Collegium Cs

535 James Hance Court

Exton, PA 19341

School District

Collegium Cs
Grade

K-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:12
Type

charter

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on August 03, 2024

Since 2023, Collegium has a 6th grade “teacher” for social studies and science who has no college experience. Not just no teaching credential or 4-year degree, she does not even have a semester of community college. That sums up how far this school has fallen from its origin as a school focused on academics and college readiness. Since my oldest, now graduated, started at Collegium, the quality of education as well as behavioral standards have declined. There are still some fantastic teachers at Collegium, but that does not appear to be what administrators or the school board are looking for or rewarding. Many excellent teachers who were there for years have left, and teacher turnover is a huge problem—which might explain moving unqualified assistants into teaching positions.If you’re looking at Collegium as an alternative to CASD, it might be sufficient for the early years but is probably not the long-term solution you’re seeking.
Submitted by parent on August 03, 2024

There are some wonderful teachers, but they can't overcome the unsupportive and ineffective administrative. Teacher turnover is high, which is not surprising. If you have to go here, K-3 will likely be fine, but then find another option. This quality if this school has been in serious decline for years.
Submitted by parent on September 13, 2020

Good from k-3. When both my kids entered 4th grade, it completely changed. Teachers were overwhelmed with behavioral issues in the classroom and administration would not deal with it. Instead they suggested my kid get counseling to learn how strategies in how to not let behavioral issues impact his learning.
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2019

Collegium is not the same school it was 10 or 12 years ago. There are some individual teachers who are absolutely fantastic and completely invested in their students. Others, not so much. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that school administration supports those who care over those who don't. Neither the administration nor the school board seems more than minimally interested in the welfare of the students. The focus has shifted from meeting the needs of individual students to increasing overall test scores to the detriment of both above and below average students. I certainly wouldn't recommend the school for above-average students from any local district other than Coatesville. Teaching to the test seems to be here to stay, although they're not particularly effective at that. The numbers clearly show the lack of success Collegium has had with Black, Hispanic, special needs and low-income students. Administration fails to look beyond their own wealth and privilege, even when situations are brought to their attention and they have the power to make a needed change.The plans for growth at the upper levels that were in place about 6 years ago were abandoned in favor of adding additional elementary buildings with little to no thought of how space issues would be handled as larger classes progressed, to the point where the school is scrambling to stuff the middle and high school students into buildings designed for much smaller populations. For years I never considered how the board of trustees for a charter school was selected. I now realize that is an area where accountability is entirely lacking.Great teachers leave the school due to lack of discipline. Just this year a high school teacher left because of the distractions outside the classroom. When one principal's child was pulled and sent to a private school due to bullying, that should have been a huge sign to the school board and administration that something isn't right, yet that same principal ignores bullying in her own building. Academically and in respect to discipline Collegium is still well above CASD, but that really isn't saying much. I can't imagine why parents from other local districts still send their children there.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2019

My daughter has been in CCS since the start of the school year and loves it. She's made great friends, has supportive teachers and has really expanded her interests thanks to the many specials. I think an underrated special at the school is the weekly Guidance lessons - it's refreshing to see a school teaching students how to deal with the mental challenges they're going to face in life
Submitted by parent on May 02, 2018

I'm a little surprised by all the recent positive reviews. Though the academics seem to be solid and the safety is overdone (good thing these days), in our experience, many of the other facets that make a school good are lacking. "Institutional" is a good description, but with a school that size, that might be necessary. One of the main issues we have is that it seems like the classes are too big for the teachers to effectively control without getting burned out. We hear stories from our kids about yelling and we have observed inconsistent behavioral control tactics. Ultimately we don't believe this school is the best place for our children any longer and will not be returning next year.
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2017

My child is very happy and is in a safe friendly atmosphere . Character development in the school is great. Teachers and principals work well with students and always have an open door policy with kids. Academics , organization ,and after school activities available even in elementary, also choir ,band, and orchestra programs in early elementary
Submitted by parent on November 28, 2017

I appreciate the academic rigor and the focus on social/emotional learning. Great school!!!
Submitted by parent on November 07, 2017

I feel that my child has had nothing but success at this school. She is challenged by the teachers, she enjoys going to school, and her grades show this.
Submitted by parent on July 22, 2017

This is perfect school for our 2 boys. They both are doing well in class
Submitted by other on March 09, 2017

This school is growing and leading the way in public education.
Submitted by parent on June 14, 2016

School is meant for slower students. CCS has a longer school day and goes for two or three weeks longer than other schools. However, for the last 4-5 weeks of the school year my son learned nothing new in 6th grade math. they just kept going over ratios and stuff they learned earlier. This is good if the kid did not understand the material the first time. However, quick kids lose this time when they could be learning something else.
Submitted by other on February 13, 2016

The students are often treated differently based upon how influential the parents are in the school community. Students are not being prepared for accountability in the real world. The driving force behind this school is money.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2016

I believe that Collegium has the potential to be a great school. However with there focus being on enrollment instead of dealing with the issues that they have at hand it's not. Even with enrollment they are looking at the quantity of students for funding instead of the quality and this is making there school look bad. This is my first year with Collegium and I feel that the school as a whole has serious behavioral issues; which administration is not properly dealing with and even covering up. The bus behaviors are ridiculous and unsafe at times but the pick up and drop off procedure is pure chaos so it's more of a hassle to even try transporting your child. There is also a lack of communication with parents and administration doesn't care if you have issues or concerns; most of the time they won't even call you back. A few teacher's there are very unprofessional and lack moral training. It's not all but there has been a few which I've personally dealt with and It's been reported that a teacher called the 6th grade class Hoodlums and administration did nothing about it besides the CEO saying that it didn't happen. However the teacher admitted that it was said and apologized to both me and my child, saying that some students in the class were out of control and out of frustration she had said it, but she she didn't mean my child. Nobody is perfect so I respect the teacher for being honest and I do realize that teacher's deal with a lot from students; however Hoodlum is a racial stereotype and they are the adults, who choose to be teachers, so calling students any name other than what the were given is not appropriate. Collegium is supposed to be a professional atmosphere for learning and I haven't seen that. Many teacher's have left since the start of school for whatever reason and the kids are forced to get use to someone else which isn't always easy especially with younger students. I send my children to school to get an education and I believe that everything is not for everybody, so this is my first but also my last year at Collegium. I hear from other parents that it hasn't always been this way but time is precious and to me first impressions mean everything, so hopefully they wake up and get it together before it's to late.
Submitted by parent on December 29, 2015

We relocated our kids in first grade to CCS after several bad experiences with the local public school. That was eight years ago and we have not been disappointed with our decision. The school has an expanded day which allows them to have more then just math and language arts (science, social studies, spanish) everyday. In their old school these subjects weren't offered or would pop up on a multi-day cycle. The curriculum also includes art, music and technology classes into the regular curriculum (2x a week). Now that my kids are in high school they have the option to incorporate electives into their schedule to customize their education to fit their potential career choice. The list of electives spans the science/engineering, health/medical, computer programming, theatre/arts all the way to AP and college courses (for credit). The school has a very strong music program with orchestra (3-12), band (4-12), choir (3-12), musicals (5-12) and a Tri-M Music Honor Society Chapter; as well as an impressive art program (K-12 and an Art Honor Society Chapter) with the traditional media to 3-D printers and ceramics being offered. One last point, our kids currently have ~125 students in their grade, most of them have been together since early elementary school. This has helped to foster a feeling of community among all the families, which is something I really like because kids tend to look out for each other and no one gets lost in the shuffle.
Submitted by parent on December 09, 2015

DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO THIS SCHOOL!!!!! I had a kinder garden child that went there and everyday she'd come home crying, saying "THIS IS A PRISON" If you want your child to be happiest at school don't send them here. I REPEAT DON'T SENT THEM HERE PLEASE!!
Submitted by parent on October 05, 2015

Terrible charter school. My daughters teacher has a broken leg and is mistreating her. School admistrators Will not listen or return my calls. My daughters principal says I am busy running two buildings with a third one in the way? It's clear to me all this school cares about is enrollment and nothing else. Good luck because nothing works with this school.
Submitted by parent on June 17, 2015

WARNING: DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO THIS SCHOOL IF THEY HAVE ANY LEARNING DISABILITIES OR DIFFERENCES. THEY HIDE THE MANY SPECIAL EDUCATION BATTLES THEY HAVE HAD THROUGH SETTLEMENTS WITH GAG ORDERS.
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2015

We withdrew our son because our day ended up like this for a 6 year old: get a school bus at 6:15 for a 1.5 hour ride to school, a very long school day, a 1.5 hour ride home arriving back at 5pm. Then we had to complete the 30 minutes of Kindergarten homework or my son would be so upset that he would have to complete it the next morning. He rarely had a day of both recesses because his class was "bad," my son came home with his class food tray for his party because it got cancelled because they were "bad" in the morning but the last straw was when his tyrant of a teacher took away snacks as punishment and he would come home starving. It's one thing to strive for strong academics and discipline but this school has swung the pendulum in the wrong direction! Once we switched schools we finally had our son back! Stay away!!!
Submitted by parent on February 11, 2015

CCS is a hidden gem in Chesco (located in Exton, PA) and arguably one of the highest performing Charter Schools in PA. For the past two years, CCS has received very high academic performance SPP scores (86.2 in 2012-2013 and 75 in 2013-2014), equal to and exceeding many of the suburban schools in the area. The school has a very balanced level of diversity among its student population, including special education program. College preparation includes AP course selections in over 10 subjects. They also have a number of STEM specific programs, including the completion of a state of art STEM facility that is part of the new CCS gym. In 2013-2014, CCS was reported to have a 63% pass rate for its AP exams, and in 2013, was ranked as the 36th highest SAT score (1615) in Pennsylvania. CCS has placed grades into colleges such as UPenn, Bryn Mawr, BYU, Lehigh University, Lafayette College, Penn State, and Villanova. The organization of CCS is phenomenal, including a CEO, whom is a Stanford Graduate, and a Board of Trustees, who are very accomplished leaders, professionals, and CCS parents.