T.R. Paul Academy Of Arts & Knowledge in Fort Collins

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	5/10	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: July 22, 2026

This school was a blessing to work for and to see the students grow over a year was amazing. The team here really cares, and puts the most effort in making sure students are in a good environment while learning at exceptional levels. Would not have traded the experience for anything.

Posted: May 17, 2026

This is a fabulous school! Staff focuses on the individual needs of students and work to ensure that each student gets what they need to grow to their fullest potential. The teamwork among staff is outstanding. I have worked here many years and look forward to each day knowing I am appreciated, supported and respected.

Posted: May 13, 2026

AAK is an amazing school. My daughter has been attending for four years and she is learning ang growing not only at a high academic rate but socially and emotionally as well. She is participating in the free before and after school program and has been in choir, science/engineering, drama, dance, puzzle, and flute clubs. These have added to her ability to think critically and grow self confidence as well as broadened her interests. Administration is always present and available to speak to students or parents and are receptive to ideas and individual student needs. i love that my student is treated as an individual and that she is encouraged to show her understanding of academic concepts in a multitude of ways, not just the traditional sit and regurgitate model. Highly recommend this school!

Posted: May 12, 2026

Worked as a substitute in this school. The unorganized chaos was absolutely insane. I've never had so many disrespectful and poorly mannered students in my time as a sub. (I do not blame the children, I blame the unstructured classrooms and leadership.) My jaw could have dropped on the floor after seeing the way discipline was handled. I'm not talking about bullying or childish actions- I'm talking not one student engaging in educational lessons. Running around the school doing as they please completely unsupervised or no effort of a system to supervise and have a safe environment. I dont take writing this review lightly but I think it's important information to know if your child is going here.

Posted: October 8, 2025

The in classroom experience goes based on each teacher. My kids have had horrible educator's and amazing one. There is no communication, or transparency. They promote bullying behaviors - my children were called stupid in front of me by staff. 22 incidents with one student and my oldest before the school intervened. No discipline for racial and homophobic comments. My kids have been physically assaulted multiple times. I have gone through the board of directors, even to the schools attorney. Only made them target my children. They don't teach accountability for staff or students and use favoritism frequently. No one answers the phone ever. And they choose which students the policy's are enforced with and which not to. Strongly do NOT recommend!

Posted: June 15, 2023

We have finished one year with AAK and are excited to go back. I've seen none of the chaos earlier reviews mention. We've had a consistent staff and teachers all year who are kind, understanding, and seem genuinely excited to be teaching the kids. Learning topics are explored across the art and music classes as well as in the home classroom.
The school is also more diverse than any other school we visited and that was very important to us.

Posted: January 29, 2021

This is a great school. We have been happy with our children's education. The curriculum is great and includes many needed elements for a developing child that our public school systems often disregard.

Posted: January 29, 2021

Posted: January 19, 2021

I can't express how grateful I am for AAK! They have gone above and beyond the call of duty in managing all of the uncertainty that COVID has caused. My husband and I both work and when school went remote we were worried how we would manage. They not only transitioned to remote learning quickly, they provided small in-person learning for families who really needed it (we certainly did!!). I don't know what we would have done without these wonderful teachers and staff. So happy to be a part of this wonderful community.

Posted: January 19, 2021

Posted: December 10, 2018

Great school and staff! Love the small, family environment.

Posted: September 4, 2018

They don't push homework on the kiddos in the early grades. Gives kiddos family time after school. I love that

Posted: September 4, 2018

My daughter has been there since kindergarten and is now in Second grade. She loves the school. The school feels like a big family. All the staff and teachers are amazing. My daughter has flourished since attending AAK. We are proud to be part of the AAK family

Posted: August 24, 2018

My kid loves this school and we love it as well! Such a well rounded, character trait focused, and overall confidence building education!

Posted: February 9, 2018

My kids loves it and they are happy, which makes me happy.

Posted: August 17, 2017

3 kids,,, going on 6 years and we love our TPAAK family!

Posted: August 17, 2017

Posted: May 24, 2017

This is an amazing school. Creative learning and caring community. Top of the range teachers. My kids have thrived here. I feel beyond blessed to have stepped out from the norm and found this treasure.

Posted: May 18, 2017

This is a great community with amazing, caring teachers. Learning is very individualized and the arts are infused through education. My child has blossomed at TPAAK!

Posted: May 18, 2017

My daughter had a very positive kindergarten experience at TPAAK! She loved her teachers, and we appreciated the smaller, close-knit community that TPAAK provided. Students have access to art or music on a daily basis, and my daughter has really made great progress in reading.

Posted: May 18, 2017

TPAAK is a smaller school, and I feel the teachers really take the time to support and get to know the students. They have monthly assemblies to discuss different character traits, and it's a very positive school environment.

Posted: May 18, 2017

For students in the lower grades, there is not a lot of homework assigned. Reading is encouraged on a daily basis and there are some smaller projects throughout the year that students can do as well.

Posted: May 11, 2017

My daughter has gone here for both Kindergarten and First Grade. She is an only child and has really grown into a social butterfly. She has friendships she treasures, a school she adores and the most wonderful teachers. I really love that this school provides more art, music and humanities than other schools in this area. With the smaller class sizes, the teachers can really focus on each child and help develop them academically to their fullest potential. I would absolutely recommend this school!

Posted: April 9, 2017

My kids both love this school and their teachers! My middle child fought going to school and we had nightly homework battles. The no homework through 3rd grade and only a little in 4th is awesome since research shows it's actually detrimental in elementary school. The teachers truly care, the class sizes are very reasonable and my kids are being exposed to more art and music than in any other school I've heard about. They also get at least two recesses which is critical to kids being able to learn and grow. Kids get the chance to be well-rounded and are reinforced to be caring and compassionate. I highly recommend this school!

Posted: April 9, 2017

Posted: March 23, 2017

TPAAK offers my daughter so many opportunities to learn and grow. The elementary school band, choir, drama, and art opportunities are numerous. Children have the chance to preform and take on new challenges often. We find the Paragon instruction (a mixture of history, social studies, and art unique to TPAAK) to be a great piece of the overall education puzzle. I want my children to be great at science, math, and literacy but I am also trying to raise global citizens with cultural literacy and Paragon is a key to that. The teachers and administration are hard working, caring, and immensely talented. The board and PTLO work tirelessly to support the students, staff, and greater TPAAK community. I especially appreciate that the PTLO and Board insulate students from fundraising. My daughter has never been asked to sell or peddle anything as happens so often at other school. At times the school day and year seem a bit long, but I know my child is benefiting from the additional time at school learning, creating, and engaging with her peers. TPAAK students are excelling. Students have made great showings in art competitions, science fairs, OM competitions, band and drama opportunities.

Posted: March 23, 2017

The school's leadership, on all levels, is dedicated to seeing students, staff, and the school as a whole succeed.

Posted: March 23, 2017

Students are awarded for showing positive character traits each month, and teachers do a great job of positively reinforcing strong character.

Posted: March 23, 2017

The teachers and staff at TPAAK are highly educated, motivated, and caring. Their passion really shows in their creativity and hard work. The staff has really excelled at making the environment welcoming.

Posted: March 23, 2017

TPAAK seems to have moved away from focusing on homework as an extension of the school day. Kids need time to be kids and I'm glad that my kids aren't weighed down my homework each night. For the most part homework is made up of occasional projects or small extensions of classwork.

Posted: September 3, 2016

The primary grades in the school don't receive any homework all (no packets coming home to be returned by the end of the week!!) In 4th and 5th grade, they begin to add homework to help develop skills the students will need in middle school. The school does encourage school-home connections.

Posted: September 3, 2016

The school focuses on a different Character Trait school wide each month. Teachers are good models for these traits as well.

Posted: September 3, 2016

This school has certainly had some changes in the last past years--mostly for the better. The current leadership has really helped to bring the school up across the board. The art and music program are top notch as well as the social studies program. The kindergarten and first grade are also very strong foundations for the school.

Posted: May 6, 2016

Some teachers very good. Some too inexperienced and not given enough supervision. Some experienced but not very skilled.

Posted: May 6, 2016

Big on arts, performance, cultures and history. Teachers mixed bag at all levels. Band teacher is awesome! Inferior gifted and talented program. Art teacher is good and helps kids win contests but given little time so has to push kids really hard.

Posted: March 10, 2015

This school has an amazing focus and philosophy, but does not deliver on it. The administration of the school has been lacking since the beginning, having gone through about 9 principals in 9 years. Students are seen as dollar signs, and there are multiple fundraisers throughout the year. They are in major debt, operating in the red with a budget that shows more debt at the end of the year. WIth the charter renewal coming, they may not even be around much longer. Do your research, check out lots of schools. My kids are now at a school in PSD with netbooks in their classroom for every student in 4/5 grade, amazing music programs, choir and drama. In addition, the teachers are stable and are not looking for better paying, better supported positions in the district.

Posted: January 30, 2015

My oldest has been attending this school for two years and I am excited to send my middle child there for kindergarten next year! I have already talked to my son's former kindergarten teacher about having my daughter next year, and she is excited. I have seen other people's complaints on this sight about staff turn-over and if that was happening in the past, I don't see it happening now. My son is getting a top-notch, well-rounded education. He has art class two or three times a week, music class twice a week, drama class once a week, and PE once a week. That is in addition to the core classes. The school also recently debuted an app, and it is great!!

Posted: January 13, 2015

My son had nothing but problems in public school and the teachers at the public schools were not willing to help, all of that changed when we started at TPAK. I adore the new principle, she was my son's teacher our first year at TPAK, so we were able to really get to know her on a personal level, she worked with my son, gave him all the tools he needed to be successful, and I have nothing but positive things to say about her, so when I found out she was going to be the principle I was thrilled. I feel like I am walking through the halls of Fame when I go to the school to pick up my son! The before and after program is wonderful and Mr. Brad who is also the gym teacher is fantastic. My son has done great while attending TPAK, and I highly recommend TPAK for teaching a different way of learning, one that works for us!!!

Posted: November 25, 2014

There are good and bad things about the school. The curriculum is not as challenging as many of the parents boast about. I encourage any parent to research Mosaica and make their own judgements on this. After leaving the school my child was tested in reading and found to be an entire grade level behind. Most Teachers don't work as a cohesive team and I am finding that when teachers do work together the kids benefit tremendously. The new principal is a wonderful and educated person, but is often spread too thin with all the responsibilities of shoring up a financially struggling charter school. I found the extra hours Mosaica requires in the classroom to be filled with fluff activities just to get through the time. This all being said, I think TPAAK is the right fit for some kids. It's a close community where parents can be involved. The smaller school provides comfort for kids who struggle in big schools. It also accommodates the schedules of working parents. Shining star students really stand out. Many teachers are right out of college and enthusiastic. A lack of classroom management skills does exist. Some love TPAAK and others are looking for more in a school.

Posted: September 27, 2014

I love the drive and the spirit of this school. I love how the teaching team collaborates. We have the common goal of providing the best learning environment possible for the students. I love that music and art are an integrated part of every school day. And most of all, I love being a teacher at TPAAK and working to help students bring out the best of their talents. This is indeed, a great place to be. :-)

Posted: September 22, 2014

This is a for profit charter school. Good teachers leave because why else would you work for such low pay!!!

Posted: September 16, 2014

T.R. Paul is a great school!!! I have two kids at the school who are thriving and growing educationally. We have been extremely happy with most (everybody has at least one bad teacher) of the teachers at TPAAK. They take the time to help my children learn at their own pace and encourage doing above grade level work. The principal is the best this school has ever had!! She is caring and really does a fabulous job. Mrs. Nakagawa is approachable and willing to listen and help with any situation, my kids and I both love her! I could not imagine a better place to put kids. Everybody that has a conversation with my kids can tell they are getting a high quality education and can see that they LOVE their school! Thank you TPAAK!

Posted: September 15, 2014

I love this school! I love the curriculum and how approachable the teachers, principal, and board are. In a tough financial climate, I find that good choices and decisions are being made. I don't like how, as in any setting, one or two disgruntled employees or parents can skew things in a negative direction. My children have had fabulous teachers and support. Their progress and test scores reflect this. The Charter was changed from K-8 to K-5. It was voted on last year to go into effect this year - not mid year. This foresight allowed parents and families to plan ahead and make informed decisions. I appreciate that my school leaders are open about topics and welcome input and questions re clarification.

Posted: September 15, 2014

Do NOT send your child(ren) here. Unbelievable that this school is still going. I give it one, maybe 2 years tops before it closes. There is ZERO communication among teachers, the principal, and/or parents. The school is ALWAYS in dire need of funds, they can't it together. The "board" is a joke, constantly making changes that benefit their inflated egos. The principal outright lies and hides when there are issues. They cut their Grade 6-8 program in the **middle of the year** last year. They laid off staff and change curriculum in the **middle of the school** year. My children are NOT there for their trial and error period. I had to move them after being there a year. Worst year of their academic lives.......

Posted: September 14, 2014

Due to major financial troubles, and extremely poor administration, the school is cutting corners everywhere it can to stay solvent. The school is poorly run, lacks open and honest communication with staff and parents. I would advise anyone looking at this school to look elsewhere, as it's doubtful it will even be open in a year.

Posted: June 15, 2014

TPAAK offers an educational opportunity for students who need the individualized instruction and personal care that a smaller school setting can give. The principal and staff show genuine concern about children, academically and personally. Character education is included as an integral part of the curriculum. Teachers within the same grade level collaborate and the support staff (special education) also works with the general education faculty to provide meaningful instruction to students. The school is currently expanding the Gifted Education program. If your child does not fit the "one size" educational experience offered at many schools, take a tour of TR Paul Academy and talk to the staff!

Posted: June 3, 2014

Extremely unprofessional working environment. There is very little collaboration across grade levels and the 2 monthly staff meetings are often cancelled. Leadership is weak and consists of inconsistencies, threats and gossip. On an upside, parent involvement is strong and T.R. Paul's parent organization is probably the best part of the school. While many of the teachers at the school are extremely talented, they are not supported, and spread very thin. This leads to a high turnover rate due to a lack of support and respect. Long hours and low pay...strongly discourage teachers to subject themselves to such a discouraging place of employment.

Posted: April 28, 2014

Not only is there a lack of leadership in the administration, but they encourage non-collaboration amongst their staff. Meanwhile, they ostracize the good teachers who have been teaching for years, making great strides in the classroom through literacy, math, & science performance. They focus way too much on Paragon, which quite frankly is NOT needed in the real world. Is my daughter going to be tested on Bali or Egypt anytime soon? She's 5! What she needed was penmanship & literacy. They boast themselves to be this great art school & yet they have only 45 minutes of art per week. The teachers don't do art projects- they're too busy trying to teach Paragon. If you're unfamiliar with this curriculum, I encourage you to look it up, as it has nothing to do with common CORE that is taught at every other school in the nation. TPAAK could improve by getting better teachers, (ones who don't pop balloons behind kid's heads to get their attention), better administrators (with administration education, experience, leadership skills), a different curriculum where they teach life skills such as writing and reading rather than focus half the day on the Renaissance.

Posted: April 27, 2014

Every school has its positive and negative reviews. To be honest, my son is in Kindergarten, so we have not experienced the turn over in administration. His teacher is wonderful, and the principle seems to be truly dedicated to the school and its philosphy. There is wide ethnic diversity within the school which is also very important to us. Our family moved to Fort Collins from out of state, and we were looking for a school that would be challenge our son and teach him to respect himself and others. The fundraisers are completely optional, and we have opted out of several. However, that money is used to continuously develop TPAAK's programs. For such a small school, the students are constantly being recognized for high achievements, which I can only attribute to a combination of strong curriculum, parent participation, unique academic opportunities, and adminstrative involvement. I work in the public school system and naturally compare the education and resources available to my child to that which I see at other schools. I am happy we have chosen to enroll in TPAAK to give him a strong foundation academically, socially, and emotionally.

Posted: April 7, 2014

I reviewed the school two years ago, and feel I must update. The current principal taught here for years before becoming principal and really understands it, which is such a great help to the school. I am a thinking, involved parent--like all of us reading this site--I would not keep my kids in a school I had any misgivings about. TR Paul is the best thing to ever happen to my daughter, period. She marches to her own beat and has been able to be herself here and make friends. It's an arts school (which is exactly why we chose it), and art is offered daily: drama, visual art, and music. We have one of the best (maybe the only?) elementary-school bands in town. Plus, the Paragon curriculum really rounds out their cultural learning. Both my kids have learned things I wasn't exposed to until high school--even college. Not everyone will be happy with every school, and some parents won't be happy with ANY school. Some of the complaints seem to be written by someone who doesn't actually have a child at the school; that's how little sense it makes. TR Paul is diverse, it is welcoming, and it offers what my kids need. Visit yourself and see why--don't take someone else's word for it.

Posted: April 2, 2014

My children have been there for 6 years and are THRIVING! I have seen 3 principals in the years we have attended, and if you ask teachers, they are currently VERY happy with the principal. Test scores for the grades have improved each year if you look at a history of scores from the beginning. As for Art, our students are excelling over and above any school in the area. Recently, in a statewide contest for the Department of Wildlife, 15 TPAAK students placed for the 28 spots available.My children know much more about the technicality of art than even I know. The music teacher has done a fabulous job creating the only elementary band around. The confidence my children have gained because of the one and only elementary level drama class offered in Northern Colorado is spectacular.The board and PTLO have done a fabulous job in the last 6 years minimizing the number of large fundraisers. It has been limited to 2 large events each year. There are many other fun events but those are just extra events for the kids, not driven to raise extra money. We LOVE TPAAK and say thank you to the teachers and staff for all of your wonderful commitment to the education of our kids!

Posted: April 1, 2014

This is my students 1st year at TPAAK after wonderful experiences out of state. Her confidence level and enjoyment of school has plummeted. The quality of teachers is inconsistent. Some are very supportive and positive. But her primary teacher is incredibly negative leading to many families leaving mid school year. The principal is impersonal and controlling (driving away good teachers). 80% of communication is to recruit new students or make money (TPAAK has 100+ fundraisers). The other 20% is complaining to parents. My disappointment with this "Art" school is the lack artwork. The work sent home is mostly below grade level work sheets - NEVER artwork. The art teacher is great but very limited by lack of materials. My daughter knows da Vinci - but hasn't progressed beyond stick figures. TPAAK scores well in early grades when students transfer there. Then scores decline the longer they are at the school. They even killed the MS because the scores and number of students were so low. We were stupid to already pay for re-enrollment for next year - but smart enough to forego the money and find a new school. Do not send your student to this sinking ship!

Posted: January 28, 2014

I am a parent at TRPaul. My son is in Kindergarten now. His teacher Mrs Van Horn is wonderful. She as a Master Degree in education, but what's more important is that she is a very caring teacher and teaches really well (not only literacy and math, but also dancing, music, art). All kids love her and she loves all her students (according to my son and my observation). Other teachers including PE, Art, Music, Drama and Spanish teachers are great as well. I also like their Champion afterschool program. Teachers (Mr Brad and Ms Hannah) interact with kids all the time. Plenty of activities to keep the kids relaxing and learning. I like paragon night. Every student gets to perform every month, in their classroom if not on stage. I also talk to a second grade teacher and she talked to me about 30 minutes about how they do things at this school, very patiently. They have special tutoring classes in small groups (if not individually) for students who are behind academically so that no one left behind. I also like the new principle Mrs Nak who seems to be very dedicated to the school. All kids have good manners and are so lovely. No bullying was reported from my son.

Posted: October 11, 2013

The concept of this school is fabulous but the actual implementation of its mission with tangible results as seen through its' students achievements is so disappointing. I was also willing to wait several years for promised improvements believing that changes in administration and increased parental involvement and commitment would make a difference in the long run but how long do your children have? I made decisions to keep my kids at TR Paul during a time when they should have been gaining critical foundations for learning. It was not until after putting them both in another school that I learned how behind TR Paul really left them. The longer school days did not really go toward extra learning. It felt like a glorified child care center frequently. We are playing catch up now academically but I am so glad we finally decided to "cut" our losses out of the sake of loyalty to the school and instead switched our loyalty to our children. What was I thinking?

Posted: October 8, 2013

I changed my daughter to a new school this year and it ended up being a wrong decision. The school was not a good fit for her and she was doing the total opposite of achieving. So I thought it would be best to send her back to her old school where she had been for five years and did well. So after withdrawing her from the school that was a bad idea to send her to, I went to her old school and asked if they had room in the 7th grade class for a new student. I was told that they did have plenty of room. So feeling very confident I was then directed to speak to the new principal. I told the new principal how my daughter had gone to the school for five years prior and how the school was a good fit for her. I admitted my mistake of changing her out of the school. And the principal proceeded to let me know that since the October count had past this last week on the 1st that they would be unable to re enroll here there. I am angered that first of all that money is a greater value then a chills education to this school and second that they are penalizing my child for my mistake of my decision to have her try a new school. Why should dollar signs mean more? How unfair.

Posted: December 1, 2012

some of theser reviews are based off tours-not actual parents of students. my children currently attend T.R Paul an i can say things good and bad. Reasons i chose this school is because of the security. many schools have less teachers than they do students especially at recess. i like that the doors are locked to prevent kidnappings, assaults, etc. The incorrect part on another comment that they are 2 grade levels behind. ummm no. All their grade levels are learning at 1-2 grades ahead. my daughter is in kindergarten and is doing addition and subtraction, learning about mass and matter, studies a different culture/country every month and presents on it. The education values are excellent as well as the art inrichment they offer. i also enjoy how multicultural it truly is. BUT i am having issues with this school. the uniforms are not cheap and have very strict guidelines with accessories, hair, etc which is a bit ridiculous. they are always asking you to attend fundraisers to pay for this for the school and that for the school-seriously its EVERY WEEK. theres bullying as well as favoritism with higher class families. THE PARKING LOT IS ATROCIOUS/dangerous! theres maybe 20 spots.

Posted: August 28, 2012

As a parent of a child at TPAAK, I truly felt the need to respond to the previous post. The testing referred to is always requested by the parents not the school. The school also has a preschool for children that don't meet the cut-off. The books were most likely donated for the book sale, not for the students. They are moved out daily by our parent volunteers. Also, the library has no key. Each classroom is locked with a code for security. The teachers and administration here are amazing. I have been a teacher and a parent in many schools. TPAAK has some of the most creative, innovative, caring, dedicated staff who truly care about each and every child in the building. The principal is frequently IN classrooms, and not always available for tours during the school day. My child gets science and social studies EVERY DAY, not once or twice a week. The curriculum is amazing, and the arts focus is truly one-of-a-kind. What a wonderful school!!!!! Thanks TPAAK!

Posted: August 28, 2012

My kids attended TPAAK during its first two years. Fortunately we were able to get out and into a good school in the district. Now four years later, I am talking with a teacher who was not even aware that my children attended this school and she mentioned that she had a couple of students last year that needed much tutoring. We were visiting about them in respects to the extra time she was putting in and she said that they needed so much help with math, they were nearly two years behind district standards. I asked her what school they had been at previously and it was TPAAK. Could be the kind of math that is used or the way it is presented but it reaffirmed our experience and my instinct about this school. It was not then nor is it now what you wish for your child. All this tme later and Great Schools still sends me notices and I chuckle when I read a positive review about how " my child gets science and social studies EVERY DAY" because our core knowledge elementary school teaches the same stuff. Maybe every other day but it is the exact same material by the end of the year in total. There are much better schools for family than this one-in every way.

Posted: August 11, 2012

School has just started again and my kids are so excited. They have come home every day chattering about what a great day they had and how happy they are to be back at school. I am loving the progression of the arts curriculum in the upper grades (3-8)- it is going to be a fun school year! Looking forward to seeing the performances and art work that comes out of this. If you've got a kid who loves the arts- this is the place to be. I too am a picky parent, and did a lot of research before choosing this curriculum for my kids, and it has been well worth it. We love it here!

Posted: February 27, 2012

My comment from this morning disappeared (surprise) so I wanted to be sure that visitors on this site know that I am a very proactive parent at TRPaul and I can tell you that all the negative comments on this site (I read through about half) ARE true. My children will not go back to this school another year. I've been waiting for a REAL change to happen at my children's expense. It gets worse every year. Ask about ALL the principals and staff changes. And yep, the lunches are from PSD, but are only partial items that my children cannot eat. There is no real kitchen facility so by the time the lunches arrive at TRPaul they are cold and gross and they cost more than PSD.This is just one of the MANY things that make this school undesirable.Organization IS a serious problem. Teachers are let go and shifted around due to failing budgets. One week there will be a middle school and the next week there won't. One week they will have yearbooks, the next they won't. Things change on a dime. If you can live like this, then you have found your school. INVESTIGATE, PLEASE.

Posted: February 26, 2012

TPAAK is a horrific school. I am shocked the are still open considering eveyone who has left speaks so strongly about their bad experiences. I know schools have growing pains, but how many principals have they had since they've started? (Be honest...at least 7 in 6 years.)

Posted: February 25, 2012

If you have any other option whatsoever, Leavenworth, Alcatraz...you get the message, please don't subject your child to this school. Everything changes on a day to day basis, the principal, the teachers, the subjects, the lunches (which are awful, btw). The school has a morgue like atmosphere and look. Don't be fooled by their very misleading tours or false information. They are an accident waiting to happen and your children deserve better. Stability is NOT in their scope. Just because it is a "charter" school doesn't mean that it is a place your child should feel priveleged to attend. IT IS NOT! Pay attention to the reviews and heed the warnings. I've read through them and they are spot on! Just do your research for your child's sake. Charter + small school does NOT equal better.

Posted: December 21, 2011

I love the way TPAAK incorporates art and history into everyday learning. My son is able to understand more when he can relate it to something. I love the way they are teaching my child.

Posted: October 28, 2011

If you're looking for a "great school," don't stop here. Bungle after bungle of the administration, coupled with a HUGE budget shortfall and an overworked/underworked staff make this place an intolerable and even hostile learning environment. Mosaica, Inc. is a FOR-Profit company, that takes our tax-dollars and leaves our students scrambling for supplies. There is a reason why this is the only charter school in the town that was not approved by PSD.

Posted: October 20, 2011

As I read all these reviews I am reminded that the teaching staff can only do so much. As a parent it is my job to be as involved as necessary. We have had few issues with TPAAK....we love this school. I have to wonder if the parents that have had issues within the school used all the resources available....the chain of command goes much higher than the CAO. IT was my experience that bullying was taken very seriously last year and all efforts were made to eliminate it. My daughter has excelled at TPAAK because the teachers are able to use more abstract methods of teaching than public schools can.

Posted: August 14, 2011

We love this school, have two kids there. Kids wear uniforms, enter in an orderly fashion, taught to respect each other. Parents are invited in every 6-8 weeks (or so) to see the kids do a skit on what they have been learning and show parents their stuff on the wall. High degree of ethnic diversity of students across a lot of cultures, this was very important to us moving from East Coast. School year starts a few weeks early, ends a few late and school day is longer than public schools, which means about a month more class time and less work taken home (it gets done during school hours). Also have a good before and after school program if you have two parents working. They challenge kids a lot. GOOD SCHOOL if you are an engaged parent, want ethnicity, structure, are actively engaged in your kids education. NOT FOR YOU unless you are actively engaged in your kids educatioin and you want to be part of a school community.

Posted: August 11, 2011

I recommend you check this school out before sending your child to any other school in Fort Collins. TPAAK focuses on Arts, Science, Technology, and Math using a hands on curriculum. They also have more arts based classes than other schools that i have seen including Dance, Drama, PE and Art.

Posted: July 17, 2011

This school was one of the worst schools I've ever been too. Slower students that go there in hopes of improving actually get worse. Sure, the pe, art, drama and music are really good, but did anyone think about literature and math? Why are 5th graders still learning about one digit math? And reading books reserved for 2nd graders? After your kids come out of this school, they will have no idea what the other schools are talking about. So if you are relying on a football, music, art, or drama scholarship, you should come here and hope for the "best". But if you want your child to have a chance in life, send them somewhere else.

Posted: June 12, 2011

Thought my son had a great Pre-school experience at this school. I can't speak for the upper grades, but Kalee was a knowledgeable and personable teacher who encouraged and accepted my son for the gifts he had.

Posted: June 1, 2011

apparently a couple of the reviewers are the lucky ones whos children seem to be in ALL the leading roles, are tapped for all the solos and given art instruction without graffitti from the art teacher. If I focus on one of my children then that child does well but what of the others. I feel the 10 or so 'chosen' students do get the lions share of drama, music and art instruction. There were 15 spots in the talent show but only 10 performances. Our kids go longer everyday and longer every year. I my kids because it is an art school. I think the parents, the staff and the administration need to get back to these basics or ...

Posted: May 24, 2011

This school has always looked better from the outside than the inside. It should say something that every time a negative review is posted on Greatschools, multiple positive reviews follow denying whatever allegations were made. Parents and staff are actively encouraged to promote the school and deny any negative publicity. At this point, there are fewer than 300 students enrolled in K-7th grade for the 2011-12 school year. The idea behind the school was unique and exciting. The implementation has been poor and fraught with politics and bullying of families that don't agree with the administration.

Posted: May 24, 2011

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about T.R. Paul Academy. The staff is always encouraging and helpful. As for the principal, she is the kindest individual you will ever meet and always puts the children first. She is always there to talk to the students if they need her and she always treats them with the upmost of respect. As a teacher, Ms. Lind has supported me in too many ways to count. She is a wonderful mentor and is always there to help her staff with a smile on her face. The overall experience that I can take from this school at the end of every day is very positive. The teachers, the principal, the secretaries, and most importantly, the students all present a very positive demeanor each and every day. It is an enjoyable place to be and a more importantly than anything, it is an absolutely astonishing place for children to learn and grow. The students are always excited to learn, always excited to dive into the daily lessons and because of this, they are truly grasping a deeper understanding of the world around them. It is truly an amazing thing to watch as the students grow and bloom from their experiences here at T.R. Paul. Come and see for yourself!

Posted: May 23, 2011

Parents are partners at TR Paul Academy. They are respected and actively participate in the school culture through school visits, volunteerism, conferences, informal meetings, performances and community events. All volunteers in the classroom are celebrated and given opportunities to work directly with students under the guidance of each classroom teacher. All teacher/parent meetings are scheduled during non-instructional time. TPAAK parents are superlative!

Posted: April 23, 2011

I am a teacher at TPAAK and have a lot of experience in public, private and university education. I am so impressed with the leadership now at TPAAK. Ms. Lind is always child focused and promotes growth for the child. Ms. Lind is developing TPAAK into an exceptional school one child and one teacher at a time. Please come and visit and see for yourself.

Posted: April 21, 2011

I love TPAAK! This is my first year with the school and the staff is amazing. I am looking forward to many years with the school. The curriculum is excellent.

Posted: February 8, 2011

This is our 5th year in attendence at this school. We have always loved the environment and the education our kids have had access to. The leadership in the past has had some issues, but I assure you that this is no longer an issue. The current principal has led TPAAK in a new an inspriging way. Test scores are up, the children are learning, and I couldn't be happier that we stuck with the school!

Posted: November 29, 2010

I am so pleased with the way TPAAK continues to move forward. We think the teachers are great and are thrilled with the new principal. She is really working and succeeding in not only moving TPAAK up the ranks academically, but also grounding us within the Arts community. These contacts are beginning to pay off w/ increased partnerships and learning opportunities for the kids. Our curriculum was great to start with, but I am very pleased with the rise in test scores.

Posted: November 21, 2010

How does a winter coat get lost, disappear, never to be seen again between the playground and the school door? As a teacher "supervising" 3rd graders is it too much to ask to noltice whether a child still has his coat on when they come back in the school? No bullying? My children have had to go to the "principle" 5 times this year about it. Between harrassing behavior on the "supervised" playground to lost coats I wouldnt know where to begin. Arts and Knowledge? This school "let go" the only music teacher as well as the only foreign language teacher. Don't waste your time on special clothes or going the extra mile. This school has failed our children.

Posted: May 20, 2010

My child has been in kindergarten this past year and has been extremely happy and so have I. I think some of the complaints I have read could apply to many schools in just about any district right now due to budget and admin. cutbacks. I truly believe TPAAK is trying to serve in the best interest of the students and their families. We have not had a single issue at the school but if we had, I feel comfortable in saying that I believe it would have been properly addressed. I really hope the school continues to move up. We plan to stay if it does just based on the way my child is learning and progressing.

Posted: April 29, 2010

My son has been attending the school for the past year. He is way above his grade level in everything, especially math. We are very pleased with the school, and I have never seen or heard my son talk about anyone getting bullied. I think the discipline at the school is good, and the uniforms are awesome. Every question I have ever addressed to an administrator was either answered directly, or I was told where I could get the answer. Every day the principal is out on the playground and in front of the school talking to parents and greeting them. As far as budget cuts, EVERY school in the state has them, and most are cutting A LOT more then our school. I encourage anyone to take a look for themselves. This is a great arts school.

Posted: April 26, 2010

Reading some of the reviews here, it's hard to believe we're talking about the same school. I don't see kids getting pulled out left and right, or rampant bullying, or uncaring administration, or the main focus on money, and I spend a big chunk of time at the school. Every school has had children leave. Every school has experienced bullying. All the schools in the state have had budget cuts. The exaggeration is a bit excessive in some of the reviews. Judge for yourself. Visit the school. Drop in and see a typical day. I continue to be very impressed with the school. The staff and admin are receptive and always answer my questions. The principal isn't hiding in her office. I see her working throughout the building and being where she's needed. I see happy, smiling children who tell me they love their school -- not just my own children.

Posted: March 8, 2010

We love this school. Our daughter is in her second year and she reads and does math above grade level. Her teacher is so warm and creative. My favorite thing about the school is the hands on creative things the children get to do which really make the learning concrete and gets the kids so excited. My daughter's class is building a teepee this quarter. What kid would not LOVE that?

Posted: March 2, 2010

We pulled our kids out of this school in 2008 because of many serious problems but decided to re-enroll them the beginning of this year because we were given the reassurance that all of our concerns had been addressed. Boy was I mistaken!! Not only have our concerns about severe bullying and lack of faculty intervention not improved, but my children have suffered emotionally and mentally, have night mares now and on some occasions been physically hurt including skinned knees from being pushed down and bites from other children. I find it remarkable that this school is now a pre-school! I deeply regret putting my children in harms way not once but twice now. Parents, please ask questions! Like the previous parent wrote, things are not what they seem here.

Posted: February 24, 2010

I agree with the previous poster that it is best to check the school out before making a decision. This school has definately had it's share of problems, but the teachers are wonderful and incorporating the arts into what they learn has been great. Both my children have attended PSD schools before, and they have been very happy at this school. Which is why I have not pulled them out. They want to go to school and when I pick them up they are talking a mile a minute on what they learned that day. I am hoping that now that there will be a new principal things will change for the better. For this school to make it, they need a strong music program, which they do not have. They need to rehire the Spanish teacher that was a true gift to the school.

Posted: February 24, 2010

You can spend hours researching different schools and hearing different viewpoints, but every student and parent has different needs. If you are unhappy with the school your child is currently at and are considering other options, the best thing to do is visit the school and decide for yourself. Don't let good or bad reviews on some website make the decision for you! Not every school will be right for everyone, but this school has been wonderful for my daughter. I love all of the specials while still having a strong foundation in reading, writing, and math. But don't take my word for it- call the office, find out when the next Paragon night is, and come see for yourself!

Posted: February 23, 2010

Lack of leadership and the so called principal being more worried about the money coming in the school than the education of the children is sad. i will not send any parents to his school and i hope any parents wondering about this school will realize their children would be better somewhere else.

Posted: February 23, 2010

The so called board is a joke, the principal is even worse. if and when you have any issues and questions, she is either hiding in her office or passes the buck to someone else. also, she sends out emails saying the school desparately needs money because it has exhausted all funds, then a few weeks later a news letter is released and says the school is in great shape and financially stable. they have cut certain classes, and art is next on the chopping block. parents are pulling their kids out left and right. PLEASE PLEASE DO YOUR HOMEWORK ABOUT THIS SCHOOL.

Posted: February 21, 2010

I am having trouble posting a review, so hopefully this one will work! Basically this school has gone down hill fast, and after receiving an e-mail asking parents to write positive comments I felt compelled to do otherwise. Our child will not be attending TPAAK again next year, bottom line.

Posted: February 21, 2010

My son made the move to this school after spending 2 months in a PSD school. I was disgusted with PSD. He has attended since Kindergarten & is now in the 3rd grade. They divide literature and math classes into appropriate levels, so that no one gets left behind & has to wait for others to catch up. The school offers Art, Music, Drama and P.E. Parents are far more involved here. Parents drop off and pick up their kids everyday. Parking IS a little crazy but manageable once you learn how to navigate. My slight inconvenience is easy to overcome considering it is a slight compromise for a better education.

Posted: February 21, 2010

We have been at TPAAK for almost 1.5 years after transitioning from PSD. This school focuses on giving students the core curriculum (Real Math and Open Court Reading), but then so much more! Our favorite subject (not found at any other school in the district) is Paragon. Students learn social studies throughout the world and express the knowledge through art and performance. I continually learn new things from my children every 5 weeks students present their work to the parents. For example, the students were learning about the Renaissance period (4th grade) and they chose to dress up as different key historical figures (i.e. Galileo) making their own costumes, writing up a presentation, and then presenting it to all the parents. Afterwards, they discussed how they created mock-ups of a Venice village and how transportation was used at that time. WOW!

Posted: February 21, 2010

My daughter has been going to this school since K and she is now in 2nd grade. Up until the time around Christmas, we were in love with this school until a financial hurdle forced her teacher to be let go. The way it was handled was ridiculous and we were quite upset about it to say the least. My daughter was very effected by this abrupt change and didn't want to go to school for about 3 weeks. But, in the last couple months, they have handled the transition well and answered any of the questions we were all having, thoroughly and honestly. My daughter is once again happy to go to school, her new teacher is great, and we have re-enrolled for next year.

Posted: February 21, 2010

Posted: February 18, 2010

Two of my children attend TPAAK. They have an amazing and strong principal who is doing the best she can leading a charter school through a tough economic time. They are amazing teachers and have an amazing Pe, Art and Music teacher. I wish they had a field and a better facility, but they do well with what they have. I really think tpaak is a great school. Come and see yourself.

Posted: October 4, 2009

Posted: August 9, 2008

Posted: February 10, 2008

T.R. Paul Academy Of Arts & Knowledge

Fort Collins, CO 80525

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T.R. Paul Academy Of Arts & Knowledge

Fort Collins, CO 80525

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