I really wanted to love this school, but our overall experience was very disappointing. 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. read more

My twins have been at Willowbrook since preschool and will be entering 6th grade next fall. They've thrived 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. read more

I truly wanted to love this place, and in theory it sounds wonderful--but the reality is disappointing. The facilities feel dilapidated rather than charmingly aged, and the playground looks like something out of a Mad Max movie. I can't help but wonder where tuition money actually goes, since it clearly isn't spent on maintenance or upgrades. While the teachers I met seemed caring, the administration's actions left much to be desired. They promote a philosophy of nurturing each child's individuality, fostering growth, and providing an inclusive environment--values that come directly from the founder's vision and their stated mission. However, after only two days of a three-day trial for my active first grader (who I was upfront about needing extra support and attention), I received a call at 5:00 p.m. telling me not to bring him back for the third day. Despite assurances that they embrace unique needs and learning styles, the administration offered no encouraging feedback, no plan for support, and not a single positive comment about my child. This abrupt dismissal contradicts their stated commitment to individualized care, patient guidance, and holistic development. If you're considering Anneliese Schools, look beyond the beautiful ideas in their brochures and mission statements before making your decision. read more

Huge lack of supervision in outdoor play areas resulting in unbelievable dangers to the kids.

This was an excellent experience so far. We just went for our tour. They were honest and upfront when we scheduled the tour that it would be a group tour and to arrive on time. I appreciated that bc I would have been annoyed if I showed up on time and waited around for people who are late. Wendy gave us our tour and it was a full hour with carful explanation of how kids thrive and how they achieve that at Anneliese. At the end of the tour they also set realistic expectations of the next steps. We have applied to be on the waitlist and can't wait to start if we have the opportunity to do so. read more

Anneliese's School - Gardening area - Elementary Schools Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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The preschool was fantastic until new admin at Aliso Campus stepped in. The parents all complained that her hiring was the downfall. The teachers ran the school and the work environment appeared hostile. I Witnessed a teacher scream at a child on multiple occasions and even put her hands on a child aggressively who did not finish a drawing. I reported the incident but little was done. The teacher's behavior did not change. This was not my child's class. I just happened to be walking by because I did an early pick up. From that moment on I was told I should not pick up early or drop off late (9:05 was considered late) On another occasion I was at school at 9:10 and told I had to take my daughter to urinate because they were understaffed and I was late. I expressed my concern that I am not a fingerprinted staffer and would not want another parent/caregiver in the bathroom with my child and felt very uncomfortable seeing the toddler class all going potty. The director told me to that if I felt uncomfortable to take my daughter to the park next to the building to pee. I expressed that I would be late to work and that they should not be understaffed and out of ratio. My frustration drove to pull my daughter out that same day. I am aware of licensing rules as an educator and they had several unmet (being out of ratio and failure to properly investigate a reported incident). I would not recommend this school if you are seeking a loving, nurturing environment. I can only recommend the art teacher but he was let go. read more

We transferred our daughter to Anneliese after a really disappointing start to her educational path at a public elementary school. By the age of six, she seemed deprived of her natural curiosity and drive to learn, she dreaded her teacher, was often shamed, and did not look forward to attending whatsoever. After researching various schools in Orange County, we enrolled her at Anneliese Schools about a month into the school year. I can't emphasize enough how life changing this decision was. Within a week, our daughter's demeanor, confidence, and spirit improved exponentially. The environment, academics and teaching methods have exceeded our expectations. We now have our youngest enrolled as well and they are both thriving. They get to learn and experience so much more than what's offered in a traditional school - from gardening and animal care to sign language and mindfulness. Most importantly, they genuinely love going to school and are excited, passionate and driven to learn because of it. read more

Thank the good God above for Ms. Zainab Hassan (Ms. ZiZi), pre-K (KS) teacher. Our 3 yr-old, out of nowhere, started having the parent's dreaded screaming drop-off anxiety, crying protesting like crazy in the car with me prior to drop-offs. In my mind I just have to keep everything manageable until she sees her teacher Ms. ZiZi. I swear Ms. ZiZi who is probably in her 20's or so, sees us (as she does with any and all of her students having a tough time in the morning) and immediately comes over and gives my daughter a great big hug and smile like only a grandmother in her 80's could. We have 3 daughters, and all 3 have been through this crying stage on pre-school dropoffs. We've been fortunate to have really dedicated and talented teachers to help us over the years, truly blessed, especially at Anneliese, Ms. ZiZi is next level at her craft/care. Not sure what it is or how she does it but if your kid has dropoff anxiety get her into this school. read more

My child has been at Manzanita two years and this is a review of the manzanita campus. This review is based on actual attendance (unlike a few negative reviews that seem to have only gone on a tour). We have loved every minute of her time at school there. Her teachers are amazing and she goes to school excited every day to learn. She has been there for pre-K and Kindergarten. Academically she 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. 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. Also a note about her teachers - some have been there long enough to have taught two generations we have been so lucky to have them. They are engaged and responsive to parental emails/calls. Mr. John who is the head administrator is a great teacher and incredibly organized and engaged. Would love it if manzanita went through grade 6!! read more

Our family has been with Anneliese's School for a little over a year now and I can't say it enough how thankful I feel to have found this school. I was a stay-at-home mom for 5-years before I decided it was time to ramp up the ole career. But I felt lost--could I ever trust someone to watch my kids? Would they pay enough attention to them? Care for them like I care for them? I felt so nervous. My 3-year-old daughter was considered one of those "high needs babies", (self-diagnosed according to Dr. Sears website lol) very attached, and did not want to be alone with anyone else but mom. I felt that she needed more balance. I needed more balance. The first few weeks at KS were a lot of tears, and 100 hugs/kisses at drop-off. But I felt OK because the teachers were so kind, gentle, and understanding--even holding her until the tears subsided. As time went on, my daughter, who I thought would never be OK leaving my side was actually looking forward to school and walked into her classroom without a look back! Fast forward a year, my daughter is almost 4 and learning to write her name, numbers, and saying words in Spanish and French. She sings songs from school, plays more independently, more social with other children, and just seems more balanced. I love seeing all the artwork she gets to make and bring home! I was so impressed with the school that I decided to enroll my son in their K2 (Kinder) class! Just last week he told me he got to practice reading with the ponies that they have on campus. It's truly a magical place--all the plants, flowers, animals, unique decor. It's like you're not even in Orange County anymore! It's a once in a lifetime experience. I wish everyone knew about this school and that public school systems would take notice of how great of a job their doing and try to incorporate a more holistic approach to education curricula. Major Highlights: - Extracurricular activities: singing, dancing, lots of art projects, gardening, caring for animals, plenty of outdoor time (for the olders--they basically have a mini zoo on campus!) - Research-based curricula: everything from scheduling/timing, early intro to languages/cultures, advanced art/music, emotional intelligence, plenty of outdoor time is based on what the latest scientific literature tells us - Small class sizes - Feels like a family: admin staff know you by name, know your kids, come open the door to get them out of the car for drop-off (so awesome!), host slumber parties on campus, movie nights, etc. It just feels so personal. - Peaceful, unique environment - All snack and meals provided: they provide healthy food (typically salad, fruit, and a main dish like pasta or Mexican food etc.) A menu is provided at the beginning of each month. SO NICE to not stress about packing a lunch of the kids and if it's healthy enough. They get fresh healthy food cooked for them right there! read more

Came here for a tour 1st it is not a private tour you get to tour with others who's kids are different ages and have different questions. 2nd parking is a disaster can't find it and have to park outside which made me a 5 to 10 minutes late 3rd the person giving the tour started the tour and it took other people 10 minutes to find her for me to catch up by the time I caught up to her it was 15 minutes past my appointment. The lady seemed bothered and didn't want to give me a tour since "she doesn't have time" Let's just say I am there to pay to have my child be treated with that attitude and this was a complete turn off. If your tour only last 15 minutes and that is all you have to say about your school then I will pass The lady was not pleasant or welcoming at all and behaved as if I was a burden rather than try and sell her great daycare to me. She spoke to the other parent and basically ignored me totally unprofessional and unkind behavior. The place might look great but if the administration believes in this kind of treatment and is this disorganized with their tour where I was looking for the parking and place for 10 minutes then this is not a welcoming and nurturing place for children. I would re train everyone in the administration office from the lady that was running in front of me trying to find the tour person to that lady who gave the tour to the attendant of the front who saw me park in multiple spots and didn't bother to tell me where to go hence why I was 5 to 10 minutes late while getting there 15 minutes before my appointment Truly disappointed about the experience read more

This school looks like a dream with its beautiful grounds and organic lunches, but it turned out to be completely toxic for our eldest son, who attended pre-school and pre-K at the Willowbrook campus. This school carries out discipline for young children in the form of public shaming and scolding. Our son, who is active and curious, developed disruptive and aggressive behaviors in response to the negative disciplinary techniques carried out at Anneliese. Moreover, the administration handled our son's behavioral issues in a very unprofessional manner. Honestly, this was a horrible experience. My stomach is still in knots when I think about it. I'm happy to report that our son went on to succeed and thrive with absolutely no disciplinary issues at a nearby Montessori. I highly recommend looking elsewhere for your child's education. read more

My son has been going to Anneliese since he turned 2, and is now 5, and my daughter is now 2 and goes too. We are so thrilled with their development, the incredible and caring teachers, all the enrichment programs- music, sign language, garden, animal care and so much more, plus all the healthy lunch and snacks. Anneliese is such a magical school we are so grateful and plan to have both kids there through 6th grade, the oldest class! We have adored the teachers: Ms Mikayla, Ms Hasty, Ms Sabina, Ms Nasirin, Ms Anáis. The school has also been incredible during COVID- tons of safety measures, kids have been in person learning and together safely since the start which is huge read more

Our son attends Kindergarten here, and he loves it. We registered him for first grade too and are wanting our younger son to go to pre-k here. Our favorite things about the school are the nature atmosphere, teachers help teach academics but also emotional and behavioral growth, choices the kids get to make, healthy lunches made using ingredients from the school farm, and there a lot of time spent outdoors. The campus is beautiful on top of it all. The staff has been kind and communicative. We love the special events like Oktoberfest and spring fest. We get weekly newsletters; one from his teacher and one from the school. We've asked my son many times if he wants to continue at Anneliese and his answer is always "yes" which is big because he didn't like having to go to his pre-k schools prior to him starting kindergarten here. We're happy we found a place he feels excited to go to each day. My hope is that my son learns to be confident, to make his own decisions, empathy for others, and of course well rounded academics. read more

Anneliese's School - Reading center in his Kindergarten class. - Elementary Schools Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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We love Anneliese! Our son has been there for two years in preschool and continuing on for next year (prek which they call K1) too. Kind, caring teachers, tons of outdoor play time, diverse school, kids learn multiple languages, artist of the month, they have a nature studies teacher! Truly I rave about this school to anyone who will listen. It's an amazing play based curriculum. They also make the kids hot lunch, a huge time saver. read more

*Disclaimer* We do not send our children to this school. However, we toured this school as we are looking to enroll our twins in preschool. The Laguna Cyn campus is straight out of a story book - charming and quaint. All of the meals are made from scratch. They have an aviary, chickens, horses. It all sounds like a dream, right? The director who gave us a tour was appalling. She loved to throw her credentials at you, and highly valued feeling important. She spoke over our heads as an attempt to make everyone believe she was extremely intelligent when it was nothing short of annoying. She ruined this tour for us. I cannot even imagine her being understanding if your child had an issue at this school, as she talked over you and was not a good listener. During the tour, I wanted so badly for this experience not to ruin it for us. We asked questions that she couldn't answer about enrollment, as she claimed her "left-brained" assistant could answer instead. At the end of the tour we met her assistant who was a spitting image of her - an immediate turnoff. As we walked to our cars after the tour, the other person on the tour with us said that she "has been on many preschool tours and this was by far the worst she has ever been on." I cannot imagine how this school is successful being run this way. This was not a fit for us. I do not see our children thriving in an environment that operates like this. read more

I adore this campus and the highly recommend this preschool. My child enjoys learning through play and this school offers live farm animals, art, yoga, healthy/organic meals and really caring teachers. Nasserin is a teacher that my daughter leaps for everyday. Mrs. Alma opens the school & is a teacher and she is also fantastic! Ms. Nikki & Yuka we adore too! Communication between teachers & parents very good. Ok for those not yet potty trained. School encourages books, creativity, song & dance. Lots of outdoor creative play in fresh air and manicured yards. The school is placed in a very lush campus nestled in Laguna Canyon Rd. I have only heard that some parents complain that their children return home dirty after a full day... True! I see this as a good sign of outdoor play and fun for my 2 1/2 year old. My only concern is the spread of colds and illness. I'm not sure how that can be fixed because toddlers share/steal each others cups and pass infections. My daughter has constantly been picking up a bug which is costing me days from work. Lisa at the front desk is always helpful and overall I am very pleased with the other families, culture, language that my daughter is exposed to! GREAT SCHOOL! Kids in upper levels seem very polite, well adjusted and happy. I like how I see the older kids take such pride and care of their campus. Scarlett loves it! XO read more

Anneliese's School - Christmas sing along with Santa! - Elementary Schools Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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My husband and I toured the school twice before making a decision. We visited for a third time and I decided to take the plunge from Montessori. We started last year and we have only seen love and support from the staff. My son has/had learning disabilities, ADHD, that would of gone undetected, from our perspective. Sometimes as a parent you don't want to except ADHD. As a result in being open minded and taking their advice we have seen major improvements. We are only thankful and appreciative for their knowledge. .. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. It's a sensitive situation and I will share my journey. Blessings read more

My daughter went here but we pulled her out and sent her to different school. The place looks like a child' dream school. They say all the right things so make sure you ask the right questions and pull back the layer. Despite what is on their website, they use very traditional learning materials and curriculum. It seems like teachers and admin cater to certain parents (those that have been there for many years or have other children attending or graduated from the school). If your kid doesn't fit the mold of whatever the teacher or admin thinks is an Anneliese student, they won't adapt for the student. Individualize is stressed but in reality it's very standard read more

As a former educator and Mother of two young children 4 and 6, education has never felt more vital especially due to the time lost in Covid. Anneliese is a hidden gem with the most beautiful campus and gardens, housing various animals to extend and enrich studies. With the aid of multiple teaching modalities, an incredible team of teachers and staff, true student lead learning takes place making this school one of a kind. read more

I agree with the other reviewer about the school using scolding and shaming techniques as a philosophy. I realize the entire staff has turned over HUNDREDS of times since I left. I attended this school myself, nearly 40 years ago. I remember crying every day at drop off. I remember the teachers talking about me to my mom, saying that I wasn't "joining in" and that I was "overwhelmed" with choice. I remember being scratched by a cat that lived on their grounds, (I had cats as a very young child and knew how to be gentle) that had no business being around kids. I can see from their point of view that I was a very sensitive kid, however, I was not given the time nor affection I needed. I was, and am, a bondable person. Given the wide, wide world of choice, I'm not bothering to interview this place for my own kids. read more

I can't imagine a more loving and warm place to send my daughter. Every teacher who hasn't had my daughter yet, seems to know her by name. Her past teachers pass her with a hug. She knows her alaphabet fully and can count in Spanish, English, and French to 20. She Is learning sign language and other languages too. She is four and has attended since she was 2. We had no turnover rate etc with teachers. I love Mrs Esther and Mme Georgia especially!!! She plays and gets dirty. The teachers are greatly affectionate here but they don't seem to baby them, it's true. She is truely excited for school and I love the values they seem to teach at the school. Basically this is the school I wish I could have gone to haha! My only issue is we can't afford to keep her in bc we have a son too, and I can't afford to send them both. I was really surprised by the yelp rating on here. BUT I see the other multiple reviewers didn't even send their children here or maybe don't like children! Your chair got kicked so you leave the school a review, my goodness. And your right the school doesn't put up with bullies and violent tendencies....I have never seen or heard of any bad tactics by staff used. I've heard of them sending children to nursery who hit and speaking to parents, and I am more than ok with that. Seems Normal. read more

We have had two children go through this school starting in preschool through 5th grade. Our oldest just entered Jr High in 2019 and we were sad to leave Anneliese's. She has transitioned well (straight As in her first quarter) but there's nothing like Anneliese Schools. Our youngest is in her 8th year (preschool up to elementary grade school) and we are just as pleased with her experience. The school has fostered independence in our girls and we are very grateful. It felt like the much needed alternative to the helicopter parenting trend that is everywhere these days. They think for themselves and they manage their homework and studies with just a little oversight. We supplement their education (as we would anywhere) by reading regularly at home and practicing math games, after homework is done, of course. As they move into public school we will supplement art and foreign languages (which Anneliese's uses so well) since most schools don't offer anything like Anneliese can offer in those areas. It isn't a cookie cutter school by any means but we have been pleased at every turn. I read the other reviews here and I was shocked to see any negatives. But then I read that one was talking about attending the school 40 years ago and another didn't even have their child attend the school in any way. Take it from a family that will soon have two alumni students: This school is something special. See it for yourself because you won't be disappointed. read more

When I took a tour of the school, I loved the environment and their program. It seemed like a great fit for my daughter. I filled out an application and took my daughter for her 3 day trail. On the second day of the trail, there was a fire and the school was closed. On the third day, I had a discussion with the school director, Lisa and she said that my daughter is welcome but she will need some OT to help her ( I was open to that). After much thinking, I decided to take my daughter to Anneliese only to have Lisa tell me No. She said to get my daughter help and revisit her admission during summer. I am not sure what changed that made her change her mind but it really bothered me because I had my heart set on taking my daughter there. She made me feel like my daughter is not good enough for their school which really bothered me. My daughter is a normal 3 year old and she currently goes to a school she is adored at. She is her teacher's favorite student so clearly, she is doing well there. I was simply considering this change because I like the program better at Annaliese. My experience with Lisa was not very nice and her attitude was not appropriated. I think that she means well but her delivery does not show that. She comes off as standoffish. read more

We have been going to this school since kindergarten. The grade school is excellent. The teachers and staff both work together to create a exciting learning environment. I have been nothing but pleased to have my daughter in this unique learning environment. The academics, arts, languages, music are unparalleled. They even have a competitive sports as well as weekly physical education read more

We just started this week and so far it is awesome. The teachers are very caring and talented, with languages, art programs and special activities for the kids. My daughter is almost 4 and she looks forward to her new school. I think the animals helped to get her acclimated so quickly. The outdoor play area is incredible and so natural compared to other schools, this is what the kids enjoy most. I am looking forward to the coming year. read more

Avoid. The campus is gorgeous but our boys did not do well there. The law requires 1 teacher for every 6 kids. The preschool puts 4 teachers with 24 kids. Unfortunately, the teachers hang out together leaving 18-20 kids with the other two teachers. The teachers are not friendly and the school physiatrist is unprofessional. read more

If we could give 10 stars out of 5, we would. After three wonderful years at Anneliese (Willowbrook Campus), we are moving on to the Laguna Beach public elementary school. But before we do, we wanted to leave a review of our experience. We met Corinne Manetto, Ph.D., on a school tour in 2014. She was very thoughtful and purposeful about her actions with respect to the school's curriculum. She let us know Anneliese welcomed kids who had to move around while learning, and that was relieving to hear since that was our son's personality at the time. In 2015, we started preschool. It felt big to us because we were transitioning from a one-on-one care situation, but the loving teachers and strong curriculum made the transition easy. Our son learned an incredible amount about artists that year, which ignited his interest in art to this day. His favorite artist is Jackson Pollock, and he's not shy about telling gallery owners what he likes (LOL). K1 (or pre-K) was a pivotal turning point for our son's growth. His teacher believed in him and gave him (and us) much-needed tough love. This made him think independently and be responsible for his own things. It fostered confidence to take on the world without his parents. K2 (or Kindergarten) exposed the kids to worldly ideas while teaching the necessary basics. They spent a lot of time in the garden, which is the hearth of Annliese Schools. All the teachers at Anneliese are incredible. The music teacher encouraged our son to take piano lessons outside of school. The sign language teacher taught him how to sign, fluently. The sports coach sparked an interest in athletics for our son. The cooking teachers taught him to love soup-making and French baking, of all things! The programs and values at Anneliese are of the highest quality. The integration of animals into the curriculum is incredibly valuable. This year our son was reading to mini horses! There is no other place that kids can get this kind of experience. The lunch food is extraordinary. We knew at school he was getting the proper protein and nutrients he needed. That made us feel relieved. We'll forever cherish Anneliese's teachings of tolerance toward people's differences and respect for our planet. These are principles that will remain with our son for the rest of his life. The attention to detail was noticed by parents: the well-organized field trips, the safety notices after a fire, the Willowbrook Weekly newsletters full of all the information we needed to know for the upcoming week. As parents who have no family in town, the monthly slumber parties were crucial to connecting in our marriage so we could be strong parents for our son. The seriousness of the enrichment program made us feel good as working parents about leaving him at school all day. Finally, the landscape and décor is magical and allows for creativity and learning to flow. Anneliese has been a dream for us. The experiences there have contributed to building a thoughtful, respectful young human being who has big plans for the future. We are eternally grateful to all the administration and staff who work so hard for the children. read more

We were so disappointed in Anneliese's School (Willowbrook Campus). We had recently moved to Orange County from Melbourne, 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, we 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

Very disappointed in this school. I agree with Bill's review. Gorgeous campus but the administration, school psychologist and some of the teachers are not up to standards. They let the preschool kids roam free and then blame accidents on the children. They called our child violent while he had no problems in his current school. They expelled him for 6 months (which basically meant don't come back) and kept our 300$ deposit plus tuition money. (Which was very expensive) Very very disappointed in this school. They made me question my parenting skills and my child. He is doing fantastic at his new school, his teachers now call him loving and helpful. read more

Worst school ever. Kids are bullied all the time. It's a dirty place. Kids get sick all the time. They don't teach anything and charge a lot. I would not send my kids to this school. This school does not care for your kids. Kids are just numbers. read more

We have 2 children at this school, at the Aliso campus, and have been on the Willowbrook campus for various activities including the wonderful school plays. We absolutely love this school and the care our children receive. There is not a teacher we wouldn't recommend and the administration has been extremely helpful and supportive in finding the best ways to see each child thrive. We have experienced the Nursery, Preschool, and K1 programs between our 2 children. All have been great experiences! I would have to say, if I had to pick one thing that I was most impressed by within our first week at Anneliese, it was this: Although our child was assigned one teacher for his academic day (whom he loves) every single teacher on the campus knew him and had a relationship with him within the first week of school.They get to experience every teacher's unique contributions throughout their day. The most obvious thing is the different languages that each teacher provides, but they also each have unique areas of teaching that they can offer, hence the enrichment courses you get to sign up for each month. Our kids truly love their school and as working parents who naturally think about their children's well being throughout our day ("How are they doing at this moment? Are they having fun? Are they smiling and being encouraged? Are they happily enlightened?"), I can honestly say, we have them at such a wonderful school where they are very well loved and nourished physically, emotionally, and academically...every single day. We highly recommend!! read more