Bee Ridge

Ashton is a terrible school, in my opinion. I felt like there was a lot of favoritism and, unfortunately, some very mean teachers. They use the “behavior loophole” to justify certain teacher behaviors and unfair treatment of students. Teachers may smile to your face, but their attitude can immediately change in the classrooms.A science teacher, whom I will not name, would say that she was “being sarcastic,” when, in reality, the teacher seemed to be targeting certain students and ridiculing them. Why would a teacher be sarcastic?If you are an average family and do not want your child to feel like just a number, I would not recommend Ashton. We had the worst experience there, and I would not recommend it to anyone.The teachers at Ashton seemed to have very few classroom management skills beyond marking a child down for behavior simply for talking. Other than that, they would send the child back to sit there for the entire year, ignore them, and not give them opportunities to participate, even when they were raising their hands. Basically isolating the student. They would also give behavior marks a week before school trips and then use those marks as a reason to prevent students from attending trips, such as the Orlando parks or other activities. Things seemed too calculated and this was year after year which made me think that this is a general culture at this school.In my opinion, if the principal is professional and genuinely involved, they are less likely to allow these kinds of things to happen and not support this behavior, or at least teachers are less likely to feel free to treat students however they want. The environment is very cliquey. If you are not part of their clique, you are basically just a number and invisible or targeted and your life will be miserable. My child wanted to stay even when I begged her to leave because she had friends there. But we definitely did not fit their socioeconomic standards. I work full-time, and I’m not involved in the PTO or a donor. My child was a straight A student, but she was targeted so much that she started doubting herself. So even if your child is not being targeted, I personally would not want my child around people who have the potential to do the things they did. They also gossip a lot about students.

I’m extremely disappointed with my experience with NewGate School.I paid a $1,000 re-enrollment fee because I was committing to sending my daughter back to NewGate based on the program and classroom structure that had been presented to us. After I paid the fee, the school significantly changed the way the classrooms would be structured, including combining students into a much larger mixed-age classroom setting. This was a major change from what I understood I was enrolling my daughter into.Because of that change, I no longer felt the school was the right fit for my daughter and made the decision to enroll her elsewhere.I understand that the school considers the $1,000 re-enrollment fee non-refundable. However, I asked them to reconsider and refund the fee because the circumstances were substantially different from what they were when I made the decision to re-enroll and paid the money. I was not simply changing my mind—I made my decision because the school changed the structure of the program after I had committed.Unfortunately, NewGate chose to enforce the non-refundable policy rather than work with us or make an exception given the circumstances.There was also confusion surrounding the enrollment/tuition paperwork and the FACTS account, which had not been fully finalized at the time.What bothers me most is not just losing the $1,000. It is the feeling that once the money was paid, there was very little willingness to consider the fact that the school itself had made a significant change that affected our decision to stay.I would encourage parents considering NewGate to ask very specific questions about classroom structure and make sure they are comfortable with exactly what they are committing to before paying a re-enrollment fee.This experience left me feeling very disappointed and, ultimately, I no longer felt comfortable continuing at the school.

In these challenging times, the school has proven to be a beacon of safety and reassurance for parents. Their commitment to continuous communication, relentless reevaluation of safety protocols, and consistent follow-through is nothing short of exemplary.What's more, the intimate class sizes foster deep connections between teachers and students; it's evident that the instructors know my children profoundly and individually. This nurturing atmosphere has been a cocoon of positivity, where my kids feel genuinely cherished and empowered. The environment is not just educationally stimulating but also emotionally positive.Seeing my children blossom into the best versions of themselves is a joy I attribute to the school's unwavering dedication. They haven't just taught my kids; they've helped them grow with love and confidence. For this, I am endlessly grateful.

We love this school for the wonderful, caring teachers, the advanced curriculum, and the music and sports that are offered. This school is outstanding, and we recomend it highly.