Central Florida Preparatory School

1450 Citrus Oaks Avenue

Gotha, FL 34734

33 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 30, 2025

We have had our little ones in Central Florida Prep since August and we could not be happier. This private school is a hidden gem in Apopka. From the attentiveness of the teachers, to the genuine care you feel from the administration, to the security of the campus, your child is in the best of the best of hands here. This school’s goal is for parents to stay informed and for each child to receive an individualized education and they deliver on both.
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2025

My son has attended CFP since he was 3 years old. He will be starting 1st Grade next year. My son has ADHD and struggled with focusing on his lessons. His teachers, the school, and the administration were extremely supportive of doing things to ensure my son was set up to succeed. He is reading and writing on grade level and loves this school. They create a true sense of community with all the activities they host. This school is amazing for involved parents who want to ensure their child gets a top-notch education.
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2024

The overall mentality at this school is that all kids are bad and tell stories and they're not given credibility for their concerns or requests. The school is very controlling over the teens/young adults. Students are only allowed a limited number of bathroom visits per quarter and are timed by the minute using a computer. One minute over and they can lose future bathroom breaks. The students are punished as a whole instead of addressing the few that misbehave. The academic opportunities are limited and the school is inflexible with schedules. Seniors get no privileges and if they don't have a class for the last period, they sit around rather than leave when done with classes. The teachers privately complain but say they can't say anything because they are afraid for their jobs. The school is way overpriced for what they have to offer. Parents supply the paper towels, hand soap, and tissues for the classes. CFP does not encourage parent participation and has no PTA/PVO. There are a few teachers that treat the older students like the young adults they are growing into, but overall it's a controlling/rigid environment with a lack of choices and opportunity.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2024

I would not recommend the school. I discourage recommending the school based upon my experiences
Submitted by parent on July 31, 2023

Worst experience & was locked in a contract. No face-to-face with teachers allowed, no phones either-must email only and wait for a possible reply. My child hated going. A couple of teachers were great, but they don't stay. Had teachers that don't care about the kids (one refused to even speak to my child the entire year). Example: My kid always had A's on all exams but made a 68 once & the teacher didn't even bother to find out "why?" My child was threatened personally by one of the administrators. They refused to work with my child's disability but instead repeatedly penalized without consideration. Safety was fine except for punishments they inflicted (mostly via grading). There also isn't any medically experienced personnel on site. The school strongly discourages family engagement. Good luck ever getting past their front counter or speaking to a teacher. If you are a parent that likes to be involved, likes to establish rapport with teachers/faculty, or would like your child to feel supported by school personnel - look elsewhere. You will not find any of those things here. They seem to be all about $$ Do not believe their website. I almost sued for breach of contract based on what is presented. (The only positive reviews I found were actually left by their own faculty.)
Submitted by parent on July 05, 2023

When my family toured CFP, we were told many things that made it seem that this school was a great choice for our children. No school system is without its shortcomings, yet we felt confident that CFP would be a significant set up in education, activities, and especially in student conduct standards. However, the reality was much different. Problematic children frequently hindered the learning, teachers created group punishments for the actions of a few, and quickly made us realize that the ‘higher standards’ were in fact not higher than what we have experienced in the public school setting. The student handbook clearly states a code of conduct with disciplinary action for those who do not abide by the rules, but those consequences never seemed to come. Administration stated adamantly that certain behaviors were not accepted from both teachers and students, and yet the same things that would never have been allowed to occur in a public school setting were repeatedly happening at CFP, on an almost daily basis. Our youngest child was in the Kindergarten Montessori program, and it was basically a lost year educationally. The typical stacks of educational projects, drawings, and art that came home with our other 2 children, when they were in Kindergarten at public schools, was non-existent. The ratio was 8 Kindergarteners to 16 VPK students. It was more of a daycare than a classroom, with the younger children requiring most of the attention from the teachers, and it greatly diminished the learning potential of the Kindergarteners. We wanted our children to stay in this school through high school, but unfortunately the shortcomings were just too great. What we were sold was not reality
Submitted by parent on May 18, 2023

We were really optimistic that CFP would live up to the expectations that we were sold on when we toured the school. Unfortunately, from the beginning of the school year, we were met with disappointment after disappointment. There were several red flags and a long list of issues. Lack of communication…the school using group punishment by taking away recess or computer access from the entire classroom for the actions of a few (which continues to occur after we were assured by the administrators that they would not use group punishment)…a teacher not properly adhering to the protocol they use for their shooter drills and then lying about it at a meeting, directly to my face. The list goes on. We chose this school due to the proximity to our home, as well as everything they sold us on. The greenhouse for the kids to learn about agriculture, small class sizes, and a more inclusive parent teacher relationship to name a few. There were no agriculture classes, my daughters Kindergarten class had 24 children in it (when we were told it would be 16), and we have struggled to get basic communication from teachers. The lack of transparency, communication, and accountability from both teachers and the administrators are just a few of the reasons why we chose to leave this school. All of our concerns were brought to the attention of administrators via multiple meetings and emails, but the problems persisted. And we are not alone. Several of the moms I personally know, have withdrawn their kids as well. We felt compelled to share our experience, so that other families are aware of the reality of just a few of the many shortcomings of CFP, prior to making a financial commitment.
Submitted by parent on January 08, 2020

Central Florida Prep is an amazing school. Strong academics, engaging curriculum, very supportive teachers, and excellent administration. Simply brilliant!
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2019

This school is Great!!!! They work with my daughter in a way we could never get before. At her prior school she would come home telling us she had no friends. Now she comes home happy and is finally thriving!
Submitted by parent on July 12, 2018

Fantastic! It's with heavy hearts that we move on to a new venture.
Submitted by other on July 12, 2018

I would gladly say this even if I had not been an employee. I have had a relationship with this school for the past 10 years, 3 as an employee. If my children were of school age, I would have no hesitation sending my children to CFP. The classroom sizes are smaller, the teachers truly care about their students, the attention the children receive is always one-on-one and very timely. Their staff is always available to listen to their hearts and attend to their needs. They are treated by the staff as if they are their own children. Each child is embraced daily with encouragement and positive reinforcement as well as a strong educational foundation. Everyday they are loved! You will not regret placing your child in this school.
Submitted by parent on July 02, 2018

Smaller class size and individualized support make a great difference! My boys are excited to begin in 5th and 6th grades at Central Florida Prep in August. They've each had trial days last school year, and are currently participating in their summer camps. Both are enthusiastic about the school, caring staff, and peer relationships. It is apparent the great match that is already taking place and how fortunate we are to live within a short proximity to CFP.
Submitted by parent on June 27, 2018

I love CFP! Both my daughter and son attend. Class sizes are small and no child goes unnoticed. My daughter has a physical disability and her teachers take time to help and encourage her. I highly recommend taking a tour! You won’t regret it.
Submitted by parent on June 25, 2018

My child has severe dyslexia and auditory processing issues. He has a high IQ, but always struggled to read and spell. Prior starting at CFP, he hated going to school and homework meltdowns were a common occurrence in our household. The teachers at CFP have embraced his learning disabilities with open arms, give him personalized attention and a learning plan that fits his needs. He is finally excited to go to school, and homework is no longer a nightly battle. If your child is a unique learner and you're looking for a school where they will thrive- look no further than CFP!
Submitted by parent on June 24, 2018

We love it! It’s June and our daughter is looking forward to going back to school. That’s says it all!
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2018

I would say my overall experience at the school is great! My children feel like they are home and comfortable with the staff and classmates. It nice feeling knowing my children are in good hands.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2018

It truly has been a great experience. We love CFP!
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2018

If I could give this school a negative rating, I would.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2018

One of best ever. Can’t say enough
Submitted by parent on June 22, 2018

CFP has been a breath of fresh air for our daughter and our family! The kind of personalized attention and sincere care for her success that we get at CFP is truly special. We are grateful for this school!