Wherry Academy

It has never closed all my kids go here!

I would be what most folks call, a "Problem student". In public school, I was disruptive, argumentative, and often times, absent. This wasn't because I'm a bad kid; rather, because I wasn't challenged by the public school curriculum. In 1979, my second grade year, I was placed in special education class. This was the public school's solution to students like me (Out of sight, out of mind). Here I remained until I started a new school my seventh grade year. My special education teacher immediately recognized I was out of place. He ordered the school to conduct a series of psychological, aptitude, and intelligence quotient tests be administered to me. The outcome was I was labelled "Gifted, but suffered severe ADHD". My I.Q. test came back at 148 average, but was noted that the test was likely low due to my inability to keep my attention.
As a result of these tests, I was expelled from special education and mainstreamed into the seventh grade. I had not been in a 'normal' classroom for five years, and very quickly began to fail. I was still disruptive and argumentative. My mother became overwhelmed and sent me to live with my father in Half Moon Bay, CA. I enrolled in the local junior high school to finish out my eighth grade year. Thanks, in part, to a school guidance councilor, I was able to graduate to high school.
Freshman year in high school started off disastrous. The end of my eight grade year, I took a placement exam, which I had no idea at the time how important it was for my upcoming curriculum. I was disinterested and applied no effort. In fact, I recall simply going through and marking any random answer to get out of that facility. My freshman year curriculum reflected my scores. I was placed in basic math and basic English. This was about the most damaging scenario imaginable to someone like me who responded to challenges. By second semester of freshman year, I simply stopped attending school entirely.
By the end of the year, I was placed on probation. Unfortunately, sophomore year showed more of the same, and by the end of my first semester, sophomore year, I was expelled from the public school system.

This is where Wherry Academy comes in:

As fate would have it, we heard about the small, state accredited school, Wherry Academy. (At the time, located on Highway 92, Half Moon Bay/Redwood City). I was skeptical, but intrigued nonetheless. My first impression of Wherry Academy was that it was small. A schoolhouse of roughly 15 students ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade. However, I quickly found myself making friends and fitting in.
I can honestly say that Wherry Academy, not only changed my life, but changed my perspective on life. I went from an unchallenged, failing student, to one who achieved highest marks, and went on to earn college credits before graduation.
Wherry Academy stimulated me personally. The small classroom sizes and the one-on-one attention was perfect for what I needed for my own growth. My instructors were able to give me the personal attention I needed beyond the regular curriculum. I was challenged. I was encouraged. I grew, I succeeded, and I graduated with my class.

Wherry Academy wasn't just another school. I was THE school that I needed to succeed at life.

Marcus W Collins - Wherry Academy graduating class of 1990
B.S. University of Maine 1995 (GPA 3.33) - Accepted into UC Davis Medical

I want to my son goes here for his Education!!!