We are still so VERY happy with St Columbkille School. Our kids are thriving academically and…read moresocially and they are happy at school. We are so thankful for the amazing staff and the school leadership is exceptional.

I have mixed feelings about St. Columbkille Partnership School. On the surface, the school presents…read moreas warm, community-oriented, and supportive, and many of the teachers and families are wonderful. I personally gave a great deal of time and energy to the school community this year, volunteering more than 140 hours in various capacities. However, I was deeply disappointed by my experience with school leadership when an issue arose regarding a school trip. What concerned me most was not simply the financial issue itself, but the lack of transparency and flexibility in how it was handled. A significant cancellation policy affecting families financially was never disclosed in the enrollment materials we signed, and school leadership did not appear familiar with the applicable policy when questions first arose. Despite repeated requests, we were only provided with the policy after the trip had already concluded. At no point were families provided with clear information regarding illness-related cancellations, reimbursement timelines, or whether trip insurance was recommended or available. In hindsight, that information was critically important. In my experience, leadership was pleasant and collaborative when things were going smoothly, but far less flexible or solution-oriented when a genuine concern arose. Despite our family's significant involvement and goodwill toward the school, there was no willingness to consider even a partial compromise. Parents should make sure they carefully ask questions about financial policies, trip terms, cancellation rules, and how disputes are handled before committing to programs or payments.

We are thrilled to have our child at Atrium. Now a 3rd-grade student, our son entered Atrium school…read morein first grade. In two years, he learned to set goals and take pride in his accomplishments while being realistic about skills that still need to be developed. He learned the value of hard work in overcoming difficulties. He learned to work independently and as part of a group. He is learning how to be a good friend and a contributing member of a community, how to be respectful, caring, open-minded and sensitive to the needs of others, and how to resolve conflicts in a constructive and positive way. Most importantly, our son absolutely loves going to school. Every morning, when I drop him off, I feel elated because I see him and other kids rush off into the building with joyful faces. Whenever you visit, you see and feel that students own the school. It is their place, their second home, their world where days are filled with exciting and meaningful projects and collaborative learning - the kind of learning that stays with the child because it is the learning the child is deeply invested in and can be proud of. We also love Atrium because it is about empowering children and building their sense of confidence and leadership skills. It is about helping each student discover and develop her or his unique strengths and abilities. It is about encouraging students to be creative problem solvers and life-long lovers of learning. It is about respect for each and every individual, it is about fostering long-lasting friendships and community. As a family, we feel fortunate to be part of the Atrium community.

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.

-Wonderful school that teaches India's culture, languages…read more -Run entirely by dedicated volunteer staff and their devotion is amazing. -Classes are held every Sunday and are run on par with the regular school calendar. -Free yoga class for parents or bring your laptop or a good book to read while your children are in the classroom. -A great way for parents and children to connect to their India heritage. -Other locations in Nashua and Norwood.

Great schools with extended hours option, lots of physical activities (gymnastic, dance class…read moreetc.), great academics and Torah studies. Very cozy homie atmosphere and caring staff and teachers. My son is going for his second year there, my middle daughter starts preK there also. Definitely recommend

Shaloh House is a wonderful school that checks all the essential criteria (and then some): high…read moreacademic level, caring staff, qualified teachers, and a supportive environment.

I can't say enough about what the Goddard School has done for our family…read more In our previous center, We were told my son was a "problem and "what are we going to do with him." At one point, I dropped him off and I went to pick him up 5 minutes later. I couldn't. And I searched for another center. Our son started in a room on the cusp of the younger kids because of his speech and social development. He fell in love with one teacher, Kelly. She (and Goddard!) saw what we saw in Vincent. Goddard helped Vincent learn to love school. He's now in pre-k and loves all of the teachers, friends and now learning. He loves animals, math, writing, asked when he can start reading, and surprises us every day! My son is in speech through the Belmont Public Schools and needed an evaluation to assess the whole picture of his education. After the school visited Goddard, they expressed their approval of Ms Kim and Ms Nicole in their control in the classroom (even with some high energy little boys-- my son being one of them :)) and what love they had for teaching. I know he'll excel in kindergarten! My daughter loved every second of everything. Goddard brought out the best in her and created life long friendships! She loves to go pick up brother and say hi to all of the staff, teachers and friends. It's a place you'll always feel welcome! We'll be sad to leave Goddard this summer and recommend to anyone and everyone. The owners truly care about not only the success of Goddard, but every individual student and staff. It shows in everything at Goddard!

We decided to withdraw our place at Goddard for our infant after we toured it. While we were…read morethere, we saw a teacher gruffly push the head of an infant back down after they woke up. We were deeply concerned by this and shared our feedback with the management. They reacted dismissively to our feedback. It was an easy decision for us to not move forward despite losing our full $3,000 deposit and having to scramble to find alternative childcare.

Waldorf School of Lexington(WSL) is a wondeful play-based education where children learn soft…read moreskills, i.e. problem solving and team work, in addition to the hard skills. The supportive staff works to develop the individual child and creates a loving environment for children to thrive. Our family is very pleased with the educational experience our child has at WSL.

Our children went to the early childhood program at this school (nursery and kindergarten) and it…read morewas a wonderful experience. We moved to a different state, otherwise they would still be at this school. The teachers that our kids had were caring and warm; kids got to do a lot of free play with other children and work on their social skills that way; the program also involved a lot of movement and outdoor time, which is so important to young children. Even in the short few years that we were there, I could see how being at the school made our kids more creative and gave them great social skills. Our kids still miss their old school.

Minuteman has been such an amazing place for my son's high school education. He loves the hands-on…read morelearning, the opportunities for co-op, the football coaches, everything. He especially likes the alternating weeks of academics and shop class. It gives him a break from being academically focused all the time. Highly recommend their learning environment, and he receives extra support as needed.

I graduated from Minuteman many years ago and it gave me a great foundation, I was in the…read moreHealthcare shop. My first job out of high school was a well-paying healthcare job. It prepared me for what I would become and now I work for a major global healthcare company. When I was there, there was a Mcdonald's in the school. The Academics were stronger. And we had a really good soccer and basketball team. Seems like it has had quite the downfall since then. The school was huge and clean, I don't know what happened. I came from outside the district and they gave me a chance. If they hadn't my life would be very different now, I can't say I would be this successful. Minuteman please open up your school choice program again, save the kids from the inner city and give them a chance!!!

The leadership team created by Annmarie Quezada is simply phenomenal. Our child has attended St…read more John School for the last 5 years and loves it. The majority of the teachers have master degrees from Boston College and are excellent teachers. The staff and other educators are meticulously chosen and contribute to the school at the highest level. St. John School is only Catholic elementary school (Age 2 - 6th grade) in the heart of Boston proper and is conveniently located in the North End - and close to all major employers for parents to consider. Many families attend from East Boston, Medford, Revere, Saugus and many Boston neighborhoods. The students are out-performing BPS schools on MAP testing and exceptionally prepared for junior high. The 6th grade students interested in exam schools opt in to tutoring and prep for the fall exams and outperform their peers in many instances. The school community is bar none the best. Families have left SJS and returned because the community of teachers, staff, parents, grandparents, and extended family are exceptional. You cannot find this level of care and community anywhere else! This is also the most affordable private school option for many families who want to instill a Catholic education. All the students participate in what's called the Tower Garden. Ms. Shay created a hydroponic garden that is tended by each class over the course of the year. After the greens and veggies are harvested, they are hand delivered by students to different local non profit organizations like St. Anthony's Shrine and ABCD. Having the option of afterschool from 2:30 pm - 6pm plus a variety of enrichment classes and music lessons, makes this school even more attractive and special. Tours are provided by appointment all year round. And parents are always willing to share their experiences. I should note that a 2 year old program begins in September. That's in addition to the 2.9 yo program. Definitely check out the social media pages too. Facebook and instagram @stjohnschoolnorthend

Where a school is more than just a great education - but an amazing community of families - who…read morevalue education and a responsibility to the world around them. The last remaining Catholic school in Boston proper one understands how it is still here 120 years later, it leads in educational programming from Greek-Latin Roots program, Scratch, Kahn Academy to language and arts. It is a wonderful place for any child to to attend from K3 to 8 - and for any family who is looking for a true sense of community. An excellent school on all levels!