Seaside Community Charter School

6
14 reviews
Grades
K-6
Students
329
Type
Charter
School District
Duval

Community Reviews

Read what parents are saying about Seaside Community Charter School
Our children have been at Seaside for 5 years. Our children love their school and, as a public school educator, I (and my husband) do as well! Our kids are actually excited to go to school. Both are at or above grade level in both math and reading, on standardized tests (FAST/STAR). But, Seaside does not stress these tests. They are aware that standardized tests can not represent the whole child. We love that students are prepared for the tests but are also taught that their entire worth is not in these tests. Their hearts are valued and their other skills are as well. The resource classes are fabulous (art, music, yoga, etc) as are the many waldorf festivals. Students learn the lessons congruent in the different subjects. So social studies, science, and language arts will often connect to the same topics (and math too in younger grades). This allows students to dig deeper and really immerse themselves into the topic and creates a better understanding within all subjects. It also creates a deeper interest.Some teachers are young. But I don't see a problem with this. One of my kid's favorite teachers was a 1st year teacher. She was a wonderful teacher and excited to teach. She brought an energy to class that more experienced teachers sometimes lose. The best part was that she taught my kid for 2 years. That's the waldorf way. Yes, I will say that there is some teacher turn over. I'm not sure there is much that can be done for this as it's an issue in most places. But they, unlike some other schools, were able to fill most, if not all, teaching positions. I agree with others who have said communication is an issue. It has gotten better the last year or 2 with ParentSquare. But, in general, Seaside isn't as organized as a traditional school. They aren't as stressed about those things. We had to get used to this as our society has ingrained an "on the go, schedule everything" culture. It is still not my favorite thing but it isn't a deal breaker either. Last thing I'll add, if you aren't interested in being a vested interest and involved part of your child's education, Seaside may not be the best fit. It takes the Seaside community to make the school successful, not just the paid staff.
Posted by a parent on 5/15/2023
This is a horrible school. It has become very woke, teaching young children age inappropriate material while NOT teaching them to read. Kids learn very little academics. Teachers are young and inexperienced. Parents are odd. Don't go there if you want your child to succeed in academics or to love their country. They don't even say the pledge.
Posted by a parent on 2/4/2022
We've been at Seaside for three years. I think Seaside is a great school if you're white, wealthy, and your kids are in 3rd grade or less. For the older grades, it really depends on the teacher you are given. Parents in the know will often actively switch their kids out of certain teachers classrooms, which can also lead to a heavy student load on more experienced teachers. We've seen our child get more and more behind each year. The positives are that the kids are outside everyday and have recess everyday. (6th+ they have outdoor lunch when possible.) The art and music programs are wonderful. The topics covered in main lessons are interesting--and often have a global focus. In general, there is a no homework policy which is good in theory, but may not support all kids' learning needs. The playground is lovely. The festivals are fun and kids look forward to them.The math program is not effective for the older grades. My child would do 2-3 problems together as a class each day. There was no homework. That was not enough to cement any concepts. This child was still counting on their fingers and did not know their math facts going into middle school. This child also struggled with the ability to write a grammatically correct sentence at that age. I had reached out for help for three years and was told I could pay a teacher for tutoring. I ended up seeking outside tutoring. Other parents whose kids have left the school have reported that their kids have been held back or been found significantly behind at their new school. It gets to a point where you're afraid to leave the school, because you fear that your kid will be held back one or two grades at a new school. Yes, many are that behind.Positives--kids are generally happy. It is a nurturing environment. You just need to decide how to balance that with the need for academics and at what point you may need to switch.This school has an issue with diversity (or lack thereof) as well. There have been efforts to address that, but reality is--it's a privileged white school. They have their diversity campus on the Northside. (Even the school board thought this was separate but not equal.) There are no programs for reduced or free lunch. There is no lunch--you must pack it every day, and it is a peanut-free school. Transportation is up to the parents/guardians.
Posted by a parent on 6/3/2021
Amazing! My children have flourished at Seaside. As a parent, I'm very pleased with the overall level of care and dedication that the faculty and staff have demonstrated. I feel confident that any concerns that I have will be listened to with respect and I appreciate that the administration is incredibly open. I hope that Seaside continues to flourish and I know that it is only possible when it has participation and support from its families and community.
Posted by a parent on 10/11/2020
My experience at this school for the last 4 years has gone from mediocre to hair pulling. I don't see this school making it more than 6 more years before they either get some effective leadership, actual guidelines are enforced, and some since of organization is accomplished. In short I have serval children that have been at this school for a few years and we will not be sending them back next year. Its finally gotten to be to much work to try and get the school to fufill their part of the education experince. If you have thought about home schooling then give seaside a shot, you will be doing half their job anyways.
Posted by a parent on 5/20/2020
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Jacksonville schools - Seaside Community Charter School is located at 8727 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville FL 32217. Seaside Community Charter School is in the Duval. Seaside Community Charter School is a Charter school that serves grade levels K-6.

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