Pinellas Preparatory Academy

2300 Belcher Road

School District

Pinellas
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
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 January 25, 2025

PPA is a great place to be . Our administration changed recently. The Mrs. Hill is kind and always present and very calm for the students and teachers. The teachers are the hardest working and go above and beyond for their students and parents. My kids have made life long friends and the families are wonderful. Our PTEG has many events which the county is lacking. It gives the school a family feel. The school is the safest school, I have been in and my mom is an educator. They have devices that prevent anyone from coming in the rooms. PPA has been through ups and downs. This school has made my children feel loved and my kids have learned a lot. I disagree with a lot of these negative comments because a lot of those issues are no longer employed with the school. I’m thankful that my family has this wonderful school that has become part of our family.
Submitted by parent on January 11, 2025

The recent change in administration has already had a noticeable impact. Mrs. Hill has been a much-needed breath of fresh air, leading with the professionalism and integrity that have been lacking in recent years. In such a short time, we're already seeing positive changes. My child has even mentioned how different things feel, especially appreciating how often the Principal is visible in the classrooms and lunchroom. We’re excited to be part of this positive transformation.
Submitted by parent on January 11, 2025

Principal Vollmer is the worst educator and administrator of any school in Pinellas. She is careless, lacking of intellect, and totally irresponsible with regard to the safety of students.
Submitted by parent on December 10, 2024

This school is terrible! We have been there for 7 years and started out loving it but as soon as the new principal took over in 2020 it has been going downhill ever since. The administration only cares about themselves and what's best for them. There is a "clique" between the principal, some faculty, and teachers and if you are not in that clique then good luck! As a parent I've even witnessed teachers being targeted who are not part of their "clique" it's extremely sad and absolutely unprofessional! They do not have the students best interests in mind. Any time parents give feedback or suggestions, it's blown off if the principal doesn't have the same opinion. It's literally her way or no way and she is running the school into the ground. The teachers, whom I'm assuming take direction from the principal, have the most absurd rules! Once you hit the middle school side it gets worse, the homework, testing, everything is awful. The teachers expect perfection from the students and put so much pressure on them that it's really unfair. They refuse to accept any late work no matter what the reason is, which leaves students not even wanting to try. They are destroying their love for learning. Also be careful of reviews you see as they are somehow having reviews removed, especially on their Google page. There were several recent (negative) reviews posted about the school and now they are all gone. Pretty deceitful for a school. I would not recommend PPA to anyone in the current state of the school. In our early years at PPA I referred everyone to the school. Maybe if they get a new principal things will get better, but right now we are ready to get out and glad to be on our last year!
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2024

My middle school child leaves most days with a smile on his face. We are proud to call PPA home. The faulty and staff go above and beyond for kids! My child has been challenged academically and with character development through the PPA community. Could recommend a better school.
Submitted by parent on July 08, 2024

This school has declined since 2020. The middle school portion is awful. The kids are very unhappy. There are a handful of kids in sports that can get away with so much but the rest are punished for the smallest thing. The staff's kids are always the ones who will be awarded first so good luck if you have kids in the same grade because their kids will be the ones getting the awards everytime. The teachers are gossipy and unprofessional, talking about parents to each other in carline like they don't care other parents can hear them. The receptionist is one of the rudest people I have ever encountered at a front desk before. The middle school teachers pile on the homework and it seems they do this because they just don't want to actually teach, they try and do it all through repetition. Expect homework every weekend and several hours every night with multiple tests a week the kids also have to study for. It's hard to also do sports and go to this middle school because so much of your time is doing homework. The only thing this school has going for it anymore is the safety, the school is pretty safe from bullying that I have seen but some parents have had issues I have heard. The younger grades still have fun but then you are stuck in this school till 8th because the kids make friends and don't want to leave them even when they are so unhappy. There are rumors that the principal hates the middle school kids and honestly it seems very true with how she acts toward most of them. It is very sad because when we first started we loved the school but over the last few years have been so unhappy but just cannot go anywhere else without having our child have to make all new friends and start over in a crucial time during middle school. If you have a choice between this school and Plato go with Plato, if you can homeschool do that, if you can get in private do that. If it is an option through this school and public school you may be better off here if you go in knowing your children will have no life but homework every day and weekend and they will get hardly any outside time, there will be assigned seats for lunch and they are not allowed to talk in class or in the halls and get yelled at constantly at lunch. kids have peed their pants when teachers wouldn't let them use the bathroom, one child got a coa when a teacher refused him the bathroom so he peed in a bush outside. A few middle school kids forced to eat in a different area all year as punishment.
Submitted by other on March 07, 2024

This school should be shut down. They are very unprofessional. The school has a student there that was bullied not by students but a specific teacher. This teacher should be strip from her license to teach. She not only brings harm to kids but doesnt even have the compassion to help ease the situation. If you have a child that takes a but of time to get information, you know the ones that needs extra time to learn dont bother they wont teach your child. What they will do is humiliate the child and put you outside unserpervised and force you to learn with out teaching. Isnt it your job as a teacher that if your student is having a hard time understanding your job as a teacher is to teach not giving the child a tablet to do the teaching. Also, how about bathroom breaks, children should be able to go to the bathroon no matter specially if ahead of time you know a child has a condition. What really gets me is that you bring this up to the pricipal or anyone at the office your concern they do not cooperate with you. They dont do nothing for the situation. And what they will do they turn it around and make you the parent that you are in the wrong when all your doing is bringing up to their attention that your teacher is doing thtis to my child. As a parent what do you do? I am concern for my child. Please whatever you do stay away from this school they dont care about your child at all. I have never seen a school so messed up in my entire life. Plus that lady at the front desk, she has no business working there, she doesnt smile, she’s rude very poor customer service. If you ask her for anything forget it. She wont lift a fingur to help you. Do yourself a favor and stay away from this school. If there was an option to give no stars i wont give any stars at all. Thats how bad this school is. Consider yourself warned. Thanks
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2024

The only "family engagement" this school offers is asking parents and families for money and donations continuously!! They ask for money for everything, even for students to participate in spirit weeks, it's awful. The teachers are on a power trip and mess with students grades depending on how they feel that day, they will not enter assignments that have good grades, but enter assignments with poor grades and they don't care that they are messing with students grades. The administration doesn't listen to parent concerns at all! Any ideas and suggestions are just shot down. They just finished building a super expensive gym but won't let the students use it, instead they still make the students have recess and PE in the back alley behind the school even when it's freezing or super hot outside because they don't want the gym floors to get "ruined". This school is a joke, the administration has no idea how to properly run a school, and the teachers play favoritism with students. Beware if you are thinking of sending your child here!!!
Submitted by parent on March 10, 2023

It is a work in progress. The school has merged into one from being two schools in one building. A disconnect is slowly bridged from the covid shutdown and lack of community as a result. Overall a great school, but tweaks with certain administrators having too much power and gatekeeping information could be changed for the better.
Submitted by parent on December 06, 2021

The principal, school board and Parent-Teacher association (PTEG) do not at all address complaints presented to them nor acknowledge that there are problems in their system. There are a few good people in the school but in general, the school staff and administration are uncaring. The front office manager has mood swings and doesn't show a welcoming appearance to guests. She doesn't have business being a receptionist especially in a school where little kids go. The particular teacher we had was not efficient and doesn't bother to meet the students' specific needs.
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2020

Excellent school... my daughter has been there from 1st to 8th grade
Submitted by parent on May 27, 2019

I loved the primary side. It was very well run with a great leader/principal and the teachers were very kind to their students. I wish the prepatory side was like that. They are responsible for shaping our childrens future and I wish they embraced that instead of acting like they hate it and I see that in a lot of teachers I have come in contact with. Also bullying and favortism runs rampant at this school (prepatory side) and they are in dire need of new leadership!!
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2019

Very disappointed at the continued decline of this school due to the leadership.
Submitted by parent on March 17, 2019

Middle school staff and principal are not effective. Elementary is much better. Don’t bother to complain, you won’t be heard and they may take it out on your children.
Submitted by parent on January 13, 2019

Positive so far since last few years
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2018

Can't wait to be finished in this school. Horrible. So many good teachers are gone? Why! The so called board..what a pathetic joke!
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2018

My daughter has been bullying since last year. This is the 2nd year. There has been food tossed at her, water bottle kicked directly to her, shove shoulder, gang up against her at recess when teacher were there "watching" and did nothing about it. There has been name callings, cyber bullying, prank calling, said a threat to her, stole stuff from her, belittle her in front of all and etc. This is harassment and bully. Their student conduct book said they have "Zero Tolerance" on Bullying. They are not following it. Instead they said "its part of life", "walk away" "there's nothing we can do". We have went to the principal so many times, nothing has been done except "writing it down on their paper". We went to the cop- they said they can't do anything about it because our daughter is not bleeding, or dying. I am not waiting for my daughter to bleed, drop dead, or kill herself. It has been affecting her greatly. They also said this is not a "bully" Your book said it is. What do you call this? Playing? Matter of worst- the school's chairman/ boards sided with them and did nothing too. Gave us an attitude and said they are not talking about it anymore. Whatever problem that caused this from the teenagers does not make an excuse for this to be continue and harass my daughter. The counselor was no better either. She told my daughter that the person that threaten her were just "expresses herself". There was no consequences.
Submitted by other on May 11, 2016

I have kept my eye on this school for 3 yrs now as a possibility for my son. Over a year ago they built a program to better assist students with IEPs versus most charter schools. Once I saw the program in place I enrolled my son. We got in through the lottery system and couldnt be more pleased with the services offered. They have acknowledged my sons challenges and have provided the required services. We couldn't be more blessed.
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2015

I am so thrilled with PPA. All of my children have attended this school. It is a combined effort of administration, teachers, staff, and parents that work together to make this a stellar school. It is well rounded with high academics, extra curricular activities and clubs, and a warm and loving atmosphere. My kids feel respected and welcomed. We are all a part of the big PPA family!
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2015

This is our first year at this school and I have to say we are very pleased ! The Principal/Teachers and staff all have the best interest of the child in everyway . If you want a school that has structure and balance and you want your child to get a great education ! This is the school ! I have heard other parents say Ms. Walker has too many rules and I have to say rules help keep our children safe as well as order in society as Parents we can also help our children follow school rules ! As my mom always said (monkey see ,monkey do) Children need to understand that there are always consequences for breaking rules. Respect for rules is not just for school but everyday life. They teach our children how to understand the difference between right and wrong in their decision-making. Because one day, Principals like Ms. Walker won't be watching. Thank you Ms. Walker, Teachers and Staff for all you do!!! I would give more stars if I could !