My kids have been attending summer camp at Belmont Day for the last few years. Their program is…read moreamazing. I really appreciate that they swim 2x/day (lesson in the morning, free swim in the afternoon). The counselors are awesome. The staff - led by Zach - is super well organized. They send you all the detailed info that you need to know including theme weeks, what to bring and what not to bring, etc. Pick up and drop off are easy. The facilities are nothing short of amazing - including a huge indoor "barn" which is really an AC space that has multiple bball courts downstairs and art/music upstairs. The camp groups are small so our kids have made good friends and have had a great experience here for multiple years and counting. Be sure to register as soon as registration opens up because spots fill up very fast!

Amazing school. Caring, sensitive, creative...lives up to its stated values and mission statement,…read morewhich is a rare find.

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.

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.

Went to this school when I was younger. Was bullied by both faculty and students, and the…read moreexperience there was horrid. I would never send my child there. EVER.

I was actually just looking up the schedule for masses, but I saw the review and thought I would…read morepost a brief comment based on my experiences, as some folks seem to place some value on Yelp reviews. I am a graduate of Saint Agnes Elementary School as well as Arlington Catholic High School. I thought the teachers were wonderful. They provided a first rate education, as well as offering insight on how to live as a thoughtful and concerned member of society. The students all seemed to get along as well as young people typically do. Maybe because of the relative small size of the schools but, while I was there, there weren't really any cliques or anything like that. Everyone would talk to everyone else regardless of extra curricular activities, or specialized interests. Based on my experiences, I would certainly recommend both schools.

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.

I graduated from CHCH almost 20 years ago, and I can honestly say I wouldn't be a social worker if…read moreit hadn't been for this school. I became much more aware of social injustices after attending CHCH and had teachers who were very socially aware. I walked into CHCH as an angry teen not expecting much. I not only raised my grades, but I started to get an idea of what my strengths actually were. The only downside is that there were a lot of very unmotivated students there at the time and there was an overall lack of respect for teachers. However, it seems like CHCH has made efforts to change this dynamic by becoming more selective on who they accept into the school- I know when I was there they were making efforts to change this, and it seems like they have. There also seems to be a much broader array of club offerings and academic opportunities which is great! Even though there was a lack of respect for teachers at the time and a lot of the students were unmotivated back then (though I don't think this is true now), as a neurodivergent teen, I did find it helpful to be around other neurodivergent teens at the time because it normalized neurodivergence for me. So that piece was helpful. They use the Multiple Intelligences Theory which is a great way to discover how you learn best. I have a lot of clients with ADHD and use Multiple Intelligences Theory in my practice. Clients love it! I think more schools should incorporate this theory, as it really would change the academic experience for a lot or students. Of course it was a typical high school with cliques and drama just like anywhere else. But overall, I'm glad I went here.

This is an amazing and unique school. The school is very inclusive, my son has been incredibly…read moresupported, and he has transformed from an academically disengaged student to one who is happy, interested, and successful. The faculty and administration are caring and genuine. The student body are positive and create a warm, tightly knit community. I was on the fence about public vs private school and have two older kids who did well in our public system. For my youngest, this school has been a game changer and was one of my best parenting decisions.

I attended Fessenden class of '98. It was a different place then and my hope is that the rampant…read morephysical and sexual abuse that I encountered has come to an end. After 19 years of silence I finally reported the abuse to authorities. Based on my forensic interview the DA determined my statements were "highly credible." Unfortunately the case didn't go to trial. The school offered me 100k to shut up. Fessenden then released statements to the Boston Globe in favor of the sitting administrator having been "cleared" of my allegations. How can an administrator be cleared and reinstated following a SETTLEMENT?

i am a graduate of fessenden.the school wasgreat.the teachers were proffesional.i enjoyed the…read moreclasses and sports.was a very great time in my chjldhood.i wpuld recomend the school very much.

Wildflower Montessori is an incredible school community. All three of our children have attended…read moreand thrived in this warm, supportive, unique Montessori environment over the past 5 years. Our youngest is currently in her second year. As parents, we have seen each of our children develop strong, secure relationships with the amazing teachers and with the kind friends in their class. We have also cherished the friendships we have made with other families in this close-knit community. Recommend 100%!

This is literally the most beautiful interior space I have ever seen for children and educators and…read moreparents. It looks more like a curiosity filled art and living park than a traditional school- which can be depressing and feel stifling and even boring inside. At Wildflower, the school feels like a pastoral space where learning and exploring are a natural and engaging (fun) part of life and the world.

My time at the friends school was mixed. I got a great education but at what cost. I was made fun…read moreof for being different. One kid called me a "stupid ugly fat cow" from 5th to 8th grade. The teacher I reported it to played it off "Oh he just likes you". This school taught me that my feelings didn't matter, made me feel like I didn't matter. This school taught me that no doesn't actually mean no, and that if you apply enough pressure they'll eventually give in. This school caused so much emotional and psychological damaged, that I've been left to fix on my own, because they didn't care to do their job. If the teacher had just done their job when I reported the other student, I would have self-confidence. my self-esteem and the way i see myself wouldn't be absolutely trashed. this school taught me that others can't be trusted and I can only rely on myself to protect myself. I started using self-harm in the 6th grade as a coping mechanism because no one listened to me, because no one cared.

So i at one point went to CFS and in kindergarten I loved it but in first grade I got a very strict…read moreteacher. She would be very unhappy if one kid was not doing their work or got frustrate. Also it was very stressful and I began to hate school. Other families have also left the community for similar reasons. Also they are quakers and want to create a diverse community which is great and all but they presented something called kids of color and becoming white ally's. They would talk for long amounts of times and usually kids didn't benefit anything good from it. Also bullying is a huge problem that nobody at CFS did something about. They would have 2 hr assemblies that were like torture when I was little. During the assemblies we'd sit on the gym floor and listen to music for 2 hrs. They also would rarely let kids get breaks. While at the assemblies the teachers would not only sit on benches against the wall but would get to take breaks whenever they wanted to get treats from the facility lounge. Do not send your child here they will become stressed.

Commonwealth has been an amazing school for our child. They promote a genuine love of learning and…read morescholarship. It's a small school so the kids develop strong relationships with the teachers. And the teachers are amazing... true experts in their field. The academics can be intense but we never found it overwhelming. Overall a fantastic school!

This is an extraordinary school that changed both of my children's lives for the better. If your…read morechild is the right fit for this school, it will change your child's life too. Take the time to read up on Commonwealth's history and its culture (the interactions between students, staff and teachers), because it's nothing like the other private schools in the area. It's truly unique. I cannot recommend Commonwealth highly enough.