Dba/Alexander Preparatory School

6470 Georgia 400

Cumming, GA 30028

17 Reviews

School District
Grade

6-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on October 12, 2015

My son has been going to Chrysalis for almost 2 years now and we couldn't be happier. To be quite honest, when we moved him there, academics was not our biggest concern. We needed him to be in an environment where he could thrive socially. He was a super quiet kid who was easily lost in the giant public high school. Now, he is a super confident kid, who makes friends easily, can talk to anyone and is considering going to college for an education degree. The icing on the cake is that he is getting a great academic education and I am confident he will be ready for college in a year and a half. (How did that happen?)
Submitted by other on August 31, 2015

The teachers have a passion for helping their students and work diligently to foster a challenging learning environment. Unique attributes are celebrated, as opposed to being used to humiliate.
Submitted by other on August 27, 2015

Our son wasn't comfortable in the public classroom because there were so many children that all were expected to behave, learn, and do daily activities the same, like a line of little robots, so any deviation, intended or not, was frowned upon There was also a big problem with bullying that the school refused to address even though they claimed to have a "no tolerance" policy!We moved him to Chrysalis during his 6th grade. Chrysalis celebrates each child's individuality, offers much more desirable student:teacher ratios, provides an emphasis on quality teaching, and doesn't have to spend more time dealing with lining up & moving our kids in hoards from room to room, but instead, can concentrate on expanding their minds with hands on experiences, learning how our kids learn best, and then teaching them using that method that works best for them.It's been wonderful for our son's self-esteem, sense of belonging, and socialization.
Submitted by parent on June 25, 2014

CEA has been the best school for our 15 year old son yet. He has only been here for a year, but the staff are very caring and he gets more individual attention unlike how the public school just pushed him through the system. We tried other private schools, but he was not successful there since they didn't get him. CEA "gets" our son and that makes a huge difference. Now he just needs help making friends, so I hope there is a social club for Asperger teens in our area that will form soon.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2013

In elementary school, my daughter s learning style did not fit the model. Creativity is not an asset in the public system. She needed more. Throughout her childhood, I spoke with every one of her teachers about the creativity and challenge she needed to thrive. When she started at Chrysalis at the beginning of 6th grade, I sat down with one of her teachers to have that same talk as I had done in the past. I remember that day so vividly. For the very first time, this teacher actually understood who my daughter was, how intelligent she was and how to help her learn to achieve her potential. I was stunned.Then 2 years ago, my daughter contracted an illness that kept her bed ridden. The teachers at Chrysalis did everything they could to tailor assignments so she could keep up academically with her work. She had to work twice as hard as most kids her age, but with the support and love of the staff at Chrysalis, she came out on top with A s.The good news is that she is better now and moving on to college. At Chrysalis her talent surpassed anything ever imagined and it is because her strengths were nurtured and encouraged by teachers that took the time to make the investment in her.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2013

Chrysalis Experiential Academy Our child has attended CEA for the last three years. We have watched his interest in learning grow as well as his motivation to succeed! Chrysalis is a small school geared toward the individual, "out side of the box thinking" student. No child gets left behind here! Yes, it is an eclectic group of children the same as you will find at any school just on a smaller level. We are finding the preparation for College to be phenomenal! Chrysalis Experiential Academy has proven to be a stellar choose for academics (as evidenced in the annual standardized testing) as well as personal growth. Highly recommended!
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2013

Chrysalis has completely changed my son's view of school. In public schools he struggled. At CEA he feels loved and nurtured and encouraged, and gets individual attention if needed since teachers truly care. He uses his laptop every day. Not every teacher is certified -but I don't care, and I have a Masters in Ed. Each teacher is at CEA because they are passionate about their fields and passionate about teaching. I'll take that over a certified teacher any day. Chrysalis is not for everyone. If you want structured read-the-book-and-answer-the-questions-at-the-end-of-the-chapter learning, go somewhere else. Sure, it seems chaotic at times but look closely and you ll see it s because there are so many unique projects going on. If you want your child to learn by running a business, or cutting and lashing a bamboo scale model of the Kon Tiki, or snorkeling in a river to study fish, or going to China Town for dim sum while practicing Chinese, or selling artwork in an antique gallery, or volunteering to teach young kids to read - all while meeting the state education objectives and maintaining high nationally normed test scores - then Chrysalis is the place for you. My son loves it.
Submitted by other on March 29, 2013

An alternative school for kids w/issues. If you have no other option, I'm sure it's great. What I saw on the tour did not reflect what we experienced. About 40 kids in the 2012-2013 year; approx. 1 6th grader, 3 7th graders, and 8 or so 8th graders. Mostly boys. Pinning the school down on what curriculum is being taught is impossible. Teachers mostly not certified in what they teach. We didn't have a predictable schedule each day. When teachers were absent, they didn't get substitutes, they moved kids into other classes. A teacher might teach kids of varying grades at the same time; okay for some subjects, but makes math difficult. Electives are things like PInterest, Scrabble, etc. Supervision lacking, my child floated around a lot. I never saw homework, tests, or a completed agenda. Administration disorganized, noncommunicative, often absent and nonresponsive. They will meet with you and promise to change/fix things, implementation doesn't happen. No separation of young kids/older high school kids. You child may be unsupervised with the older kids, in electives w/kids 6-7 years older and of the opposite sex. Huge mistake for us.
Submitted by parent on March 07, 2013

Little actual educational value. Advertised as 'for average to gifted', when most of the school is just students with moderate to severe social issues. It does provide a relaxed environment for the student to forget all their issues, but at the cost of an education. For the price, you are better off homeschooling your child, letting them learn all their lessons on tv & the internet, which is essentially what your paying a higher than college level tuition for at this school.
Submitted by parent on August 24, 2012

The school has allowed my student to realize their potential. The curriculum is demanding; however, the students are encouraged and supported so that they can master the content. Is Chrysalis right for every student- No. It is right for the creative, experiential, thoughtful and college bound student.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2012

Chrysalis is WONDERFUL! It is like no other school in Atlanta and it has changed my son's life! If you are looking for a middle/high school that will meet your child where they are and provide the individual attention and instruction that your child needs and deserves - then Chrysalis is a school you should look at. Your child will be encouraged to push themselves to excel and achieve their full potential while receiving support and direction from a dedicated team of professional educators. Students are also taught to take personal responsibility for their education. This empowers the student and build their confidence and self esteem. Chrysalis develops the WHOLE child and will help your child develop their unique talents to their fullest potential. Chrysalis also instills a love of learning, which is the key to future academic success. You owe it to your child to see what Chrysalis has to offer because it truly is an amazing and unique school.
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2011

We have had our 2 great sons going to Chrysalis for many years and they both really like it (well at least as much as they can really like school). The Principal is great and the environment is casual and relaxed with a strong focus on learning and nurturing children. I wish I could have gone to this school when I was younger. Most of the teachers are outsanding and they are all qualified. Both of our sons are very intelligent but neither liked the the overall experiences they had in public schools after grade 8. I would strongly recommend anyone looking for a private school to look into Chrysalis.
Submitted by parent on August 10, 2011

Bottom line is that Chrysalis failed our son. For kids who can't make it in more traditional school settings, perhaps Chrysalis would work. But it falls short in several areas. School rules are indeed inconsistent and, worse, contradictory. Eg. school expects respect, yet teachers go by first name. In most subjects, our son was not prepared for HS math after his time at Chrysalis. They will value someone's ability to compose a song on guitar over whether a student knows his times tables. Yet it's one of the MOST EXPENSIVE schools in Atlanta. I don't think they have malicious intent, but honestly I think the headmaster is more concerned about helping a child feel good about himself, no matter what, rather than giving him or her a solid education.
Submitted by parent on June 14, 2011

This school has potential for reaching the gifted child who doesn't fit the public-school mode. However, it falls far short because the entire school is disorganized and the same rules don't apply to everyone. The problem is top down. Rules change on whim. Discipline and respect are rare. What is defined as creative freedom is actually chaos and lack of planning and follow through. Many community service activities and outside projects are thought of but never accomplished, yet they're described as reality to potential families. Students are not prepared for any but the least competitive colleges. I am thankful we removed our child in time to get her into a good college.
Submitted by parent on May 05, 2011

My son flourished as a person and developed confidence as a student in the nurturing environment of experiential learning at Chrysalis. I believe in this quote by Confucius describes it best for me "Tell me and I will forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I will understand."
Submitted by parent on December 20, 2010

Over 1/2 of the faculty is NOT certified and the school has NO sense of structure. The school misrepresents themselves to be for "average to gifted" students when in reality most students are rejects of public high schools or just out of a rehab situation. Chrysalis needs to create a clear vision of whom they wanted to serve and have a staff that can support those students needs. Also, the director is so busy wearing the hats of principal, admission counselor, PR rep, and school counselor (which the school REALLY needs b/c the kids are mostly aspergers or EBD) that he cannot focus on the students and faculty needs. Bottom line: don't waste your money unless your kid has no other alternative for a diploma.
Submitted by parent on May 22, 2009

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