Academie Lafayette-Oak

Posted: February 28, 2024

My kid was at AL for six years before we switched schools. If I had to do it all over I wouldn’t send him there again. Between casual bullying culture,, the ridiculous amount of homework in the early grades, and the “teaching to the standardized test” style of education, it’s wasn’t a good fit.

Posted: February 28, 2024

Posted: February 28, 2024

Posted: February 28, 2024

Posted: February 28, 2024

Posted: February 28, 2024

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Posted: February 28, 2024

Posted: March 24, 2021

Posted: March 24, 2021

Posted: March 24, 2021

Firstly, I would say the parent/guardian community at Académie Lafayette is something that sets it apart, and is perhaps one of the school's greatest assets. We started AL five years ago, and from the first day, I felt included and welcomed as a single parent within the parent community. It boasts many blended and traditional/non-traditional families across all socio-economic levels. In my opinion, the unifying factor to student success is buy-in from families committed to the process, so to speak.

The curriculum and 100% foreign language immersion will challenge all students and their families -- to incredible benefit to students/families who are involved (ie, in a position to be involved). The school can be perhaps overly challenging (or not challenging enough?) to students who fall greatly outside the academic middle. Limited funding for KCMO Charter schools is a struggle, and with three campuses across the urban core, AL must align resources to help the greatest number of students possible.

If setting your child(ren) up for real academic and future life success is important to you, in conjunction with the world-expanding benefits of becoming fluent in multiple languages, AL should be a top consideration.

Posted: February 21, 2021

The school has been a good fit for our children. French immersion cannot be compared directly to a traditional elementary school. The kids may struggle with English a little early on, but it is amazing to watch the kids excel in foreign language development. They have had teachers from different countries every year (France, Belgium, and Cameroon to name a few) and get to experience many different views, cultures, and teaching methods. Many of the teachers are considered strict but we have found the teachers have all wanted the kids in their class to excel in all aspects of education, they care about their children, and provide meaningful feedback about the children's growth. Four years and two children into the school and we continue to feel we make a good choice for our children.

Posted: February 21, 2021

Posted: February 21, 2021

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Posted: February 21, 2021

Posted: February 19, 2021

We have been at AL for 4 years with 2 children. I think this school is good for certain families, but may not be for everyone. Of course Covid has made schooling anywhere difficult. It has really helped me to get involved in and with the school this year. It's given me a better perspective as to some of the things parents are having a hard time with. My biggest issue in general has been communication. The school has teachers from may different French speaking countries. While this is such a privilege to have this exposure for children in the mid-west, be aware that some of the teachers who are new have a hard time with English. I had a difficult year in 2nd grade not being able to communicate with my child's teacher very well. He's not on year 3 and doing much better. If you have a child who is very strong at school or very week they will do well at this school. There are a TON of resources and interventions with students who have hard family lives. The new social workers is AMAZING! If your child falls somewhere in-between this, or has a hard time with teachers who are more strict, perhaps this is not the place for you.

Posted: February 19, 2021

Posted: February 19, 2021

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Posted: February 6, 2020

This school does not deserve its current rating. Prospective parents should be advised that the above average score here is mostly due to old reviews when the school was in a better place.

Posted: February 6, 2020

Posted: February 6, 2020

There is very little consistency in the approach of the teachers at this school so a family's experience can vary greatly depending on whose class the student is assigned. Many teachers are strict disciplinarians and speak very harshly to students.

Posted: February 6, 2020

There is a culture of anxiety, unchecked bullying, and distrust between teachers and students, and parents and school administration.

Posted: February 6, 2020

The school's reputation has suffered in the past few years and it's difficult not to put much of that blame on the leadership.

Posted: February 6, 2020

Few allowances are made for kids with unconventional needs.

Posted: February 6, 2020

Bullying is largely unchecked, to the point where one of our children was afraid to go to school. Even after the problem was confronted, no changes were made in the classroom.

Posted: July 13, 2019

The vision and leadership at this school are unparalleled. The growth, test scores , education and accomplishments of alumni speak to this. As the school is currently only K-8, students enroll in various high schools around the city and every single school raves about the quality and performance of the students from Academie Lafayette. Add to all of this the fact that as a Charter, it is free to families within the KCPS school district. The school continues to grow, allowing more enrollment of students within the district and they are working toward opening a high school. We are fortunate in Kansas City to have a number of great school options in the metro area, just make sure to check this one out; the education these students receive set them up for success in life.

Posted: July 13, 2019

Posted: July 13, 2019

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Posted: July 13, 2019

Posted: May 31, 2019

If you have ever heard the term “it comes from the top” when speaking of a successful and positive business it’s because they have a great leader. When it is negative or lacks respect for others it is based on poor leadership. AL is an example of poor leadership which then instills poor behavior and lack of respect to others in the organization and out. A serious bullying problem has grown more and more at this school. We asked a anti - bully public speaker to come in and speak to the children. While he was there the teachers left the room, leaving the speaker with a group of 100 children. He said it was the worst group he has spoken to at any school in KC to date. Teachers are checked out.

Posted: May 31, 2019

The minority population is declining, and the school makes a point to weed out children with disabilities. They say they can’t handle it, even though it’s the law. Most of the teachers have no interest in honoring IEP’s and the ones who do are over loaded. The teachers are not up to date on modern and legal standards.

Posted: May 31, 2019

Talk is made, but no actions are put in place for follow up and change.

Posted: May 31, 2019

I have a son who went all the way through k-8 and finished 3 years ago. The school was different then. It was where the high rating was deserved. Now I have had to pull our second son out of the school after 5th grade. Sadly our wonderful school has been taken over by poor leadership and a board controlled by the leadership rather than standing up for what’s best for the school and students. This school is not what it once was. If you have a boy beware. He will need counseling as many of us with boys have had to get for them to handle the emotional abuse some of these teachers will put them through. Don’t second guess it. You’re child is too important. Believe what they tell you.

Posted: May 31, 2019

Homework is based on the teacher. Some teachers give one evening of homework per week, others more.

Posted: September 16, 2017

Posted: September 16, 2017

Posted: September 16, 2017

Posted: September 16, 2017

Current administration is inattentive to struggling students and has poor communication skills. My student is not struggling, but some of her classmates have not received the support they needed. This is a school that also uses a lot of worksheets. Cooperative and hands-on learning is not encouraged by the administration. Some teachers are amazing, and some are very poor. One science teacher is a Creationist and refuses to teach evolution.

Posted: September 16, 2017

Posted: September 16, 2017

Posted: September 16, 2017

This has been an "okay" school for my daughter. She is very bright, and is not very challenged here, but she has become fluent in French. There are no programs for accelerated children, and there is a lack of support for children with learning disabilities. The administration is ineffective and does not address parent concerns. They have employed a science teacher who is a creationist, and she refuses to teach evolution. Very surprising that this school still has high test scores.

Posted: December 30, 2014

Students can learn in a well diversified environment and have a broadened sense of the world.

Posted: April 21, 2014

An excellent charter school in the heart of Kansas City. This French-immersion school is a reason to stay in KC and raise a family. The parent community is excellent and caring about the school. The teachers come from all over the world, bringing their authenticity, their caring and their culture with them. Leadership is excellent, with growth, education and culture at the forefront.

Posted: April 13, 2014

As an alumna of Acad mie Lafayette, I credit much of my success in high school and college to the environment fostered at the school. I was very successful in high school French classes at a Shawnee Mission public school, and am able to get a minor in French by only taking two more classes because of the credits I got from proficiency tests. I am able to speak French fluently, though I have more difficulty writing since that was not emphasized while I was a student. Having worked there in addition to being a former student, I can attest to how wonderful and invested the teachers are, and I have maintained relationships with many of them. I feel incredibly blessed to have been exposed to so many different world views because of the diverse staff. When I was there, I was lucky to be a part of a student body that was also incredibly diverse-- racially and socioeconomically-- though I noticed a change in this after I graduated and while my younger sister was still a student. I am very grateful that my parents sent me to Acad mie Lafayette, and despite my few qualms, I maintain that it is one of the best institutions in Kansas City.

Posted: January 6, 2014

I am impressed with the education my children have received at Academie Lafayette. I have a sixth, third, and first grade student. When first hearing about the school I was excited about my first having the opportunity to become fluent in French. I was hesitant about my children spending the majority of their day learning in French, but after several years and several kids I am a believer. I believe it is because of their French Immersion education that my children are above grade level English readers, hard workers, and have a great grasp of Math and Science concept. Academie Lafayette has a diverse student population, unrivaled by any metro school, a global teaching staff, and tremendous parental involvement.

Posted: September 11, 2013

My kids have learned so much! The teachers are fantastic. I am so impressed with how much progress my kids have made compared to their previous school. We moved to Kansas City from Shawnee, KS, and were looking at sending our kids to private school, but then we found Lafayette, and thought let's try it for a year. Well its now been 3 years and we don't regret it.

Posted: August 21, 2013

This is an excellent school!! We feel very fortunate to have our daughter attending. The staff and teachers do an amazing job keeping kids engaged and eager to learn more.

Posted: August 11, 2013

Academie Lafayette is an awesome public educational start for every child! The teachers are great, and they use their knowledge to educate and improve the students ability. Although though parents must put in hard work as well, it is so worth it for the future of their childs education. I have a 4th and 2nd grader who can speak, read, and write in French and English. That is an experience that many public schools do not offer, in addition to maintaining successful academics. I believe Academie Lafayette is preparing my children as scholars for college.

Posted: July 23, 2013

Can't say enough good things! After one year my 6 year old can carry on full conversations in French. He had an amazing teacher and really flourished. There is such a good feeling of community and parents really get involved...the extra-curriculars could be more organized but I can give that a pass. So happy to have a gem like this in the heart of the city!

Posted: August 20, 2012

Amazing, amazing school! So glad that my daughter got in last year and excited about starting 1st grade. She sings French songs, carries conversations with her teachers and classmates in French and challenged academically. Stayed in the city because of Academie Lafayette and couldn't be more happy.

Posted: June 12, 2012

This is a fantastic school. We would pay tuition to send our kids here. Not only are the test scores amazing, but the kids learn to embrace and celebrate diversity (not just race, but cultures and backgrounds and even French accents, etc). My favorite anecdote is that in this post 9/11 era, my son't first exposure to a woman wearing a hijab was his Kindergarten teacher - not some scary image from the news media. His teacher, a wonderful educator from Algeria, taught him to speak beautiful French and even a word or two in Arabic. That doesn't happen at just any school...this place is special.

Posted: March 18, 2012

5 yr old Kdg girl afraid of her teacher-not the kind of experience I'd hoped for my child's 1st. Teacher's frustration b/c my child learned at a slower pace. She practiced at home, turned in papers proudly & the teacher threw them in the trash in front of her. I explained to her that the teacher couldn't keep every piece of paper. I just wish she hadn't done it in front of her. Was told in front of class that if she didn't know her numbers she was going to do Kdg again, was being kicked by boys and afraid to tell, afraid to ask to go to the bathroom and had a few potty accidents that she sat in all day. Her backpack had clean clothes in it. She wouldn't have known where to change or how to ask. She's only 5. Teacher screamed at the class. Enough kids hear this at home. Mine doesn't. Isn't Kdg where they love their teacher? I sent an excited little girl to Kdg where she was made to feel inferior. I had my choice of any school, but moved to a loft in the city for AL. This is a little girl w/a big heart & a creative mind. Met with staff and they weren't willing to assign new teacher or hold slot for next year. I couldn't put her where she was afraid. My child was left behind.

Posted: October 13, 2010

Great teachers, great kids--and they all speak French! Yet the kids consistently perform at or near the top of the state on standardized tests given in English. If you live in Kansas City, are looking for an outstanding education with the bonus of French immersion, and want to support public education, this is the place to send your kids.

Posted: September 20, 2010

I am a parent of a graduate of Acad mie Lafayette. It's a phenomenal French immersion school in the Kansas City, MO metro area.