Navigator Academy of Leadership Valrico, Valrico | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

Our son has been attending this school since it first opened in August of 2019. He was in third grade and is now in sixth grade. Back in 2019, he got accepted to this school and two other charter schools. We chose Navigator for its emphasis on STEM and the “Leader In Me” program, a leadership initiative based on “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey.

We like the fact that the school has a smaller number of students compared to public elementary and middle schools. We also like that the school is K-8th and one of the draws to this school was that our son would not have to change from an elementary school to a middle school, giving him stability with culture and expectations. We like that this school requires uniforms which enhances unity, reduces fashion distractions and encourages professionalism.

Are there some kinks? Yes, but all schools have issues – bullying, negative parents, over-worked teachers and staff. At Navigator, the teachers are hard-working and caring; they mentally and physically give of themselves in teaching our children five days a week, spending more time with our children each day than we parents spend with them. The administration staff has always been very responsive. When I email directly to the principal and/or vice principal, I get a return email with 24 business hours. Also, my child has had a few playground / PE accidents and I have always received a phone call from the school nurse.

This is a charter school – with higher expectations and harder curriculums than the public schools. Being a charter school allows for more flexibility and faster progress than the public schools. We feel the education that is being offered at Navigator far exceeds that of the surrounding public schools.

Our biggest negative with Navigator is that the school doesn’t have 9th-12th grades.

If I could leave a negative star, I would. Since the first week of school, I’ve had nothing but problems. The music teacher accused my seven year old daughter of skipping class when she went to the bathroom and was found crying. I requested a written meeting and two months later have yet to been able to meet with the principal who blames me for not being able to meet. The PE teacher is very unprofessional, calling students, bozos and throwing a marker in class. my five year old was shoved in the hallway by middle schoolers, and when I asked for help from the woman who signs out walkers, she said there was nothing she can do . Today in car line when I was dropping off my five year old and my eight year old no one as usual opened the door for the kids. I asked the woman who was there sitting on her phone, smiling if they do not open the doors anymore and she said there is throw up on the floor. She is trying to contact someone to clean it, but she was on her phone, not contacting anyone to clean it. She then stuck her head in my window and was very rude. I went into the office to try to have a meeting about it and was sent away and told yet again I would be contacted later.