Academy House Child Development Center II

"My experience was horrible, took my son out after 1 month."

"PLEASE READ BEFORE SENDING YOUR CHILDREN HERE. TRUST ME YOU WILL WANT TO READ THIS BEFORE MAKING A DECISION ON YOUR CHILDS WELL BEING. My kids (now 9 and 6) have been going here for several years now. When they first attended the place, it was picture perfect. The kids had a scheduled day filled with activities and assignments that would prepare them for school. The staff was VERY friendly and EXTREMELY professional. Once they were in school they offered pick ups from different schools in Elizabeth. Not many places do this, which makes it easier for working parents. They have cameras in which you can download an app and see your child (if you can make them out, as it is barely a visible quality) and it definitely gave you piece of mind in the first few months. Now, every year for (let's say) the past 3 years, it has been falling apart in the worst ways possible. First, there has not been one staff member to date that has stayed there longer than a solid year (If they even reach the year). Including managers as well as the rest of the staff that actually watches the kids. This is important because not only will you have to reintroduce yourself to staff, but most importantly so will your children. Next, the staff is very unprofessional. They sit around while kids from ages 6+ run around like wild animals climbing on chairs and tables. They do not have any control over the kids. They have no kind of scheduled activities or things for the kids to keep them busy. Also, there has been times the classroom has had at least 20 or more kids of different ages playing rough and getting into fights. I've spoken to a mom who says her child came home with a black eye. When she asked the staff to see the camera, they denied her access until she brought in her lawyer. When she saw the footage, a group of kids had been been throwing chairs across the room and he had gotten hit. The staff never told her or the other parents of this incident. The staff looks miserable and very annoyed to be in the classroom with the kids. As if they didn't choose to work in that environment. They straight up look like they HATE their jobs and just life in general. So keep that in mind as well when your thinking about the kind of adults who will be caring for your kids. Now lastly, the after school pickup used to be a godsend and still can be. But not when a parent later told me her child was never at the premises during the time she came to get her child. NO ONE KNEW WHERE HER CHILD WAS!! Instead of trying to help her and apologize, they pointed fingers at e eryone else but themselves. Yelling her that it was the schools fault not theirs. Now if that doesnt scare you then I dont know what will. Apparently there is another location in Jersey city, and they had somehow dropped off her child at that location. She found this out after calling police that night, with no help from the staff. She did not get her child til who knows what time. Now these are not my experiences THANK GOD! I did though, come to pick them up recently this school year and one of my kids was not there. No one called me yo inform me that a child had been put on the wrong bus and they had to go back to get them. So my 6 year old had been on the bus from about 3:30pm til about 6pm. That is almost 3 hours!! When I asked the staff why no one called me to inform me, with an arrogant attitude she barely apologized and kept on going about her business. My overall experience there is just appauling. From the inconsistency of their staff to the u professionalism it is not worth your money or time to send your children here. They have just given all the parents a 2 weeks notice that they will be shutting down until December, giving parents absolutely no time to find another means of transportation for their kids. This, for me is a sign that I should have taken them out a long time ago. So I will not be coming back in December. Sorry for such a long review but I felt as a parent it is my responsibility to let other parents know what they are getting into."

"I used to recommend them to everyone. The teachers are really sweet but with new management they are horrible and only care about money. My daughter asked for water one day and the person newly in charge couldn't get up for one second to give her water on a hot day where they make the kids leave the building on snow or heat when inspectors come along because they're not allowed to be in certain areas of building. They're always late for trips so even though u payed, the children miss out. They were an hour late to arrive back at the school so their lunches were cold and when my daughter told them she couldn't eat rice and chicken cold the same new manager told her if she warmed hers up she would have to do so for everyone else. Also they offer school pick up but I've gotten bills and screamed at from both my daughters schools because they are late every single day to pick them up so now I have to come out of pocket to pay late fees and get embarrassing calls at work that my cold is still waiting in the office. We PAY you. And this is the treatment our children get. If you are later with not paying early in the morning on payment day they will charge u $25 that same day in the afternoon and your kids will not be about to go until paid. They don't care about your children just the money"

"It is an excellent place where kids start learning, my little daughter has been there for nine month and she love it. The staff are very nice and friendly."