Culver Academies Reviews

184 reviews

this school is built like the service academies. you'll get the same experience. if you are someone who has a hard time figuring themselves out. this school is the right fit for you because it will teach you to be responsible with the busy schedule, and disciplined unlike any other school. since it's a boarding school you will get to form tighter relationship with you friends that will last for the future. you mostly be taught to become a leader of the future which is not taught everywhere

We could not be happier with our daughter's choice to apply and attend Culver Academies. It matched all of what our daughter wanted for high school. She's challenged in her classes but loves a challenge. The teachers are great and we love the ratio of students to teachers. There is plenty of activities for students, whether it be sports, drama, music, dance, etc - there is something for all students.

Culver is also very welcoming for parents. We've met so many great parents and become friends with so many fellow Culver parents.

This school year of 2023-2024, the administration has begun discriminating against the top 10% of students who take AP classes, with policies that increase their anxiety, punish them for doing the very homework assigned to them and minimizing their concerns with bullying tactics to silence them, if not in line with their sleep policy. They falsely advertised in Aug 2023 Culver Canon that the are "encouraging students to get more sleep" when in fact there are regular incidents of AP students in the boys' academy getting ATVs and punishment for trying to complete homework. They are given more homework than can be completed in 3 hours and then forced to bed with punishment, even if they haven't finished the homework - telling them to suffer the consequence of poor grades. Students in sports in the middle of the week are also punished with no homework time, so the admin can tout their own agenda with a false "more sleep" pitch. The top kids have more anxiety and less sleep. It's awful.

Review Culver Academies

I would have asked my parents to send me to Culver Academies if I knew it existed. Culver Academies, with its stunning 1,800-acre lakeside campus, blends academic excellence, leadership, and fitness into its philosophy. The diverse community fosters global friendships, enriching the experience. Its alumni often attend top universities and military academies, highlighting its unique focus on leadership over traditional military training. It's only 2 hours away from Chicago and it's pretty easy for parents in the U.S. and foreign countries to visit the campus due to its proximity to one of the largest international airports in the U.S. So many boarding schools focus only on academics and miss what are really important for teenage children living away from home. I have complete trust in Culver. As a parent, I wholeheartedly recommend it for its unparalleled education and development opportunities.

We cannot say enough good things about Culver Academies! It has truly changed the lives of our children and our entire family. The focus on academics, mind, body and spirit have created well-rounded adults that are ready and prepared to move into the next chapter of their young adult lives. We truly appreciate Culver Academies strong sense of community, rigorous academic programs, diverse extracurricular activities, and emphasis on character development through its military and leadership training programs!

Culver is more than a school; it's a cherished haven of tradition and values. As a second home for my children, its transformative impact is evident in their growth. From the enchanting summer programs to the profound experiences within the boarding high school community, Culver has been pivotal in shaping them into remarkable individuals. Majestic parades and pride-filled events on the campus are etched in our hearts. The values of leadership, character, and community fostered here are priceless. As we approach the final year, Culver leaves us smiling through tears, grateful for the invaluable gifts of memories and traditions, anticipating the bright futures it has empowered our children to create.

Culver is an excellent life preparatory school. There is a 4 year plan that makes your child a confident well spoken amazing well rounded person. We sent two girls and they both gain what they needed and are very impressive. I love all the students my children go to school with. When you walk around the campus (that is beautiful) the most impressive part is the students! How many teenagers look you in the eye and speak to you in a pleasant well spoken manner? All Culver students!

The teachers are talented and caring and the best of their kind in their fields. Recently, the vibe has changed. As of August of 2023, students are now punished for staying up to do the homework. I have witnessed the anxiety of students increase as the highly motivated students, those who take AP courses, and apply to elite colleges are degraded, dismissed, and punished for trying to achieve their goals. The school now forces kids to bed without giving them enough time for the rigorous homework (In the boys school, they are punished when found doing homework after 10:15 pm). This school is great if your child is not in all high classes and needs to have their time and sleep micro managed. This school is no longer great for the high achieving, self- motivated student. It's also not great for students with anxiety, as they are isolated at night, no phone or internet to call for help, punished for being in a friends' room. This isolated time increases risk of self harm.

I love this school: it's people, the opportunities, the campus, the activities, the dorm life. I have had the mot wonderful experiece here. I know that compared to some more selective private high schools in the US, Culver is still lacking in certain areas such as the rigor and selection of classes, variety of clubs, and quality of food. However, I think all the Culver provides is still more than enough.

Culver is truly a place for people to grow. Unlike New England prep schools, Culver students are required to wear uniform often, and if not uniform, they wear athletic wear from the school. This sounds terrible to some, but it allowed me to focus on what was important and not how everyone was looking around me. Culver does an amazing job at making your authentic self shine.

Both CGA and CMA provide a wonderful experience. Unlimited opportunities for education, athletics and leadership. We have a daughter at CGA and a son at CMA and we cannot recommend them highly enough.

The deeply rich traditions and values make Culver a home and well connected community that supports each other. My child has grown into a talented and cofindent person due to the school's purposeful approach with leadership studies and rigorous academics. Opportunities are endless at Culver.

Culver for me has truly become a second family; a home away from home. Boarding school life is daunting at first, but over time the community of students, faculty and staff alike make life pass by quickly. Building bonds with peers like no other, I describe it as a 10-month summer camp to outsiders. There's no good way to describe the impact Culver has had on the people who call it home, and the only way for someone to understand is to experience the Culver way.

I cannot say enough about my time at Culver Academies. I am a recent graduate and had the privilege to spend four amazing years there. It is the most peaceful and beautiful campus on Lake Maxinkuckee. During my time at Culver, I held many leadership positions as well as participated in many extracurricular activities including cheerleading, manager of the tennis team as well as volunteered at the local nursing home. Because the campus is a boarding school, it provides instant friendships, and everyone was there for the same reasons and living away from home for the first time. The emphasis at the school is on leadership and developing each student, mind, body and spirit preparing for the future. The student and teacher ratio was 8:1 and my professors were my mentors, and I had the ability to develop strong relationships with each one over the course of my time there. I honestly cannot say enough good things about my time there and I left there a much better version of myself.

Culver is my home away from home, if I had to choose any where in the world to be it would be their. It is the most beautiful place in the world and without it my life would be in a different place then it is in.

I really liked Culver Academies because of the class sizes and the class sizes were very important to me because I was able to get help with any problems I needed quickly and efficiently. I also like Culver Academies because it was a different environment that I had to adapt to because it was very different than the environment that I was used to. The people were nicer and the community was just one of a kind.

Culver is a FANTASTIC Boarding High School. I loved every minute and would highly recommend Culver Academies to anyone for the well-rounded experience.

Review Culver Academies

Like all schools, there's good and bad. Some of the adults are on power trips, some of the teachers are bad, but I wouldn't trade the experience and friendships for anything

Culver Academies has been such a blessing for our family. I am frequently asked "Why Culver?" My response is always "because they pride themselves on building disciplined leaders." No matter what is next after your high school career, leadership and discipline will be a characteristic that will take you far into the future. The relationships that our children have formed are absolutely priceless and will last a lifetime!! We can't love this place any more!!

Culver was a truly transformational experience for me. I owe much of my personal growth and development, in all aspects (mind, spirit, and body) to Culver. The only thing I would change is the food.

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