Young Scholars of Central PA Charter School in State College, Pennsylvania

“One of my chldren is still at YSCP and I would say that it is a nice little school but definately more hype than truth. It is also very much connected to a larger group of schools which they don't tell you up front. They don't own their own building but rent it from a non-profit that is a Turkish run organization, and many of the Turkish personel have been transfered from other Turkish run schools. Some of the(Turkish) teachers are getting their degrees and learning on the job when there are very qualified Americans in town who were never interviewed. As nice as these gentlman are, they are not at YSCP to simply educate our kids but to build the reputation of another Gulen school in the USA and further their own educations - hey, I'd be smiling too!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“YSCP's a great school; proactive & very, very friendly (like most parents there). YSCP teaches foreign languages & technology on top of regular material. It's ahead of the curve. The staff & administration care about the education and well-being of our kids. Via continued involvement in YSCP activities, parent & board meetings, I can say that any tension is the result of a few parents that try to dominate every meeting. Sadly, YSCP spends an inordinate amount of time responding to their 'concerns.' Many are confused and disappointed by frequent uncivil behavior by a small number of parents towards the school (and other parents). Yes, YSCP unionized. Most public schools are unionized but I wouldn't necessarily equate that with trouble or being unhappy. YSCP has grown tremendously in five years to become the largest charter school in the area & continues to self-assess & make improvements. We will be staying at YSCP.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“There are some things to like about YSCP. (Free after school care is a big one). But that is not enough to send my child back. Parent and administration relations are really tense, as are relations between administration and teachers. The teachers just voted to unionize--a clear sign they are unhappy--and the animosity level at this school is too much for me.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“As a parent with a grad degree in education, I've only good things to say about YSCP, the curriculum, the teachers, the administration. It's visionary and fills a much needed niche. They secured a hard to get FLAP grant to facilitate and expand foreign language instruction. The school has character development programming, to help children learn how to make behavioral choices. Since joining YSCP, my kids go on and on about the joys of their day. There are many field trips and after school activities. And, with an increasingly globalized world, this school sets the mark for student development and future economic success. Re: teacher turnover in 2009, I know that many left for non-job related reasons (i.e., marriage, move to another state, etc...). Re: Administration, I do not find them aloof at all. Quite the contrary. Unlike the last school, we all feel welcome at YSCP.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am the parent of two children at this school and am thrilled with the education my kids are receiving. My kids are thrilled to be learning world languages (Spanish and Chinese...Turkish during the after-school club) and using technology in the classroom as well as on their own. This school encourages students to have a global perspective and to be good citizens within the community. Parent-teacher /parent-administration communication is encouraged. Overall, I am very pleased with the school and know that I have made the right decision for my kids.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Our children have attended Young Scholar's since it opened in 2005. We were pleased with the elementary grades, especially the Spanish instruction. The Middle School grades, however, have been a disaster. Teacher turnover is extremely high (in the fall of 2009, only one full-time middle school teacher is returning!!) and the administration is inconsistent and aloof. Our 2 middle school age children will not be returning to YSCP.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We have three children in Young Scholars. We have been very pleased with this school. The kids learn chinese and spanish as a normal part of their school day. They have after school clubs that add value to their program. We have multi-cultural family events like Turkish evening, Chinese evening etc. The teachers go out of their way to help our children - they had special PSSA training sessions every Saturday. The kids went to play music to play in Spikes games. I truly appreciate the effort all the teachers put in to prepare our children for the future. Our children went to Corl Street Elementary”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Learning languages is great”
This review was posted by a staff.

“This is a K-5 Charter School with an emphasis on learning 'world languages.' Every class in every grade has a half-hour of Spanish and a half-hour of Chinese every day. The school also features an optional 'extended day,' which gives children the opportunity to participate in two additional, though less formal, areas of study between 3:45 and 5:30. The school hours are 8:35 to 3:25, class sizes are small, and every class has a full-time aide in addition to a regular classroom teacher. The school features volunteers from Penn State, as well as lots of parental involvement. The school is still in a temporary building, but is in the process of building a permanent school. Plans for the future include expanding to 8th grade. Children use laptops for math and special projects. Students receive an individualized education without the lack of discipline that sometimes accompanies 'student-centered' education. Great school.”
This review was posted by a parent.