Academy High
- Private
- CHAMPAIGN, IL
Private School
Academy High Reviews
Rating 4.88 out of 5 24 reviews
Overall Experience
Filters Applied: Overall Experience
I am currently a Junior at Academy High, and I enjoy the school. The curriculum and learning style is drastically different, in a good way, from my experiences in public school. The faculty are all great, they present the material they teach in a very powerful way, and are all incredible at connecting to the student. The building is new and very nice with rooms for every subject and materials for classrooms and extracurriculars. The community is very strong, with events like dances and picnics held outside of school. The main gripe I have with the school is the availability of other activities. The school lacks the athletics, language classes, and music programs of other high schools. The school doesn't offer AP classes, which can make you feel like you are falling behind where your peers in public school are. The school partially makes up for this with its college prep program, including a specialized college counselor, and the student-led clubs anyone can start.
Incredible teacher to student ratio. Very attentive to student needs. Great foundation for success at the college level. Dedicated and exceedingly capable faculty. New facility that is state of the art. An intimate campus that fosters academic excellence. As the parent of a graduate I couldn’t be any more pleased. Highly recommend.
Academy High is the nicest school around - the staff, students, and parents are friendly and accepting of everyone. The school operates on a different model with block scheduling, activities built into the school day, less homework and more interactive discussion. My daughter loves it here.
Academy High gave our family a strong option for high school. We visited a few times along with other schools in the area and it became apparent that this was the right choice for our students. The classes have been challenging, the faculty are supportive and creative, and there is the opportunity to explore personal passion through independent study.
As a new and growing independent school, there have been opportunities to suggest and develop programming. Our students have been founding members of clubs, sports teams, academic teams, and music groups. The administration listens to students and families and the partnership has shaped the growth of the school and its offerings.
Our students have been supported and they are ready for college. They have mastered a variety of subjects through their studies and have received assistance from faculty when necessary. Looking back, we made a great choice and we'd make the same one again.
As a new and growing independent school, there have been opportunities to suggest and develop programming. Our students have been founding members of clubs, sports teams, academic teams, and music groups. The administration listens to students and families and the partnership has shaped the growth of the school and its offerings.
Our students have been supported and they are ready for college. They have mastered a variety of subjects through their studies and have received assistance from faculty when necessary. Looking back, we made a great choice and we'd make the same one again.
I have attended Academy High for all of high school. It has a very supportive and welcoming community that anyone should be proud to be a part of. The teachers and faculty are also great people and teachers. One of the best things about Academy is how flexible and understanding the community is.
Academy High is a very unique school due to its size and mission. The teachers are one highlight, as they go the extra mile to make sure each individual student is thriving in their classes. The classes all require students to exercise and grow in the "5 C's" (Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Character, and Cross-Cultural Competency) that are at the core of the school's mission.
There are a lot of great extracurricular activities like Science Olympiad, which allows students to make friends and explore subjects they're interested in beyond the classroom. The student-led clubs are also a great aspect of the school because there is room to try out new hobbies or share your own interests with other students.
There are a lot of great extracurricular activities like Science Olympiad, which allows students to make friends and explore subjects they're interested in beyond the classroom. The student-led clubs are also a great aspect of the school because there is room to try out new hobbies or share your own interests with other students.
Academy High is a great school with excellent teachers and faculty who care about helping you succeed as a student and community member. The academics are excellent. I learned a lot at Academy, which has been extremely helpful in preparing me for college. My only qualm with the school is the lack of resources that larger schools have such as AP or honors courses, better athletics opportunities, or music programs. I'm sure that as the school grows, these programs will develop since Academy prides itself on responding to student feedback.
My time at Academy High has been excellent. The teachers care about each student, and are very supportive. The community is fantastic, and the new building is great! Academy High helps each student prepare for college and beyond.
Overall, I think that Academy High is a great small school to go to in Champaign. The core programs are great, the administration is receptive to feedback and constantly improving, and the recent increase in space had led to a more formal learning structure. One thing I particularly appreciate about the school is that the Student schedules are very personalized based on their schedules, classes, and class level. This is often difficult to do in small schools, but Academy High does it’s best to accommodate each of the students to give them the best experience possible.
Academy High school is the best! The environment is supportive, the teachers are amazing, the opportunities are endless, and it prepares you for college like no other school in the community.
When deciding what high school I wanted to go to I toured all the schools in the community (including the public ones), and Academy High stood out! The teachers were kind, the students were so welcoming, and the lessons being taught were teaching the students real world skills like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. This is why I chose the school.
In addition to the rigorous and interesting academics, the sports, clubs, and social life are fantastic!
Academy High is a great place to be!
When deciding what high school I wanted to go to I toured all the schools in the community (including the public ones), and Academy High stood out! The teachers were kind, the students were so welcoming, and the lessons being taught were teaching the students real world skills like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. This is why I chose the school.
In addition to the rigorous and interesting academics, the sports, clubs, and social life are fantastic!
Academy High is a great place to be!
Feels way safer than the public middle school I went to, and gives students the freedom to create any club or suggest modules they would be interested in taking. There are 7 axolotls and a fish named Ecuador. The teachers are able to have office hours more frequently with the students and have the time to help them individually, and homework is more focused on getting an understanding of the topic rather than just having a lot of stuff to do. Class projects are never busy work and everything we do clearly relates to a unit, but is still fun. Art classes on Wednesdays are longer which gives time to actually put more focus into your work. Students have a fridge and at least 3 microwaves in the kitchen to use, and a longer lunch period. There is also a later start time at 9 which is much nicer than starting at 7:30.
We're a family that has had children attend Uni, Centennial, and Central High Schools with our last child now graduating from Academy High. AH represents the best parts of the academics from all of the other schools. Its size gives it an intimate advantage that promotes the best academic achievement. Dedicated teachers, low faculty to student ratios, and a core academic mission combine to make the perfect combination for academic success. Even the college counseling was world class and, in our case, helped lead to a number of significant college choices narrowing it down to the perfect college fit complete with academic scholarships. It just purchased its own building which is modern and huge. That said, its the type of school which would be successful regardless of the building. This is an easy choice for any family wanting their child to achieve his/her potential.
My children love attending Academy High! They look forward to being there, their peers are supportive, and their teachers are engaging and truly dedicated. My children come home from school happy and talk about their day. They enjoy the classes, the extra-curricular clubs, the sports teams, and club teams. We are grateful for hands-on learning in science, problem-solving in math, critical thinking in social studies, and written and verbal communication in English and Writing. Thank you Academy High, this school is a treasure!
I am a sophomore at at Academy High, and absolutely love it there. The teachers are amazing, the environment is welcoming, and it is a small learning environment where everyone feels seen and heard. I would highly recommend coming here.
Academy High had one of the most effective responses to COVID: thanks to its small size and diligent COVID committee, the school was open between 2 and 4 days per week for students who felt safe and followed the protocol. The protocol, including masks, cleaning desks, daily temperature and wellness checks and the like, made most students feel safe. However, students had the option to stay home, and the hybrid/online delivery was quite effective and engaging. This was largely thanks to phenomenal teachers and a student-centered/project-based approach to instruction. Our daughter had a great year. Perhaps most important, the school's philosophy and schedule really does allow students to pursue their passions.
Academy High does an exceptional job of keeping students at the center of the mission and vision of the school. The school focuses on critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, character, and cross-cultural competency. It is the only school that's kind in the region. Academy High is fully accredited, has varsity athletics, and offers internships for its juniors and seniors.
The focus is on the learning process not the outcome at Academy High - students are not merely memorizing facts but are taking deeper dives into the material.
The focus is on the learning process not the outcome at Academy High - students are not merely memorizing facts but are taking deeper dives into the material.
Academy High is a great school and I would highly recommend Academy High for any student. The best part about Academy High is the teachers. Because the number of students in the grades are low resulting in the teachers being able to help and focus on every student unlike public schools. The faculty and students are extremely friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable.