Windsor Charter Academy in Windsor | Military Town Advisor

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	9/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) data from Colorado Department of Education.

Posted: December 16, 2025

This school is amazing! Since I have been at WCA I have felt more welcome than at any other school. The curriculum is amazing and teaches everyone something. In past experiences I have had to relearn stuff from a long time ago. Now I am actually challenged with a new curriculum! This school is great and I definitely recommend this school to everyone! I can't wait to keep learning here!

Posted: December 16, 2025

Posted: December 20, 2023

Our child has been at WCA since kindergarten. Overall I was happy with the Elementary School. When they changed Directors they lost a lot of amazing teachers. This is a direct reflection on her inexperience as a director, if she had fostered the positive work environment the previous Director had instilled, this would not have happened. We had some amazing, caring and creative teachers in Elementary School who made my child feel supported and communicated with us well. Middle School has been a struggle. Our child has an IEP and our special education case worker does not communicate well. I email, 5 days later send a follow up, and then may hear back 7 or so days. While most of the teachers communicate well and have reasonable coursework, the 6th grade History teacher is atrocious. She has completely unrealistic expectations of what an appropriate course load at this age should be, especially one for a child with a diagnosed reading disability. Its as though she does not believe that my childs disability is real. She made it clear during parent teacher conferences that she is unwilling to work with us. We have been told by other parents that things get better after this year, since this teacher is only limited to the 6th grade. If your child is not above average at school, I would suggest skipping 6th grade at WCA.

Posted: December 20, 2023

Posted: December 3, 2021

A few years ago this school was the best elementary school around! However, in the last years they have been moving unqualified administration up in positions. Most admin at the elementary are new to their positions just this year. They are too busy trying to learn how to do the job and this leaves the kids and staff suffering! My child has two additional children in her class this year. As does every K-5. That is a 26:1. Sure they have teacher aid help but I only see them doing recess and cafeteria work. To many changes in the wrong direction for this school. We will be changing next year.

Posted: December 3, 2021

Posted: February 24, 2021

Our daughters have both attended Windsor Charter Academy Elementary School since kindergarten. When we moved to Windsor from another state, we didn't know much about the area or the school district; we just wanted to find a great educational environment for our children. After some research, we decided to apply to Windsor Charter Academy. Honestly, it was one of the best decisions we have ever made! This school has been incredible for our girls - they have always had excellent teachers and, as parents, we feel that our girls have been incredibly supported in their studies and socially/emotionally. The school culture is also really positive - we have a tight-knit "Firebird Family" and we feel we are part of a strong community. Our girls are able to participate in Book Club, Art Club, and after-school intramural athletics. The teachers are awesome, the staff is amazing, and we couldn't be happier with our experience!

Posted: February 24, 2021

Posted: April 27, 2020

3 great years so far, and hope my son will complete all K-12 years here.

Posted: April 27, 2020

Posted: February 24, 2019

I am both a teacher at this school and have a middle school child who attends and has attended since Kindergarten. In all regards, both as a teacher and as a parent, my son and I have felt supported, valued, challenged, and given opportunities for growth. I love it here!

Posted: February 24, 2019

Posted: April 23, 2018

Most horrific offenses have been at this school but the principal doesnt see it as a problem.

Posted: April 23, 2018

Horrible horrible school. I feel for the children that go there.

Posted: April 23, 2018

Teachers do not hold kids responsible for their work.

Posted: April 23, 2018

Most teachers do a horrific job of communicating with parents or kids. Not all but most.

Posted: April 23, 2018

Posted: March 28, 2018

It's been a great place for my son with medical needs. So caring!

Posted: March 28, 2018

Posted: November 4, 2016

IMO awesome school! Teachers are great and constantly communicate with me about my children. You can tell the kids at this school are happy, polite, friendly, and enjoy their days. More sports and clubs would be great but they do have a well rounded choice of activities. I'm not a big fan of homework, I believe after school time is for family and extracurricular activities, they could cut back without impacting education but the work load is not unreasonable.

Overall, this is my school of choice that meets our needs and provides valuable education and support without the ridiculous social bullying that takes place at other public schools.

Posted: May 19, 2016

The teachers seem to be very empowered and it shows. When I volunteer I am continually impressed with the classroom management and relationship the teacher build with the students!

Posted: May 19, 2016

Best homework balance I've seen in 5 elementary schools. I have 4 kids grades 2-6 so I can't speak for the older grades.

Posted: May 19, 2016

WCA focuses on eight Keys of Excellence that essentially teaches character traits like working hard, being honest, taking responsibility and others. The school is very good at positively awarding these traits. My kids even wrote the Eight Keys in their personal journals at home!

Posted: May 19, 2016

Last year I pulled my four kids (grades k,1,3,5) out of a top rated community school to WCA because of several outstanding comments of friends and I couldn't be happier. The only downside is driving and I have a wonderful carpool (there are probably some in every neighborhood). The teachers have been kind and competent and my kids have learned twice as much this year as last with less homework. I feel like the assignments given are thoughtful and truly present learning opportunities rather than just fill time. I would recommend WCA to anyone!

Posted: November 18, 2015

We switched to WCA this year because my daughter was really struggling in school. She is already doing so much better. Her confidence is improving and she is loving school again. I'm very glad we chose WCA!!

Posted: July 16, 2014

My family has been involved with WCA since its beginning 12?13? years ago, and in this upcoming school year, 2 of our daughters will still be in attendance. I love the Core Knowledge (NOT Common Core!) curriculum, and have been amazed at how far ahead my children have been compared to good students who attended other schools. Classes are small enough to support individual help and a closeness among students, but large enough to give plenty of opportunities. The new principal has restored a sense of discipline, which might have been lacking during some of the previous years. In addition, one daughter was an ESL student, who came to the US as an 8 year old. She received wonderful individualized help, and by the time of her 8th grade graduation, she was one of the top students in her class. The work is difficult, and much is expected of students, but the staff is caring and works with kids for success.

Posted: April 29, 2014

I feel like I need to set the record straight as the WCA staff member in charge of the talent show (for 6 years). The theme of this year's show "The Golden Teeples" was entirely student generated. It was a play on the oscars/golden globes and our principal was open and light-hearted enough to let our student emcees go with this really fun idea. It is unfair to judge her without a full understanding of how the theme came to be. Further, we've had a lot of positive feedback regarding the theme and Mrs. Teeples role in the talent show night. I am writing b.c I think it important for those considering our school to read accurate reviews. Thank you. - Erica Koehler, WCA School Counselor and WCA Parent.

Posted: April 27, 2014

WCA provides excellent hands learning experience to actively engage all students. The principal and staff create a positive and engaging culture for students and staff. The teachers are empowered to utilize positive classroom management techniques

Posted: April 27, 2014

Great school! Love the teachers, they really care about the students. Love core knowledge. My kids live the small feel of the school.

Posted: April 26, 2014

The new principal is horrible, very hands off and leaves discipline to teachers instead of taking care of it herself. I was appalled when the kids go "Golden Teeples" certificates at the Talent Show. A lot of hard work goes into this by teachers and staff. The Talent show started way before she arrived, why did she have to do that? I will be leaving the school next year with my kids, not the same. Very dis-satisfied.

Posted: March 21, 2014

Our daughter struggled in the past. She has attended WCA for two years. Since she's been at this school, she has made a drastic improvement. The teachers spend the necessary time to help her learn the things she struggles with so she doesn't get behind. She gets the extra help that she needs. The Core Knowledge Curriculum is awesome! The kids learn so much! We absolutely LOVE that they teach Spanish to the kids and they don't have to wait until high school to learn. We are so incredibly grateful for everything that this school offers and provides! We are hoping that a WCA High School will be coming soon!!!

Posted: September 23, 2013

When the two old principals were fired I saw a huge change in WCA. It's lost it's family feel. Students are being pulled left and right and the school is crashing and burning because of the board: Dishonest and untrustworthy. I love WCA and support the staff and students but I can not and will not ever back the board. They're killing the school. Our family is now completely uninvolved in charter but we have neighbors and friends talking about how down hill the school has gone. It hurts so much to know a once great school has so drastically declined.

Posted: September 23, 2013

I love this school and don't understand the negative posts at all. The new principal is doing a wonderful job. She has plenty of experience and has shown herself to be professional and extremely able. Sure she has made a few changes but none that are negatively impacting our kids. I don't believe the school is at all financially unsound--ridiculous! In fact my daughter told me her class is expecting a new student this month and for those who've left, new students have filled the spots. I wanted to express that academically, this school is challenging. No doubt they are getting an incredible learning experience. But beyond that, as a parent we had a bully situation that was completely handled with a sense of emergency. I love that I know my kids are taken care of and that the teachers don't brush bullying situations under the rug. Please take the negative reviews with a grain of salt. There are some bitter folks with an agenda to see the school get a bad reputation. Hopefully they can move on now that they've left. I hope they find what they need and they leave the negativity behind.

Posted: May 28, 2013

WCA has been an amazing atmosphere for both my kids. We've had wonderful teachers who put all their efforts in my kids' learning. The Core Knowledge curriculum is first-rate. I love the uniform policy as it makes the mornings so easy. WCA offers many challenging opportunities. Some parents complain about sports but WCA does offer soccer, basketball,track and what it doesn't offer, your child can still opt in and participate and compete elsewhere.

Posted: May 28, 2013

I love the community and parental involvement at Windsor Charter. Also the teachers care very much for our children. Our children are excelling in the environment there.

Posted: April 18, 2013

I lLOVE Core Knowledge. The depth of information my son is learning and LOVING to learn is fantastic. Parents are really valued at the school - our input is important to the board and our being at the school is encouraged and appreciated. I am excited with the direction our school is heading!

Posted: April 16, 2013

Please note, the reviewer that gave the school 1 star and said the new principal for next year has never had principal or asst principal experience is WRONG! She is CURRENTLY an asst principal and has had multiple years of experience. The board is a great board and has done a great job for our school. They have only WCA's best interest in mind.

Posted: April 16, 2013

I have been a parent at WCA since it began almost 12 years ago. I have seen the school work through some tough situations and come out better for it. Through it all I have stuck with this school because: 1) A parent run board. 2) The organization of the current curriculum, and being a part of it as a parent. 3) Excellent teachers that have helped my children learn, enjoy learning and excel in their education. 4) A safe place where children are disciplined to be their best. The negative responses here are a bit surprising, I'm guessing they have an agenda that has nothing to do with academics. My children who have graduated (3 so far) have been very well prepared for high school and go on to take advanced classes and have received academic honors every semester. Parents will always be the primary stakeholders in the upbringing and education of their children. Schools can help that along, but if you expect them to do everything, you're going to be disappointed -- and post a 1 star rant for every school to which you send them.

Posted: April 15, 2013

I am THRILLED with the new Principal selection. It was a VERY rigorous process involving input from the Board, parents, and teachers. And the BEST person was chosen. I am hopeful that with a change in Administration, this school will be even better than before (the prior principals were kind of the weak link). This is the beauty of a Charter School - it is parent driven, and parents made appropriate changes in administration. I think this will turn the school around. Maybe the sour grapes will leave, so the new principal can hire some new teachers.

Posted: April 14, 2013

I have attented the board meetings and feel that this board is dedicated to making WCA the best it can be. I have not had any problems with this school in anyway and believe that administrative change can be good. The board is very open to feedback and highly encourages parents to attend the meetings. My kids have been at WCA for four years and we love it!

Posted: September 30, 2012

Since our son had been homeschooled since Kindergarten, my husband and I wanted him to continue to get a quality education in a caring, safe, and fun environment. I looked around the area at all the schools and decided that the Windsor Charter Academy (WCA) was the right school for us. We had heard great things from several friends who currently have children that attend WCA or that have attended in the past. We were also impressed with the Core Knowledge curriculum, the small class sizes, the uniforms, and the character training. Julie Claeys, the WCA Middle School Principal, as well as our son's teachers, have worked with him, and us, from the beginning to ensure that the transition from homeschool to middle school would be a smooth one - and it has been! They have been available to answer any questions that we have and have been nothing but fabulous! In fact all of the WCA staff has been AMAZING and we are so happy that we made the decision to enroll our son there! We feel confident that in three years, he will be ready to move on to high school with flying colors!!

Posted: August 12, 2012

We are entering our ninth year at WCA and have been very happy with both our daughters' education. We chose WCA because of the dress code and small classes. As parents of an 8th grader and a 4th grader, we are very active in what goes on at school and are very happy with both principals. Their dedication to ALL the students and hard work make WCA a challenging school of choice. We are confident when our 8th grader graduates from WCA in May, her Core Knowledge Education will serve her well at Windsor High.

Posted: June 5, 2012

I am so proud to have my child attending WCA! The rigorous curriculum has helped my daughter show her true potential. All of the teachers are very caring and are willing to take the time to answer any questions we have. The new math curriculum has proven to be challenging for the higher grades, as expected for a new program, but in lower elementary the kids seem to be doing very well. My daughter is mastering the math basics that many other students lack. I know that the solid foundation my child is getting in each subject will provide her with the skills needed to excel in high school and college. I am VERY happy with the education my child is receiving! It is hurtful to me and my family to see discouraged parents try to destroy something so special. I am looking forward to another wonderful school year at WCA!

Posted: April 3, 2012

Along with half of the middle school, I pulled my child out and am now better off in public school. Bad principal, terrible Board (will some normal parents without agendas PLEASE run), less and less emphasis on Core Knowlege curriculum, more teaching to the test. Some of the positive posts are clearly by either a)uninformed parents or b)School Board plants because people are leaving this school in droves. I'm not a big believer in following standarized tests, but look at the WCA CSAP scores..... declining. My child was not even learning the basics in math or English. Discipline is TERRIBLE - belittle the good kids, but don't address the big problems, or problem kids. Social Engineering abounds.....busy bodies teaching kids about relationships, their idea of family structure, undermining parents and lessons taught at home. School Board has one or two aggressive people with agendas - they don't listen to parents. I could go on and on all day. Do NOT go to this school unless they completely revamp administration and school board. There is an election this month - maybe some good people will run.

Posted: February 14, 2012

I agree with the previous review. Bad Board and bad Principal. Most of the teachers do not encourage children to ask questions, and when they do ask questions the answer is "not now". Children are not being helped to develop thinking skills. Instead WCA teaches the children to the test, how to pass them. In our opinion this is cheating and will not help the children later on in real life. That's why we transfer our children to a public school that we are happy with.

Posted: January 30, 2012

I can not say enough positive things about WCA. I have three children attending this school and the changes I've witnessed in them have been amazing! The teachers and staff are very involved in the progress of each child that attends. They have gone out of their way to help my children succeed and they do it with compassion and sterness. They are teaching my children to be accountable for their actions which is exactly what I feel is very important for kids to understand- escpecially these days! I truly believe in their motto, "Failure Leads to Success," and to always keep trying-never give up.Some parents may feel that the leadership is to strict here but I ask you, have seen the kids nowadays? Many of them are very disrespectful! I don't want my kids to be this way to the community. So I am very pleased with the way they correct my children when needed and they ALWAYS include me when there is an issue. They do what it takes to help my children achieve their goals. This has been proven to me in their grades and in their behavior. This school and its teachers and staff are a blessing to my family and I and for this I thank you WCA leadership and staff. Keep up the AWESOME work!

Posted: January 28, 2012

We have 2 children in the elementary school, who were both enrolled in Kindergarten. We are extremely pleased with their educational experiences. My husband and I both have advanced graduate degrees and our standards are therefore high. While no school will be perfect, we have found the school (both the teachers and the administration) to be partners in making our children's educational experience a positive one. I am puzzled by the negative comments here. However, like most things in life, you get out of it what you put into it. If you are expecting a school and it's administration to do ALL of the work for your child AND for you, then you will be disappointed wherever you go. However, if you become involved and engaged in your child's education, you will be more than pleased with WCA. We are.

Posted: January 12, 2012

This is my daughters second year attending. We were thrilled when she was admitted, but have been disappointed ever since. They spend more time testing than teaching and do not challenge the kids at all. My daughter came in mid kindergarten and has begged me all through first grade to put her back in a school like she previously attended. They treat the children like robots and teach to the tests which is probably why the test scores are as high as they are. My daughter is in first grade and is still doing preschool math. The reading curriculum isn't much better. The only math and reading she has learned this year is from what we teach her at home. The one positive thing I have to say is they have an excellent science program. I will be sad to leave that behind, but we will be looking for a new school for her to attend next year. They say they have a no bullying policy, but I have witnessed bullying first hand while volunteering and nothing was done about it. The kids are very clicky and my daughter has felt like an outsider the entire time she has attended even though she has made friends. Also, they give tons of candy and treats to the children.

Posted: December 18, 2011

Outstanding school and leadership, always willing to listen, great interaction with the students and adults, recently toured another charter school in the area, Windsor Charter is well ahead of this school with the same academic program. I love being involved in the school and assisting with the education of my child, Transistion to Singapore Math was rough, more so with the represtentative from the program, however the school has been very open and accommodating with my concerns

Posted: December 12, 2011

Our family has been at WCA for 3 years now and are very happy there! We have had great teachers and no problems with the school at all. I love being as active in my children's education as I want. My children have done very well and we are proud to be a part of the WCA family!

Posted: December 7, 2011

The teachers at WCA are fabulous. I have served on several hiring committees. While charter schools might not need to hire only licensed teachers, WCA does. I have multiple children in this school, and there has never been one single day when I didn't feel like they were in good hands. These teachers are some of the mose dedicated, professional, caring people you will find anywhere. They are highly-qualified, participate in on-going professional development and bring world-class education to our children. They care deeply about the success and well-being of each child in their care. Even the smalles issues are dealt with quickly and compassionately. The childrens' safety, security and emotional health are taken seriously here. It is unfortunate that in the era of school choice, it frequently degenerates into a competition among parents who want "bragging rights" about their child's school. We have many fine schools in Windsor, each with its own unique "personality." WCA is a better fit for my children. This is not a condemnation of other schools, they are simply different. We are fortunate to have the ability to make that choice. For us that choice is WCA.

Posted: December 6, 2011

Windsor residents are fortunate to have many excellent schools to choose from. In my opinion, WCA is among the best. Our 2nd-grader is excelling academically, she is engaged and enthused about her education, she has made close friends, and her teachers have been absolutely stellar. I can't imagine our family having a better experience. WCA's leadership (Principal, Administrators & Board) is world-class. The leaders foster a safe, secure, and respectful culture. As a direct result, WCA students learn to excel academically while also building essential character values (i.e. "respect for self, others, property, and learning"). We chose WCA because of the dedicated, intelligent, and caring people we met there. Each teacher and administrator we spoke with, starting with the Principal, was able to articulate a clear, consistent vision: provide students with the skills, support, & resources they need to realize a superior academic and character education. The Core Knowledge curriculum (and yes, Singapore Math too!) fully supports that vision and is extremely effective. The school truly lives up to its vision. We couldn't be happier with WCA and we would highly recommend it to others.

Posted: December 5, 2011

WCA used to be a great school. Few years ago the original Principal went to WY to open a new Charter school. The new Principal who took her place together with the Board are trying to "reinvent the wheel".The quality of the teaching went down, they brought in the Singapore math, method which is suitable for Singapore where people speak so many languages.One thing that is always associated with Charter schools is that parents work a lot with their children, thus high scores.In any case Singapore math is a huge drawback, reason why we took our children to a Public school. Now we are very happy with the whole school situation. We also found that Public schools unlike Charter schools hire only Certified teachers. Do not get sucked into the Lottery thing. By the time the kids reach 5th-6th grade they do not want to stay there.

Posted: September 10, 2011

WCA has been a great school for our daughter who just started 2nd grade. Besides our own personal experience, I have two nephews and a niece who all attended WCA and they had very positive experiences as well. I have been fortunate to be able to help as a volunteer in many ways at the school, getting to see first-hand the teachers in action as well as the school board, the principals, other parents, etc. My daughter's teachers have been excellent in terms of creativity, classroom management, and I think a real love of teaching. I have also been pleased with the breadth of "specials" offered including Technology, Spanish, Library, Music, Art & PE. My 2nd grader loves WCA and told me the other day that she wishes the school went through 12th grade so that she wouldn't have to go to another school someday. I'm sure her feelings will change over time, but I think that speaks well for her current experience. We also enjoy the Science Matters program offered after school hours throughout the school year. Uniforms - LOVE them! If you are school shopping in the Windsor area, be sure to check out WCA.

Posted: September 8, 2011

I am starting my fourth year at WCA. All around we are happy to be here. It has the high standards of a private school but in a public school. The leadership is outstanding and very open to any concerns or suggestions we have had. We love the volunteering opportunities as it keeps us as parents involved in our childrens education. A school cam only be great if the parents reinforce the teachings at home. So if you are not willing to be involved with your children's education then go somewhere else. If you are involved then this is the school for you. The best thng you can do is tour the school and see if it fits your family. It is fabulous for us as we are very involved and feel strongly with uniforms. The school is secure and locked and only those that have filled out a background check form can come in. All the teachers are open to help from parents and love teaching.One bad thing we are lower in funding than the rest of the district so little things like maintaining up to date technology and maintaining electronics is harder. Most kids here are a year ahead of their peers that are in "regular" public school. Check and see if it fits your family. We wouldn't be anywhere else.

Posted: September 6, 2011

Windsor Charter Academy is the best choice we could have made for our child. The staff is dedicated and competent and very open to parent involvement. If you want to be an active participant in your child's education, this is the school for you. The core knowledge curriculm and new adoption of a Singapore math program and after school science camps are all examples of the school's effort to adopt a challenging curriculum that will serve our students well and make them more than highschool ready by the time they finish the 8th grade. Uniforms and an excellent character education program round the school out to show kids how to be good citizens and help them learn skills they will need their entire life and keep them focused on what is important, their education!

Posted: September 6, 2011

Jeez, I guess if you don't cater to all the gifted children or maybe I should put that correctly, the parents of gifted children then you aren't a good school. And imagine that, people in our society with tattoos, what will these children ever do when they are out from under the shelter of their parent and they see somebody on the street with a tattoo. All I can say is WCA is an awesome school with the best and most involved teachers and staff I have ever seen at a school and I am proud to have my child going there. I also enjoy volunteering at the school and going on field trips with my child. There is only so much you can do with limited resources and if as a parent you don't like it then there are plenty of private schools and mega-churches you can take your gifted child to so they can get "special attention". And for the record I have three tattoos, so look out !

Posted: August 28, 2011

Once they got a new principal, the school really went downhill. Teachers are still great, overall. Principal is inexperienced and does not lead well. Very poor choice considering the many experienced applicants they had for this position when it opened three years ago. Plusses: Great curriculum, teachers who care, uniforms, structured, fun activities that go along with the curriculum, after school programs are good considering how small a school it is. Minuses: Too much focus on CSAP, not enough "hands on" time and too much focus on homework for most teachers (though some balance this well) Unprofessional leadership is the biggest downfall of the school and unfortunately, this affects almost everything. I would highly recommend this school under the previous leadership, but I cannot in good conscience do so now. I truely hope this does not last and things start looking up for WCA. One last note: my kids really liked it until the last year they were there and a very minor incident turned into a huge fiasco. This incident lost all my trust for the principal in seeing the principal was looking out for the teachers and not the kids. Very sad.

Posted: July 19, 2011

Sadness for a school that families were once loyal to and excited about. We have been at WCA for two years and are questioning whether or not to return. Leadership the last two years was severely lacking and I am afraid that next year will be worse. The idea that a charter school flourishes due, in part, to the participation of the parents has been seriously brought into questions. Personal agendas and weak leadership have lead to bitterness, gossip, and derision. The music program is practically non- existent at the elementary level. If music is important to you- this school will not provide an opportunity for your child. A great disappointment to us. I have liked most of our teachers and I feel that the teacher makes all the difference. We like the Core Knowledge curriculum- it has proven to be a far better fit for our kids. As a parent, I love the dress code- saves a lot of headaches in the mornings!

Posted: April 2, 2011

Good teachers in general. Bad board and principal. They do not listen to the parent membership. Lots of talk about sex education.

Windsor Charter Academy

Windsor, CO 80550

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Windsor Charter Academy

Windsor, CO 80550

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