Blue Jay Academy, Daytona Beach | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

I would not recommend this school , My child was in the room that was for 6-12 grade in DeLand. There was not a real curriculum , no consistent structure. The school has had three different administrators leave or fired as well as a teacher leave . My child received a scholarship from Gardiner and the school charged text books to the scholarship twice over $1,000 when there are no text books . Threatening if I didn’t authorize/ pay my son would be kicked out of the school . They charged for transportation and with no notice changed pricing from $20 to $50 when questioned why there reason was well we didn’t know we could charge more . They have refused to refund the text book money and said it was for the transportation and put in wrong place “twice” but I payed weekly myself not from scholarship up til December when told it could be billed to his scholarship . I took my son out of the school in February it would not cost $1200 for two months . Also I had to fight to get a Educcational plan in place because they don’t have to use his iep we had from public school . It was finally done in February but not being followed by new teacher . My child was in the wrong placement for his abilities. All in all not a school I would recommend for special needs children . This school needs to be investigated for fraud as well as get some serious training to teach and Handel special needs children.

When my son started there it was a little rocky at first but everyone was super friendly. His first teacher ended up quitting because of family issues. He did great for the first 3 years. I do feel like certain students who’s parents that have money, their kids get away with things they shouldn’t. The kids that stick up for themselves and make a stink about things, they don’t like it. The teachers for the older kids at the Daytona school don’t seem to have enough experience to handle older kids. They do alternative learning for the younger kids but once they get older the rules are different but the children didn’t really change as to their learning style.
The teacher turnover rate has been super high since covid and it’s a shame. But it’s even sadder that the school just told me my son can’t come back this coming year. Pretty sad because they failed him last year. Not sure how he’s supposed to function in a regular school. But it was real lovely of the owner to wait until the middle of summer to inform he can’t go back next year.

Blue Jay Academy is the best school I know for special needs children. The staff is wonderful. They’re honest, kind, and go out of their way to make sure every child there is getting the attention they need and deserve. Every teacher and staff member treat each child as they were their own. Not a lot of places can compete with that. The new location is a much nicer building than the old one. It is updated and equipped with everything the children and staff need. The new building is also larger and can accommodate the children’s needs more efficiently. It’s a central location to all families from Palm Coast to Edgewater. The new building also exceeds fire and safety standards, it allows for a safer building than previously. In conclusion I recommend Blue Jay for any families seeking a place where their child can be loved and educated.