Our daughter attended Kindergarden at the Manzanita campus and boy do I wish we could have packed up this delightful school and brought it with us when we moved to the east coast. Intimate and beautiful, the campus is a gem. Our daughter was instantly enchanted by all the stained glass, trees, flowers and chickens. Every classroom has its own outdoor space where home cooked family style lunches (often featuring food grown on Miss Anneliese's ranch) are served. The staff is equally nurturing and professional. The academics are solid: phonics based reading, Singapore math and handwriting without tears. My daughter started kindergarten not knowing how to read and tested into her new school one year above grade level. Weekly (or more) French, Spanish, German, American Sign Language, Music, Handcrafts and PE lessons are taught by specialty teachers. The school also hosts numerous social events throughout the year that help to foster a fun and active parent community. We remember our daughter's year at the Anneliese Manzanita campus with great fondness and wholeheartedly recommend it to any family looking for an enriching school experience. read more

Anneliese Schools - Kindergarten year end performance at Manzanita campus. - Elementary Schools Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

We love Anneliese's Our boys learned different languages, practiced music and art and gardening. All of their teachers have been excellent. And they really love the food at school. read more

Fantastic teachers and management staff. They truly care about their students which is authentically demonstrated daily. The campus is beautiful with mini horses, alpacas, peacocks, chickens, and other animals the children get to interact with. They are taught 3 different languages and play different instruments daily. They teach/coach about emotional intelligence as well as scholastics. I would highly recommend this school. read more

The Manzanita campus is something out of a fairytale! Out of all of the campuses this one is my absolute favorite. My daughter has been going to this campus and is always so excited to go to school every morning, wants to stay until 5 for the enrichment classes and gets upset when I pick her up too early! She tells me she loves her teachers and the food for lunch is amazing. The school has a magical feel to it when you walk in the door. You feel right at home and feel as a family with everyone. The whole school has this wonderful organic feel and the energy is so uplifting. The teachers are so sweet, kind and knowledgeable. Mr. John is absolutely amazing, always on top of everything and is so sweet to everyone! The values they teach are impeccable and all the children are so well behaved, kind and friendly. They learn many languages, do fun science experiments and make incredible art! Everyone has respect for each other and wants to help out if anyone is in need. They host fun get togethers for the kids and parents where you don't want to leave! One day I walked in around Christmas to see the 2nd graders knitting around the roaring fire all cozied up and I just wished I was able to go to a school like this when I was their age. No other school compares! Please if in doubt just go visit! You will be thoroughly impressed and amazed! read more

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We have a 6 and 8 year old at Anneliese and it's been a truly special schooling experience. Both kids have been there since Kindergarten. We go to the Manzanita and Willowbrook campuses. Academically they have been on point. The language program is amazing and inspiring; French, Spanish, German, and sign language. Experienced and dedicated teachers that go above and beyond. The farm-to-table food program with a "Nourishment Program Director" is not advertised well but it should be. The meals on any given day are excellent using fresh-grown produce straight from the school's farm. read more

My child has been at Manzanita two years and this is a review of the manzanita campus specifically. I am college professor and care a lot about my children's academic and emotional development. I work with a lot of young adults who have the former without the latter and worry (as many of us do) about my children not having resilience in addition to intelligence and education. Enter Manzanita Anneliese. We have loved every minute of her time at school there. My child's teachers are amazing and my child goes to school excited every day to learn for both pre-K and Kindergarten. Academically my child has been reading above grade level and reads for fun at home. She loves math and is enthusiastic about counting by 5/10/20s, doing addition and subtraction. I had been hesitant initially because I heard through the grapevine that Annaliese students aren't as strong academically but she reads better than her older cousins and with more enthusiasm. She also sings and talks in multiple languages which has given her an enthusiasm and context for learning more about other countries and languages. She also comes home and loves to draw and create things. I love that they don't use electronics (she gets enough of that elsewhere) and the campus is MAGICAL. She spends her time surrounded by greenery which has been shown to lower stress and boost neurological development. I see the teachers kindly work on developing resilience and grit. On the emotional side, my previously perfectionist child now will say to me "we all make mistakes" and is more process oriented, focusing on working hard and achieving through effort. They learn a lot about working together and contributing to society and this has so many amazing downstream effects at home, including better sharing and improved delayed gratification. Finally the food. My child was a picky eater but has opened up her eating which I attribute so much the Anneliese. They all sit down together and eat, as opposed to having combined recess and lunch time (and not eating at all). She comes home asking for salad and potato leek soup and lots of things I'm not sure she would try otherwise. Plus I don't have to make lunch. I only wish the Manzanita campus ran through grade 6. read more

My son has attended Anneliese Manzanita from Pre-k (K1) thru first grade and we absolutely love this campus. I truly cannot imagine a better place for children to spend their early educational years. The teachers and staff here are wonderful, caring and excellent at what they do. The curriculum is strong academically while being rich in culture, art, language, music and more. The children here have a love of learning, because the material is presented in dynamic and thoughtful ways, rather than pushing rote memorization. Children are provided with a warm, nourishing lunch and snacks every day, with many ingredients coming from the school's farm. My son loves the food and I love knowing that he is well fed and that I don't need to pack a lunch every morning! The school yard has garden beds, wonderful play-structures, and is surrounded and shaded by lush, mature trees. There is a sense of connection with nature and beauty at this campus, which you don't get on the asphalt playgrounds and metal play structures found at many public schools. The field trips are amazing and include outings like attending a theatrical performances at Segerstrom center or the Laguna Playhouse, Train rides to San Diego, visits to the ocean institute in Dana Point, strawberry picking, pumpkin patch visits, and so munch more. There are various cultural and seasonal events hosted by the school throughout the school year, which are so much fun and enjoyed by adults and children alike. We love the strong sense of community we have at this campus. Anneliese Manzanita is a hidden gem in Laguna Beach. Words can't describe the magical feeling you have while on this campus. It's no wonder I hear kids at pick up every day begging their parents to let them stay at school a little longer :) read more

My niece and nephew went there, and the times that I visited I wish that I had that opportunity too!! Outstanding campus and teachers!!

My child was a student from age 2-5 at the Aliso campus, beginning in 1993. I believe the roots that established the amazing 30 year old man that is my son today were heavily influenced by his time spent here. read more

Fantastic people work here. My child feels completely supported in these trying times and all of the language skills he is learning is wonderful! read more

My decision to enroll my daughter in Anneliese is one of the best ones ever made. This school is full of smart, caring teachers (all who know more than one language) who obviously love what they do. My daughter is excited to go to school and loves sharing what she learned on the way home. This is hands on education at its best. Art, music, yoga and playtime seem to be magically woven together into an environment that fosters learning. I could not be happier with the school and the strong base they are giving my daughter for future educational success. I would give them 10 stars if I could read more

A wonderful magical enchanting place for children and even adults to see this special school and system .. I only regret I'm not the child now that gets to go there to these beautiful campuses . Very unique ...I am impressed ! Lynn T. read more

Totally Disappointed. When we looked at the school we were extremely excited of our son going to school here. The campus is absolutely beautiful and it is like a scene out of a movie with all the animals and the beautiful setting. If you have a 2-4 year old child I would highly recommend choosing another school. The reason is the way they structure the classes for the 2-4 year old children creates problems. For example, by law you have to have 1 teacher for every 6 children. What Anneliese does is put 23 children in a classroom with 4 teachers. By the nature of this structure what often happens is 2 of the 4 teachers will be distracted with one child each while the other 2 teachers are managing the other 21 children. Now imagine what happens when you have 21 two year olds being watched by 2 teachers? It is crazy. In my son's case he was not getting the attention he needed and would act out. He had been in day care since he was 3 months old and never exhibited this type of behavior. He was a model student and the teachers at his last day care cried when he left. When the teachers told us about what was going on they gave us no plan and made us feel bad like we were causing it. Being good parents we wanted to fix it so we talked to one of the key administrators on the staff. She has a PhD in figured that she might know what we might do. To add insult to injury the feedback that she gave us was 100% wrong. She told us our son had a learning disability and behavioral problems. Can you imagine you sit down with this person to get help and in a very public place you end up walking away feeling very upset and embarrassed. It was less about the content and more about the way she said it. Keeping an open mind, we ended up have our son checked by professional child specialist and she told us that our son was fine. Long story short we moved him to another school and our son blossomed. Two year olds cannot articulate their feeling very well and they act out when they are not happy. He did not like it at Anneliese and he is doing so much better at another school. Again if you have a 2-4 year old child I would highly consider going to a place that is not so crowded. It will be a lot better for your child and you. Since leaving the school we have run into 3 other parents that told us the same story. It is too bad because the setting is beautiful but the structure is poor. read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about Anneliese Schools. I've had three kids at the schools over 7 years and at every campus, most recently at the Manzanita campus. Manzanita is tucked away in an old bed and breakfast on the side of a hill. They have a orange trees, pomegranate trees, and a full garden. It's like a little tree house. My kids continue to be strong leaders with a love of learning. They are not afraid to speak up and have conversations with adults because they know they are valued. They can count and sing in French, Spanish, and Germany. Amazing art work! My 4 year old made kumquat salsa and is learning how to cook. In the aftershool enrichment programs they have done French cooking, knitting, yoga, Asian watercolor painting. It is such a rich, interesting curriculum. Lunches are home cooked and organic. We love it! read more

Our granddaughter has been a student at Willowbrook for a few years now. She is almost four. I have little except my own observations to add...She is cheerful when picked up. Most days she looks forward to school, sometimes not. Her verbal skills continue to surprise, her social skills seem age appropriate, she loves to read and be read to. She speaks positively of her teachers and schoolmates. She has made friendships that continue outside the classroom. She is comfortable with animals, loves to garden, and seems to have an inquisitive nature,...We all live together so Grandma is an active participant in her life, she says not perfect, but very suitable, good enough for me. read more

(Willowbrook campus on Laguna Canyon) A treasure in orange county! We were so happy to find this enchanting and caring school after going to montessori for 2 years. Our daughter has thrived at this upper preschool class and now the K1 class (or Transitional Kindergarten). The outdoor areas are plentiful and so healthy for the little ones to be able to explore their surroundings. The teachers are phenomenal and the admin is very caring. We wish they taught some mandarin as this is more practical these days but that is minor. And maybe more fun math at an early age but I can do this at home for now. If you want your kid to be a well rounded this is the place. Last point, they do get dirtier than montessori but that just means I can send her in less fancy clothes ;). read more

I attended a school function for my niece and nephew ( they both go to the school), students were also present and alcohol was being served. Some of the parents were intoxicated and then they were driving home with the children (great example of responsibility by the staff, teachers and parents). As an educator in the same state I was shocked, alcohol is not supposed to be provided at school events especially when students are present. read more

I'm shocked to read these reviews. My child has goine to the Aliso campus for 2 years and my second is starting in a month. I decribe the atmosphere as, "it's like walking into a hug". In response to the few horrible reviews I read here... the school is NOT dirty and it is NOT uncaring. The teachers are so loving. My daughter hugs all of them all the time and I've NEVER seen a child crying unattended. My daughter drives home with me and sings me songs in Japanese, German, French, and Spanish. She counts in all these languages and is constantly telling we the way to say words in different languages. She gardens and learns about growing food using her hands. She is taught to respect all people and cultures around her. Yes, my daughter comes home dirty. Sometimes when I pick her up I stay inside so I can quietly watch her playing in the sand with her friends - using her imagination and getting DIRTY! It makes me so happy to watch her bing a kid and just having so much fun. Kids are supposed to get dirty. However, it's rediculous to say that they don't wash their hands - they stand in line and wash in the sink every time they come in. That place is meticulously cleaned EVERY DAY. I know because I have to walk around all the women cleaning every time I pick my daughter up. Oh, and if you really believe the person who says they "spank", well then call me because I have a waterfront plot of land in Florida to sell to you. As another woman says - if you want to truly find out about the school you should go see it yourself. I think that there are people posting on Yelp that might have ulterior motives. read more

I have to agree with Samantha T. and have to believe some of these reviews are fake. My daughter spend one year in kindergarten at the Wesley campus, then moved to Manzanita for the next three years. The Manzanita campus only goes through third grade, so then we transferred her to the public elementary school, which is excellent and both my older children loved it. But after attending Anneliese's, my daughter was pining for her days there for the next two years. At Anneliese's, there were long play recesses and lunch periods (she still raves about the healthy, organic, tasty food there), lots of play and extensive enrichment in the arts and in languages. Yet when she entered the public school, she also was academically ahead of her grade in every area. She's continued to be at the head of her class into high school. In addition, the early introduction to languages gave her a feel for foreign languages; in middle school, she took three of them and continues in all of them. We loved it there, too! Back-to-school nights involved cosy visits in the gorgeous home-like building. A fire would be burning in the fireplace, Anneliese would cook traditional German foods for the parents and wine would be served. Yet with wraparound child care, this cost less than what a private part-time babysitter would have cost. The garden was a magical place for playing. More, our daughter learned to love learning and love school. She understood what it was to read for pleasure, write well and think critically. Heaven forbid we came to pick her up too early, she would ask us to come back later! I atttribute her ongoing love of learning and her continued outstanding academic achievement to Anneliese's. She goes back there to volunteer regularly. Spanking? At Anneliese's? Absolutely unthinkable. I have neved seen such a child-loving place. read more

We love Anneliese Schools and the experience my two boys are getting there. My oldest has been there since he was three and when he went into 1st grade, we agonized about whether to keep him at this magical school or move him to public school. Hands down, we made the right decision for our son!! He moved from the intimate living Aliso campus up to what can only be described as a fairy house come to life Manzanita campus and has thrived and grown into a critical thinking problem solving almost 3rd grader. The small class sizes and curriculum at Anneliese Schools allow students to blossom into the best version of themselves. Differentiated learning is not just a buzz word it is actively practiced in every classroom. Students are challenged to try more complex problems when they have mastered the basics. If they need assistance getting to mastery of the basics the teachers have the tools and the time to work with them and access their strength. This is the perfect place for my kids! I wish I could be there for the farm to table organic lunch!! read more

My son has been at Anneliese for almost 2 years now at the Aliso campus. He started at age 2 in the nursery and from the very first day, we knew it was a great fit. The teachers are nuturing and the environment is great for learning. Our son has started to speak phrases and words in Spanish, Japanese, French and German. He counts to 20 (also in the various languages), knows his ABCs and is starting to recognize words. Lunches and snack are included with tuition and it's better than most restaurants. We've also enjoyed the community of parents that we've met and just took advantage of the "sleepover" at the main campus. We're looking forward to many more years at Anneliese. read more

My granddaughter goes to the Willowbrook campus. I agree with Samantha T and Sophie B. The teachers ARE caring and kind. Discipline is appropriate, and I have never heard of a child being spanked. I also believe this is the best school around. In kindergarten, my granddaughter began to learn phonics. By now (beginning of first grade), she is an avid reader, writes letters, usually loves to do her homework, can do double-digit addition, and delights in learning German. Yes, she's dirty when she comes home, because she also plays with all her heart, like a child should, in a natural environment that includes trees, a river (safely fenced), and an aviary. These children are learning to be fine human beings. read more

It's definitely fun for kids as mine briefly attended. Not the greatest school but certainly not the worst. And its beautiful.

We started our child mid-year in K-1 at the Willowbrook campus and were really pleased with the loving attention shown to a child who had been through a great deal of transition, relocating to the west coast, a new home, loss of old friends, sibling and family relatives left behind in distant locations. This school turned out to be a perfect welcoming and nurturing environment that we were lucky enough to come across. It has been great fun for our child, experiencing the multi-cultural, multi-lingual learning environment and the gentle and fair discipline that allows for learning in a pleasant environment. He sings and speaks in German, French and other languages, performs in shows with all of his new friends, creates wonderful artwork, sculpture, painting, drawing and is now writing and reading with greater confidence. We are enjoying our third year at Anneliese read more

We feel truly privileged to have been a part of the Annaliese community. From the first time we walked in the door, we were captivated by the magic of this school which has real heart & soul. Our four year old thrived in this enriching environment and developed a real passion for languages (in only two months he was happily singing songs at home in Japanese, French, & Spanish), cooking, yoga, and drawing. We also loved the fact the school provided him with healthy, organic home-cooked snacks and lunch. We would highly recommend Annaliese and it was one of our highlights of living in Laguna Beach. read more

I went to this school as a child and it was the best thing my parents ever did for me. I went to school from first-grade to fifth-grade. This school instilled in me at a young age a passion to learn. It also served as a spark to my creative flame . This school for me was much more than a place of learning it was a family. On rainy days during recess we would stay inside and sit by a nice warm fire and tell stories. This is one of the many memories I cherish. I also developed great relationships with my teachers and a strong respect for my elders. Those teachers were my favorite teachers and I am still in contact with a few of them today. In this school everyone is very involved in the growth of the students in many ways. When I attended this school we were all learning up to five languages. Unfortunately i can no speak fluent in all the languages. However my father who was stationed in Ramstein in air force as a young man, learned German. For a while my father and I were able to speak German to each other. This school is also ahead in its academic studies. I was at a fifth-grade reading level in the third-grade. When I moved and switched over to a public school i tested highest in my class for standardized testing. When I attended Anneliese's school we were served fresh lunches and snacks prepared daily by the chefs there. This food was not only healthy and organic but delicious. They have some of the best soup and pizza I have had to this very day. Last but not least I developed lasting friendships with my fellow class mates that have been a huge part of my life for 11+ years. Most if not all of my favorite childhood memories took place at this school. I attended the Williowbrook, and Manzanita campus while my sister attended the Aliso campus. This school was the best thing that happened to me as it shaped me into the person I am today. I could go on and tell everyone ever memory I have but that would be to long. To sum it up, this school is amazing and at the end of the day your children will be growing as a person, in skill and knowledge, making life long friends, as memories that they can tell their children. After all what more could you ask as a parent. ***Last comments: For the man who discussed how he though that they do not take allergies serious. I am allergic to strawberries, watermelon, and kiwi. They always were very cautious about what they fed me and always made sure that I was great and those are not common allergies. Also some people were concerned about the amount of tours and that it may serve as a disruption but i can assure you that never once was anything like that a problem for me. I don't even remember people coming into our class rooms unless we invited them in. About the spanking issue. NEVER ONCE was I touched in such a way. Everyone was very kind. This is probably the most kid friendly area you could ask for. read more

Run, run, run, run! I can't emphasize enough how truly horrified I was at this school. I am a veteran teacher and school librarian who was seduced by the charming setting and well-meaning director and office staff. I would characterize the children at Willowbrook as the privileged Juvenile version of Lord of the Flies. My 5 year-old attended several days of summer camp as part of the screening process, and she experienced several rounds of bullying, including physical altercations. Wise beyond her years, she explained that the adults who were supervising on the playground thought that the children were just playing, but they were hurting and scaring other kids. Her arms were pinned by older boys who also yanked on her wrists. Girls her own age who had grown up in the system were already accomplished at ostracizing others. And, little intervention was done that I could tell by those in authority. Children like my daughter were left to fend for themselves. I'm sure the school would like to foist off my concerns as those of an overprotective mother, but that simply isn't the case. As I scrambled to find an alternative school days before school started, I heard tales from other private schools in the area that had taken in other children from families fleeing idyllic Anneliese campuses. Furthermore, my daughter attended a local co-op preschool directed by a veteran teacher who has lived in Laguna Beach for years, and she testified to her concerns regarding the Anneliese system. She cited children who are entitled, and mostly left to raise themselves by nannies and long days in child care as well as a lack of professional development for teachers and staff who are ill-prepared to deal with the developmental challenges unique to each age group of children. Once we left Anneliese and headed to a private school in San Juan Capistrano, my daughter began to thrive again. She still misses the ponies when we drive through Laguna Canyon, but never the kids at Willowbrook. She's quick to recall how mean they are. Deanna B. read more

I was so disappointed with this school. I visited several times (I had high hopes), but I found the teachers to be uncaring... They let a child cry on the playground for 10 minutes w/o comforting her or redirecting her. They told me why she was crying, as if because they knew the reason, they didn't have to do anything about it. My friend who came with me finally went to her, and the girl put her head on my friend's shoulder - She just wanted some reassurance! The place is also really dirty. I understand the purpose of having kids play in the dirt and mud (one of the things the school believes is important for kids), but there's a difference between that and being unhygienic. The preschoolers weren't given the opportunity to wash their hands before or after snack. They had watermelon juice all over their hands and faces, and then went out to play in the dirt. The toilet area was dirty, and when I visited, there wasn't a working sink in the classroom, so I don't know how kids washed their hands after going potty. Also BEWARE... they say they won't cash your application check until you agree on a start date, but they cashed mine before I even realized it. When I decided I didn't want my kids to go there, they wouldn't give me my money back ($600 for two kids), and they lied about it and said we had agreed on a start date. The place is just sketchy. read more

We were so disappointed in Anneliese's School (Willowbrook Campus). We had recently moved to Orange County from Melbourne, Australia and had researched this school and had high hopes for it. Our daughter had attended an alternative private school in Melbourne where she was absolutely thriving. We had a three-day trial in a senior kindergarten class at Willowbrook and learnt quickly that the image the school portrays and the reality of it are two very different things. There appeared to be a heavy focus on reading and writing, which is contrary to what we were told during the tour. Having her trial mid-year, and having not learnt letters and numbers in the same manner, our daughter felt overwhelmed and upset. Instead of empathizing with her, the teachers complained to us about her reaction, insinuating that she had a bevaioural problems. We were mortified and very upset. The school also told us that the fact that our daughter liked to play on her own was unusual and worrying for a 5-year-old. She's moved across the world, entered an environment where everyone already knows each other, and she's made out to be an oddball when she doesn't make friends with all the other children in three days? The school's expectations were totally unrealistic and the way they provided feedback, in a long, scathing-toned email was unbelievable. Having experienced exceptional-quality teaching in Melbourne, the found the standard of the teachers and staff, particularly the young teacher in the class that we trialled, to be seriously wanting. There was no engagement, no compassion or empathy - instead there was indifference, inexperience and no desire to actually get to know our daughter. The experience upset us all, but I think we had a lucky escape :) read more

The teachers and staff for grade school do not care. The kids are just numbers. I wished the administrative staff for grade school were more caring. They are loosing kids and therefore the class sizes are going up in numbers. They do not have enough number of kids to make 2 classes for each grade. The tuition is going up every year too. You might as well sign up your child for public school. You do not get the service for private school. read more

Laguna's public schools are excellent--some of the best in the county--so for us to give 5 stars to a private school is saying something. My child attended both the Aliso and Manzanita campuses plus a fews weeks over the summer at the Willowbrook campus but spent the most time at Manzanita so this is about our experience there over the past few years. The campus is beautiful and filled with light, artwork, living things and a sense of possibility. In this garden-like setting, the school focuses on creating citizens of the world. That means an immersion into languages, music, art, cooking, field trips and other special events designed to nurture interests and develop great kids. At the same time, they're learning the basics for their grade level so they can go onto the next. The food is fantastic and I credit this school with giving my child an adventurous attitude towards new foods. They offer a variety of fresh, healthy food every school day. The arts program is wonderful too, run by a seasoned educator who knows her stuff. All in all, a great experience for our child. read more

I have found it difficult to locate a range of reviews on Yelp for Anneliese Schimmelpfennig's schools in Laguna Beach, CA, USA. I am familiar with these schools and can confirm several reviews which have indicated that children have been found to be under-supervised and in contradiction to California legal child-to-teacher ratios for the age-group. In addition, I appreciated learning that one parent likened the environment to 'Lord of the Flies.' Do not be fooled by what some reviews have described as the "magical" surroundings. Should you consider any of these three schools for your children be certain to plan several hours over a several day period to observe how children are treated by the staff. You should also request to see the formal credentials of the school administration (including Anneliese's daughter Liesa Schimmelpfennig) to determine if they have the relevant experience to carry out the lofty goals outlined on the school website. You may also contact the Orange County government to obtain a history of reports/complaints against the school since its founding. Should the administration not be comfortable with you spending several hours over several days supervising the day-to-day operation of the school, under no circumstances should you blindly trust that Anneliese's School performs at the level of quality you were hoping to provide for your child. (Search terms: #Anneliese #Schimmelpfennig) read more