American Preparatory Academy

11938 South Lone Peak Parkway

Draper, UT 84020

18 Reviews

School District

American Preparatory Academy
Grade

K-10
Teacher/Student Ratio
Type

charter

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on December 20, 2021

Worste school for JR high. Teachers rude.
Submitted by parent on September 30, 2019

I would say tha the experience is awful!
Submitted by parent on September 12, 2018

My kids has been in APA for 8 years. Love it, but the homework was taking them time to be children. NO TIME TO PLAY, NO TIME TO BE KIDS
Submitted by parent on December 01, 2017

I moved my son over to APA and the changes in him has been night and day!
Submitted by parent on April 25, 2017

My daughter is a junior at American Preparatory School, Draper 3. She is very interested in taking AP courses, and this school has a wide variety to choose from. The course instruction is amazing. The teachers are highly qualified, some with doctorate degrees. She is rigorously challenged academically and will be prepared for most any university experience.She is also a competitive and nationally-ranked athlete, requiring extensive travel throughout the school year. This school has supported her in both her athletic and academic pursuits. We searched a number of schools throughout the Salt Lake area and found that American Preparatory Academy best suited her atheltic and academic needs.
Submitted by parent on June 16, 2015

I love that each child can learn at their own pace (fast or slow). I do have problems with some aspects of the school (nepotism) but the school in general is very positive in their approach with students and parents. They communicate very well with parents and try to solve any concerns you have. I love the character building program that meshes seamlessly with the curriculum. The programs in place to help your child succeed are very effective.
Submitted by student on May 21, 2015

This school is okay. The teachers are okay. The students are okay.the homework is okay.
Submitted by parent on May 13, 2015

Finally a school that makes sense! Ability based core subjects before lunch and age appropriate groups after! A school that is data based so they know who is excelling and who is struggling within a few weeks and take the action plan to help all progress at their own rate. A community of parents who want to help and give of their volunteer hours. Teachers who focus on positive approach to help all succeed!
Submitted by teacher on March 27, 2015

I absolutely love APA! Each child is given the opportunity to learn reading and math on their level, which is huge! The kids get to learn so much about science and history in our schools and they absolutely love it! My favorite thing about the school, though, is the positive environment with the staff, kids, and parents. This school is not perfect, but it amazes me how the directors at our school are so dedicated to their jobs. Parents and kids don't always see how much they go above and beyond to help each child be successful at our school. I have worked with Mrs. Durling for many years and I love seeing how much love she shows for each of my kids, no matter how well she knows them. She has come into my classroom and acted out characters in our history lessons and really brought history alive for the students. This is a big deal to me because I've been at a school that the principal was so negative and not supportive of me as a teacher at all. It was an awful environment for everyone. At APA everyone is so positive and always working toward helping each other and building each other up. It feels like one big family! I love it!
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2015

No school is perfect. That being said, I LOVE APA!!! Incredible staff! Amazing teachers! Wonderful students! Fantastic parents, (my peers)! I have made some real friendships with other parents. Parents that I have much in common with, and parents that I have very little in common with. Whichever one it is does not matter, the friendships are meaningful! What we do share are common goals to have our children well educated at an institution that is safe, and that values integrity, honesty, kindness, and other virtues. My children love the positive energy at school! One of my children struggles with friends but is still accepted with kindness among his peers. All of my children love this school and are gaining skills that will help them every day of their lives until forever. My children spend more time at school than they do with me, (as is the case with most children unless they are homeschooled). I need to know that I am sending my children to a place that is not tolerable, but outstanding! APA is certainly that place!
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2015

There are so many reasons we love this school. But there was one thing in particular that really made us want our kids at APA. In the orientation they said "a good education is one thing, but if you are also a good person you will go the distance in the real world." The character development program at this school truly makes the students confident, strong and well behaved people. And I am amazed that my 1st grader is doing the same things that his cousin at a different school is doing in 4th grade. I can't believe how much he has learned.
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2015

Our school ROCKS! Kids are pumped up with short weekly assemblies. Great education, wonderful staff, with fantastic teamwork on helping my students. I have all 4 of my children At APA. It's worth the drive. Love the Ambassador events for the older kids. Love that we are all APA Families. Teachers love their careers at this school! Thank you APA!!!!
Submitted by teacher on March 21, 2015

The APA community at Draper II is filled with helpful parents, cheerful staff, and energetic students. Parents are very willing to help in the classroom with culminating activities, teaching Holiday Traditions, and even with the 'dirty work' of making copies and filing. Above and beyond classroom help, our APA parents transformed the school this year into an Island Getaway for Teacher Appreciation week. The flower leis were lovely, the Bombay House dinner was divine, and the meatball luncheon was magnificent. (I love our APA parents!) The school uses data to group students by level and repetition style within the same grade. From my experience, this has generally helped students. There are still challenges with grouping but weekly meetings allow us to discuss students who need a group change (either from rapid progress of concerns of digression). I have loved being a staff member at APA. There are, of course, still challenges in the schooling system, but dedicated staff members are devoted to researching and implementing the most effective teaching techniques. I have especially seen the care and concern of Carolyn Sharette at our teacher training meetings.
Submitted by parent on March 21, 2015

We have had an amazing experience with APA and my husband and I always feel incredibly lucky that our kids have the opportunity to attend this school. My super smart third grader is always challenged and works in math, reading and writing above grade level. My first grader who struggles with ADHD benefits from the direct instruction and constant interaction that takes place in EVERY classroom. The school's conservative values and focus on student responsibility is hard to find in other schools. They hold kids to very high standards and expectations. We have had excellent teachers and every interaction with teachers, staff and administrators has been one of professionalism. I highly recommend this school to everyone!
Submitted by teacher on March 21, 2015

I love this school! As both a parent and a staff member I find this school positive, fun to work for, academically challenging, just plain great! They have managed to find exemplary teachers for my student, and they provide opportunities for my student to excel, earn college credits, and prepare to go into the job market. The administrative staff gives up plenty of opportunities to develop professionally; plus they are great to work with!
Submitted by parent on March 16, 2015

I love this school! They have really high expectations, which can sometimes be tiring. But, it's worth it! I've had kids at APA since 2004 and I'm amazed every day at what my older kids are becoming. They know so much, they work so hard and they are so good. I totally give APA the credit. Their high expectations have molded my children and I look forward to seeing my younger children mold as well. I'm so glad we have stuck to it! Thank you, APA! Thank you to teachers, admininistration, and everyone else who has played a role in my kids' education! It can't be easy to hold such a high line. But, you are doing it and making a difference because of it.
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2014

This year will be our second year at APA and my frustration continues to increase with their true LACK of organization and communication. The Academics program has it's unique style and the children are held accountable for their work (which is typically every parents dream to accomplish), but lack in following-up with the children. There are multiple teachers for each subject (same concept of like a Junior High) and, as a parent, it's difficult to keep track of their progress. An informal school-wide email is submitted to the parents with school updates as a form of communication. Nothing pertaining to your child's specific progress or their classroom events. Parents are heavily relied upon to help with their organization methods- but isn't that what their job is? I love my child's teacher, and it feels like she is doing her very best with limited tools provided. My overall experience has not improved, and something must change in order for this school to succeed.
Submitted by parent on October 23, 2014

APA is better than a single star. The teachers are generally very good. The teaching approach is ideal for a child that is in a position to excel, but perhaps not as ideal for a child with true learning disabilities. But I can not understand how B. Durling is the Director of the school. You will never find a person less suited to work around children. This is a new school and so if you look at the other Draper school you will see most of the negative comments from the past are about her from the time she was at that school. You may think it dramatic to focus on a single person but believe me, if you express a single thougt contray to her will you will spend the rest of your time at APA agreeing with me. My hope is that poor reviews on great schools will get them to take notice of this single horrible problem.