Excellent School with fantastic teachers. Charter schools were a perfect choice for both of my…read moreboys and Altus is really caring about my kids success. With Altus - my kids are college prepared! At Altus the teachers are very helpful. Every time my son needs help, he can text a teacher and gets a response within minutes. The centers are open for extra help if needed. I can't say enough about Altus

I love Audeo. My son was struggling with distractions at his previous school and his teachers would…read morenot help him the way he needed and Audeo Charter took him in right away and he was able to get his grades back up and have a successful future. The teachers really care about the students and check on their students regularly. Audeo has given my son the future he deserves.

I am so so SO incredibly happy that we chose Barnard for my two girls, currently in 1st grade and…read moreTK. I had always hoped we could bring mandarin regularly into our lives and this is working well for us. Not only is my oldest comprehending chinese and learning to read and write (half of the day is in chinese!) but she actually enjoys learning it. We have had amazing teachers and the PTA is incredibly involved and supportive. This is a solid school for parental involvement. Partly because all the families choose to be there with intention (it's a magnet school). I really appreciate the diversity of the student population, makes us feel at home as an ethnically mixed family.

I spent nine years as a parent at Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School (2013-2022). My son and…read moredaughter both completed the K-5 Mandarin immersion program and now are in high school and middle school respectively. My kids loved the school, its teachers, and the three different principals that were present during their years there. My kids have an incredible knowledge of the Mandarin language and of Asian culture. We have visited China three times. Interacting with locals has been a positive and joyous experience. We plan to continue with the Mandarin immersion program through high school. But there is so much more to Barnard than just Mandarin. The school offers an excellent, well-rounded ELA, math, and science curriculum. Their extra language skills only enhanced their engagement and absorption of other topics. The PTA offers a ton of wonderful extracurricular activities. My kids learned so much, made great friends with diverse families from throughout San Diego county, and collected terrific childhood memories of the many great times at Barnard. Highly recommended!

I applied for the lottery believing this was the best possible school my daughter could go to. I…read morehad previous connections to some staff and the best principle I've ever met, Greta Bouterse. I absolutely love Frau Claudia & Holt, and despite my multiple requests being denied for my daughter to be in the latter's class, after jumping through all of the other hoops, we put her in the school anyway. Sadly, just after the cutoff date for applications to other charter schools closed, Superintendent David Sciaretta and the Board deviated from their charter, firing Principal Bouterse under suspect circumstances, truly undermining the foundation of the school and damaging relationships with parents, faculty and staff. This single blow has been truly devastating to our community, and has shattered our confidence in Sciaretta and the Board, who seem corrupt, power-hungry and lack transparency and integrity. We have yet to receive a reason for this firing, after 23 years of excellent service by Greta, 12 as Principal. Furthermore, despite parents and faculty showing up en-masse to meetings, airing grievances and raising objections, with hundreds more emailing in, requesting that Superintendent Sciaretta and the Board hold true to their charter and divulge information, all requests unheard or denied. On site, there is consistent physical assault, bullying, teasing, and unhealthy, unsafe, and unnecessary negative interactions that are not being resolved in quality manners. Office staff deny requests for restorative justice, there is no on-site nurse, and many of the teachers lack quality pay or resources to support their needs. Many of whom are paying out of pocket for supplies, with parents also donating to make up the difference. All this while Sciaretta has spent over 300,000$ on advertising and has a ridiculously large salary as well. The administration of Sciaretta and the Board is appalling, injust, disheartening, and disappointing. Many efforts are being made to protest, demand transparency and a return to the schools charter. I will be enrolling my child in a different school next year. It is pathetic and unconscionable to see the downfall of this school, once a heralded, prestigious institution of our community. Do NOT SUPPORT this corrupt administration, demand justice be served!

Love this school, my daughter is blessed her teachers and staff are amazing and a great influence…read morethank you all

An Amazing Christian School!…read more Our kids have been attending The Rock Academy for the past three years, and we couldn't be more grateful for the experience. It truly is an amazing Christian school where students are not only receiving an excellent education, but are also encouraged to grow in their faith, character, and relationship with God. The teachers and staff genuinely care about their students and go above and beyond to create a loving, supportive, and Christ-centered environment. We have seen our children grow academically, personally, and spiritually during their time at The Rock Academy. What we love most is that the school feels like a community--a place where faith, education, and strong values come together. We are so thankful for all the teachers, staff, and families who have made these past three years so special for our children. We feel truly blessed to be part of The Rock Academy family and highly recommend this school to any family looking for a Christ-centered education.

Can't say enough good things about this school! All three of our children attend and have been…read moreattending since the Early Education Preschool. We currently have an 8th grader, 6th grader, and a kindergartner. From the front office to the teaching staff to the leadership, all have been and are exemplary. This school doesn't just focus on the high importance of academics, but also its moats our children's faith as a believer in Christ. Their mission statement is to develop and encourage Do Something Christians, Dynamic Communicators, and Deep Thinkers, and I've seen it accomplished in those who have graduated. I believe they also have a very high college acceptance rate of over 96%! Lord willing, I hope all three of our children graduate from this amazing school and their top notch programs! Thank you Rock Academy!

I cannot thank all teachers, PTA and staff members enough for their enthusiasm for supporting the…read morekids here! They are warm and treat us like a family literally. Love their VAPA program and tons of activities and performance opportunities. Recommended.

My daughter's education here was fine. My daughter dealt with bullies since arrived in 2nd grade…read more She used to be the smiling kid all the time but this school changed her. She was always blamed by all for it. Like when kids found out she was gay. She was told to keep to herself. She never felt like she could be herself here. Even last school therapist thought she had too much computer time. I am a good parent and know I have a highly intelligent kid.

My grandson Attends City Tree. I cannot say enough about the wonderful staff and excellent…read moreeducation he is getting.

As a foster dad, I was searching for a stable, loving environment for my foster son, somewhere he…read morecould feel safe, supported, and celebrated. My brother's family had a wonderful experience at City Tree School, so we reached out right away. From the first visit, we felt the warmth and professionalism of the entire team. One of the things we appreciated most was the peace of mind that came from their safety measures. There are two passcode-protected entry doors and a cheerful morning security guard who greeted the children while ensuring a secure environment. The Brightwheel app was another huge plus, letting us receive photos throughout the day so we could share in his learning and milestones. Academically, he made an important leap forward, getting back on track thanks to the dedication and encouragement of his teachers. Small preschool class sizes, around 10:1, meant he received individual attention, and he was celebrated at the Friday award ceremony, something he still talks about months later. Even into the summer, he fondly remembers his preschool teacher. As a downtown urban school, there is no large grassy field, but City Tree makes good use of its space. The rooftop playground is exceptionally safe and well-equipped, with a full basketball court, a separate playground with a play structure, and a first-floor courtyard where kids can ride tricycles and enjoy fresh air. Our son also loved trips to the adjacent garden across from the school, where he learned about plants and beneficial bugs. When foster funding ran out, City Tree stepped in without hesitation and offered a scholarship so he could remain in this amazing environment. This was not just financial aid, it was an act of genuine care that told our family, "We are with you in this." That decision allowed our foster son to keep his friends, maintain his routine, and continue growing in a place where he felt safe and valued. It is a kindness we will never forget. Director Sara Delgado and Academic Director Jennifer Nguyen were present, engaged, and personally invested in our son's success. Sara was there throughout our time at City Tree, regularly processing his growth with my wife and his preschool teacher, offering encouragement, and supporting us through each stage. Jennifer brought thoughtful academic insight, having interacted with our son herself, and was able to speak to his progress with care and specificity. Their leadership creates a school culture where children are known, supported, and inspired to grow. In a time when some approach faith-based schools with caution, City Tree quietly lives out its values through consistent and compassionate action, teaching character through example, not just words. Overall, City Tree was far more than a preschool for us. It was a lifeline of stability, care, and genuine love during a critical chapter in our foster son's life.

I do not have a child who attends this school, but I do live in the neighborhood and am forced to…read moredeal with the daily danger caused by speeding parents and students. Every morning, they race down my block with reckless disregard for the safety of this community. Despite our efforts to protect our neighborhood--fighting to install stop signs, speed humps, and lowering the speed limit to 15 mph--they still drive through our narrow street as if it were the 805 during a car chase. I know the principal works hard to remind families to slow down and respect the community in which this school resides. Unfortunately, too many ignore those reminders. Their disregard makes it clear they simply do not care about the safety of the residents who live here.

I am an alumnus, and very grateful and proud to have attended St. Augustine High School. My…read moreeducation and the values system instilled in me remain powerful influences in my life today. It is an honor to be part of the 'Saints' legacy.

I love this school my daughter went here for kinder and first and she loved it. She misses this…read moreschool so much and still till this day says she wants to go back. If we didn't have to move she would still be going here. The only thing that I didn't like was how small the school is and the parking but besides that it's wonderful elementary school. The teachers are really involved in the care of each and all their students. I also love that they had an afterschool program and a huge fair every year. We are planning on moving back closer just for this school and fair. My daughter loved her teacher "Mrs. Repaire" in the year of 2024 kindergarten English class. Thank God we never met the former teacher which we heard in 2023 was a nightmare, "Mr. Kruel" his name says it all and we heard he got fired also for being mean to the the kindergartners.

Our family had a deeply troubling experience at John Adams Elementary School during the 2023-2024…read moreschool year, specifically with my son's kindergarten teacher, Mr. Kuehl. From the very first weeks of school in August and September 2023, my son began expressing distress about his classroom environment. He often told me that his teacher yelled at him and his classmates. I tried speaking with Mr. Kuehl on many occasions, but he was often irritable and dismissive. I once arranged to quietly observe my son's class; the teacher appeared visibly upset that I was present, stating that my presence "messes up the classroom dynamic." The principal, Ms. Decy Piña, later insisted that I volunteer at lunchtime instead, rather than in the classroom. My son also reported telling Mr. Kuehl about another student hitting him, only to be told, "I don't care." The most upsetting incident occurred when my son came home crying, saying that Mr. Kuehl grabbed his lunch pail from his desk, threw it on the floor, and then yelled at him to pick it up. He described feeling both sad and scared. I contacted the principal immediately after this incident, and my son was excused from multiple days of school until a meeting could be arranged with both the teacher and the principal. At that meeting, Mr. Kuehl denied all the allegations. The environment was tense, and I found his demeanor to be defensive and hostile, further reinforcing my concerns about his ability to regulate his emotions around young children. Principal Piña sat through the meeting emotionless. This was my son's first year of kindergarten -- it should have been a positive learning experience, but instead, it was a nightmare. Not only were we navigating our first year of school, but I was also seven months pregnant, dealing with the stress the school brought on. We ultimately decided to transfer my son to another school because Mr. Kuehl was the only English teacher. If we stayed, he would have been placed back in his classroom or moved into a dual-language class, which was not the right fit for him. A few parents privately expressed concerns about this teacher to me, sharing that they knew of students who had been moved out of his class. After we left, another parent reached out to tell me that her son, still in that classroom, was experiencing the same, if not worse, treatment. I never received an apology. I contacted the district, but they simply forwarded my complaint back to Ms. Piña, who never followed up with me. Based on our experience, I cannot recommend this school without significant changes to staff training, communication, and accountability. Young children deserve a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment, unfortunately, that was not what we experienced here.