Gastonia Freedom School, Gastonia | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

It has taken me a while to decide to write this review, but I feel that it’s the right thing to do, to help other parents thinking about this “school” for their special kiddos, to reconsider and look for other options. I was excited for my autistic 5y.o (at the time) son to start school in this place since I wanted him to have more social interactions with other people that understood him and didn’t judged or pressured him for being different. After gathering information online from GFA I decided I wanted to go ahead and enrolled him. My son wasn’t potty trained at the time, so I offered myself to be in school in the background so whenever he needed a diaper change, I could do it. Crystal, one of the owners, agreed and we were good to go. We went for what is called in the school system a staggered day, which is like a slowly introduction to what’s going to be our new daily routine. To our surprise it was far from a great first time school experience. The older lady, which I am assuming it’s the mother since it’s a daughter-mother ran business, was extremely rude and dismissing of my son. She took him to a classroom with other 2 kiddos, around the ages of 7-8, and she sat down to read a book for a straight hour while my kid was pacing from one place to another. When she decided she was done with her book, she sat down with the other 2 kiddos to practice some reading and activities, ignoring completely my son. My son is a big oral sensory seeker, which means that he needs to be watched that he don’t put dangerous stuff in his mouth. She didn’t see my son chewing up a piece of chalk, and when she did, she asked ME, if this was something that happens usually and if I allow it. 3 hours into that place and our speech therapist showed to do a session with my son. The way she was greeted and spoke to, was unprofessional and rude. The speech therapist even told me she felt this was not the place for my son, because of how the treatment seem to be. My son was not talked to, guided to have any snacks in almost 4 hours in the place, he wasn’t assisted in any means. It broke my heart, and after I decided it was enough and left I cried for like 20 mins in my car wondering why would someone treat my sweet, aumazing kiddo like that. I wondered if we were racially profiled since we’re a Latino family ( only ones there). She made it clear she didn’t wanted us there. When we were about to leave she asked how many times a week we were planning to assist, when I told her 4 hours a day/ 5 days a week she opened her eyes, rolled them and said: “I’ll speak to Crystal and get back to you with that”. They never called us. Not that I was planning to take him back after that experience. If she did that, while I was there, I can’t cope to think how she would’ve treated my son if I ever left him there by himself. The other kiddos are older and more high functioning, 4 hours in there kids didn’t studied anything or learned any skills, they were on their phones or tablets the whole time. Looked more like a daycare than a school. I don’t recommend any parent that is looking to help their special needs children to fit in a social setting or learn something at their pace to consider this place as their homeschool.

GFS has been a great supplement to our homeschool curriculum for my ASD son. I fully believe in the unschooling concept and I think you really have to know and commit to that unique style of education and learning to really appreciate the approach at GFS. I feel the care and support from the teachers. It’s refreshing as a parent of a kid with special needs to find a program tailored to accommodate neurodiversity with patience and compassion.