Willow School of Winter Springs

Reviews

• Submitted by other on June 13, 2016
  So sad that Willow School DOES take a 'cookie cutter' approach when it comes to their expectations of how a child should learn. It is not individualized, and the expectation is that your child should quietly sit in their seats and follow the cookie cutter learning style. A prospective parent should inquire about the reasons why their Maitland campus quietly and quickly closed and had to merge with the original campus.
• Submitted by parent on August 13, 2015
  We started out as Bridges Academy and my child made huge leaps and bounds! No longer Bridges Academy! The name is now Willow Schools. They were bought out by Lady Bird Academy. It is no longer about the kids and what is in their best interests. They have changed the way they do things. It is a cookie cutter approach. They have boxed their curriculum so they can Franchise the school. These are not in the box kids!!!! They can no longer stand behind the claim to bridge. There is no scope and sequence, there is no longer remediation. My child was ahead in math when we started and now is a grade level behind. Reading made no progress this last school year. It breaks my heart. When we found this place it was our child's saving grace. This was supposed to be the last year - now we have to come from behind again. Run away as fast as you can. There is no PE. They count LBP as PE. SOI is not even individualized.They bring your child photo copies, when they are done with the "SOI" they watch movies or do hidden pictures. Fast Forward is only 20-30 minutes not the hour they claim due to LBP taking up 1/2 of the time. Science and Social Studies are only twice per week. No rotating specials as claimed on the website. For the amount of money that you pay and with the increase of tuition for the 2015-2016 school year you should be getting a lot more for your money. Art, music, PE is non existent. Barely able to talk during lunch. The Maitland campus has no outdoor area. That is not a healthy environment for elementary kids. No longer a good fit for kids with Learning Differences. They talk a good game as if it is the same. It is not what they are selling.
• Submitted by parent on August 13, 2015
  1st year was great! Then it was bought by Lady Bird Academy and changed the name to Willow Schools. The Administration is unprofessional! The assistant Principal/Business Administrator is unqualified and rude. Parents concerns are dismissed and treated badly. Customer Service has left the building. The website is out of date. They do nothing that they claim. It is a Cookie Cutter Approach. No more wheel. - No art, PE, etc.. The Maitland campus is the Elementary school and it has no outdoor play. No reading gains/lost ground this year! No grade level math (not my child's weakness). On top of paying tuition I had to get a tutor for my child over the summer to try and make up for the severe loss of the year! Sadly, it is no longer Bridges Academy! Do not waste your money! My child lost confidence along with math and reading skills this year!
• Submitted by parent on August 13, 2015
  Our first year at Bridges Academy great gains were made in decoding and confidence under Jackie Egli ownership. I should have left with my gains and never looked back. Next school year lady Bird buys it out, calls it Willow School and they make a total mess. I am not sure how one entity ruins a school in 10 short months but it was done. I was told nothing would change, not true, EVERYTHING changed. No more power writing, or 50 minute fast forward. child was getting something called SOI for like 2 full periods and LBP which was only supplemental before and only done on the 9 week wheel. if your trying to transfer to a more traditional school or any other school for that matter, both those classes don't amount to anything and can't transfer as any class. It wasn't even being used properly, They messed up the math which was not the weakness and wound up almost 2 years behind when child went in on grade level. I had to tutor in math all summer to try to put it somewhere near new grade level, which i did not achieve, the gap was to large and we will have to continue to tutor throughout new school year. It's totally unfortunate and my child was quite unhappy. Stay away, it's really not the school i first encountered.
• Submitted by parent on August 11, 2015
  First year was ok and my son did make reading gains. Once the school changed from Bridges to Willow everything went downhill. Teachers almost never used the communication binder and papers rarely went home for most subjects. Major curriculum changes were announced only a week before school started. Honestly, I felt like it was a bait and switch. PE was pretty much taken away and instead of a second reading period, the choice was made to have two Structure of Intellect "SOI" periods. Many, many students are there for reading remediation, and so double reading periods not double SOI seemed like a no brainer to me. My child's reading gains were minimal and his math teacher was terrible his second year. The assistant principal does possess the tact nor personality to be in any customer facing position. And now that my child has left Willow, two months later and several requests later we yet await the records to be transferred. It is simply unprofessional and I cannot recommend this school at all despite some of the good that came of my child being there the first year he attended.
• Submitted by parent on November 16, 2012
  Bridges Academy is a savior for the kids that fall in the cracks of pubic school. The kids at this school learn in a different way. Once Bridges is able to fine that unique way they learn. It is wonderful to watch them their academics raises, self esteem go up and their smiles come back!! The staff and teachers are amazing!!! It is a place that feels like family and their main focus is the kids. Bridges want to fill the gaps and be able to Bridge them back into another school ONLY when they are ready. Bridges Academy is certified so the kids can even graduate from High School if that is the best track for them. This school does have a strong and loving leadership, excellent and caring teachers, and front office staff always answers the phone and helpful. This a small school that is a hidden treasure. The thing that I love to see is that the kids/students are HAPPY and smiling. Say good bye to stress and say hello to success.
• Submitted by parent on November 16, 2012
  This is our first year at Bridges and I am amazed at the dedication of the teachers and administration. This school focuses on the individual student and teaches to their learning style. I am so happy to have found such a wonderful place for our daughter. She loves going to school and learning in this environment. I wish every student had the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful place.
• Submitted by parent on November 13, 2012
  I searched for over a year for a school that would actually help my child with learning disabilities. My child was in public school from preK to 5th grade. We had an amazing experience. Then came middle school. I know I'm not alone when I say that middle school is one of the scariest times for a child with learning disabilities. They are swept under the carpet, they just exist. The awesome teachers at Bridge's have taught my child that it's ok to be yourself. If you work hard, you will be successful at whatever you set your mind too. Great job Bridges! Keep up the great work.
• Submitted by parent on September 20, 2012
  This IS a school for Kids with Learning Disabilities, not behavioral issues. The school did as promised got his reading back to on grade and a little above grade level. My child attended one year and I am very grateful that the teachers were able to bring back his confidence and happiness about learning that the public school had destroyed. I would highly recommend this school to a child with LD.
• Submitted by parent on August 21, 2012
  Bad experience with this school.... School for kids with learning disabilities, (Behavioral Problems). They can't deal with a classroom with 7 or 10 kids...
• Submitted by parent on May 20, 2012
  believe this school is one of the finest. The instructional methods used, the delivery of the instruction, the staff and administration are all stelllar. I interviewed numerous schools and had my child go through a battery of tests searching for the right placement. I found that Bridges Academy was exactly what I was looking for. The focus is on ability, not disability,teaching and maintaining focus, not behavior modification. My child learns interacts with other children who have similiar learning disabilities in math or reading. I can certainly relate the May 13 posting. As a parent it is our duty to place our child in the best educational setting we can to fit their needs. Why would you want anything less? We need to HONESTLY recognize those needs to find the appropriate placement, if we don't we only have ourselves to blame. My child is thriving at Bridges Academy, both academically,and socially. I will never look back and say I should have, I will look back and say I did.
• Submitted by parent on May 13, 2012
  Parents are responsible for searching out the most suitable programs for their special needs children whether it is in private, public or charter school. All special education facilities will generally offer specific services for a specific type of learning concern or special needs. Having been a parent of a special needs child who participated in several programs in the community, it is the responsibility of the parent to disclose all concerns, weigh out all options for their child's emotional, behavioral, social and academic needs and make an informed choice about what learning environment will best serve their child. Be sure that your child's learning issues best fit the focus and the mission of the therapy center, the tutoring program, or the public, private , or charter school. Sadly, we hear of many parents who are not completely satisfied because their child's learning needs did not match the program, or focus, and then they feel compelled to blame the public school, the teacher, the district, the therapist, or private school as the being at the heart of the issue. Parents- do your homework before you enter a relationship with any therapy center, school or program.
• Submitted by parent on May 13, 2012
  My son would have missed graduation and receiving his regular high school diploma had it not been for Bridges Academy! He was struggling in the public school setting and being "passed along". I was so very thankful that the administration and staff took the time to tailor a curriculum to meet his learning needs and keep him on track for graduation, a dream that became a reality. My son was no longer a "number" in the public school setting- he was a student that contributed to his success and to the family environment he had joined at Bridges. Now he is working part-time, driving his car, and learning to handle young adult responsibilities. He was given the support to succeed beyond the classroom! He is becoming the young man he realized he could be- more confident and self- sufficient. I am delighted to say the other referrals we have sent to Bridges Academy have experienced similar success!
• Submitted by student on August 18, 2008
  N/A

Source: GreatSchools.org © 2026. All rights reserved.