My son is thriving since transferring to CI Academy. The teachers are so accessible, accommodating,…read moreand accepting of neurodivergent kids. The small class size and small school size has been pivotal for my son's ability to make friends and be a part of a community.

Such an amazing place! Students get to learn and be creative! CI has changed our child's opinion on…read moreschool. They now love going!! Thank you teachers and staff!!!

The community at AM Winn is kind, welcoming, and open-minded. Every teacher is dedicated and…read morefantastic. This is the underdog of the area Waldorf schools - we are scrappy, diverse, and creative. We have been growing every year. I moved my children here from another Waldorf school, first feeling like it was a risk, but my children and I are so happy we made the move. The low reviews seem to be from people who don't understand what waldorf education is, and are upset their children aren't getting drilled and rigorously tested. Your children will get a good education here, not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. And the work may sometimes be disguised in song or helping the earth. Raising kind humans takes all those things.

This is a great school and a real community. It gets back to the heart of teaching and not just…read moretesting, and truly allows kids to be kids while reaching them where they are. Before switching my daughter from a college prep to AM WINN I scheduled a visit, did my research on the curriculum, and checked with some coworkers who grew up in a Waldorf education and found that there were so many beneficial aspects. The curriculum is based on what's appropriate for the age and fully submerges them in a subject. The kids learn actual life skills (think in the sense that most middle/high schools lost home economics, cooking, gardening, sewing, cursive, etc - these kids are learning it from K-8). All of the kids play an instrument each year. They transition through various handwork - finger knitting, knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc. And after meeting several kids in the neighborhood I noticed they have such amazing temperaments and spirits and are so welcoming and joyful. I am truly glad that we found AM Winn as my daughter is blossoming in the Waldorf community and education approach. At first glance I believed Waldorf was something only "white, hippie people put their kids in" as I read some reviews on Waldorf education, but I was so wrong for going along with that belief, even if only for a moment. Consider that as adults we all learn differently and receive information differently - so why do we expect our kids to learn one way in school? AM Winn and the Waldorf approach reaches kids by incorporating every learning style. It's a holistic approach with a concern for the mind body and spirit of the child. They will not only learn about a culture/era, but they will build shelters, take a field trip to an exhibit, sing about it, write about it, draw it out, etc. Math is taught in a way for the kids to think through it in various methods, not just regurgitate information. It's age appropriate not where the district says they should be for their funding purposes. And I love that the school is VERY culturally diverse. Had I gone based on some of the school rating websites or testing sites I might have steered from the school, But I toured the school and fell in love. Some of the reports show that it's not diverse, the kids are far behind in subject matter, and it received some negative reviews - that I will say from my experience here that info is false. My daughter is multiracial, and she has a diverse group of friends that don't see color, she is just as knowledgeable in subjects as my step kids who attend another public school, thinks on a deeper level than they do, has developed a strong sense of empathy and justice for others, and we love it here. I've watched my daughter recover from some of the damage that her previous school did to her She previously attended a college prep school that I won't name but literally broke her spirit, and I've known many people who reported the same thing. The kids were expected to "slant" and sit perfectly still while others finished their work, she would get in trouble for READING in class or drawing because she wasn't slanting, and wasn't actually taught to work through a math problem only to memorize answers for timed lessons. There wasn't much play involved with only a tiny jungle gym in the parking lot - she didn't even have the coordination to do the monkey bars. Math was drilled in and time tested, without the proper attention for those that didn't understand. I had to make a change because my daughter who once loved school cried every evening and had anxiety with math. The college prep/common core was not actually taught in a way to solve the problem but merely to memorize and test well for funding. After making the change to AM Winn it was a drastic change in her. It took a moment for her to adjust but she loved it. She gets to be creative. She gets to be free. And most importantly she gets to be a kid- something that many children are missing out on in today's society as we push them to grow up quickly and test well. My daughter has become quite the artist, loves playing the guitar and singing, she's a great story teller and writer, an avid reader and reads 3 grades above her level. I say all of that to say this - just as everyone has their own taste in food, so too our children will have their own taste in learning. As a parent you have to allow them to satisfy that taste and not just force the norm on them. AM Winn might not be the best school for everyone, but for many of these kids a traditional public school that drills in information but doesn't address the heart of the child isn't the best for them. AM Winn reaches for their heart when material is presented and these kids WANT to learn because of it. So if you've made it through reading all of this it's because you're interested in the school and wanted a real opinion on it. I would say your next step is to visit and see if it's right for you and your child.

My 2 children went to the Bradshaw campus and it was a perfect fit. They grew so much and blossomed…read morewonderfully. CMP was the best thing we could hoped for.

I got sexual assaulted by another student on campus , with multiple teacher witnesses. guess what…read morethey did? absolutely nothing, they told the student I reported them which caused me so much bullying I had to switch schools. I attended here 2nd-7th grade. Do NOT enroll in this schools middle school, they have 3 teachers who have to teach 70 kids. They also do NOT know how to handle bullying at all, I was relentlessly bullied here, switching classes didn't do anything because of how tight knit every class is with each other. They also have a terrible special education curriculum. They know how to handle the kids but not teach them in ways thatll help growth. This is an OK school if you have a young kid but when you get to Upper El and above they get lazy and do care (grades 4-8th) and they also group up 4-6th graders in one class which makes teaching difficult as everyone receives the same kind of teachings.

Would not recommend this school some of the teachers are stingy and arrogant Just annoying…read more On the other hand I've had a teacher who made it worth going to school like the 2025-2026 8th grade teacher Sandra McCann props to her Also the dress code contradicts its self it says we let our students express themselves but draws the line at a cartoon on your shirt acting like it impacts learning so much the teachers do not get paid enough to care that much

We have three school age children and our family has been at Golden Valley Orchard school since…read more2018. We chose the Waldorf school to our own surprise, as two STEM professionals who attended schools in SJUSD. It's true that Waldorf education approaches learning with a different cadence, not seriously pushing academics until closer to second grade. However the academics are offered first thing in first grade, children pick them up at their own developmental pace, and interventions are offered where needed. GVOS Waldorf curriculum offers fine arts, handwork, a very low-technology learning environment, a small environment (~1 class per grade), the unique opportunity to stay with their own teacher for multiple years (called looping) and a emphasis on social-emotional collaborative learning. Children are taught cursive handwriting and record all their learning throughout the year writing, illustrating, and annotating their own main lesson books. GVOS has a high degree of parent participation. Virtues are taught daily, and whole child education and discipline are encouraged. High school and college students who graduated Golden Valley and have returned for panel interviews have reported confusion regarding the social and emotional culture of public schools they attend after Golden Valley Orchard school -- in my opinion this is more of a reflection on GVOS's success than a particular failure of other schools. We have seen changes and challenges, but nothing unique to or necessarily caused by the school or the Waldorf curriculum. There is a variety of charter schools in Orangevale, as well as several public offerings and one "high achievement" public offering which is enrolled on a testing basis. Looking at test scores from the 2024-2025 CAASPP & ELPAC, the trend for underperforming classes is a mirror of grades that were most profoundly affected by COVID pandemic classroom interruptions. https://www.caaspp-elpac.org/ GVOS's scores fall right between the local public school (Ottoman) and the local fundamental school (Green Oaks.) GVOS is a public school and held to the same standards of these two schools.

I attended this school for about two years in high school…read more Some of the teachers are not qualified for their teaching subject. To put it in perspective, my Science and Mathematics teacher from two years ago is my English teacher this year. On top of that, they seem to be underpaid and overworked as well. Of the teachers who have left, no one has yet taken their place, meaning no qualified substitute teacher has been hired. The curriculum in itself is not very good. A few of the teachers dislike it but are still made to teach it. As a student body, there are almost no clubs or extracurricular activities other than an occasional basketball or volleyball team led by a parent. There also are not any sports clubs, poetry clubs or any of the sort. Plus, lots of electives, like Chemistry, are done online instead of in a school setting. The school building itself is falling apart. It could be classified as a "ghetto" private school. The sanitation is very limited, i.e., broken toilets, cockroaches, etc. Some of the students are closed-minded and harass other students. Closed-mindedness is seen as a student does not act, like, or discuss the same things another larger group of students do, they are looked down upon with the: "That's not very Christian." To put this in perspective, if a student enjoys rock music, they are looked down upon because they do not enjoy a different genre or Christian music. Harassment is hidden with the classic: "It was just a joke!" To put this in perspective, a student will be ganged up on and made as a joke all in the name of a good laugh. Personally, it's not worth the money.

Love this school, It has been amazing for all of my children. The teachers and staff have been very…read morehelpful and getting my children's education where it needs to be. The after school program has helped my children, make sure they are staying on course. I love that they offer a hot meal program . Smaller class sizes are a plus.

This school will put your child in a classroom of the grade below if the classes are full without…read moreyour consent. There is no way a child will get the right curriculum or equitable opportunity. I am very unhappy as a parent of this school. I wish we would have chose Washington.

If i could give this school 0 stars, i would. This is the worst school i've ever been into in my…read moreentire life. I spent the worst years of my life here, i use a therapist constantly to discuss my trauma from this school. after being bullied and sexually harassed by a teacher, nothing was done. a photo of me without clothing was taken without my knowledge was shared around, and i fought the girl who took it. I was suspended, she wasn't. There was another incident when a boy attacked a girl, severely injuring her. This school put me through absolute hell, I've never recovered from the time i've been here. If there's another school, any other school near you send your children there.

Excellent school my kids love it keep up the amazing job guys teachers are amazing!read more

I'm now 16 years old and I went to this school as a child from kindergarten to 6th grade, me and my…read morefamilies experience has been amazing, the old principle, Dr Eister, an amazing woman, had passed 3 years ago, it was horrible news, but she will forever be the best person ever

My daughter has been attending Pershing Elementary since kindergarten. She had her ups and downs…read morewith the teachers but the staff overall seems professional. My youngest daughter might attend in three years. Fingers crossed!

This was our first choice to take our daughter for her first year of public school, we know some…read morekids who currently attend and not to mention it's close by! Her Kindergarten teacher was Mrs. Broaddus and the teacher's helper was Miss Amy, who is probably the sweetest woman you'll ever meet! Instead of the usual school supply list, we were asked to bring donations for the classroom. For school lunch she was given the option of a school lunch or to bring her own and we love packing her lunch! Her class of 26 students had so many fun themed days, our daughter's favorite, jammie and stuffed animal day! Always lots of art work brought home and I have them to thank for helping our daughter make so many great friends, encouraging her to read, count and write! And of course you cannot forget music time, PE, recess and free time! They even went on a field trip to the Sacramento Zoo! You cannot give less than 5 stars for schools who are giving your child the gift of an education! Yesterday was the last day of school and we're so proud of our soon to be first grader! Moms reading I hope your children have a great summer vacation and we'll see you in August!