Star Child Academy Of Winter Garden

StarChild Academy Winter Garden (SCAWG) is a great option for preschool; however, I strongly caution against enrolling your child in the elementary school. The overall positives of the school are cultural diversity among the staff and student body, a family feel, and friendly, caring faculty and staff, as well as building updates on the preschool side. Preschool Pros: curriculum Preschool Cons: Teacher retention; on average, children go through at least 2 lead teachers a year, and it’s a revolving door for assistants. When our children were attending SCAWG, it was advertised as an advanced curriculum school; it’s not. We withdrew our youngest child first because it’s easiest to succeed in surrounding charter schools’ lotteries when entering kindergarten. Youngest attended from age 2.5 – 5 (VPK). Youngest is testing above grade level in ELA (was even promoted to grade 1 phonics class at new school) on Florida’s statewide standardized assessments (F.A.S.T); however, Math results were below grade level. Elementary School Pros:  N/A Elementary School Cons: no technology in classrooms, teacher retention, no behavioral specialist, inadequate disciplinary action, unrealistic amount of at-home supplementing, ineffective curriculum, no positive reinforcements for academic achievement, no standardized test prep, combined 4th and 5th grade class Oldest attended from age 3–9 (grade 3.5; we withdrew after mid-year). For context, in kindergarten, first, and second grade, the oldest had all A’s with 1 B for the whole school year. Q1 of third grade all A’s, one B, Q2 of third grade all A’s, one B. Oldest tested at grade level in ELA on F.A.S.T and below grade level in Math. At SCAWG, they introduce concepts and move on quickly without allowing the child adequate time to practice or retain what they’ve learned. While every institution has its pros and cons, we’re most disappointed by what we now realize is a horrible curriculum and questionable teaching styles. There are better elementary school options in the area than SCAWG, and I urge you to exhaust them. SCAWG Elementary turned out to be a colossal waste of money for us – it shouldn’t have to be for you, too.

My two children are thriving at StarChild. The teachers are experienced and a majority of them have been with StarChild for years. You can tell how much they love their jobs and they take good care of the children in their care. We love getting daily updates and photos of what they are doing and learning at school. There is a clear and structured curriculum so that means the children are learning so much. My four year old does math and is starting to read and spell out words! Both of my children love going to school. There is a lot of play and outdoor time. There are also a lot of supplemental activities like soccer, STEM and dance. They also provide nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snacks for the kids. The school administration is top notch and are communicative to parents and create a safe and nurturing environment. When we moved to the area, we were at another daycare and it was a disaster. We are so glad we found StarChild where we feel like our kids are well taken care of.

This school is LIFE CHANGING. My son had unfortunately been in a few different daycares prior to StarChild, but he has adapted within the first 2 days of attending StarChild Academy. Ms. Joye is wonderful with the kids, my son runs up and hugs her every morning, and is excited to go to school. I love the staff here and the director makes everyone feel known and important.

From the teachers to the front office staff and director, StarChild of Winter Garden has been fabulous for my 16 month old! We started him at 12 months and he has grown an incredible amount since starting there. The staff here truly care about each child and are very open and communicative with parents. My child is so happy and loves to go to school every day! I would highly recommend selecting StarChild Winter Garden for any child!

We've had a very positive experience in the toddler room. We love receiving all the photos and videos on their app to see exactly how his day is going. He learns so much and loves his teachers! Facilities are very clean. We feel safe sending him here every day.