Challenger School

I had an issue with my FSA dependant care reimbursement. Although they could not complete the form at challenger, Mr. Walton went out of his way to respond to my review and write an addendum to attach to my receipt explaining challengers summer program. Thank you Mr. Walton I received my reimbursement today!

My stepdaughter attended Challenger Sandy for six years and Traverse Mountain for two years. She did get a quality education and we are grateful. (this is her first year in public school). However, through all of the years, something that has ALWAYS been lacking was communication. Her mother was always complaining about it but we appreciated the education and wanted her to continue. Towards her last year it got really bad. As she started entering her "difficult" years, she was rebelling a little more and getting behind more. It wasn't until she was two months behind did we find out she was behind. Their theory is that students should be held responsible to know what is missing and to complete it. This is a girl who had been at Challenger since the age of 3. Even with the "Challenger way" being taught to her for that long, she did not take responsibility or accountability and tell us she was behind. Anyhow, once she was behind two months in homework, it was hard for her to keep up and the make up work was so overwhelming. We feel this could have been avoided if the school had informed us a lot earlier. It didn't/doesn't make sense. So I come to the present time, we have a son whom we wanted to enroll in Challenger Pre-k. We filled out all of the paperwork and asked Diane to get the information we needed - 3 times to be exact. (Pre payment of tuition) When finally my husband sent an email to the headmaster after the information we requested was not given to us. In the email he also explained that communication has always been issue and we are hoping it could be rectified and to please advise. Imagine our shock when we receive a rejection letter stating my husband has been unsatisfied with their services and they didn't think they could meet our expectations in the future so they do not think we will be happy there and therefore declining our application. To be honest, I'm a little relieved underneath the anger. We were going enroll our son in January 2015. When we went to have a campus tour, I was shocked when we went into the 3 year old class and saw my son's friend there and we smiled and waved at him. He was smiling and waved when the teacher snapped at him. It was really mean. And then the other kids were looking up at us and the teacher snapped at them too. I mean these kids are 3 and 4 years old. I couldn't believe it. My husband agreed he thought it was harsh but had his mind set this is where we would send our son in January. I was very upset because of what I witnessed and I convinced my husband to let our son have more time to grow up a little before I put him in that environment. And I also didn't want him to have that teacher so instead of being in the 3 year old class he could start next year in the 4 year old class.

Don't even bother trying to get a hold of the CEO of Challenger School. The useless and unfriendly phone attendant won't give you his e-mail, phone number or even schedule an appointment so you can see him in person. You "leave" messages with Amy (the phone attendant) who promises you she's passing on your messages to the CEO and days pass by and you don't hear anything back from their office. Very poorly run. It's easier to get a hold of the President of the US than getting a hold of Challenger's CEO. What a JOKE!

.And to continue, the "professional" teachers spell "tackeled" and also play favorites. They made false accusations that my son hit, "tackeled", bit kids, just in a matter of three days to force us to pull him out of the school. When i asked them if I can see the bite mark, they said he was "amost" going to bite the other kids. I felt like my kid was blackmarked and ostracized. Well if your kid in inquisitive and chatty, this si not the place for your kid. If you kid likes to be a mindless sheep and gets intimidated by tall men, ofcourse then it is THE PLACE!