Odyssey Day School

2 Audubon Road

Wakefield, MA 01880

22 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on December 24, 2021

Our daughter attended ODS from preschool through 3rd grade. By 3rd grade ODS teachers suggested she needed IEP and suggested transfer to public school. They worked with public school to help her transition. She spent 3 years in public elementary. Then middle school proved to be too big and too overwhelming, particularly after covid isolation and remote learning. She's now RETURNING to ODS for middle school and feeling very confident. She knows all 6 other kids in her grade 5/6 class and all staff. Very little turnover of students and staff. A great environment. Visit if you can.
Submitted by parent on March 18, 2015

We have been very happy with Odyssey Day School for 3 years now, my child has made great friends here and loves going to school and being involved in the next adventurous discovery! He loves: Maker spaces (they can take apart and put together loose parts from electronics), robotics, programming and creating games, international studies, geography, theater and drama class, film workshop, yoga class, and nature discoveries like identifying animal tracks and freezing bubbles outside! Going into his 4th year we couldn't be more excited at what new adventures await!
Submitted by parent on January 04, 2015

My daughter is in 4th grade now and has been attending Odyssey since 1st grade. I cant express how much I love and appreciate the teachers, the philosophy and the community! At Odyssey the students' creativity is allowed to flourish and different learning styles addressed. There is so much opportunity for parents to be involved and for the children to learn what is interesting to them. The new natural play space, music, Spanish, computer programming, yoga and art classes all add to the children's experience of School as intellectually stimulating and a place of discovery. And while it's not the most important part of finding the right school for your child, the cost is significantly lower than other independent schools on the North Shore... and they offer financial aid! I have been able to offer my daughter the education I dreamed for her where she's able to "be a kid" and be exposed to a wide range of subjects taught by passionate and caring educators.
Submitted by parent on September 14, 2014

My son loves going to Odyssey Day School. He is free to be himself because his individuality and uniqueness is respected at this school.
Submitted by parent on September 09, 2014

This school saved my children. Public school was crushing their spirit and Odyssey gave them a new enthusiasm for life and education. The teachers are caring, dedicated and go way beyond what is required. The opportunity for intellectual exploration and launching each child as far as their talent can guide them is extraordinary. If you want a sweet, kind, ethical and wholesome environment for your kids, I can't recommend it enough. The other parents are are invested in the school and are a pleasure to interact with - highly energetic and fascinating people who all have a common goal - the raising of smart, motivated, responsible and principled children.
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2014

Some adjectives: Terrible, Awful, Disappointing, unhelpful, miserable. My child attended the school in the 2013-2014 school year and it was a terrible experience my child is still mentally recovering from as a person and a student. We didn't get at all what we were promised as parents, and or child didn't get what we were promised as a student. They played bait and switch with the teaching situation. When we visited there was a single first and second grade teacher, when school started instead it was a class room with 1,2,3 grade and two teachers. By October the 1st grade teacher who we had loved as gone, and our child was left with a terrible teacher. This change of situation was never discussed with us as parents and we just had to accept it. My child and this replacement didn't mesh at all, and we have slowly found out this teacher was mentally abusive to our child. The school never got a handle on this class room. In February they decided to split the classroom in two. This broke our child and their best friend and only motivating reason to even go to school apart. The teachers and administration wouldn't even discuss this situation with us. STAY WAY-UNTRUSTWORTHY
Submitted by parent on August 06, 2014

My oldest is about to finish up at Odyssey after a great experience. He came from public where the focus on rote practice and memorization had him bored to tears and fidgety. Odyssey presented him with a challenging, meaningful curriculum. He had the opportunity to enter poetry contests and the American Math Challenge. The nurturing environment led to the formation of many good friendships. He will miss ODS when he is gone!
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2014

We signed up for a grade 1-2 classroom and, just after the withdrawal with refund date, they announced it would be 1-3. My 1st advice is to visit and research all the teachers in case of a change. 2nd, be very diligent in reviewing curriculum. My child had been highly successful with Singapore Math, but the school uses Investigations. My child had used the 2 lined paper with the dotted line in the middle for handwriting for the previous 3 years. The switch to HWT actually made handwriting more difficult 3rd, Private schools have nothing to prevent teachers from coming in physical contact with your child. We understand hugs, but this also means that the physical grabbing of your child s chin and forcibly raising it to meet the teacher s eyes in front of you is acceptable. 4th, If your child has a chronic condition, be sure you are available to come dispense your child s medication. The classroom teachers are in charge of this and repeatedly forgot to give my child the inhaler per my child's asthma plan. Other private schools do force the parent to come in to dispense the medication when there is no nurse or allow the child to carry his or her own inhaler.
Submitted by parent on November 09, 2013

When your kid says "I think Shakespeare is funny" you have to be happy with the rest of that conversation. The depth of learning is what I like best. Other things I like include: The teachers really know the kids. The kids treat each other like siblings. They teach math and reading based on the individual's ability, so that they all learn better. Older kids read to the younger kids. Every kid is on stage for a school play. The do a number of trips to places that expand the in class learning. I like that my kids have learned about art, music and spanish. I think the school is run a little bit like a family, meaning not perfect all the time. The one area that they could improve upon is communication.
Submitted by parent on November 08, 2013

We love Odyssey. My son comes home every day happy, exhausted, and eager to tell us about everything he learned. I feel like the entire school knows my son and us, it has a true feeling of community.
Submitted by parent on November 05, 2013

f you are looking for child care, DO NOT choose this place!! It is by far the WORST childcare facility I have ever came across!! Its utterly ridiculous!!
Submitted by parent on August 08, 2013

Where to begin talking about Odyssey? My family has been involved with the small school for the past 9 years. Each of my children attended their preschool program and my daughter attended the kindergarten also. The nurturing love and attention that they each received has stayed with them for their entire life. Both of them consider Odyssey their home. My daughter enter public school in 1st grade with the skills of a second grader at her school. This school is a very deserving school for this grant. They run on a very tight budget and every penny donated to them goes back to the betterment of the students and program.
Submitted by parent on December 20, 2012

My son loves Odyssey Day School. He started at ODS in the 5th grade after when we realized that the public school wasn't teaching him how to learn. He could not thrive in a school where the priority is standardized tests. At ODS learning takes place everywhere and in many forms. Field trips make the curriculum real and motivate the kids to want to learn more. The devoted teachers get to know each individual child and family. Teachers build on each child's strengths and can challenge each one to reach their potential. It is a safe and caring community which welcomes diversity. The tuition is very reasonable compared to other schools.
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2012

I am a parent of a grade school child and can not say enough good about the ODS family. The staff knows each child well, is very caring and goes overboard to help each child succeed. In addition to this nurturing and safe environment, the academics are very strong. Each child can learn at their own pace and many go above grade level if they are so inclined. There are many wonderful field trips that the children enjoy too. Due to the small class sizes, the middle school environment is great. Lastly, all of the staff from top down are attentive to parents concerns.
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2012

Our son has been at ODS for grades 1-8. The teachers really connect with the kids. Class sizes are small and the kids get lots of individual attention. The staff alway make sure the kids have the resources they need to excel. In the middle school there is a focus on prepping for high school in academics, organization and attitude. No matter what a child's strength, everyone gets a well-rounded experience. ODS is an alliance between the staff and the families, which fosters a sense of community. My wife and I have been very pleased with the extra work the teachers and board members do to prepare the kids for the high school admission process. The teachers are working tirelessly to help him get his CV and interviewing skills up to snuff and a board member is conducting mock admission interviews for the kids. While our son hopes to attend a high school with a strong engineering program, other kids in his class are equally adept in areas such as literature, math, art and music. We are thoroughly pleased with ODS, the staff, the parents and the wonderful kids. I know that many of these people will be lifelong friends, not just for my son, but for my wife and I as well!
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2011

Odyssey Day School is a small Independant school that provides an individualized, creative model of educating students. My son has been at Odyssey since preschool and will graduate this year. He has grown into a confident, outgoing young man with excellent critical thinking skills...as he says, "I am so ready to go onto High School!" Odyssey is a school that offers competitive, quality education within a caring, nurturing environment!
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2010

I have 2 children at the school. One in the elementary and one in the preschool and both love going to school. The teachers are incredible at helping to instill a love of learning an fostering an incredible sense of self-confidence. The academic program is experiential and hands on plus, the teachers are able to alter the curriculum to help with developmental issues (on both ends of the spectrum). Gifted children and children with learning disability co-exist in the same classroom without disruption (and they actually learn how to help each other learn!)
Submitted by parent on October 03, 2010

If you want a well educated child without the pressure cooker environment of other private schools. My child was reading Sheakespeare in 5th grade, yet only thought it was a great story. I really appreciate that they can teach so much without making kids feel overwhelmed.
Submitted by parent on October 02, 2010

Needs a new leader My son, who went to Oddyssey for 4 years prior to kindergartne, loved all his teachers and loved going to school. The teachers instilled a love for school which was the most important factor for staying at Odyssey. The "leader" of the school, L, is non-existant. The previous leader was always there, knew the names of the students and parents She even stayed late a few days and made herself available for those parents who picked up late. The current person has never been there when I pick up, I don't even think she knows who I am or who my children are. When I've contacted her about anything she is slow to respond, if at all, and does nothing to resolve any issues. Her newletters which should be about the children and the school may as well have been her personal facebook page.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2010

My son has been attending Odyssey for over a year and my other son is starting shortly. My son is in the preschool program and I have been so happy with the teachers and staff, I can't say enough. Don't judge a book by the cover with Odyssey. It is a wonderful caring school and we have been thrilled with the preschool program. I think it is too small for elementary but excellent for preschool and preK.. Love it!!