Liza Jackson Preparatory School

Posted: June 16, 2024

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Posted: June 16, 2024

As a student in middle school I would like to write an honest review so people can get a feel of how it is on the inside. First I would like to say the teachers dont watch their students and pay attention to them. the kids here are just cruel.
The safety is very good and the teachers from my experience didn't do the best job but got job done. The food served isn't at all bad you can tell that they plan decent meals. Another thing I don't think we should be sent home with so much homework we get less sleep . I would like to add the band program, it's sad this is a pretty bougie school so I don't see why the funding Is so low. The band room is the size of a classroom (it should be around the size of 3) with a space for cubbies to put the instruments. Something you won't get from other reviews is the preferred teachers for example one of the gym coaches makes the girls very uncomfortable.Which he was apparently supposed to get fired but didn't, Im not just some kid spreading the "tea' im trying to help future kids with their school life.Pretty good school but it caused me severe social anxiety so be there if you kid please!

Posted: May 21, 2019

Posted: May 21, 2019

Posted: May 21, 2019

My child transferred to Liza in 3rd grade and was really behind which I already knew because of his previous school. The teachers took their time with my child to help.

Posted: May 21, 2019

Posted: May 21, 2019

I am very pleased with Liza Jackson not just with the teachers but with their curriculum. Yes, they have high demands but as parents we are supposed to be supporting our children, helping them, and actually sitting down with them when they have school work.

Posted: May 21, 2019

I grew up having the same workload if not more. I am very pleased with how the school gives the students homework and projects to work on at home

Posted: May 21, 2019

Posted: June 28, 2018

Posted: June 28, 2018

Posted: June 28, 2018

Posted: June 28, 2018

We love Liza! They educate effectively while instilling discipline and good work habits for the future!

Posted: June 28, 2018

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Posted: June 28, 2018

Posted: January 25, 2018

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Posted: January 25, 2018

Posted: January 25, 2018

Very satisfied with Liza. Coming from TX and Maryland, we were a bit worried about lower FL standards. Liza has set our minds at ease.

Posted: January 25, 2018

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Posted: January 25, 2018

Posted: January 25, 2018

I hate this school they have been caught with drugs many times

Posted: October 22, 2017

Posted: October 22, 2017

Posted: October 22, 2017

Posted: October 22, 2017

2-3 hours of homework a night??? What parallel universe are children being prepared for? Even in college I wasn't as busy as my kids are with the constant churn of daily assignments. Other than that, I cannot find too much fault with the school.

Posted: October 22, 2017

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Posted: October 22, 2017

Posted: January 27, 2017

Posted: January 27, 2017

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Posted: January 27, 2017

Caring community of teachers and administration. Kids really feel like part of a community.

Posted: July 13, 2016

Posted: July 13, 2016

Posted: July 13, 2016

Posted: July 13, 2016

This school provides an excellent education for students. The teachers, staff and administration give 100% to the students and families. So happy to be a part of this caring community of learners!

Posted: June 12, 2016

Great school with most teachers that generally care. Communication is the best I have ever seen at any other school. I do believe the school fosters a family environment. Just know that not every teacher is a "10" here (just like at any other school). The good news is that the children will have multiple teachers from 1st grade on. I do believe that the communication is really good that if you do get a not so "great- but still good" teacher that you will know enough going on in your child's education to help him/her out. We waited a year to get into the school and it was worth it. We are moving this year- this school will be missed!!!!

Posted: September 15, 2015

Posted: September 15, 2015

Posted: September 15, 2015

Posted: September 15, 2015

My daughter has recently broke her while being at school. Every single part of the staff has done an outstating job to make sure she is getting the care and help she needs.

Posted: February 8, 2015

The teachers are wonderful and caring. The communication between parent and teacher are wonderful at this school. As a parent, you will always know exactly what your child is being taught. Administration is nice, front office staff is nice, everyone is nice. My children like it much more than their previous school (3rd and 1st grader). Both of them have adjusted well to school and the new rules. The uniforms are great. Honestly the only thing i am upset about is that we will have to move in two years and will not be able to send the kids through this school until 8th.

Posted: April 23, 2014

(First, I do not recommend this school for boys attending the 5th grade. This opinion is a collective one. It may change but has been the case for a couple years now.) On a broader note, the social scene is welcoming and the teachers support healthy communication among the students. The sports' clubs are competitive. The academic standards are high. The middle school crowd in no way affects the elementary students being in such close proximity. Cursive handwriting, arithmetic facts, book reports, etc. are a few things among other lessons that are insisted upon students to exercise which is not the case in the surrounding area public schools.

Posted: March 6, 2014

What do you think others should know? BEWARE I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE!!!!! JAIL

Posted: February 13, 2014

My daughter is in 5th grade at Liza. I agree that expectations are high. If your child can't do outstanding work, and if tests stress them out, it's probably not a good fit. Just to be clear, anybody can petition for a spot here, via lottery. It is not exlusionary in that sense. However, you have to really want to be here, and the lawyers and doctors in town DO want their kids here. If that kind of "exclusivity" bothers you, then you won't like it here. If football and cheer is important to you, it's not the right place, either. If, on the other hand, you want the best education for your kid (and can put up with the whining about uniforms), the aggressive expectations placed on their little shoulders will give them the best public education in the district. My daughter took a while to figure out what was expected of her. Her teachers were tough, but they were always willing to stay and work with her, to help her figure out how to be organized, to manage her time, and to be successful. She has become so much more capable than I ever thought she could. Liza has taught more than the three-R's. It has taught study habits, organizational skills, and self-confidence.

Posted: May 19, 2013

Unless you start at this school young stay away! My 3rd grader had a blast (uniform being the exception) and I LOVED her teacher. My 8th grader came in late and was overwhelmed and unsupported! I had to pull her from the school 3 days before the end of the the 3rd quarter because she was having such a hard time with bullies and snobby, well-off classmates. If I had to do it over again I never would have put my 8th grader there. The principle did not even ask why I was pulling my student just days before the end of the quarter. Not very responsible in my opinion.

Posted: March 10, 2013

I am a former student at this school and I must say it has done wonders for my education! I grew up with fellow students, made lasting friendships, and most importantly I achieved academic success. Now, as a succeeding college student, I attribute my success to this school; I still use many skills that Liza taught me like proper note taking and active listening. I never excelled at math or reading until I got the one-on-one time with the teachers/faculty that the school had to offer; I could always find help when I needed it. As a student, I experienced the highest level of compassion that school/faculty could offer. I was comforted when sick or hurt and was always given the attention I needed in order to do well. There was always a place to fit in with the numerous extracurriculars and the classroom activities. I feel that an inside opinion of the school from an actual student is very important when making the decision on whether or not this school is right for you or your child. Liza Jackson is a phenomenal school and it is safe to say that I would not be the student that I am today without the care and quality teaching this school has to offer.

Posted: November 2, 2012

I am a previous student. While there, I hated the discouragement of individuality of students. It is frowned upon to be an individual. They claim to teach open mindedness but in reality it is shoved so far down our throats it becomes the exact opposite. You can not teach a child to be open minded. Also, as a member of student council and many other committees, I spent a sufficient amount of time around the administration. The assistant principal runs the whole school to continue funding her own projects that do nothing to benefit the school. She is a two-faced lying hypocrite. The principal does nothing and seems rather clueless. I am very dissapointed and wish I had attended any other school possible. Though Liza will keep your kids safe, it will make the a miserable robot. Take them to Bruner or Meigs. Anywhere but here. The preparation is awful. Teachers try their hardest to teach, but with the school mandated curriculum, they can't teach what they need to. The school simply cares about its own ratings, funding, and FCAT scores. Keep your child far away from this miserable excuse for a school.

Posted: October 8, 2012

All four of my children have gone to Liza. 2 out of 4 have excelled. It's all in how your child is wired. My daughter started there in 5th grade. 6th was a definite challenge, but we worked through it. 7th and 8th were a breeze. When she enrolled at Choctaw, they said they "love getting Liza kids". My youngest has been there since day 1 of Kindergarten, and has loved every moment. He fits in well, and is very happy. My other son went there for a year and a half, and could not keep up with the rigorous demands, and left for a local middle school. My middle son is an ESE student, which Liza is not set up for. Had I known that when I accepted his offer, I would have turned it down. I'm working with the teachers to get some kind of balance with him for the rest of the year but I do not foresee him staying at Liza next year. That's not my child's fault and it's not Liza's fault. They just aren't equipped for Special Needs children. I will keep my youngest son there until he graduates 8th grade. Their Staff is wonderful, and I always feel welcome at the school, even just to drop by a class for a quick hug. If you have an easy breezy student, then this is your school. ESE need not apply.

Posted: September 13, 2012

Liza is not worth waiting for... There are far better public schools in the area that offer many more opportunities for students. The administration at this school does not care about its students, especially those who struggle academically. Students who need remediation in math and reading are punished by being excluded from participating in exploratory wheel classes such as art, music, and PE. During the middle school years, this type of treatment is detrimental to students' mental and social well being. The staff and faculty here are great people who work very hard under an oblivious and self-centered administration. Students don't see this, and it is for their own well being that they don't. Liza's administration focuses primarily on FCAT scores, pushing students so hard that young students taking the exam become physically ill from anxiety. These scores give them their A+ rating. They are not an A+ school. They are far from it. Teacher turnover at this school is extremely high, with approximately a dozen teachers leaving this past year alone. Among new hires were teachers that did not have a bachelor's degree in the subject they were hire to teach. Don't waste your time here.

Posted: July 22, 2012

I am very concerned with what I am hearing about the band program for this coming year. Many of us are paying monthly rental fees at local music stores so our children can be in a band class with an experienced instrumental music teacher. I am hearing that there will be a "monitor" scheduled to cover the class (without a music degree) and the students are expected to practice what they cover in private lessons. How many will be taking lessons after school hours? Can the monitor help with notes, rhythms, how to put a clarinet together, and the multitude of necessary skills that need to be taught at the beginning level? What happens to the students who started band last year? Are they in the same monitored class? I do hope that we have a teacher with a music (major) degree. The decision to have a monitor cover any band class rates as an unsatisfactory.

Posted: April 12, 2012

My son attended LJPS from Pre-K until 2nd grade. I was always very satisfied with the level of communication and genuine interest in my child's development that was displayed during our time there. Our family relocated in early 2011 and I have been reminded by the public system why I loved LJPS so very much. We were accepted today by a charter school with near identical ideals as LJPS and I am thrilled to get my son back where he belongs. To any skeptical parents reading reviews, know that your child's academic development requires the parents, students and teachers to participate. The overwhelming consensus of this school is that it is one of the best in the state. There are so many reasons why and so few why not to chose LJPS. In my family's opinion LJPS is a fantastic place for students and parents!

Posted: March 12, 2012

Liza is just so horrid. I would not recommend it to anyone. The principal is a lazy brood who does nothing but leaves all of the work to the staff. The children don't know the meaning of an open mind

Posted: March 10, 2012

The children who go to Liza are living in a jail. The small ones like it, because all they do is color and read stories, but as you progress within the institution, you see how monotone the mental colors of their minds are. They will not teach you about how to survive in life, nor will they teach you properly. It's like they hire the teachers only to scold the students and give them failing grades. The students have no ambition, no goals in life. They are only being taught to sit and take tests, be "smart". The assistant principal is the worst. She is a lying witch who obviously picks favorites. The principal doesn't even do anything!

Posted: August 3, 2011

The Liza Way...... Sorry, the school was opened with good intentions and maybe it worked for a while... but all it did for my son was lower his expectations and his FCAT scores.... It is just not the model school that they are selling..... Too many young, childless, beginner teachers who should be listening instead of preaching and too many idealists who should open their eyes and quit believing thier own propaganda. We have moved my son back to the "public-public schools" at least they admit their faults and don't pretend to be better than the rest.....

Posted: July 11, 2011

The idea originally meant for this school was a good one. When my child started in 4th grade, we were very pleased. In the following years we started noticing a decline in abilities of new teachers. We also started noticing a decrease in the original intent of the school, that being a preparatory school. The rules originally in place for acceptance when by the wayside. No it is a school that determines what is done by who holds the most money. The math teacher this last year for my child was unable to keep her word, was poor at controlling the classroom setting, and was an avid lier. Her poor teaching ability is evidenced by the significant drop in Math FCAT scores this year from 93% to 70%, the lowest it's been in at least 4 years. My kids are slowly being challenged less and less. Hiring new teachers with little to no experience doesn't help. Teachers that have been there from the beginning notice the change, and don't like it. Although it rates high now... I can see numbers dropping in the future.

Posted: September 27, 2010

Both of my children attend Liza Jackson. One is in 5th grade and one is in 2nd grade. The teachers greet my children with smiles every morning in their doorway and really care about them as individuals. My 2nd grader came to this school behind in Reading and her teacher has not only realized this, she has put her into a program to catch her up with the rest of the class. The Parent/Teacher organization called P.A.T.H.S. is fantastic. I have begun helping more with them this year and have been impressed with how hard they work for our kids. My older child was in the play Annie they put on last year and had a wonderful experience and joined the volleyball team this year. Liza has made them well rounded, well educated, organized, and happy. I am thrilled.

Posted: November 8, 2009

Posted: August 27, 2007

Posted: July 12, 2007