Pinnacle Academy

"During the admissions process, our son was evaluated by student peers who provided facility with feedback about his mannerisms, maturity, and personal opinions of him. The school boasts, “…brain-based multisensory learning that empowers students with language and learning differences…” It was not made clear if the students providing facility with their assessments of our son received specialized training or possess other credentials to legitimately form an educated opinion (in our case, a make-or-break opinion) for a student with “learning differences” and disabilities that limit his ability to respond to social cues. A week after his final shadow visit at Pinnacle Academy, the administration informed us he was not accepted partially based on the escorting students’ opinions that he was immature. She added that a teacher and other students reportedly heard him cursing in a classroom. Yet when he was escorted to my car by faculty and I inquired about his day, she reported everything went well. If the allegation was true, facility failed to report the incident to us and failed to correct him in class. Our suspicion is that Pinnacle Academy takes advantage of their ability to handpick students to fit their mold and help inflate numbers – similar to the culture of the Manatee County School District. While our son was excited about the potential to attend Pinnacle because of the small class sizes and “petting zoo,” we were unsure how their practical applications aligned with their advertised theories based on conversations with the administration. Nonetheless, we continued the process because we allowed his enthusiasm to trump our apprehension. Sometimes you’re better off being told “No.”"

"We have been so pleased with Pinnacle Academy over the past three years my son has attended. He has made friends and is able to learn at his pace and his level. These were things that did not happen in his previous school experiences . The teachers and staff have been wonderfully supportive and they know my son well. Pinnacle provides everything a parent longs for in a school, a caring, safe environment for their child to learn and grow!"

"My son has been attending Pinnacle Academy for 4 years and we are so thankful that this kind of school exists right here in Lakewood Ranch. We tried 2 public schools and 1 other private school before landing at Pinnacle . The public schools were not equipped to provide the type of learning environment he needed . We are so glad that our son has found a home where he feels comfortable being himself and is not ashamed of his learning challenges . The small class sizes and specialized learning environment is unique and it gives him the freedom to learn in a safe environment. We highly recommend Pinnacle Academy !"

"Where to start....Pinnacle Academy has been a life saver for our family! When our son started there at 3 1/2 yrs old he was nonverbal and was unable to express his feelings without melting down. Within 6 months he was talking and had made major improvements with his abilities to express himself. The wonderful teachers at Pinnacle have been an amazing blessing for our son! They have treated our son with a true love and passion for helping him achieve every goal within his reach. Fast forward 5 1/2 years and he is right on track for his abilities and grade level. During his IEP meetings goals are set and as he masters them, new ones are put in place. His father and I are shown examples of his work and graphs showing his progress and where he is excelling and where he needs an additional work. We have utilized the additional services offered at Pinnacle to help our son meet the goals that he needed extra help achieving and it has worked out just as planned. Over the years we have built a family relationship with the staff and other parents at Pinnacle and we would not want it any other way!! We feel at ease having our son there and we know that he is not only being taught what he needs but he is being taught with the avenue that allows him to learn at his level. I can not express enough what a true blessing Pinnacle has been for our son and how much we cherish the love that is shown to our son. I would also like to add a comment about the cost and the fundraisers that are at the school. If you have not toured the school to see all of the AMAZING things that are provided to the children, then you really can not comprehend how the funds are allocated right to the children! I wish my daughter’s high school was even half as amazing as Pinnacle! I have never understood a parent not wanting to invest in their child’s education. It’s the best ROI you could ever wish for! The children are our future! We must cherish, love, nurture, and invest in them!"