classroom and the building. Charter schools are supposed to be all about parent choice but we are being turned away at the doors. It's not the Imagine way, but then the Imagine way seems to be getting schools shut down all over the place.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Only in its 2nd year, IWIA is already a wonderful alternative to the zoned public school. There is strict policy (www.imaginewesley.org) on uniforms, carpool, homework, volunteer hours and more. Unfortunately much time and energy must be spent dealing with the families that do not comply. It is no doubt, a school of CHOICE as no school or business can be all things to all people. A charter school is inherently about being part of the solution to the problems that arise. It is not for those who live and behave out of a sense of entitlement that they deserve a school to always operate smoothly and agreeably with them. There is an INCREDIBLE core of families, teachers and administrators that are amazingly dedicated to making IWIA top notch. The greatest challenge is attracting and growing THAT calibre of families and educators to create a superior school for our children.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This has been our 2nd year at IWIA. The school has come a long way after opening K - 6th last year. We have a beautiful new campus, a very strong leadership and committed and dedicated teachers.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I was initially very excited about sending my kindergartner to this school. That excitment quickly went away. Although parent involvment is very high the admininistrative team is doing a very poor job leading the school. The school lacks organization, consistancy, teacher supervison and student materials. I would not recommend this school to anyone.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am very disappointed in the quality of this school and quite frankly it offers no advantages over a competing local public school. The administration is unapproachable and concerns, such as a lack of books in the Middle School, are ignored. Discipline is inconsistent. The school can't even do a fair job of explaining the grading scale. Who ever heard of a grading scale that can vary from one teacher to the next? This was the message communicated by the administrators to the parents.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This is my child's second year of attendance at Imagine, and I must admit I am disappointed. However, I will cover the good points first. The current principal is approachable/accessible to parents, warm and caring with the students, a great communicator, and an effective organizer. He has the vision to keep the school moving forward. Gender teaching is a welcomed and effective change from the more traditional approach, chinese instruction is excellent, and parental involvement is heavy. Areas needing improvemnent include the following; the quality/consistency of instruction from teachers varies greatly, administrative support needs to work on professional communications (unreceptive and unwelcoming) with parents, afterschool program is disorganized.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“As a parent of a 1st grader, and in our 2nd year at Imagine Wesley, we are enjoying the new school and love the IB program. We definitely have some kinks to work out, which is expected with all new staff, new buildings, and new program, so I am waiting to see where the school takes us. I have confidence that as we move thru the school, the program will fulfil its promise. I just hope the kinks get worked out more quickly this year.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We are proud parents of a new kindergarden male at Imagine. We love the faculties enthusiam & attitude towards learning. The influence is working miracles on my son. His interest is far more greater than before. It appears that Imagine's nontraditional approach towards teaching is delivering what was promised from its studies of creative & effective learning strategies of both foreign & domestic influence. We and...our son especially are excited about the school..”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We love the school, the administration and the parents. The new buildings are going to be outstanding. Our kindergartner loved his teachers and really bonded with the biys in his class. Terrific!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I give the school 4 stars. This school just opened its doors for the 2007-08 school year. The school is still working out its kinks, however they have great potential. The staff is awesome and eager to teach our children. The PTA is amazing. As long as the parents and extended parent family remain involved, I'm sure the school would jump the ranking to #1.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Curriculum implementation needs a lot of work. Teachers are unfamiliar with the IB Curriculum and still have not been trained in the Everyday Math curriculum that was used this year. Math was a failure. Science barely existed. Children practice writing, but not spelling. Chinese, P.E. and Music classes are good. Parental involvement is good.”
This review was posted by a parent.