Eagle School

5454 GUNFLINT TRL

Madison, WI 53711

15 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 16, 2025

If your child excels at academic competitions and asks for extra homework, he or she will love Eagle School and will be valued by the school. If you have a bright, curious, ‘regular’ kid who would benefit from a creative learning environment, you will be sorely disappointed at Eagle. There are some good and caring teachers there, but the institution has a narrow view of ‘gifted and talented’ education, and the most creative teachers don’t seem to stay. The culture is focused on pushing kids toward rigid forms of academic achievement. The current principal (Andy Wright) is ill-equipped to lead the school. He doesn’t understand what kids (especially middle-schoolers) need to thrive and frankly doesn’t seem to care. He wants compliance with Eagle’s narrow rules and expectations more than supporting the development and wellbeing of the students enrolled there. There is no commitment to long-time Eagle families whose kid hits a rough patch as they grow and change. Agreed-upon accommodations for neurodivergence suddenly become grounds for judgement and stigma. Small issues that would never register at other schools lead to scrutiny (e.g., ‘your child sat down at the lunch table and changed the topic of conversation’). If situations amongst students arise, instead of trying to get to the truth and act in a fair manner to all involved, the principal makes snap judgements and pits kids against each other, always favoring the ‘star’ kids. He’s vindictive and cares more about showing he is ‘in charge’ than treating people fairly. I am honestly not sure how he (or the middle school counselor for that matter) sleep at night, knowing the enduring trauma and stress they have knowingly brought on kids and their families…If you want to be at a school that cares about children, supports and challenges them as they grow and develop in their unique way, values and invests in a diverse learning environment, and applies innovative educational approaches to teaching bright elementary and middle-school students - then LOOK ELSEWHERE because you will not find those things at Eagle School. We wish we had left long before we did…
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2024

EAGLE School of Madison has been such a great experience for our child and family. It’s clear that the school is designed with gifted and talented kids in mind, giving them the right mix of challenges and support. The small class sizes mean the teachers really get to know each student and help them grow in ways that fit their strengths and interests. The teachers are amazing—so passionate and great at keeping the kids engaged. Our child comes home excited about what they’re learning, which makes us so happy as parents.What really stands out is how much EAGLE focuses on more than just academics. They truly care about helping kids build confidence, empathy, and social skills. The school community feels so welcoming and supportive—it’s like being part of a big family. The administration is approachable and keeps parents in the loop, which we really appreciate. EAGLE isn’t just a school; it’s a place where our child feels understood, challenged, and celebrated. We couldn’t ask for a better fit!
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2024

My 2e kid (ADHD and autistic, undiagnosed at the time, just seemed like a sensitive kid who was insanely smart and needed to stay challenged) was severely traumatized by the ableist attitudes and treatment suffered at the hands of teachers, staff and the director, leading to an anxiety disorder and PDA. EAGLE wrongly assumes bright kids also have superior executive function skills and set unrealistic expectations with no willingness to accommodate differences. In 1st/2nd grade there was up to 60 pages of homework per week, a middle/high school type schedule with up to 12 transitions per day (different classroom/teacher/subject) children must navigate alone via schedules posted in lockers, a 1400+ problem math workbook that was "optional" but if you don't complete it you have to sit out while your classmates have a chocolate party, in-class prizes for kids who "use their time wisely" and complete work faster (aka don't have ADHD), etc. They're intolerant of common 2e struggles like shyness, forgetfulness, and difficulty staying focused; adopting a "parents, fix your kid" attitude. They want parents to lecture their kid not to be late, while refusing to scaffold them in any way or ensure they feel safe/accepted when they struggle with transitions. They refuse even the most basic accommodations, such as communicating with pen and paper when a child can't speak due to anxiety. These elitist, deeply ableist attitudes are foundational to the school, as many teachers are super awesome and flexible in meeting kids' differing needs but are overridden by management and told to stop.The school is good at academics, but even then it's high pressure, competitive and within a very narrow view of how kids should learn and what the end result should be. For example, my kid scored 99th percentile for math on the MAP test and above most of her classmates, but was repeatedly told that she was behind in math due to difficulty taking timed tests, sapping her confidence and destroying her love of math. Stay away if there's even a chance your kid may be 2e. Otherwise, consider what attitudes you want them to learn about themselves and others and the world.
Submitted by student on March 10, 2024

As an eight grade student at Eagle, I can confidently say that this school is the best school in the area. I love the small class sizes, allowing kids to get more one on one attention. While the workload can be intense at time, the teachers keep it interesting. The intense workload and good learning environment fosters a positive, kind community. In all my time at Eagle, I have seen zero bullying. However, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the intense workload, and it is not for everyone. This is the reason I have eagle a one for special education. In grades five and up there is about an hour of homework every night, and classes seem to be more at the high school level. Overall, Eagle is great for kids looking for a challenge, and does a great job of fostering a good learning environment.
Submitted by other on February 19, 2024

If your child is gifted and also willing to put in *some* work, this school is the best one around. The teachers are phenomenal, as well as the school counselors. I'm really annoyed by the negative reviews written by parents whose kids proved not to live up to their "very high" IQs. I don't know of a world in which a very high IQ but NO willingness to learn or put it ANY effort into schoolwork results in success.
Submitted by parent on February 19, 2024

No school is perfect, but for my daughter this place is pretty close. Andy the director is great, the teachers are top notch, the building is nice and well kept. Strong community feel. I'm a big fan!
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2024

EAGLE claims that they are a school for gifted kids but apparently they do not understand the sensitivities, asynchronous development that often come with giftedness. The teacher was rude to my son when he wasn’t in a good mood one day and needed more emotional support. We’ve figured it’s not a good fit for my child. While he’s gifted with a very high IQ he wouldn’t like being pressured into working for grade grades, competing with others, etc. We are disappointed in this “gifted school”.
Submitted by parent on December 19, 2023

We have two children at Eagle School. Our oldest has been there for 8 years. At times the homework load can be intense, seems to be certain grades/teachers. Overall very happy with our experience at Eagle, a wonderful community.
Submitted by parent on December 27, 2019

Better than Madison Metropolitan School District schools, but with the $13,000/year tuition, it narrows the margin.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2019

Horrible. I was surprised how the school was ill-equipped and ill-informed about basic challenges for kids with typical behaviors such as fright, freeze, and flight.
Submitted by other on September 22, 2016

I have two very different kids at Eagle, the first starting in 2011. I am impressed at how Eagle teachers and administrators work with each child to create the best learning environment for him/her. I have seen both of my children thrive there, and develop into confident, inquisitive, happy kids. We are so grateful for our experience at Eagle!
Submitted by parent on February 11, 2014

Eagle has been wonderful for my child. The classes and teachers are excellent. The kids are motivated and truly want to excel. It is how I wish school for me had been. I would HIGHLY recommend it to parents.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2013

There is no question that my child is stimulated and engaged by the education he receives at EAGLE. The interesting, challenging, & meaningful curriculum, high quality teachers & administrators, and small class sizes are extremely refreshing after 12 years of experience and frustration with the Madison public schools. It is a shame that MMSD does such a poor job meeting the needs of gifted students, but it is lucky for these students & their families that EAGLE provides another option. The homework load is considerable and I think should be moderated somewhat so that the love of learning is not stifled. I have experienced nothing but a welcoming sense of camaraderie and community amongst both students and parents. I am an involved parent who is frequently present at school; EAGLE students constantly impress me with their respectful behavior and attitudes toward adults as well as fellow students. Overall, EAGLE offers an unmatched educational experience to Madison-area students for whom it is the right fit.
Submitted by parent on July 28, 2013

EAGLE School is a true hidden gem of Madison; the only school providing national class education for gifted students in our marketplace. Teachers overall are terrific, curriculum is engaging, specialties (art, music, drama, computers) are as strong as the rest of the curriculum, children are held to high expectations and parents are required to be involved. It s affordable compared to other private schools, and income/ethnic diversity is surprisingly wide. Time and time again I see students entering from public schools where the school is failing them, they start EAGLE and they blossom. It s a fabulous thing to see. Children are remarkably accepting and respectful of each other at EAGLE, unlike what many of them experience in public school. EAGLE is not for every family; homework requirements are meaningful and parents need to recognize and support the commitment. The school is too small to offer services for truly special needs students, but can address individual child needs. No school is perfect, but for those times it s not, the school has a wonderful, well-loved guidance counselor who provides an open door for students and parents. We hope you love EAGLE as much as we do!
Submitted by parent on April 15, 2013

I'm very very disappointed in what Eagle has become. Under recent leadership, it is no longer a school for Gifted children who actually NEED that sort of environment to thrive. Instead, it's become a place for rich kids to hide out from public school. I can confidently say that more than half of the children here aren't gifted at all. It's disappointing, really. Even more so is the amount of "helicopter parenting" happening, and the bullies it creates. It used to be that gifted children here were allowed to explore their world at their pace; to see it in their own unique way and express their findings. However now, because of this antiquated and alarmingly harmful parenting style so prevalent among Eagle children, kids who stray just the slightest bit from the norm are ousted, bullied, socially downtrodden and made to feel inferior by their fellow overachieving students. The school counselor tries to minimize this, but because it's praised in the home (and $10K is at stake for every kid whose upbringing collides with school policy), there's not much she can do. Teachers here are the shining star; they're fabulous. We'll miss them when we start looking for a new school.