We love Pathway! My daughter is in 8th grade this year and we have been going to Pathway for the…read morepast 3 years. She has blossomed and grew in her confidence and academics greatly. Such a loving and supportive community! Highly recommended to any family with kids who need alternatives to learn and grow!

Pathway School has truly been a gift and a blessing for our son…read more He entered Pathway in 5th grade after attending public school, where he struggled with ADHD, dyslexia, slow processing, and orthographia. Traditional classrooms often left him feeling frustrated and unseen, and his confidence in reading and learning continued to suffer. Since joining Pathway, everything has changed. Their personalized learning approach, combined with small class sizes and genuine care, has helped him improve his reading by four levels over just two years. More importantly, he feels seen, heard, and encouraged to embrace exactly who he was designed to be. We're especially grateful for the school's strong Christian foundation and values. Every teacher, aide, and staff member leads with compassion and a heart for these precious children. Pathway also does an exceptional job partnering with parents, offering regular, transparent communication about his growth and progress. We give Pathway our highest recommendation--it has been truly life-changing for our family.

We are incredibly happy with our experience at Stratford. This is our first year at the Laguna…read moreNiguel campus, but our third year with Stratford overall. The school has a strong academic focus from an early age while truly supporting and nurturing my child's interests and growth. The curriculum is well-rounded and thoughtfully designed, covering a wide range of subjects and topics that keep children engaged and curious. It's clear that students are academically challenged in a positive way and are already working at least a school year ahead compared to public schools. The school leadership, teachers and staff team are all friendly, helpful, resourceful, and approachable in so many ways. It genuinely feels like a small family, and the community is incredibly supportive, with many fun activities and events throughout the year that bring everyone together. I could go on, but the best way to understand the environment is to take a tour and explore the website. We're very grateful to be part of the Stratford community and highly recommend it to families looking for a strong academic foundation in a nurturing setting.

We couldn't be happier with our experience at Stratford School in Laguna Niguel. With one child in…read morepreschool and another in elementary, we've had the opportunity to see the school's impact across multiple stages of early education--and it's been nothing short of outstanding. The staff and teachers are the best part of the school! They are incredibly warm, communicative, and genuinely invested in our children's growth. It's clear that they take the time to get to know each child as an individual, creating a supportive environment that feels both nurturing and academically enriching. The preschool program has provided a perfect foundation for our youngest--balancing social-emotional learning with hands-on academics in a way that keeps our child excited to go to school every day. Meanwhile, our elementary-aged child has truly flourished under Stratford's well-rounded curriculum. The emphasis on critical thinking, strong language and math skills, and character development has built a solid educational foundation that we know will serve them for years to come. What sets Stratford apart is the seamless integration of high academic standards with a strong sense of community. The families we go to school with have become lifelong friends. Our children aren't just thriving academically--they're happy, confident, and curious learners. We're so grateful to be part of the Stratford family and can already see how this experience is shaping their educational journey in the best possible way.

I really wanted to love this school, but our overall experience was very disappointing…read more In my opinion, the school maintains a narrow model of 'ideal' student behavior. From what I observed, they are quick to flag children who do not fit this specific mold, often suggesting professional assessments as the primary solution for behavioral differences. I also had concerns regarding supervision. I would receive incident reports that lacked any true insight into what actually happened--situations that likely could have been prevented with better oversight and supervision. For a full year, my child was miserable and would cry every morning, dreading school. After changing his school, the transformation was immediate. Seeing my child thrive in a new environment made me realize the issue was the school. Another major concern was how feedback was communicated. On multiple occasions, teachers raised negative comments about my child directly in front of him, which is entirely inappropriate and not how concerns should be addressed. These conversations should be handled privately with parents--not in a way that can embarrass or impact a child's confidence. What was even more troubling was hearing my son's peers repeat the same language to describe him--terms I had previously heard used by his teachers. That was very telling. It strongly suggests that the language modeled by staff was being picked up and repeated by other children. Therefore, I would have to agree with the shaming and scolding reviews left by others. On a practical note for parents: avoid sending your children in any nice clothing or shoes. In our experience, new items were constantly ruined by the dirt on the playground. Overall I would not recommend this school and I recommend not to be fooled by the pretty magical environment.

My twins have been at Willowbrook since preschool and will be entering 6th grade next fall. They've…read morethrived in every way here....academically, emotionally, physically, etc. The social emotional learning they've been introduced to has been phenomenal. The minute I set foot on this campus for a tour I fell in love. The campus embodies the natural Laguna Beach spirit, surrounded by animals, beautiful trees, a creek, quaint buildings, birds, and happy kids! We've grown close to several families throughout the years thanks to all the activities held on campus. The class sizes are small which was the main reason for choosing private over public. The meals are healthy and delicious. The staff is so wonderful. The commute is 15-20 minutes from Irvine.

My daughter has been struggling her whole life in school and we finally get her into Mardan School…read moreand she's having an amazing time. She's finally getting the support she needs and the education she deserves thank you to her teachers Mr. John and Mr. Zack thank you so much erin! You are so kind and helpful. Thank you Bonnie for everything thing you do thank you so much

I can't say enough about how amazing Mardan is. This school and the staff forever changed my sons…read morelife. Prior to coming here , he hated school , had a ton of behavioral issues and was so unhappy and school was just awful for him. We have been here for 4 years now. He loves school , he's thriving and it's absolutely remarkable to see how much he's changed and grown. The staff is amazing and I'll forever be grateful to have found this school. They truly do care about our children and they go above and beyond every day to make this environment a positive one for my son. I highly recommend Mardan if you're needing an alternative to public school , especially for children with special needs.

I cannot say enough amazing things about this school. There is just something so magical about…read moreexperiencing the locations and their immersive learning program, where nature, academics, joy, and kindness seem to effortlessly intermingle. We were on a waitlist to join for quite a while so when your name gets called - don't wait! We hesitated because of costs and other things going on in our lives, but decided to just go for it because our child really wanted to try it out. And I am SO grateful that we made this choice. The teachers are knowledgeable, attentive, and mindful of encouraging kindness and respect. The curriculum changes depending on weather, location, and environmental circumstances, so even though you may not know exactly what you are walking into each class, you will always leave feeling like you just gave your child a positive memorable life lesson that simply could not have happened in a classroom. We always leave feeling peaceful and grateful and hopeful. It's hard to explain it all until you've experienced it yourself... Thank you so much, Jodi and Team, for all the wonderful programs you are offering that are in such close proximity to our typical urban lives.

Earthroots is a gem in nature, the classes are amazing. The world needs more connection with…read morenature; this field school insights the wonder a child naturally has for Mother Earth. In addition to classes for children, they offer workshops for adults. It's a gorgeous drive. I absolutely love Earthroots and think you will too.

My younger child graduated 8th grade at VDA this summer. I agreed with everything Allison said in…read moreher previous review. As a parent of two strong STEM kids, VDA provided the best Language Arts in Orange County and was our only viable math solution after exploring all public/private options. We are deeply grateful VDA allows self-motivated students to accelerate while building a solid foundation. By graduation, my kids completed all high school math curriculum, respectively, placing into the next math level on high school placement tests. In our experience, VDA teachers are collaborative, and offer actionable guidance. Here are some details about our experience: Lower Grade Math: VDA uses Singapore Math, which I find far superior to Common Core, as an engineer. To schedule math at the exact same time across all classrooms, each elementary teacher adopts one grade level. Faster paced math learners can move up one or even multiple grade levels. This flexibility was crucial to keep my kids challenged and engaged in school math. Middle School Math: High-school Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 follow Singapore Math 6A/B. To deliver quality, two middle school instructors (math/science) plan availability outside class schedules. Regular track takes 3 years to finish Algebra 1, spending significant time introducing functions and quadratic factoring. Seeing this pace, my older child decided to move to the advanced track (one curriculum per year). Instruction occurs in 30-minute sessions 3 days/week before or after school. During regular class, students work independently or collaboratively at the back of the room. My kids adapted seamlessly. Though VDA opens doors to all rather than cherry-picking, it crafts the best possible setup given its resources. LA: look at their schedule posted online. Departmentalization tells everything. Ms VanDamme, Mrs Steele, Mr Lewis, Mr Cobra definitely built a great foundation to my kid's writing and literature analysis skills. Two Tips for Prospective Parents: Accreditation: Many public high schools do not accept unaccredited math/science credits from VDA. If returning to public school, it is an option to arrange accredited coursework through another institute. VDA accommodates, but plan ahead. No-Homework Policy: Great for reducing daily friction, but can hide learning gaps. We supplemented 30 minutes of competition math at home for math modeling training and study habits, plus 15 minutes of daily reading outside of class reading assignments to cultivate a lifelong reading habit. I will miss the Friday morning coffee tradition with other parents and all the teachers who are more of mentors in enlightening my children's education. Thank you.

As parents, we all seek the best educational and developmental environments for our children…read more After 3 years in public school, we realized that both of our kids were getting lost in the large classes and needed a small school environment to thrive. We sought out a school that with small classes, stimulating curriculum, engaged teachers, and a supportive social environment. Vandamme Academy has exceeded on all levels - and we only wish we had enrolled sooner! The small classes and overall school environment are what first brought us to Vandamme. We love that each grade level has only one class with roughly 15 students. The homeroom/subject matter class structure makes a huge impact in that it allows students to form relationships with multiple adults (and role models) at school. As we approach the end of our first year at Vandamme, we have seen how much maturity and confidence our kids have gained through these relationships. It is also clear that the teachers truly get to know each student's learning style, personality, strengths, and areas of need. The rigorous academic program is thoughtfully designed by Ms. Vandamme and the teaching staff in a way that challenges and inspires students. We love that the teachers specialize in subjects that they are passionate about. In doing so, they pass on their interest onto the students, so that students become interested and engaged in each subject. Just last week, I was blown away when my fourth grader asked to go to the library for books on Shakespeare's works. Beyond academics, we love Vandamme's positive and inclusive social environment. Students seem to come from diverse backgrounds and neighborhoods throughout our county, and the school staff does a great job of modeling kindness, inclusion, and respect. I've had the privilege of volunteering at two school events and chaperoning one field trip this year. In all instances, I've been so impressed with how responsible and respectful all of the students are. The food is also wonderful! While we don't order hot lunch every day, my kids always look forward to Chef Faustino's healthy and delicious creations. We are so grateful to Ms. Vandamme and the entire staff for providing a learning environment that not only enables ours kids to excel academically, but also build character and confidence.

I was looking for a summer camp for my son and heard that this center is newly opening, so I…read moredecided to stop by and check it out. I'm so glad I did! The facility is beautiful--very clean, bright, and welcoming. The classrooms are spacious, and the gym is big enough for kids to really move around and release their energy, which I know my son will love. I also really appreciate that they offer weekly registration. We decided to sign up for just one week to start, and if he enjoys it, I'm definitely thinking about enrolling him in their afterschool program too. So far, everything--from the facility to the program--looks amazing. I'm really hoping the actual experience will be just as great!

The center was very clean and felt stable and well-organized. It provides an environment where…read morechildren can focus on both their studies and activities, and the gym is wonderful space where kids can relax, enjoy their enrichment program. The teachers were also kind, well-credentialed, and clearly experienced. I'm really looking forward to it.

Our family has a long history with this school, which makes this review especially difficult to…read morewrite. While there are dedicated teachers, our recent experience exposed deep problems in how serious student concerns are handled. Following a bullying incident, the school's response was slow, procedural, and fragmented. A safety plan was eventually produced, but it relied heavily on the student to manage unsafe situations and lacked clear staff accountability. Even more troubling, the plan was finalized without including all custodial parents in the process. Instead of focusing on corrective action and supervision, the school increasingly framed homeschooling or withdrawal as the "only viable path," which felt more like avoidance than resolution. Parents entrust schools with their children's well‑being. When concerns are raised, families should be met with transparency, collaboration, and urgency. Sadly, that was not our experience.

Our family is so grateful for this school. For the last four years they have really enriched our…read morechildren and helped grow their faith alongside their education. I highly recommend this school if you're looking for a great Christian based education and wonderful environment for your schooling.