Pinecrest Lakes Academy

14012 OLD HIGHWAY 50

School District

Lake County Schools
Grade

PK, K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:19
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 25, 2024

The school cares a lot about test scores and not so much about social-emotional development. If your kid needs an IEP or 504, this is not the school. ESE dept is not supporting at all, all the meetings are about how the kid has the problem and “the school is doing everything they can” which means nothing. They are always in a defensive instead of supporting. Teachers look unhappy and discouraged. Director is super antisocial and very disengaged.
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2024

We moved from Northern Virginia, from a county and area where we thought had the best public school system and best rated schools. I have to say the level of commitment to education is beyond compare. The level is high! They are super strict! But they will work with you every step of the way. This is school has been the highlight of our move to Florida! We were never so involved in our kids learning and never seen them grow and learn so much in such a short period of time! And dealing with 3 school changes through the school year! It is not easy for kids an interstate move but the school definitely has been a peace of mind! Great teachers! Great staff! It’s a community driven school and you feel part of it! We absolutely love it!
Submitted by parent on March 01, 2024

In a day when social issues is the priority for what is being taught in schools today - this school actually teaches math, reading, and science. Our son is on an IEP. They send the letter home every year with the date for his next goal meeting with plenty of time to reschedule if it doesn't fit our schedule. They provide him with the extra resources he needs and always ask for my input for what he needs. We do not have a lot of money, and do what we can for the fundraisers and supplies. It is a school of choice. We would choose it over and over again. The principal is an excellent leader - she has high expectations and holds everyone to the same standards. I do not have a personal relationship with her or the administration, but I respect the way they handle the conflict constantly thrown at them by rude adults. The school would not be what it is without its great leaders. I appreciate them. My children are receiving an excellent education, and I believe it will serve them well for their future.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2023

Horrible school. Specially for kids that have EIP. They don’t care about they sanity or emotions, they only care about portrait an image and that’s that. Principal? Another joke. Never available for parents that are concerned about their kids. Only a few(but FEW) teachers cares about their students. Im sad that the last two good teachers one of my kids had, they left the school.
Submitted by parent on August 13, 2023

This is a great school. My daughter attended elementary, middle, and now high school. The curriculum prepares them for college and staff is very friendly.
Submitted by parent on July 30, 2023

If you're child needs any additional support, academic or emotional, this school is not for you. Please read the reviews online. They systematically remove children with extra needs from their school. One of our son's friends was removed from the school because he was emotional. They started documenting his struggles then kicked them out. He was 5. He did what 5 year olds do. The principal is quite rude, on the group calls and in person. Academic workload is high but not unreasonable. Curriculum is challenging. Lots, i mean lots, of fundraisers. Students from low income families are often left out of the celebratory activities. Most teachers seem friendly and kind. Under different leadership, this school has potential to be great.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2023

First year in this school and I amhappy. i have four kids here and they all succeeded. The school is strict and hard but it is a good school.
Submitted by parent on April 19, 2023

My child is only in kindergarten but our experience has been exceptional. He gets exposure to so many different enrichment opportunities and they tend to be the highlight of each day. I think one of the earlier reviews mentioned that the enrichment teachers go from class to class with a cart, but they have since expanded the school (I believe as a part of their move to separate facilities for elementary, middle, and high) and there's 'studios' for each of the enrichment teachers. I was thrilled to learn that our child would have 5 days of enrichment - our son attends Music, Art, STEAM, Robotics, and Spanish once a week. And each of them are great.In the homeroom class, the classrooms are well equipped, leverage technology where needed, and really do give us great updates on our son's progress. Any time we have needed further information on his studies or questions about anything (this is our first year with the school) our teacher has been quick to respond through Classroom Dojo and been quickly available for a parent-teacher conference when needed to review his progress and go over strategies (both scholastic and social) to improve his ability to learn.We could not be more happy with Pinecrest Lakes Academy and are excited that our son will have years within this program.
Submitted by parent on March 31, 2023

The school is amazing and the staff are exceptional! I’ve been with the school since they opened, and I can tell you from personal experience the administration and staff truly care about each student. I could not be happier with my decision to stay with Pinecrest.
Submitted by parent on March 20, 2023

The school punished my son for attending weekly therapy sessions. At 5 years old he got detention for a first time behavioral issue. They pressure parents to drive with their children unbuckled in car line. They run fundraisers where if you pay them, your child doesn't have to do homework. The principal is condescending and says parents are not the right resource to help children with school work. Her child gets special privileges.
Submitted by parent on February 03, 2023

They do not help a lot with the kids and they are fake and they always have to pick the favorite.
Submitted by parent on December 21, 2022

Not happy at all. My daughter is still recovering from her experience here. So disappointed.
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2022

I I regretted immensely enrolling my 5yr old daughter here the Kindergarten teacher she is the Master of Complaints, please parents if you are thinking about enrolling your child here please don’t!The before and after Care; all children of all ages mixed up together, my daughter was way over stimulated and not in a good way, coming from a small academy to a big school with children of all ages, I come home everyday frustrated with the mediocrity, They only way of communication is through an app that’s it, One afternoon I came to pick up my daughter One of the staff member came with an incident report in front of other parents, found that so unethical and unprofessional there was no privacy to discuss the situation.My daughter it’s on speech therapy the school has made it really hard for her therapist to enter the facility even though she already had the permits and clearance from the county do it so.They pretend 5yrs old knows everything! All they care is about the numbers! For funds $ the whole high reviews is all A Scam.As a daughter of a Teacher myself a Health Professional it baffles me this teacher cannot control a 5yr old? what kind of school is this? I have my doubts if that Kindergarten teacher have the proper credentials understanding the psychological and child needs. Never had this experience before. I withdrew my daughter abruptly causing me financially stress to us as parents my 5yr old daughter abruptly change of environment due to the mediocrity. None of the staff member have approached us wanted to know why? or at least to have a conversation why we’ve made this decision, There’s no commitment! Shame Shame Shame!!PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THIS SCHOOL!!
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2022

It is exhausting to deal with Pinecrest all they do is lie and mostly make things up as they go, kind of like there school policies that only apply to students and not staff, they also change based on the student they are dealing with , makes you definitely question everything they do or say. The principal is little to no help and the teachers consciously spread rumors about students and bully them.
Submitted by parent on April 24, 2022

My kid has been going to the school since sixth grade and I am so blessed to have her in Pinecrest Lakes academy. The school prepares the student for college in a very effective and efficient way. I love the school and the students are well behaved and dressed professionally, the teachers the principal and management are all great. It is better than any private or other public schools in my area and I’m so grateful and thankful to God for PLA. .
Submitted by parent on November 07, 2021

We moved from California form a reputable charter school and we feel this is far supperior in many ways! This is not only a college preparatory school but also STEM, which we love. We have only been here for a few months but my kids love it and they are able to keep up with homework and grades quite well. The communications are right on spot and principal is great!
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2020

Too much homework assigned, large class sizes (25 in grades k-3 when the max should be 18), the school building itself is overcrowded such that enrichment teachers are forced to go from class to class on a cart and don't have their own classrooms. Admin is not very friendly. They have some great teachers but overall we did not like the vibe of the school.
Submitted by parent on July 08, 2020

Sometimes i believe they are not open to hear parents and they can be too strict, sometimes is ok to break the rules for the benefit of the student. Once my son forgot the supplies need it for a science project and while i had to turn around and do the car line again, when i entered the building to deliver the supplies left by son at the car they refused to take it. Thankfully the science teacher was able to help me with that but the front person was not able to "leave her chair every time a student forgets something"; thats my only complain.
Submitted by teacher on March 27, 2020

Excellent experience. People care and students care. Many kids love their teachers.
Submitted by student on June 23, 2019

My child has had an amazing experience at this school. We are lucky to have found it.