a wonderful school...though not for students who want to coast along. It's very rigorousread more

It's a very specific crowd. Sometimes in the boys locker room they have little sword fights with…read moretheir wieners. But I gave it two stars anyway because some people are into that.

This is not a review of the school, which is, well, way above my pay-grade, but a review of the…read moreschool's athletic facilities which they generously allow other organizations to use (for a fee). My kids have used the outdoor soccer fields, indoor gyms, and ice rink. All are phenomenal. Beautiful, well-equipped. Fields include natural and artificial turf. Perfectly maintained. Ice rink is large, freezing cold, and has great locker rooms. Makes me wish I were a high school PE teacher. Not really, but you get the idea. [Thanks to all these facilities, the summer camps here are amazing, too.] 4 stars instead of 5 because I'm enough of a socialist that it irritates me that almost no one can afford to use this stuff.

We had a wonderful experience at RSM Belmont. The curriculum is comprehensive and teachers create a…read moresupportive learning environment. I highly recommend RSM Belmont for anyone seeking a quality education for their child.

The content that is being taught is too intense for the amount of time given. Teachers are teaching…read morein a way that is making students afraid to ask questions.

We switched our eldest to Fayerweather at the start of 3rd grade seeking a school where the…read morelearning would be significantly challenging, values-rooted, and joyful. We wanted a place where our inquisitive kid could really stretch her edges and feel comfortable taking academic risks (and sometimes making mistakes). Now 12, she has a deep sense of who she is and what matters to her - and this strong sense of self has allowed her to take risks (academically and socially) and push herself as a learner and community member. She understands that justice and community are the essential foundations for learning and social impact. Our younger child (now 7) started at FSS in kindergarten and we have found that, while quite different from his older sibling, he is just as seen, valued, and supported. He has gotten incredible guidance navigating his intensity and high energy, and he is academically challenged in just the right ways - he works on meaningful problems and his sense of accomplishment is significant. Fayerweather has helped him have a voice and language for his feelings, his challenges, and his successes. The loving support and developmentally appropriate and thoughtful curriculum have allowed him to discover his best self and build the skills and agency to choose his actions wisely. FSS is all we hoped, for both kids.

We just started school at Fayerweather this fall, and my 1st grader and 6th grader cannot get over…read morehow friendly the school community is. My son came home from school after his second week of being a new kid (a middle schooler, no less -- in the 6th grade) and said "mom I give it 5 stars!!! Everyone is SO nice, teachers and kids, and I love it!!!." Now that we are four months in, happily his review remains. He also says that his homeroom and math teacher is "literally THE best math teacher" he's ever had. I'm continually impressed with how in touch with my son's learning style the teachers are, and he's growing leaps and bounds. My 6 year old daughter, who is usually shy, is coming out of her shell socially and is really starting to take to reading (which she has avoided prior to Fayerweather). Her teachers are incredible and so in tune with her and helping her to grow where she is ready to, and there is such insight into the social emotional ecosystem of the classroom. Fayerweather has the academics *and* the community we'd hoped for -- the school has a joyful, healthy, connected vibe and is inclusive and diverse to boot. We couldn't be happier.

When we were considering Lesley Ellis for preschool, we asked around on the playground, and just…read moreabout every parent we talked to told us, "It's excellent! The only negative is the cost." That matched our experience perfectly. The tuition is steep - though financial aid is available! - but everything else was fantastic, and we were consistently impressed with the teachers, curriculum, field trips, awareness of kids as individuals, interaction with administration, and more. My mom worked for decades in early childhood education, and (as an interested and involved grandparent) was also very impressed. They welcomed/encouraged heavy parent involvement, from "come into the classroom to talk about something you're knowledgeable/passionate about" to occasional parent-meetups-over-coffee in the morning and more. But I was never, ever made to feel guilty about not being able to participate heavily, which was the norm once we had our second kid. (Who also went to LES for preschool, once old enough.) We can't speak to their K-8 experience, but for preschool/pre-K/TK they were fantastic.

Lesley Ellis is an independent school from pre-school to grade 6, but expanding soon to 8th. Our…read moredaughter is in her third year there and we have been delighted with the program. The teachers are an outstanding group and attuned to the needs of each individual student. The administration is truly exceptional as they create an environment where parents, children and the school come together to form a nurturing and vibrant community.

There is systemic injustice at Harvard Extension School. Their policies as stated on their website…read moreare not upheld. I had a professor who graded anything beneath a 90% as a 0%. So, in other words, if you don't get an A you fail your assignments. I withdrew, brought this to the attention of the Dean, and asked for financial credit so I could take another course instead. She did not respond but simply forwarded my concern to a registrar who refused to do anything about it. The registrar said, wrongly, that the professor was acting in accord with HES policy. The grading system on the website does not in point of fact map onto the grading system of all the professors. So be forewarned that you may end up with a professor who will give you an F if you get less than an A. Don't waste your money at HES and don't expect the administration to act justly. I've matriculated a different program. HES just lost the 30K they would have made if they would have simply rendered a just decision.

I am extremely saddened to say that HES does not help International Students solve their financial…read moreissues at all. There are no Financial Aid options coming from the university itself, and 2 out of 3 student loan companies that their office recommends actually don't really accept Extension School students. The third one needs a lot of extra paperwork that the school isn't willing to help with. In order to enroll you need to pay in full and you don't get a letter of enrollment until after the drop out period, when it's too late. You can't get a loan without paying and you can't get enrolled without a loan. So it's a chicken and egg situation that has no end. They say the university helps cover for you until the loan is approved, but in reality, you have to pay in full first and they will reimburse you after the loan is paid. Which defies the entire point of asking for financial assistance. There is a very short window in which to apply for the loan after registration before being dropped out for non-payment. Paperwork takes more than a month, which is not nearly enough to get everything done. I've spent hours and hours with both the lending officers and the financial aid officers, and in the end, nothing got solved. Nothing. I am unable to join the courses. I am unable to get a loan. I feel like my potential is wasting away... Harvard has failed me.

Atrium School is one of those life-enhancing places. We've had our girls at the school for 6.5…read moreyears - since my oldest was in Kindergarten - and I couldn't ask for more. It's a truly progressive school with strong leadership, small class sizes, warm and wise teachers, and a school culture heavily rooted in kindness and true appreciation for a variety of learning styles. My daughter wouldn't have let us go somewhere else for middle school even if we had wanted to (which we didn't!) Worth a visit if you've ever even had a passing thought of enrolling at an independent school in the Boston area.

My child started at this school in Sept. (2012) and we can't say enough good things about our…read moreexperience. This is a progressive school with thematic studies. It's a very hands on approach with the appropriate support to the child's needs to succeed. The teachers are very aware of the emotional and educational needs of each individual student. They guide the student to think to come up with the answer of whatever challenge is placed in front of the child. I happened to run into an educator who is now in an administrative position of a well known Boston private high school. I asked him about his impressions of Atrium and he said the education these students receive is excellent and his school is always happy to see an applicant from Atrium because they have the tools needed to succeed. This response was in keeping with the high school placement of the Atrium graduates. From a practicle standpoint: In the morning it takes 12 minutes from Beacon Hill to get to the school. Excellent education, good student placement and convenient to those in the city and surrounding neigborhoods. This is a win,win, win for my child and family.

I graduated from here last year. A very, very small school, so it can be limiting, but they offer a…read morelot of interesting opportunities, including a semester or two abroad at a Waldorf school nearly anywhere you can find one. I went to Argentina and loved it! Also went to Nantucket, Maine, etc for end-of-the-year trips. The teachers care dearly for their students. I've found myself well prepared for university. I've only completed one year so far, but I've been doing great and I'd credit some of that to Waldorf. I'd say that Waldorf isn't for all students (some people would probably feel suffocated by the small class sizes) but it can be really great for those it does work for! PS- I'm not sure who the other reviewer is, but he doesn't seem to have attended! Checking his previous reviews, I noticed he also gave the Empire State Building a one-star review (along with almost all the other places he's written about). You can't please everyone.

My daughter says that the best thing about her experience at Waldorf High School this year so far…read moreis how much she interacts with her teachers. This, from a shy introvert! She enjoys the coursework--no longer stressed and procrastinating at night--and the Main topics classes change frequently to provide novelty without losing depth. It's a small student population but she has made friends she really enjoys and sees on weekends. Parents are lovely. We were also looking for a school environment that would help us eliminate some of the social media overload. I highly recommend this Waldorf school.