The Academy at Charlemont

I transferred here in my junior year of high school in 2013 looking for a better education. I went to the public high school, Northampton High. I felt like it too easy and not enough of a challenge. It was hard for me to concentrate and take school seriously being around so many students who were burnt out and didn't care about trying. I wanted the teachers to push the students more and have higher expectations of them. I'm not a person who's really into academics, but I feel like so many students were slipping through the cracks. So I made the decision to apply to the Academy At Charlemont to try to take charge of my life and make a better future for myself. I had to write an essay in order to apply to the school. I liked this idea, because I feel like it showed that the school was selective with who they accept. This reassured me making me think they were a serious school that also had a loving, warm, accepting community and I'd make friends easily. I also thought all my strengths would be valued and cared for, but all of this I was wrong. For the social aspect of it, it was painful and confusing. When I visited, I was assigned a buddy who was in my grade that I'd be transferring into. I really loved that idea and my buddy was so sweet to me. She wrote me a little note after saying she was so excited to have another friend to sing with her and for us to become friends. But I was wrong, because when I arrived there she had no interest in me. It almost made me think that she was obligated by the school to do that. I kept blaming myself thinking there was something wrong with me. This school had dances each month, so I thought that would be a good way to ease into the social scene. But most of the times I was ignored. A lot of the students were uptight, focused on the propel they've gone to school with for years, killed themselves over academics, didn't know how to relax, and just weren't open to meeting new people. I was hoping things would get better, and they did for a little while. But a lot of times I felt left out, different, and not given a fair chance for my classmates to get to know me. Academically, this school shot me down and made me feel stupid every day. They threatened to hold me back if I didn't get my grades up, and I was always one to do pretty well in school. Teachers accused me of not trying hard enough and whenever I started to make progress and get material, they didn't acknowledge that and just said I needed to try harder. They would move so fast with their curriculum that I couldn't keep up no matter how hard I worked. I failed my finals and that's when I decided to leave. Any talents I did have were diminished and not taken seriously. They had a creative writing class and I love writing, but my writing got bashed on even there. I gradually became really depressed and didn't want to go back. I also went on a ski trip there and was really excited about it. But I got stuck on a mountain since the people I was going with said it was easy, but then couldn't keep up with them. I got yelled at by the teacher who took us on the trip, bad mouthed about behind my back by him, and scolded by the director all saying it was my fault and I kept this teacher up all night. They were shaming and cruel and don't know how to deal with problems, even though I profusely apologized. This school has ridiculously unrealistic high expectations for students to be this perfect person who doesn't mess up, is always polite, takes initiate, does community service, etc. They only accept one kind of intelligence and since I didn't exactly didn't into that box, they were taken back by it. Long story short, this school is great for the cookie cutter kid who learns fast and doesn't make mistakes. But if you struggle in anyway, I would keep looking for another school.
Apr 5th, 2021

I was a student at the Academy from grades 7-12, and I could not have had a better high school experience. The Academy strikes a perfect balance between nurturing students and challenging them, which creates a safe environment that fosters creativity and intellectual curiosity. The Academy is small, but not too small. The size enables unique bonds of trust between both students and faculty, and students and their peers. On top of all that, it's located in a gorgeous spot right on the Deerfield River.
Dec 1st, 2016

Nov 25th, 2015

Wonderful school!
Aug 4th, 2015

Sep 21st, 2014