5803 Persimmon Way
Naples, FL 34110

It's ok, could be better but engineering program here really is the best

As with most schools, you'll find good, great, and average teachers, and teachers who are hanging on waiting to retire. We're happy w/them.However, the administration basically lets the school run itself. It knows they've generally got a good group of kids & parents, and they rely on that as well as the solid teachers to keep the school running. They're a hands-off administration. That's a problem. If you have a problem, be ready to advocate advocate advocate for your child, because Laudise & Jackson don't have what it takes. Before we moved to our new home (and new bus), our kid rode a bus that was like every jailhouse yard brawl scene you've ever seen in any movie. Want to know how Laudise addressed the issue w/a few kids who created so many problems that the bus driver continually had to pull over the bus on Livingston, Immokalee, & Airport multiple times? He attempted to 'buy' the kids by saying that if the kids were good, he'd buy them pizza. Excuse me; my child is on a bus where the driver had to stop and reprimand a handful of kids. Instead of booting these kids from the bus, Laudise thought treating them like they're bribe-able kindergarten students is the right option. No. Some kid is endangering a bunch of others. Riding the bus is a privilege; it isn't a right. Kids who behave like that aren't looking for pizza; they're looking for attention, they're looking to their other buddies to egg them on. . .they have no discipline at home, and they don't care about being bribed by pizza. That's not discipline.Want to hear back from Jackson? Don't count on it. My experience: she avoids parents. Only way you'll hear from her is if you have become so irritated by something that you go over her head to the superintendent. Maybe she's close to retirement, because she's just not visible. Think you'll get a response to an email you sent? Even a "we're working on it" email? Don't count on it. Call and badger is the only way you're going to get a response. Perhaps it's different if you're dealing w/a problem child. Maybe she only deals with them. I'd think she'd want to get to know the good kids to balance out her day instead of only dealing w/problems. But if you've got a problem w/your good kid, forget it. I've had to badger her to get a response. I guess they can get away w/it based on school performance. But they need to be more visible/accessible.

I have the best experience the VME school, My daughter loves going there. The teachers are very nice and professional.