Potentia Academy, Greenacres | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

**I’ve posted this review elsewhere, my intention to inform potential students and parents of my experience and how this is a school that needs severe training on how to take care of their students properly to give them the best environment to thrive**

I would not recommend this school to anyone. I am a former student and the experiences I had in the classroom were abysmal and downright unprofessional. The teachers (Meeks, the school’s principal, mainly) did not take bullying seriously and even said that they are a small enough school that they can’t look after their own kids. They said if I can’t deal with the bully myself, then I should leave the school. Goes to show just how “seriously” the school takes these issues when someone’s life was endangered.

Experiences in the classroom–a whole other level. Kids would bang their heads against their lockers or desks, and the school staff didn’t do anything to stop this self-harming behavior. Student behavior was bad, don’t be surprised why they hire new teachers every year. They are not equipped on how to handle their students, and I’m not blaming the students, it’s the environment they were in that reenforced this negative behavior. The staff was ill-prepared and did not have the experience to deal with students with special needs.

Also, don’t get on Meeks’ bad side! There was a bathroom incident with the men, so she gathered them all up into that small bathroom and yelled at them for fifteen minutes straight. Talk about professionalism, right? Because that’s definitely the way to treat autistic students, along with those with learning disabilities and emotional issues. (Note the sarcasm). For someone with the name Meeks, she is anything but.

They also like to use the students as their own personal janitors, last I was there. We cleaned the microwaves, swept and vacuumed all of the classroom floors, dumped the trash cans including those in the bathrooms, took out the garbage to the dumpster, sanitized desks, watered the outside plants (without supervision), and even wiped down windows.

Speaking of not watching their students, they often left the door unlocked.

They were also very discriminatory to people of other religions. My friend is Jewish and she had to endure antisemitic slurs and comments from students; and teachers would often comment how they wished they could teach a bible study class.

Now this was when I was a student and I acknowledge things could have changed. But, I do NOT and will never recommend this school to anyone. If you want your child to be endangered, to not be taught properly, to be ignored and left behind by this system, then this is the school for you.

I’m not sure who blue clues is and when he or she attended Potentia academy but I’m also a student with experience at Potentia academy. I’ve had a great experience overall and I’ve learned a lot from this school. I’m one of the first students to have ever attend this school. This school has taught so many things that not every school does teach. They have taught life skills economics consumer math biology world history and the list keeps going on. Sure when I was attending yes we’ve had different teachers coming and going but that’s how it is at any school you go to. So don’t be blaming that process and at times it was for the best to have some new teachers. For one thing they were bringing things to the table plus the reason for having different teachers would be because the current teacher would be moving out of state or be moving on to a different teaching practice or they are changing careers and the change can be good because there was one teacher we had who wasn’t very good and it was great to have had that change. Plus that’s how it is at any job you go to you would probably be seeing new employees. Plus this school has had many great opportunities that not every school does get. Because of being in this school I’ve had the experience of volunteering at the state attorneys office and I’ve gotten to meet Dave Aronberg because originally I’ve wanted to be an attorney. Although it’s not my current passion now but it was still an experience I’m great full to have had. Plus I’ve gotten to go on some cool filed trips with this school to both Tallahassee and Washington DC. Both filed trips were great learning experience. On both of these filed trips we’ve learned and saw up closely about how the judicial executive and congressional branches work and the difference. Miss Meeks Mr Meeks and Mr Rooney has done a great job on setting up that experience for us. This school has plenty to offer and it will boost up your knowledge and make you a bright student. They teach you responsibilities and how to behave in both the business world and when you go to college. They have done a great job at fighting for its accreditations and moving students with a learning disability of some kind up from were we were. I’ve know miss Meeks for a very long time since I kid and she’s been a great mentor to me and an inspiration she’s who’s taught me to be determined I’ve known her since before she’s even started Potentia academy.

My son has attended Potential Academy for 2 years now, and as I’ve told Mrs. Meeks – the move to Florida was worth it just so my son could attend this school.  The staff is amazing, and even my 15-year-old son has said “I’ve changed for the better since attending Potentia.”

While I don’t want to dismiss Blues Clues’ experience (everyone is entitled to their own opinion), I do want to address some of the items they mentioned, and our experience as parents with some of those alleged ‘issues.’

Experience in the classroom – we’ve had the same teachers/staff for the past 2.5 years, so I’m not sure about the comment regarding new teachers every year.  And as a parent who has volunteered at the school, I have not seen any self-harming behaviors.  I have seen students who need movement breaks, which is typical of kids on the spectrum.  The teachers were all well equipped and more than adequately educated to handle any issues in the classroom.

Students as Janitors – In the age of Covid, it is imperative that the students sanitize their desks after each use.  I’ve seen kids clean up after their own messes when using various tools at school (microwaves during lunch, etc).  Part of the curriculum at Potentia is learning to live on your own.  If kids are taking out the trash and watering plants – GOOD FOR THEM!  I can’t get my son to do it at home, but if he does it at school, and understands that is part of real life, then kudos to Mrs. Meeks and her staff for teaching kids everyday skills.  Kids nowadays can be entitled anyway.

Religious discrimination – my son comes from a family with mixed religions.  We celebrate many holidays, and as far as I am aware, he has openly expressed this to others at school.  He’s had nothing less than positive support from both other students as well as the teacher/principal.  In addition, I’d like to add that their reading list includes books of various backgrounds, cultures, and religions. I know this because when my son is assigned a book to read, I read it along with him, to help him study at home. My experience as a parent is that this is an all-inclusive school.

This school is extraordinary for high-functioning kids on the spectrum.  If you’re interested in Potentia Academy, I encourage you to meet with Mrs. Meeks and her staff, and not just rely on reviews.  Actions speak louder than words!