Avant Garde Academy, Hollywood FL

I have been in this school for the past 6 years. I started in the 5th grade and now I will begin my junior year and I am sorry to say, it will not be at this school. I have kept to myself because do not want cause trouble, but I need to say this.

The first 3 years were not bad. The school needed academics, we did not expect what would happen. Admin force us to take between 4-5 AP classes. I had 4 AP, & 2 honor classes. It was terrible experience. Most of the teachers couldn't teach. They did a mock AP exam which was counted as test grade. We were forced to come in on Sat morning, or stay after school till almost 7pm. One teacher was so bad that he wasn't ready and ended up got fired. I was in chorus and I just wanted to go home because I was burnt out from all the course work and dint want to sing. Most  of us failed the AP Exams. My chorus teacher would take time off from class to help us for AP Music Theory test, we were not prepared and the robotics teacher tutored students for their AP exam. I took Music Tech, was taught by another music teacher, that was a waste of time. The school didn't provide any of the tech equitment, the class turned into a theory/art/ music appreciation classes.   The school brags about their Lighthouse Certification. It means we are what you call a Leader in Me school or LIM. In reality, it means nothing. We were all forced to take a LIM class for a semester. We learned nothing. This year were did leadership academies. What a joke. We skipped and went home. Last 3 months so many teachers were absent from LIM Academies they just canceled it. The school brags about their accomplishments. Most is false, ex: 98% graduation rate, truth, they kicked senior out of school who weren't gonna graduate on time.

The first 3 years I was there were the best times. Administration threw their support in the music program and the clases were all filled. 3 years ago a new administration came in and that is when things went down hill. Many students were't allowed to take music classes. Many of the students would show up after school to continue music. We would send many groups to competions. These last 2 years, we were lucky to send one group for band and choir. For the first time all MS choirs didn't do anything and there was nothing we could do to save it. They would show up for HS Choir, that was all that was left. We were invited to Carnegie Hall twice, and won many competitions. We were the only group to compete at states, and performed at a major music conference twice. During my time there, Mr. Rodriguez was Teacher of the Year 2 times, was a Grammy finalist. At the end they fired him. I assisted at the senior picnic. The principal showed up at the end asked all the  seniors which teacher influenced them the most. 1/2 senior said it was Mr. Rodriguez. The stories they shared about him made people cry. Classmates who never took music said he was their biggest insperation. The principal was upset by the stories, it's like she wanted it to be about her.

A comaint was made by the music program. We complained that we have lost confidence in admin. Over 200 signatures.   Nothing happen. Instead they fired Mr. Rodriguez. The best teacher at AGA. This is the same man when I was in the 6th grade saved the life of a student at our school. The program grew over the years because Mr. Rodriguez did the work, not admin. You expand the music curriculum, but they have been failures. We got a letter from admin implying that Mr Rodriguez was the one who left, and that they hired the perfect music teacher who will take us to the next level. If we were growing & winning why let him go? So they hired an old orchestra director who never taught band or choir. You say, trust and embrace the change, give the new teacher a chance, if these past 3 years is any indication on what they did to our program and let go two great music teachers, the answer for me is, it time to go and that is what I did.

Unless you want your child to have a bad experience at this school, I advise you to not send your child here. I’ve been going here for about 7 years now and I can proudly say I haven’t been this happy after leaving it. My experience at AGA has been one heck of a rollercoaster. I’ve had a few ups and many downs. When our new principal joined this school, the rollercoaster flipped upside down (not in a good way). She has become our dictator instead of our principal. Instead of making school a happy environment, she has made it feel dreadful, waking up every day just to go to school and feeling like we are entering prison. Adding new rules, hiring horrible teachers, and in general punishing us. There is definitely a lot to say about the teachers here and the administration. Recently, it has come to my attention that Dr. Valdes has fired my band director, Mr. Rodriguez. My experience with the AGA music program has been nothing but welcoming. We have become one big family and now it has been torn away from us. From the stress, we have all felt during these years, especially this year, with all our accomplishments, just for it to be ripped away. Mr. Rodriguez has put his time, effort, sweat, and tears into the music program only for it all to be taken away. We, as a music program have built up our way towards competitions, receiving superiors, top ratings, winning trophies after trophies, and so on. How much more can Dr. Valdes take from us to have enough for herself? This is just one of many things she has done to this school. The list goes on. We have worked way too much and too hard just for everything to be for nothing. This was very devastating news for not just me to find out, but all the students in the music program. I thank Mr. Rodriguez for always encouraging us to continue because he always believed in us and pushed up to get to where we are today. Without Mr. Rodriguez, I would have never considered joining the music program. I never felt connected to music like I do now and looking back, I am glad I didn’t switch band class for another elective. I stayed and he surprised me. I can’t thank Mr. Rodriguez enough for everything he has done for the music program. We will never forget all the memories we have made along the way. Thank you.

This school is the worst WARNING if you send your kid they will be lost in the system these teachers are not in tuned with our kids. The kids there are bullies because it is such a small school lots of rumors that will make your son or daughter cry or think about suicide. In 5-9 my daughter was attacked by another girl who was back up with a lot of her guy friends and girlfriends they all approached my daughter and stated she said something about a girl which she doesn’t talk about anyone and was smacked in her face. Did the school do anything about NO they said that no one was there and no witnesses so they can arrest or suspend the girl. Then there are other kids that cyber building my daughter and social media this is not acceptable the principal did not speak with me the security guard of the school cannot tell me any actions have been taken towards this other kid No one can help I had to let my daughter go to school who is scared to be in the school but we have no choice and she hast to finish school no one is there for you in that school do not send your kids to that school I am telling you your kid will be traumatized

Warning! This is not the school you want your child to go to. Our daughter has been in this school from Kindergarten until the 3rd grade. Let me tell you this school has been nothing but problems. Like any school it has a few good teachers holding it together but the administration is the worst. They don’t communicate and never take responsibility, constantly blaming the school board or whoever else they can. We have been involved parents since the beginning, even gone outside the school for help for our daughter but without proper guidance and direction your child is setup for failure. This school and administration treat kids like a number and have no care for there education. I could write for hours how this school has failed our daughter but it would be a waste of time. I rather spend that time looking for a better school.

Bad bad bad! Upper school principal is the worst,
The last week there was an emergency evacuation and while the kids where all scared and exiting the school, the security Mr Nunez told the kids to take out the jackets (because it wasn’t AGA JACKETS) so first the school rules then the safety of the kids! Then they fired the only charismatic teacher, the band director for 7 years, without a reason.
The principal will not address anything, is like a wall and all she says is that can’t discuss HR bla bla

I’m a Music Student at Avant Garde Academy under Mr Rodriguez who I can say is a top tier music director at our school. Unfortunately, he was fired today. There’s nothing more to ask from Mr Rodriguez he was a great teacher. Accomplishments, Accolades, and Achievements? All earned through out the music program. Various superior ratings our program received under Mr Rodriguez. Over my 4 years at Avant Garde under Mr Rodriguez’s education, I have never been more grateful to receive music knowledge under him. I know i’m not the only one to say this as i’m not the only one frustrated of his firing. 7 years ago, when Avant Garde Academy first opened up, Mr Rodriguez started his Music Program. The school was very small at the time, so was the program. Mr Rodriguez still made progress out of small music groups of those years, memories were truly made and brains were surely fulfilled. The first principal of Avant Garde Academy, gave the music program whatever they needed. They answered the needs and worries of the program, one who cared I’d say. This can apply to Mr Mesa too who was also a principal of Avant Garde Academy. Mr Mesa was also a strong supporter of the music program. The day that Mr Mesa and the first principal left administration, was the start of downfall of Avant Garde Academy as a whole, but that’s not the reason I’m writing this “review”. As we look at the music program after the 2021 - 2022 School Year, many rewards and accolades were achieved from various groups among the music program (Wind Ensemble, Womens Choir, High School Choir) Even Individual Students have self achievements! Such as Offers, Honor Bands, College Band Programs. But these achievements were made under who? Mr Rodriguez. The frustration that the students and parents of the music program suffer today is crucial. Mr Rodriguez is considered more than a teacher to the music program. We’ve made a great family these past 7 years, as it attempts to come to an end, we will not accept it.

I was there for four years and for three of my years there I was bullied and I told teacher multiple times but nothing was ever done. The teachers don’t ever teach anything and are absent most of the school year. The food here is so bad that most kids don’t eat. And they got rid of the only good teacher here mr. Rodriguez he was the choir and band teacher and gave no reason for it. The school makes the school extremely cold so that you have to buy the jackets and they don’t even help keep warm. There are so many fights that happen there. Overall leaving this school was the best decision I ever made and don’t recommend putting your child here or keeping them there.

Not a parent but you may want to post a few teachers on the corners behind the school on N 20th Ave. I can see cars whizzing by while your students are trying to cross over N 20th ave. Or at least ask the City to make it a 4 way stop.

The new music teacher did a great job organizing the volume of students for the Lower Elementary Christmas Show. But the song choices were not diverse. Almost each song was a Jewish Christmas song and 1 Spanish Christmas song at the end. There was no Christmas songs about baby Jesus. The parents, teachers, and students were diverse, not the show.

Thank you Avant Garde Academy! Especially, to my daughter’s kindergarten teacher Ms. Zaligan! Teacher who could encourage and motivate 6yo kids is priceless. Also, I’m very happy how all processes well organized. Of course, we had some problems with kids dismissal and arrival for first couple days, but all issues are solved and now it doesn’t take too much time.

As a Student here since its inception, i can say that there are problems with the cramped hallways and lunch times but overall its still a good school with great teachers.i miss Dr blender and bacon!

My daughter has been a student at Avant Garde since kindergarten, now she just started 6th grade. We have been happy with all the teachers so far at the school. We have done well in all the classes and it has been very easy to communicate with all the teachers in the elementary school. However, I took one star away due to very short time for lunch and overcrowded cafeteria especially now that we are faced with Covid-19 pandemic. Upper school Students do not have enough tables to sit at without crowding each other and the elective classes have too many students in them. For instance the art class has well over 30 students in a small classroom. Otherwise so far in upper school no complaints.

Worst. School. Ever. If your planning to send you child here, please don’t. The teachers will not only force them to do extra work, But the lunches- are DISGUSTING. The projects are, really difficult. Once they grabbed my daughters phone out of her backpack. IT WAS A TEACHER. (Who grabbed it) - please send your child to another school, leave this school immediately, not only do they ask for money, in stupid ways, such as “sprit sticks”, & “aga lanyards”. The entry isn’t worth it. They will charge you money, mark you (your child who goes here, or etc), child absent for no exact reason. Please move your children out of this school, immediately. Don’t risk getting charged for, “learning” that isn’t worth it. If your child etc, goes here, take them out immediately, or while you still can. Thank you for reading this and have a good day!

As happy as we were to start Kindergarten here our enthusiasm meltdown within 2 days. We did register through the school sent email for free transportation. Apparently there are problems between transportation company Maranatha and the school and it's parents problem now to be solved, neither one of this entities accept responsibility. Dropping on and off is a Nightmare with times more than one hour. School promised us that on August 5th, 2021 we will receive an email with our teacher name. No teacher name provided as promised and moved to August 13 to know your teacher when we will bring the school supplies. At the meeting with the Principals they told us 18 kindergarten children per teacher and classroom. Another not kept promised attendance, there are 20 children in our mini classroom. Classrooms are very small, I would say properly for 10 children at the most.

I think that yes, some of the teachers are rude and yell at students that sometimes don’t understand what’s going on. But again. There are very nice teachers and one of them is Ms. Ibarra. She is a wonderful leader that you can talk to when you need help with anything. She listens to you and understands what’s going on. She talks problems out and explains something to you when you don’t get it. I appreciate that you add those types of teachers to your team.

I transferred my child into the lower school a few months ago and I could not be happier. The school communicates with me regularly and shows that that they really care about my child’s education.

Our children have been at AGA since its inception and we could not be happier. They have great friends and the school provides a solid and challenging educational program even throughout the pandemic. The robotics and choir programs are the best in the county. We have seen the school grow and services improve and look forward to our children eventually graduating from AGA.