Challenger School
Because You Know the Value of Education
Categories:
Child Care, Preschools, K-12 Schools, Elementary Schools, Junior Highs, Kindergartens, Private Schools
Message from Challenger School
Challenger School is an independent private school focused on academic excellence, individual achievement, critical thinking skills, and self-reliance. Our curriculum is built on the foundations of knowledge: language arts, math, and logic. Early mastery of these basics prepares students for advanced studies and learning at an accelerated pace. Our uniquely structured classes yield astonishing results. Challenger students achieve scores on average in the 90th percentile on the national Stanford Achievement Test (SAT). This means that our average student outperforms nine out of ten students who take that test. Challenger School offers preschool through eighth grade programs. Come tour our beautiful campus, learn about our renowned programs, and meet our amazing staff.
Editorial by Citysearch
Since 1963, private school with locations in California, Nevada and Utah, offering pre-school through eighth grade.Key Points
- Academic preschool
- Phonics, math, science, and art
- Clean, safe environment
Insider Pages Reviews for Challenger School
We went through 3 other private schools before we found Challenger. My children have been attending for several years and I would recommend it to any family interested in an advanced curriculum, respectful classmates and sound values.
Posted 09/21/08 | Report Abuse
Was this review helpful to you?
My son attended this school as a preschooler when the school just opened. For half a day of school twice a week we were already paying a hefty amount. But we stuck it out to see what the school had to offer.
I liked the fact that they concentrated a lot on music in their currciulum, for I am a musician myself. The teachers seemed ok, nothing really impressive. Yes, my son learned what he was supposed to learn in preschool, nothing more nothing less.
I moved away to California for a couple years and my son attended a private school. Came back to Vegas to see what the tuition looked like in Challeneger for, i believe it was, 2nd grade, and I could NOT believe how much it was. Basically, I would be spending this amount of money if my son went to a university. It was outrageous!!! I was told it was a very prestigious school, and all the kids that attended were a year ahead of what most schools would be at. THey told me my son would have to buy a packet so he could be at the same level as the rest of his classmates when he entered and I found out the packet cost, I believe, $150!!!!
It really wasn't worth that money. It didn't matter if those kids were ahead, or if it was well-known. I'd rather save up that money when he goes to college.
PROS:
CONS: Wasn't any different than any teaching I've seen
Posted 10/02/05 | Report Abuse
Was this review helpful to you?
We had our son enrolled here at the Challenger School a couple of years ago in the preschool program (3-4 year kids), and we wound up pulling our kid out of the program after just half of the year.
Sure, our son did learn how to write all of the alphabet and even his name during that time, but I don't think that they had enough teachers in his class for the 25+ kids that they had in there.
You see......our son was pegged as a troublemaker in the class, and if you know our son, you'll know that he isn't a bully or anything like that. Sure, if someone provokes him, he isn't just going to just stand there and take it, but he won't willingly just provoke another child out of nowhere. But after several incidents, where the teachers wouldn't see the beginning of an incident and would only see the end, that we wound up taking our son out of the Challenger School.
For instance, on one occasion our son was seen fighting with another kid for some candy (that another parent had provided for all of the kids in the class). I guess the candy went flying everywhere, and the teachers thought that our son was trying to steal the candy of another kid (saying that he had put his candy into his bag to take home). However, when my dad (who picked him up that day) checked our son's bag, he didn't have any candy in there. So, he went back to the teacher to find out what was going on.......only then after my dad had come back was when the teacher asked some of the other kids in the class what was going on......who then told her that it was the other kid who was trying to steal our son's candy.
PROS:
CONS: Not a high enough teacher-studio ratio.
Posted 08/06/05 | Report Abuse
Was this review helpful to you?
I think the thing that struck me like a bag of bricks about Challenger, was that they wanted as much tuition a semester as I was paying a New York City University in 1989, but none of their "educators" were required to even have a bachelor's degree. They all go through the Challenger training program and I'm sure that's very good. I found the classrooms and the curriculum were above average, but I didn't feel like the staff justified the hefty price tag. After speaking with several of the teachers and asking them pointed questions about how they would deal with behavioral issues (in the context of preschool) I wasn't overly impressed with their answers. I felt like there was a lot of inexperience with a designer feel and price tag to the school.
PROS: Appears to have good structure and planned program for children
CONS: Over priced - value for your money just isn't there.
Posted 06/24/05 | Report Abuse
Was this review helpful to you?
Latest reviews from Citysearch.
High Tuition, Low to No Service
by auchivo
I do not recommend this school. Arriving at this school is like arriving at a prison. You would think after paying such a high tuition price one would at least be treated with respect and dignity. However, that is not the case here. They don't greet you, you greet them. You don't even get a return smile or hello or goodbye. My son has been here for a year now. It's not a one day's thing, it is everyday. The front office staff particularly, Linda is always demeaning with her responses and looks, her attitude express she is so much better then you. They are only there because their children are enrolled at Challenger and they receive a discounted tuition price. They are unapproachable and not there to help you. If Challenger teaches manners, how come they don't teach their front staff? Did they even receive an education at all? It seems like the front staff does not even have the bare basics down. How are they suppose to educate our kids?
Pros: New Facility
Cons: Arrogant, Demeaning and Rude Staff
Posted 11/05/09