Southshore Charter Academy

11667 Big Bend Road

School District

Hillsborough
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
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 student on February 23, 2025

The teachers are rude and like to lie a lot and still don’t care if one of their students has problems or is upset inany way.
Submitted by student on January 28, 2025

I think overall this school is a pretty decent school, aside from the bullying and teacher/staff. Bullying is out of hand in this school, mostly fifth grade, kids bully people every day, and staff and teachers do absolutely nothing sometimes usually they will just send them to Ms Sam’s or something for a second. But Bullying can seriously affect someone’s life, emotional support staff are usually there to help though. At the lunchroom they expect a huge room filled with 100+ kids to not be loud? I think that’s a little bit crazy.As for teachers/staff, are decent, but honestly there are more nice then rude ,, staff are rude sometimes but they also apologize when they be to harsh. Sometimes they will be really harsh but usually for good cause. South shore charter academy is an overall amazing school.
Submitted by student on January 08, 2025

I have been there 1 year and i have seen 37 fights
Submitted by other on July 23, 2024

I am gonna be honest , everything at this school is not the greatest . I’ve been at this school for a good minute and there’s been so many dumb things people get in trouble for.Then for middle school they make us all cram against each other on two blue lines while they go in the middle and stop us every time someone opens there mouth so then people push up against each other and it’s a mess. Not even tryna put dirt on them but they pick teachers off the streets because I’ve never had so many random teachers just come and go. I wish I could truly call it a learning environment but it’s always something new at the school then the rules are so pushed on us , we can be not the greatest students but everyone has different lives and go threw there own things so just to go to a school that people are asking if u want to taste there cotton candy crush in the bathroom or to have a teacher make u put on different pants because of the way your bodies built just adds on to them .The punishments for bad behavior are insane . I don’t know why my friends are getting sent to kindergarten classes for hugging like that’s gonna help . God bless this school and I just pray this school will just get leaded into a good direction. Love you
Submitted by parent on July 05, 2024

I am so pleased with Southshore Charter Academy. My son is entering his 8th grade year here, and I only wish we had started his education at Southshore Charter from kindergarten. My son is excited, even through his middle school years, about what he is learning, and he is truly excelling! The teachers are caring and really try to get to know the kids and offer guidance in a manner that the child needs. We had a major family emergency happen in my son's 6th grade year, and the school was available as he needed to help him through it, of course, after I engaged them, sharing our incident with them, so they could be there for him as well. This school is amazing on safety. One of the principal's primary goals is to always seek out and fundraise for safety equipment, and she does a great job meeting her goals. Finally, the school really does try to engage families with their children's learning. To be honest, I am not as available as I would like to be for this, but they don't give up on his family engagement that fosters his learning! I am very proud that my son attends this school, and I am very excited about his final year at Southshore Charter. It has definitely made me feel very positive about moving forward to a CSUSA school for high school as well.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2023

STAY AWAY from this school! Bullying is a real problem here and the staff here does absolutely nothing about it. It is a very TOXIC environment. My child has been in tears every morning not wanting to go back to this school. I have finally decided to pull her out and place her in another school… All of the terrible reviews you read about this school are all valid. My child has had nothing but issues with the staff and students here since her very first week of school. It had gotten to the point where my child would not even want to eat her lunch in school because the kids were picking on the foods she likes to eat. I do not know what kind of household these children were brought up in but they are nasty and rude. My child is very reserved and quiet. Being in this environment caused her to have a lot of unnecessary anxiety and she is more self conscious now than she has EVER been. All of that mental damage in just the FIRST month of school!! It is really bad. Also- it has to be said- They cram SO many children into this tiny building. It is way overcrowded. It is entirely overwhelming. You have to sit in the carline for over an hour each day to pick up your child. This school does not have a library or a gymnasium…They also have NO GUIDANCE COUNSELOR. What kind of school has no guidance for its students? It is like a prison for children. I would suggest not to subject your children to this dreadful place.
Submitted by parent on May 27, 2023

This school is horrible no regards for kids and their feelings. The staff is very unprofessional and does not have the best interest for the kids or parents. I had to come to terms that this school was not a good fit for my kids due to bullying, teachers not caring and disregard emotions towards kids.
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2023

The school seems to be facing some major problems. There are concerns about the leadership of the principal, she is not supportive of the students and creates a hostile environment. The deputy director's behavior is aggressive and there are accusations of racism. Also, the communication and transparency of the school administration is terrible, like not notifying parents about the closures. The school's disciplinary practices are causing more problems than solutions, students spending more time getting into trouble than learning. To get a fuller understanding of the situation, you may want to read the school's Google reviews or visit its Facebook group, where there are videos detailing the type of leadership the principal provides.
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2023

I have 2 children that are on their second year attending this school. I just had my first interaction with the principal Ms. Sams and it left much to be desired. My child raised concerns that one of her teacher said he hated her amongst other unprofessional things. My child's mother requested a schedule change to which was declined by Ms. Sams and countered with a conference between just herself, my child and the teacher in question. We felt that we should also be in attendance to this conference so this counter was presented and accepted. During the meeting an additional teacher attended to voice other behavioral concerns. This seemed unusual since I had not received any communication via phone or email with regards to behavioral issues nor was anything indicated in progress report which I received a few weeks ago. This seems very much retaliatory and concerning. I heard them out and asked the question why was I not made aware of these issues after the initial or even the repeated occurrence, no answer only deflection. The teacher denied making the statements my child reported and Ms. Sams is set to deny the schedule change request even though all other teachers report good behavior from my child and she has 100% in this particular class. I point this out to say that the schedule change has nothing to do with grades. My child doesn't feel comfortable in the care of this teacher and nor do I of her mother but this doesn't seem to matter to Ms. Sams. During the scheduling of this meeting instead of referring to my child's records as they stand Ms. Sams saw it necessary to insight a witch hunt to try and demonize my child. I'm aware that my child as many has the tendency to have behavioral issues from time to time, my point it its the job of administration and staff to document and adequately advise the parents of such issues as they occur, not when claims are made against the staff. This doesn't invoke an environment of trust and Ms. Sams doesn't seem to be the embodiment of a person of understanding. As I voiced my concerns she only leaned on her many years of experience in education in that she knows best, such arrogance should have no place in positions of authority especially when dealing with kids.
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2023

This school is horrible. Do not send your kids here. They let teachers talk to the kids any kind of way and when we had a teacher / principle, and parent meeting about it, (that i requested because of my child crying to me about this teacher) they totally attacked the child's character instead of addressing the teacher who said the horrible thing. By the way my child only had problems with this one teacher and all the other teachers love my child. The principle does not care about the student. She only cares about her teachers even when they are wrong. No accountability. They refused to move my child out of that class. They are forcing my child to stay in a class where the teacher continues to be horrible.
Submitted by parent on June 02, 2022

Horrible school period! I witnessed the principal calling out a teenage girl and embarrass her about her pants in front of the entire middle school she called out one single child. Mrs. Sams/other administration currently at this school are only about the staff children. And only do events if their children are involved in it other than that they will not post an event. Staff are not training to handle anything at that school. Your child is better off attending a public school. Broken promises to children.
Submitted by parent on March 09, 2022

We have 2 daughters that attend Southshore. They are both incredibly happy with our decision to put them there. The teachers and staff are very welcoming and make the students feel excited to be learning. We would recommended this school to anyone! Our girls have done awesome.
Submitted by parent on March 02, 2022

Principal and teachers don't have adequate training resulting in poor decision making. Principal's first job as a principal, and her solution to every incident (big or small) is suspension. She runs the school like a prison, driving fear into children instead of discussing conflict resolution and helping kids not make the same mistake again. She tells the kids she taught at a high school before and she is not afraid to call the police. Mrs. Sams definitely doesn't know what being a kid means. Pulled my kids out of this school because I don't trust leaving them under her care, it's a toxic environment.
Submitted by parent on March 01, 2022

Communication at Southshore is terrible and teachers don't care if students learn or not. No leadership, principal doesn't know what she is doing. School is disorganized and chaotic. Requested several appointments to meet with the principal and everytime she is always too busy to meet with me, clearly my child's education is irrelevant to her.
Submitted by parent on March 01, 2022

My Child has been going to this school since Kindergarten and now she’s in 3rd and we couldn’t be happier this school has made it possible for me to be able to always be involved it’s been a joy to be in an environment where they truly care about your child my child was having attention problems and the school let me know and they helped rearrange things so she could be in a situation that will help with her studies I’m happy to say my son will be joining kindergarten here in the new school year we are happy that we get a chance to always know what’s going on in the class room and communication is amazing between administrators or even the teachers I recommend this school best decision I’ve ever made for my child and now children when my son joins !
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2022

My son has attended SouthShore for 6 years straight. He’s had some wonderful teachers through out his time at the school. Unfortunately some are no longer with school but change happens at all schools. The new principal is excellent and has the best interest in both students and teachers.
Submitted by parent on February 09, 2022

My son has gone for two years now and I have not had a bad experience. I know some of the turn over has effected some, but the new principal is great and the teachers and staff care for the students. We love the school and my son loves his teachers!
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2021

My child has been at this school for the last 3 years. In those 3 years, she has excelled in her academics. The school recently had a change in leadership and is now under a new principal and can I tell you we are so excited for her and the future of SCA! She has been at this school for about 2 months now and we have seen more of her than we ever did of the previous principal. My daughter comes home excited about her day at school and loves her teachers. Her favorite class is music with Mr. Rivera. Since Mrs. Sams has taken over, communication has greatly improved. The front office is a warm and welcoming environment and knows all the students. Mrs. Torres in the front office is always smiling when we come in and is always helpful. Great things are on the horizon at SCA!
Submitted by parent on May 20, 2021

Our overall experience was great! The staff and faculty were outstanding. Most of all we were able to work one on one with the teachers when needed. Communication and weekly news letter and reminders were very helpful.
Submitted by parent on May 20, 2021

Excellent experience! Both my boys have attended here for years and they love it! Diverse population and great learning atmosphere!