New School for the Arts & Academics - Tempe, Arizona

Matthew S.

My kids attend the NSAA middle and high school programs and both love it. They have a great rapport with their teachers and have made many new friends. The Dean is very hands-on and takes a personal interest in the success and well-being of my children. In addition to weekday tutoring, they also offer Saturday school, which has been a great opportunity for our kids to catch up when they fall behind. The drama programs we’ve seen thus far have all been top-notch, too!

Alana P.

My name is Alana Peters and I attended this school my junior year of high school. I decided to go to this school because I felt I would get more individualized help with my learning. Unfortunately, I was wrong in many aspects. The dean of NSAA, Katy is who I would like to focus my attention on. Katy had her good sides, but I’ve noticed those sides only came out with her favorites. If you ask anyone who attends this school, they will most likely agree that Katy chooses favorites. Katy and I had many exchanges throughout my year at NSAA, some being positive but most being negative. I had several struggles with students, and even teachers that, in my opinion weren’t addressed properly. This school is one of the many reasons I chose to stop trusting adults.

If your child is on the spectrum at all, do not send them to this school!! Teachers are impatient. For example, I watched an art teacher scream at a student for not understanding the material. As a student witnessing this, I pulled her out of the classroom to address that this student was autistic, and they learn through patience. The student was in so much distress, and the teacher simply told me to “teach him myself”. That’s exactly what I did, and 10 minutes later the student completed his assignment. The teacher continued this, even suggesting students ask me questions instead of her. When I told Katy about this because it was effecting my own learning in that class, she told me this teacher just “admired me”. Even after leaving this school, I struggle to remember the students who I left behind. The ones who truly believed they were the problem, when in reality their teacher was making it impossible for them to learn. A very large number of people at this school struggle with learning disabilities, and a very large number of teachers don’t know how to be patient with those students.

Another story I wanted to address in this review is when a student told me they were being sexually assaulted at home. I was mortified, and immediately told an adult. That adult was Katy, who listened to my concern and did nothing. I walked into her office a couple days later to ask if the situation had been reported. She told me this student had very severe mental issues and was known for fabricating stories or lying. I reported the situation myself, because the “trusted adults” in my life were too ignorant to do so. Even if he was lying, it was a serious accusation that needed to be addressed. This same student got into a fight, and I watched as he got shunned and punished while the other student (who started the fight) was politely talked to. I’m forgetting the name of the woman who works the front desk with blue hair, but she screamed “SIT DOWN” to the student when he quietly stood up. Like a dog… I screamed back at her “YOU NEED TO BE PATIENT WITH HIM” and she told me to walk away. She called my mom about this and I got into trouble. I left this school, and a couple months later I got a call from this student. He told me he was in residential. I’m not sure what got him there, but I can imagine my report being a part of it. He kept me updated with phone calls, and he’s out of residential care now. I pray everyday that this student is safe, and I pray for every student who’s ever suffered at NSAA. I’m hoping this review will save some kids from enduring the ignorance of the staff there.

After leaving this school, I switched to an online learning program. Even when it was online, the teachers responded and stayed active with their students!! I finally felt cared for at a school. I began shadowing a veterinarian before I graduated high school, and now I’m excelling at veterinary sciences. Funny, how one small change took all the negativity out of my life. That one switch, leaving NSAA, was the beginning of my success. I know this is the same for a couple other classmates who left NSAA around the same time as me. I highly advise anyone who is thinking of attending this school to RUN the other direction.

Stephen

3 of my grandkids attend NSAA and seem to really enjoy it. I am glad that there is a good focus on the arts. Most schools cut back in this area of study. The mixture of students to me is a healthy environment these days to prepare our future leaders to have a sense of compassion and understanding of the many aspects of life these days. Educating students in many areas of learning I think NSAA seems to be doing a good job. As far as bullying it's an unfortunate part of society these days. To try to shelter students from it is impossible. Teaching them how to deal with it is more productive. They will encounter this behavior all their adult lives. No school is perfect but NSAA is doing a pretty good job..... thanks

Jamie W.

My daughter attended NSAA from 2016 - 2020. While she has been out of the program for a few years, as she is processing her CPTSD we are only just learning the extent of what she endured at this school.

First, I'll address--as others have--the disregard for student safety. The security is lax, the teachers and students spread among multiple buildings with only text communications between administrators. In an emergency situation, this would cost lives. Further, there is no nurse or medical support on site. The lockdown procedures were traumatizing in and of themselves. Years later, our daughter still has nightmares regarding these events.

The biggest safety concern, however, is the administration.

Our child, whose passion is art, attended Ms. Parker's drawing class. This teacher singled out certain students to bully. If others stood up to her, they were punished or added to Parker's naughty list. Parker also belittled students' art: critiquing styles that drew inspiration from other media; or simply telling students, "It's wrong," or "do better" without any direction as to what was wrong or how to address it. Our daughter wanted to give up art. This was conveyed to the Dean and the teacher, however, nothing changed.

The most egregious issues involved the ESS program--a system for neurodivergent students. Our autistic daughter was evaluated and placed into the ESS program under the direction of J. Silva. Over the course of many years, Mr. Silva ignored our IEP guidelines by pursuing ABA therapy even though we repeatedly refused it. He also pushed us to utilize an Autism center that not only promotes/uses ABA, but one that Silva also had a personal/financial stake in. He constantly said that he cared about our child but he couldn't be bothered to say her name correctly.

Much of my daughter's trauma stems from a mishandling of the most severe issue we experienced with NSAA.

An older female student began stalking our child, including following her to the bathroom and peeking in on her while she was in the stall. When this was brought to Silva and the Dean herself, I was told the other student and their parents would be notified. When I asked how this was not in violation of the school's sexual harassment code, I was told nothing could be done. We insisted that the stalker (also in the ESS program) NOT be placed in classes, testing rooms, or therapy with our child.

We were ignored multiple times.

The stalker was not only allowed to spend the entirety of testing trying to pass notes to or interrupt our child, Silva (acting as proctor) this acceptable, he tried to turn it into a teaching moment that my daughter could use to "show grace." The problems only continued. The stalker was put into therapy with my daughter. When she--understandably--did not handle these sessions well, the "therapist" would use our child as a "teachable moment" for the other student in how not to respond--but only after both the therapist and student laughed at her. NONE of what happened in these sessions was relayed to us by Silva or others and our daughter was acting as traumatized children do: being silent for fear of retaliation.

As we navigate our daughter's mental health journey, we have been informed that not only was Silva/NSAA unethical in their handling of neurodivergent needs, some of these actions are quite illegal.

TLDR: My daughter has CPTSD due to her time at this school. None of it had to happen, and now her life is irrevocably changed. The people at this school who are supposed to care for these students do not. While there are teachers who are gems of human beings who truly care about the kids, the administration does not have your child's best interests at heart.

NOTE TO PARENTS: Be the squeaky wheel. Stand up for your kid. Loudly.

Girly

This is the most unprofessional, unorganized school I have ever experienced. Students were mistreated, their safety was ignored, alot of the teachers were rude (although some were very nice). The dean is the most unprofessional woman I have met in a school setting, and that's saying something. The students are all drama seeking and rude. If you're thinking about going here, DON'T. This school is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Kristin H.

Middle and high school age art school. Right on the ASU campus and super close to the light rail and the interstate.
The school is a wonderful small school for musical and mixed media artists. Very supportive teachers learning history and science and diversity in the classroom and world.
Choral program, musical ensembles, drama, a pottery room with kiln, photography class with large darkroom, digital art classes with top of the line graphics programs and computers, and life drawing classes. This is a laid-back campus that is trusting and very peaceful!

The first time you visit you need to know that the entrance to the school is from the back parking lot through the front office. As you enter, the waiting area is an art gallery with the most recent student exhibits.

Jen Y.

This school has helped my kid & I can tell a few other kids open up & feel more comfortable in a school setting. Thank you to Katy & the entry school staff for all you do for our kids / your students & their families. You are all Incredible & very appreciated! Katy, Mizz Dymond, Jean, Mr. Silva, Mrs. C, Mrs. Craig, Ms. Kellen, Ms. Parker are fantastic just to name a few! The entire school is full of encouraging teachers & staff & it shows daily! Thank you NSAA! Happy my kiddo attends there! #NSAARocks!

Elizabeth J.

I love my school, so many amazing teachers and I've met so many amazing people there, and it's a great community for lgbtg+ students to feel welcomed, however favoritism is unfortunately visible.