RE: 1st U.S. RC Flight School
Interesting idea. They are right, in that "directed practice" is much more effective; usually known as "coaching".
You aren't going to be flying giant-scale solo, for that sort of money... they intimate as much, on their website. Buddy-box is the norm. Nothing wrong with that, though.
In my experience, the quality of training is immensely variable. There are a lot of "instructors" out there, who are just liabilities ... I usually call 'em "Passion Fingers", 'cos everything they touch, they f...!
If this Florida outfit has truly competent instructors, then $650 dollars sounds like a fair price to pay. But, how do you find out?
My advice would be that you do not pay up-front, but that you pay on a day-by-day basis. That way, you can withdraw from the course, without suffering too much loss. If that method of payment is not acceptable to them ... well, that tells you something, right there.
Caveat Emptor.