- Report: #1135341
Complaint Review: First Coast Academy - Jacksonville Florida
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First Coast Academy
2725 College Street Jacksonville, 32205 Florida, USA
Phone:
800-658-1180
Web:
https://www.fcahighschool.org/
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First Coast Academy/ Atlantic International Institute, Inc. Might as well be a "diploma mill" Jacksonville Florida
I investigated many schools for my daughter who was a senior to finish her high school education. After all the research I chose the First Coast Academy, who is registered with the Florida Department of Education and Nationally Accredited, because it appeared as though their high school diploma program was legitimate. I paid a little over $500 for my daughter to finish earning the credits she needed for the diploma. Once she completed the classes successfully and we ordered her diploma and transcripts we started applying to technical schools, colleges, and universities. I say we applied to all these different types of institutions becaue each and every time we were told that First Coast Academy is on a "list" of do not accept schools. After contacting the school back they could not care less that we were having this issue and suggested we try different types of schools and they knew for a fact that many schools accepted their diploma. Well, FSU, USF, UF, UM, Rasmussen College, Bene's School of Beauty and Massge, Pasco/Hernando Community College, St.Petersburg College, and Southeastern College all refused to accept this diploma stating that "the quality of the program is unacceptable for admission" even ino a technical school. I called the school back again this morning and spoke yet again to the "principal" who yet again, was dismissive and could not care less about their diploma not being accepted. In fact, she stated that Florida State College in their city of Jacksonville accepts their diploma. Well that would be great if my daughter did not live four hours from Jacksonville and they had a massage therapy program. On their own website they state "First Coast Academy is your high school, established to give you another chance, the jump-start you need for security and a good paying job. First Coast Academy is registered with the Florida Department of Education. Through our program, you get a diploma instead of just a piece of paper showing you passed a GED equivalency examination." Well let me tell you that now after all my daughter's hard work and $500 we now have to pay $128.00 for my daughter to take the 5 hour, 4 module, state GED exam if she wants to get into college. So that "piece of paper" they are referring to on their website (the GED), is actually worth more than their $500 high school diploma.
Do yourself and/or your children a favor and stay away from this "diploma mill". They do not care about your future academic or professional goals and their program will not be accepted anywhere. This is my first stop, but it will not be my last as I intend to pursue this all the way to court if I have to. They have not right to even imply that their diploma is better in any way than the GED because I have a GED and four college degrees, but my daughter cannot even go to a technical school for certification with their "diploma"
