Tabula Rasa School

06/29/2008 Posted by wendyc7687

I am currently in the summer program, and not impressed. The program is very expensive - $200 a week for M-F 9:30 am to 12:30pm. The facility is dirty and they do not have good materials. The principal/director is not very friendly. In addition, they are not a child-directed - I have sat in some of the classes and the teachers make the kids participate in activities even if they don't want to. Everything is worksheets with no real learning. I would recommend getting a private tutor instead.

Pros: few language immersion programs, good location

Cons: awful facility, expensive

06/01/2008 Posted by Lemur2004

For early exposure to a second or third (or both) language for your child, I think that the school is a great choice. My daughter looks forward to school everyday, and has picked up quite a bit of Spanish and French. While I think the academic component could be stronger, I think that the nurturing environment and the school activities will prepare my child for kindergarten.

Pros: nurturing, supportive staff, early exposure to second language, good preparation for kindergarten, good parental support of the school, diversity

Cons: Needs a stronger academic component, expensive

03/21/2008 Posted by internationalmom

Very poor management. I know what it takes to have a good language program and educational material. I was very disappointed with Tabula Rasa, as it shows that the management is more interested in personal financial growth than in the kids interest. They have an agressive fund raising program, no educational program, only downloaded stuff from internet. The teachers are paid only for the worked hours. The parents are requested to provide school supplies evey month eventhough they pay a high supply fee in the beginning of the school year. The parents need to have an appointment to get in the school during the day. Double trailers are taking 3/4 of an already small playground. The food is a desaster. Pros: Some teachers are really nice some exposure to foreign language Cons: No program, no philosophy, no interest in the children, very expensive for what is offered.

09/28/2007 Posted by momdad

My children started going to Tabula Rasa to attend its French summer program in June 2007. It was very good. Teachers were excellent. And so I enrolled them in 2007-08 session. But I am not impressed anymore. The new teacher now, once a week, sends me a report what she taught that week. Otherwise I have no clue what my children do in school. The school hours are from 9 - 12.00 noon but actual numbr of hours spent for studies is less than 2.5. Principal is not very good and on two occassions when I spoke to her about my problems, she didn't do anything. School is expensive and also doesn't justify its fee.

03/12/2007 Posted by tracybritton

My son started at Tabula Rasa this past fall. We were very impressed with the program's approach at our initial meeting with the school's principle and we continue to be impressed. The teachers are incredibly warm and nurturing with the children and are genuinely excited to see them. The children appear so confident and I think this has a lot to do with the loving environment. The food is bought and prepared daily for the lunches and snacks. We are vegetarians and the school serves very healthy food (pasta, vegetables, beans and rice...). The teachers make learning a second language fun through songs, dance, clapping... My son understands Spanish well however he continues to be challenged and have fun at school. He enjoys the homework and the daily lessons and of course the toys and playtime. The school, in addition to playground time, has a daily formal exercise program for the children. Lastly, any concerns we have had have been fairly addressed by either the teachers or the principle. We, and most importantly my son, have really enjoyed the school. It is really the best choice for a pre-school bilingual learning program.

Pros: Fun second language learning program, warm teachers/staff, healthy menu and daily exercise

02/25/2007 Posted by littlemonkeys

Our experience with Tabula Rasa has been extremely positive. My son has been in the French program since he was about 20 months old (the Mothers Morning Out program) and is now three and a half. He can understand French, count to 20 in French and has an incredible vocabulary in French (my husband and I each only studied French in high school). Our one-year old will start the MMO program this summer. Everyone who works at the school is committed to providing a stimulating, nurturing environment for the children. The teachers are all native speakers (either French or Spanish) and at least one teacher in each room has a degree in early childhood education. They are focused not only on each child's foreign language development but also on his or her's academic, social, and creative development. The Parent Committee (formed this year, 2006/07) allows the parents to get involved with fundraising efforts, special events for the school and in-class events. The foreign language offering has attracted families from all over the Atlanta area and all kinds of backgrounds, some who speak the foreign language at home and some who do not . I highly recommend this school.

Pros: Great teachers, individualized attention, small community feel, diverse student body

02/23/2007 Posted by sarlenehauck

This school is excellent. A convenient location immediately off of I-285. VERY affordable, so much less than other preschools in the area - and the ONLY preschool to offer foreign languages in a full emersion program. The school genuinely cares about the education of the children and the teachers devote their days ensuring the best atmosphere for your child. So not only will your child soon become bilingual, but their social and physical development will soar as well. This has got to be the best choice for pre-kindergarten education in Atlanta.

Pros: Small school but the education level is huge

Cons: None whatsoever

12/05/2006 Posted by bearsmommy

The school started out strongly, but is quickly going downhill. What began as a school with small class sizes and personal attention has rapidly turned into just another daycare/preschool looking to maximize profit; taking advantage of the lack of school choices in the Atlanta Buckhead area. The tuition is nearly double what you would pay for a comparable english-based program, and the teachers are not paid any more than they would be elsewhere, yet the director is constantly bombarding the parents with requests for more money. This year, there has been some sort of "funds collection" at least twice a month. The icing on the cake is the "toy drive" being held in December. You would think a rich school located in Buckhead would have at least some sense of "giving back", but this is a drive for toys for THE SCHOOL!!! Aren't those sorts of things supposed to be covered by tuition?

Pros: only choice for language schools

Cons: high tuition, poor management, no opportunity for parent involvement