Baldwin Prep student surveys reveal likes, dislikes after 1st semester at Loxley campus

BY RUTH MAYO
Reporter
ruth@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 1/17/25

LOXLEY — Baldwin Preparatory Academy (BPA), Baldwin County's newest career technology school, is halfway through its first full school year where Principal Adam Sealy says everyone was like a …

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Baldwin Prep student surveys reveal likes, dislikes after 1st semester at Loxley campus

Posted

LOXLEY — Baldwin Preparatory Academy (BPA), Baldwin County's newest career technology school, is halfway through its first full school year where Principal Adam Sealy says everyone was like a freshman as "teachers and students were trying to adjust to a new school setting."

"This is a lot different than anything any of us were used to," Sealy said in an update he presented at the Jan. 14 Baldwin County Board of Education (BCBE) work session meeting. "With anything new, it takes a little time to adjust."

Despite the academy only having one semester complete, Sealy said student voice surveys had positive reviews for each program.

One student said, "My favorite thing about BPA so far is the freedom, responsibility and respect we get that make us feel like we are actually in the workforce."

From another student, "The staff is amazing. The staff will help students regardless of how fast they learn."

Other students spoke on how they enjoyed the setup of the classrooms, allowing them to "be independent." Some students liked the challenge in some of the courses, which encouraged them to "become more creative."

Negative reviews mostly concerned the math classes, academic rigor and struggles with time management.

Assistant Principal Angie Phillips said math classes have been moved from the largest classroom setting to some of their smallest classrooms in response, as the survey helped the staff at BPA "learn for our spaces what worked best."

Sealy said math has "improved drastically" so far since the new, more one-on-one classrooms were implemented in the second semester.

Regarding the academic rigor and time management struggles, Sealy said while these might seem like negative qualities to the students, he sees the rigor and struggle as a positive quality.

"There's a lot of rigor at Baldwin Prep, but we have very good teachers at Baldwin Prep," Sealy said. "They expect a lot from the kids. That's actually a very good thing for their future."

Sealy drew attention to one negative response about how it can be difficult to keep up with the workload.

"Well, isn't that everyday life for anybody going to work?" he said.

The academy's website states that it is "competitive" and "academically rigorous" to prepare students for career paths "of their choosing" and allowing them to take a "high level of responsibility."

Out of 772 students who started at Baldwin Prep in August, 27 did not continue in the second semester. An exit survey was given to the students left.

Three students left for extracurricular opportunities such as band or sports, which are not offered at Baldwin Prep; two failed their dual-enrollment career and technical education (CTE) classes and had to return to high school; one student moved from the district; two left for work/co-op; two were removed due to disciplinary reasons; two gave no response; eight left because it was "too hard"; and seven left because they didn't like their program.

About the latter response, Sealy said, "That's fine, that's what this school is for. Those seven students came, they tried different programs, they realized that this is not for them, but it didn't cost Mom and Daddy any money. They didn't go to college and decide they didn't want to do that and have to change their major."

Sealy said students shouldn't get discouraged when they realize "this is not for me." It's the purpose of the program.

Baldwin County Public Schools Superintendent Eddie Tyler said he thinks 27 out of 772 is "really good stats." He compared the academy to a student joining a program like sports or band and discovering how they feel about the activity before deciding to drop out or stick with it.

"When the season starts, eventually, because of the rigor of practice and the hours, there are going to be some folks that are just going to drop out," Tyler said. "It's just not for them. I think that kind of applies here."

Applications for Baldwin Preparatory Academy's 2025-2016 school year opened Jan. 15 at www.bcbe.org.