The Vanguard School

I went to Vanguard in the 90s loved it made the best friends some I still talk to till this day great place to learn even when I was misbehaving the staff never gave up on me greatful I was able to go hear

This school was a nightmare for our son. When he first started, the administration was different and more willing to work with our child who exhibits issues associated with the diagnosis they claim to address. He also had a wonderful teacher. However, when the new head of school started, the school went downhill fast! First, they changed his room, despite the fact that consistency is very needed for this population. Also, they were very understaffed, and showed no interest in hiring even replacement staff when an opening occurred, which appeared to be a way to save money, despite the cost. They lacked empathy or even a simple understanding of behavioral modification. They engaged in power struggles and blaming. The largest issue, however, was when they became physically abusive in their approach, as they resorted very, very quickly to restraints and never offered an alternative plan. I would never recommend this school to anyone.

I am a former student of the Vanguard School. I went there from my early preschool days to high school and there were many problems with my experience. Everything was okay in my preschool to elementary school. I actually got the assistance I needed with my speech and behavioral goals. The speech therapists during that time actually did help me on basic grammatical skills. When 5th grade came around, I was one of the best students in my grade. It was also the time when the school's quality just deteriorated. Once I was the best, there was no academic mobility left. The school did not even prepare us the PSSAs (State Exams of the time), the one chance where we could have gotten the academic mobility we solely needed. So I failed the PSSAs just like everyone else. Things just went on a decline for me, even though my grades were above average. To make things worse, it was also the time when anyone could attend Vanguard. That means the ones who did not need the help, but were slacking off in their academics could attend. Coincidentally some of these people were not the best, they would bully other people for being mentally disabled or for any other reason and they disrupted everyone's education. Unfortunately, did not wanted to be considered as disabled so I joined their clique. I was corrupted by them. They would eventually turn on me and just bully me. In 7th grade, I just had it with this school. My academic and social situation was at its all time worst. I realized my so called friends were using me and I was below average on my academics compared to other people outside of Vanguard. The teachers even encouraged my backwardness even though I was able advance on my academics. Luckily in 8th grade I was able to focus on my academics outside of school and without my false friends in the picture. And in 9th grade, I left the school for good. Overall, the environment in Vanguard was not good. I was not encouraged to enrich myself outside of school like learning how to be an artist, a musician, discovering who I am, and etc. The aura of backwardness did not make things any better for me. My advice for any parents, only send your kids to Vanguard when they're young and get them out of there when they head to middle school. Just do not send them afterwards, their academic abilities will actually decay afterwards. I hope my review is coherent enough for anyone to understand it.

The current top level administration leaves a lot to be desired.

I went to school at Vanguard School, Tredyffrin Twp., Chester Cnty., Penna. from late-1970s till late-1980s. I graduated from Vanguard School in 1988