Victory Charter School Tampa

Had to withdraw my kids from this school. The bullying is insane! Started with a student harassing and following my daughter into the bathrooms, then pouring milk on my daughters lunch in the cafeteria, my son getting bit, kids taking my sons school supplies and hiding it and nothing being done. Final straw was when a child threatened to KILL my child and an “investigation” was being done but they allowed the other student to continue to come to school while the investigation was being done. With all things happening in school anything can happen during an “investigation”. Mind you NO ONE called me when my child was threatened. I found out when I picked up my child and she’s crying in the car line and another teacher came to my car in tears about the situation. When my child and a staff member come to my car in tears about being threatened i automatically freaked out!!!!! We had SEVERAL meetings to get everything resolved, but it was the same discussion every time with the same resolution which was NOTHING.

Not only that a kindergarten teacher was abusing students by hitting and dragging the kids. They did finally let her go after several weeks of “investigation”.

Their “investigation” consists of talking to other students and then piecing together a story to figure out the chain of events that took place. Their “investigations” suck! And do nothing!

I don’t know how this school can even qualify to become an IB school when they don’t have enough staff members. They are constantly losing teachers. They can’t keep the kids safe. They can’t keep a principle.

Best decision I made for my children was removing them from this school!

This school is the WORST. The safety of the students is not taken into consideration. The let the kids leave with whoever is in the office without checking emergency cards or IDs. They do what they call an “investigation” for every complaint and nothing gets resolved. You can walk into the campus easily.

The turn around for teachers is insane. They haven’t had a stable “principle” in a few years. A kindergarten teacher was hitting the kids and was reported by SEVERAL parents and students and inside of temporarily laying off the teacher to investigate, they let her keep teaching while the investigation was going. So who knows how many other students she was physically assaulting and dragging across the classroom.

The lady in the front office Isabel is extremely rude and always is huffing and puffing.

There is little to no supervision during recess and lunch time. So kids are getting bullied in the bathrooms in the lunchroom and teachers are not paying attention to the students on the recess field.

The teachers spend more time on their phones than actually paying attention.

The whole school in the last several years has gone down hill. Even when you talk to the teachers they complain that pay is too low and that they won’t be returning next school year. I don’t know how this is an IB candid school when they don’t care about the students or their safety. My child is doing better in a public school than this garbage of a school.

Please do not subject your child to this school! I don't even know where to begin. They have horrible admin, starting with the Principal, Ms.Rivera! She does not feel she needs to respond to any concerns brought to her attention unless escalated to the charter school management. Her excuses for not responding is she doesn't know why her response "didn't go through." Multiple concerns were brought to her and only 1 was ever responded to. She was in charge of disciplining the children and always resorted to suspension. Children are not disciplined equally.

The charter management speaks 1 thing and the actions reflect another. Because it is a charter school, the teachers aren't required to have the same qualifications as Public schools and the children are at a disadvantage. Teachers are very inexperienced in early education for children and do not know how to handle the children or properly control classrooms then harrass the parents DAILY. Does not provide positive feedback, only negative feedback. Last year, my sons kindergarten year, he had 3 different teachers and ended the year with a substitute. The English/language arts was non existent due to the teachers inexperience and turnover and this year he is paying for it as they are holding them accountable to items NOT TAUGHT in the prior year. After bringing this to their attention they acknowledged the children were not properly taught in kindergarten and will still be held to the standards. After week 2 into this school yr the 1st grade English/language arts teacher left resulting in yet another substitute until the position could be filled resulting in the children AGAIN being behind in these subjects. 2 years in a row with poor ELA is unacceptable. The teacher turnover is unbelievable! I had a conference with my child's 1st grade teacher to see what items they felt improvement was needed and their response was to refer to iready test results. As an experienced teacher, you should be able to speak to specifics that children need improvement in rather than generic responses as testing is not always a true reflection of knowledge.
This school does very well at tracking and acknowledging areas of opportunity for children's behavior, but do not hold academics to the same standard, as children are not equally rewarded for their grades unless brought to the admins attention. I decided to withdraw my child as this school was affecting his mental health and he dreaded going to school.
My son has been at the public school we are zoned for and so far we have seen a complete change. He is with experienced teachers who have have been able to tell me his strengths and areas of opportunity and you can tell the difference! His reading has significantly improved in this short period and we don't have any behavior issues. I wish I would have never put him through the experience of Victory Charter School, but know we made then right decision in with withdrawing him. I have spoken to other parents who also withdrew their child from the school and they had very similar experiences. You know it's a mess when the office tells you "thank you for being honest in your reasoning for withdrawing, bc too many parents withdraw their child and don't say anything so nothing ever changes."
Mrs. Y and Mrs. Quinlan were great teachers for the short time my son had them. Melanie and Sarah in the front office were always kind and helpful in whatever was needed.