Prodeo Academy – Columbia Heights, Columbia Heights | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

First to chime in since the pandemic began. This is our first year attending Prodeo, and chose it because it allows us flexibility when traveling to see our family abroad, allowed our son into a grade he was just a bit too young for (by public school rules), and because of their mission to close the educational gap in Minneapolis.

I can’t speak to the new Columbia Heights campus (no one can yet, it’s been 100% distance learning since this campus has opened), but I can speak to their distance learning program, their teaching style (because I’m “in the classroom” every day, ha), their organization skills and their communication skills.

I’ll be honest, it’s all fantastic. It’s been wayyyyy better than I expected based on some reviews I see here from last year. They have a new principal, so maybe that’s the difference? Details, if you’re interested:

Distance learning program: awesome. I can’t believe it. The kids in my son’s grade are surpassing national averages and they’re ahead in their goals for the year so far. The teachers in the same grade all work together to run certain subjects in the homework sections. The teaching method: effective and really natural for my kiddo to follow. Different than how I was taught (all schools are now!) but this is a good thing. Organization skills: superb. This entire distance program has been mega organized. From orientation, laptop set up for each student, and school supply pickups monthly with every single thing they need (and more), it’s been a super smooth process. Communication skills: excellent. Maybe even overdoing it (but I’d rather that, than the alternative!). When there is a new communication out to parents, I get a phone call, app notification, text, AND email, every single time. We also get weekly updates from teachers, and can call/text them anything at any time. We get multiple reminders for upcoming important calendar dates, supply pickups or other events.

I’ll update this post when in-person learning resumes, if anything would make me change my 5-star rating. Otherwise, I love this school, so does my son, and I have no hesitation recommending it!

The longer I keep my daughter at this school, the more unsatisfied I become. She’s attended this school for 4 years. The teachers have a limited amount of resources, time and energy (and too many students with behavioral issues) to properly focus on teaching the class. Some of the staff is unreliable.

The teachers have been available to call and text, this is great. Alternatively, I can’t say how many times my daughter had bathroom issues due to waiting for the teacher to call on her so she can go.

The thing about Prodeo that I dislike the most is that it feels like it’s a political environment. They say they prepare the children for professional environments but it feels more political than that. I and other parents have attempted to address administration about the emotional state of the children at this school since it has lead to children being bullied and fights, but I’m told to bring it up at a PTO meeting, which I can’t go to since I work (and was going to school )during the time at which this took place. I know someone else did bring it up at a PTO meeting, but this problem has still been ignored.

The best thing about this school is Ms. Perez. She knows every child, and has been the one year after year to give my daughter the support she needs

I like that they’ve challenged my daughter academically (at first), but seem to be so focused on testing that they don’t challenge her more. The advanced material she knows going into the classroom, I teach her. This isn’t being reciprocated at school.

My daughter has always been top 5 in her class, academically speaking, but there is a lack of emotional support for the students (that are bullying and being bullied). For that reason, I’ve taken my daughter to another school.

Some people have great experiences at this school, she’s made some great friends, but I should have pulled her out years ago.

I had a problem where my child was struggling and the teacher dismissed my concerns, basically telling me that bad language/poor behaviour is expected when you send your child to school because there are people of all backgrounds there. It was incredibly unhelpful and demeaning to be told this, especially as I myself am an immigrant.

When I expressed why I wasn’t re-enrolling my child to the two different people who called me late in the year to confirm re-enrolment, they went ahead and re-enrolled my child for the next year anyway, and there was no follow-up about my reasons for moving schools. Eventually, the principal
Hattie Carvalho called me once school had already started (the first time I’d ever spoken to her) and I had to explain yet again that my child was enrolled somewhere else, and then the conversation went cold and she promptly hung up. It was exactly the epitome of our experience with this school: lonely, disinterested and unsupportive.

Also, for a school that rakes in between $10-13m annually I just wonder where it all goes. The director Rick Campion makes $175k base pay, CEO Chancey Anderson makes $120k base – all public info available online. But Prodeo has no sports, no swimming pool, no field trips and their math/English proficiency scores are terrible. Surely that kind of money would mean a much better school!