Doane Academy

350 Riverbank

Burlington, NJ 08016

42 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on November 17, 2024

My daughter is new to Doane as a freshman. We absolutely love everything the school has to offer from the staff members being helpful and accommodating to the head of schools being so involved. I can see the growth she has made here in just a few short months. I’m excited to watch her continued growth over the next few years. The only thing I cannot comment on is the special education aspect as it does not pertain to us at this time.
Submitted by other on November 03, 2024

these reviews, I genuinely cannot believe them. These are from parents, and they don’t understand what it’s like to be a new student in the school.The kids in the school can’t seem to accept difference, they are all the same, and if you don’t fit the student standards, you will be an outcast they treat you like youre some animal. unless you grew up in the school from when you were in lower school, it’s not easy to make friends.Second they don’t care about you if you’re not contributing anything to the school. They are always favoring the athletes, rich kids, popular kids, or people who make a reputation for the school. I was a quiet kid, and I was never taken seriously by anyone.The teachers are really nice, but some are not patient with the kids. For example, Colleen McCormick, a staff member Has yelled kids in the past, Can be nice but overall is not a good person to work with unless she actually likes you.If your child is neurodivergent, do not send them to the school. They don’t Accommodate, The students are rude, and it’ll be Hard For your kid to make friends, if they aren’t like everyone else. Everyone in the school are clones. And overall I left after a year, You can find another private school that’s cheaper than this. $23,000 down the drain just to have a mid experience.
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2024

Beware of this school if your child has any learning disabilities, ie adhd, anxiety. The teachers, counselors and administrators will not support your child, if anything they will turn on them. They will use your child if they are an athlete and put an extraordinary amount of pressure on them. We were so excited when our student first transferred there but little by little we saw their true colors. Doane has such an incredible past and opportunity to be a great school if only they cared for the children and believed in the sense of community they are always boasting about.
Submitted by other on September 02, 2024

This school is horrible … If I could have given it a zero i would have. Save your money.
Submitted by other on December 30, 2023

Beware of this school before sending your kids
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2023

This is my daughter's second year at Doane Academy. She is now a 2nd grader and she has lived this school from day one. We have been really happy with the support and care we receive from the school, as well as the family nature and structure there and all of the additional and fun activities! We plan to stay here for the long haul.
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2023

Think long and hard before sending your student to this school. Favoritism happens frequently. The discipline procedures are extremely lacking. Does not seem new students are being screened appropriately or properly. Students are permitted to attend regardless of current or past discipline problems as long as they come up with tuition. Doane has issues keeping teachers and upper level administrators in place. In the past 2 years they have lost about a dozen teachers, the headmaster, the head of Middle school and the head of Upper school. Teachers are leaving after just a year spent there and it is glossed over as to why there is so much turnover. There is very little consistency. The writing is on the wall. I have spoken to several parents who are not happy. Beware
Submitted by parent on January 11, 2023

Great school. My kids are so happy and love the school and friends
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2023

Doane’s mission is to develop intelligent, capable individuals within a community where all are known, loved, and strongly encouraged to discover their unique potential. They certainly uphold this mission for my children!
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2022

I couldn't be happier with this school. From their unique programs and traditions, to their close-knit and genuinely caring family feel, Doane Academy has been the best investment I could have made for my children and their future! Although the academics are excellent, I am even more impressed in how the school focuses on the whole child, meeting and supporting them where they are as individuals, and empowering them to freely grow in their specific interests and strengths, while also teaching them larger leadership skills.
Submitted by parent on October 09, 2022

As you read the reviews others have written of a more positive atmosphere at Doane, but in more recent times, this school has continued to disappoint our family for several years. Teachers have been leaving after 1 year of teaching at Doane (to me, this signifies inconsistency in the teaching staff) as well as the lack of diversity when hiring new teaching staff. With the African American student body being almost 30%, Doane only has a handful of African American teachers, mainly in the middle school. Racial slurs said by students, especially if said student’s family donates to school and/or holds a staff position, are swept under the rug and aren’t dealt with in an appropriate manner. The current guidance counselor, yells at students to get her point across instead of embodying the full responsibilities her position holds and using what she learned throughout her years as a guidance counselor to effectively and calmly talk to students and to understand different perspectives. This school looked so great to us on the outside, only to be increasingly more frustrated and let down as the years went on. Good luck!
Submitted by student on February 05, 2019

A very positive learning environment from 3 year olds up through students in 12th grade. Not only are the students being prepared for college, they are learning the life skills necessary to be good citizens and family members.
Submitted by principal on February 05, 2019

Doane Academy is a tight-knit community that is diverse and a safe place for students to learn. Students are able to make friends quickly, and get to know their educators on a different level, as they get older. The education is a mixture of hands on learning, group work, individual work, projects, and fun activities. Where else can you find a school whose top students are athletes, artists, members of the mock trial team, member of our band, leaders of STEAM Fair projects, and more.
Submitted by student on January 19, 2019

Not good. I left for a catholic school. Like that much better. Off to Notre Dame in Lawrenceville soon.
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2018

We have been thrilled with our experience. Our son is on his eighth year at Doane and is happy and at home there. The school works hard to create a true family atmosphere where your child is known, loved and encouraged to discover their unique potential as their mission states. The staff has taken their time and care to direct our son through the many challenges of academic life. We could not be any happier with our investment in a good education and the character development of our child.
Submitted by student on September 13, 2018

A solid 9 because overall it's a great school and has many opportunities for students to learn and grow as an individual. We offer sports and many after school clubs and activities! Doane is a family!
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2017

We have a son in his junior year at Doane Academy. We are writing this to let you know there is no better school for your child/student. Our children have attended public school and two other private schools and Doane is, by far, the best. Doane is a school that delivers on their promises We were reluctant to write after our son’s freshman year because we were waiting for the “disappointment” that can happen after entering a new school. At Doane, our son’s experience just keeps getting better. Of course there were bumps in the road, but his Doane family was there to support him through the tough times. The Doane family is there to celebrate with you as well. If you are looking to put your student into an excellent curriculum, with top notch teachers and you want your child to be known and loved, choose Doane Academy. No school is perfect, but Doane is as close to perfection as can be achieved.Sally and Steve DiDomenico
Submitted by other on September 01, 2017

I had four happy years at Doane Academy. My education was excellent—thorough, rigorous, challenging, and personalized. My teachers often allowed and encouraged me to tailor their teaching to my interests. I was able to take scores of advanced placement classes, and the classes that were not advanced placement oftentimes were just as challenging.But the academic experience is not what was most important. It was good and nice, but not that unique. Good academic schools abound everywhere. At Doane, the spirit and character of the place make it unique. The emphasis on educating character makes it unique. In addition to an excellent education and an education of the spirit, Doane offers wonderful traditions, a dedicated faculty, amazing architecture, and a small learning environment that can benefit shy and bold alike. One of my fondest memories is being crammed close together in a pew with my classmates. I feel that somehow summarizes my experience at Doane. See, being in a small school means you get to know your classmates more intimately than you ever would (and sometimes ever would like to) at more impersonal institutions. It can be a little uncomfortable—as uncomfortable as nearly sitting on top of one another in the Chapel’s pews. And yet, it is beneficial in the end, as you get to know not just your classmates, but humanity itself, in a more personal way. You realize that you truly are all in the same boat, and the resulting comradery connects you to people you otherwise would not have associated with. I came to Doane a slightly snobby “smart kid,” and I left with such thorough fondness for athletes, artists, and all other sorts of people that I honestly can say, “The place has changed me.” The Christmas Mystery is a perfect example of when we are all joyously jam-packed. At this most wonderful of Doane traditions, singing, celebration, and the pews brought us all together. It’s just one of the many wonderful things handed down to us through the ages. The old buildings, the sense of pride, and the traditions all contribute to a sense of community—a community, in my opinion, cemented by being close in more ways than one.
Submitted by other on August 08, 2017

Attending Doane Academy for four years not only gave me an education that prepared me for academic achievements and admission into an elite liberal arts school, but a family for the rest of my life. Because of the school’s size and the opportunities it offers, I was able to become involved in student government, varsity sports, an ethics bowl, theater, and more extracurricular activities than I could have imagined prior to joining the Doane family. Unlike most high schools, we were happy to stay at Doane until late at night because there was always an opportunity to explore our passions through clubs, sports, performances, and volunteering. I credit my love for confronting challenges and welcoming adventure in no small part to the Doane spirit that encourages bigger-picture thinking and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. I found mentors at Doane that pushed me to achieve and functioned as a vital support system. Connections to New Jersey Girls’ State, the high school Cum Laude society, and Studio Incamminati are impressive, and they are supported by a mission that encourages students at all age levels to accomplish more than most their age at other schools in the region. Recent facility upgrades and the boosting of the upper school college counseling department are some changes that seem to have made the Doane experience better.
Submitted by parent on August 06, 2017

My child has been a happy, engaged, and successful student at Doane for nine years now. We originally enrolled her because we were looking for a stimulating and supportive environment where our academically talented daughter could thrive, not only as a student, but also as a person. Doane has continually exceeded our expectations in this regard.