Like so many parents in the Pasadena area researching private schools, we did alllll the tours. We…read morehadn't heard much about Saint Mark's and always assumed from the name that it would lean heavily religious, which wasn't something we were looking for. We also didn't like that it ended at 6th grade (something we later decided was actually a plus). Toward the end of the touring season we decided to stop in simply because it was close to our work. I am not exaggerating when I say we walked out of that little school under the shady pine trees like "this is The One". Coming from a strictly play-based non-academic preschool, we really wanted to continue letting our kids be kids, learning through play and curiosity. But we also knew we wanted them to be challenged academically. And not to sound boastful but we have nice kids; we wanted them surrounded by other nice kids. I didn't want my kids to lose their sense of just being nice, kind humans. What we found at Saint Mark's was a balance that really worked for us. Academics are strong, learning is hands-on and meaningful, and the kids are still excited. Their teachers clearly care about them. The kids are happy. And nice. Polite and well spoken. During the tour, they looked like they were having a good time being at school, laughing, joking with friends at lunch, singing on the way back from recess. Overall we've been really happy since enrolling. We are now in our third year here. Watching what they do, even in Kinder, has been impressive. They have Writer's Workshop and write diary entries about their Halloween class pumpkin decomposing in a tub for months. In another unit, they raised tomato hornworms we brought in from our garden and watched them transform into hawk moths, documenting the whole process. For Valentine's, I offered to drop off homemade pink play-dough to our worldly first graders (an homage to my pre-k co-op years), assuming they'd say the kids were too old. Instead, they embraced it with rolling pins and cookie cutters. The teachers are so special and genuinely know each kid as an individual, even across grade levels. Small groups in the classroom let kids learn together at the same level, wherever that may be. When my DK-er had a rough start to the school year, his teacher rearranged the daily schedule to help him feel comfortable/safe and wrote me daily emails of his progress. And speaking of progress, I never expected that it would be normal for a progress report from his teacher to include a personalized letter detailing his personality, strengths, leadership, character... It was just so unexpected and thoughtful. I'll admit that when we enrolled, I was focused entirely on academics, student/teacher ratio, kind teachers, diversity, outdoor space, and letting kids be kids. While Saint Mark's checked all those boxes, I didn't realize how special the community would be. They interviewed us as parents and not just our kids, which felt like they care about building a community of families with the same values. (I joke that I would vacation with almost any of these families, and we could definitely get through a zombie apocalypse together) Socially, there are grade-level parent parties in the Fall so you can get to know the other families, sans kids. There are events like the Fall Fest with petting zoos and bounce houses and bake sales and confetti eggs, there are potlucks and picnics, book fair, hikes. There is an annual gala fundraiser where parents can let loose for the night, as well as smaller socials that make it easy to build friendships. There are ways to be ON campus: classroom jobs and PA positions and many ways to give time/talent/donations. You can sign up to stuff red envelopes for Lunar New Year or hand out hot lunch on campus and spy on your kids while they eat. After the fires we did consider relocating. And while it may seem unusual to be temporarily housed on another campus, our kids do get to use the beautiful outdoor spaces, fields, gym and basketball court at EF. What I was initially worried about has become somewhere the kids love to be. We did still have moments of doubt about relocating or not. Ultimately Saint Marks was a big factor in our decision to stay. I know it's wild to think elementary school is what kept us from jumping ship, but we stayed in the Pasadena/Altadena area because of this school. Our kids love it and we love it for our kids. We plan to remain living locally through sixth grade because of the school, and probably longer after hearing where the 6th graders matriculate to. We're really looking forward to the rebuild. We feel incredibly lucky that we found this small, somewhat under-the-radar school almost by accident. It's hard to explain how great the culture is here until you walk through the classrooms and campus and talk to some of the students, parents, and faculty. Like any school it won't be the perfect fit for everyone but for our family our experience has been very very positive.

Dear school seekers, Ultimately we chose Saint Mark's for…read moreour children because it displays balance- we see both modern ideas surrounding whole-child social emotional culture with a more traditional classroom/academic load and structure. Saint Mark's has true authenticity when it comes to role-modeling what community means for our children. The Episcopal elements of school feel universally welcoming to all. As a multi-racial family, we feel very at home with Saint Mark's where DEI is not a department, an option, or a fad but a natural part of the school's identity. When we chose the school we were intentionally seeking academic rigor for our kids; and because the school embraces differentiated learning groups, we know our kids will get what they need in all subjects. The children have lots of movement throughout their day with a wide variety of subjects to explore. The school maintains boundaries with being responsible, respectful, and safe which allows all the students to take risks and lean-in knowing they have a foundation of structure and support behind them. I have noticed our children's imaginations have been flourishing due to their time at school. The teachers are joyful and friendly which invites a warmth. The parent-community is strong (and fun) which is deeper than a good time when we realize we are showing our student-body what it looks like to work-together and create something bigger that everyone can enjoy. The leadership prioritizes modern changes to education while keeping the jump-ropes and math text books in close reach. To open a new campus about six weeks after the Eaton Fire is a true symbol of how strong the community is. Come and tour! All the best, Melissa

An absolute gem of a school! My kids and I are so happy we found it. It is academically strong, but…read morein a positive and uplifting way. I'm particularly impressed by their genuine commitment to the social and emotional development of the children. The children of all ages play together in the school yard; it's like the idyllic 1980s neighborhood kids. As a parent, I love being able to be part of the school community as a whole, chatting with parents in the school yard before class starts and giving hugs before my kids go into their classrooms (no car line drop-off!) The co-op requirements are surprisingly do-able, even as a single parent who works outside the home for compensation, and I appreciate the feeling of giving back to this community.

We switched our second grader to Friends Western in February 2024 after it became apparent that it…read morewas a better fit than our school. We are coming to the end of the third-grade school year, and our third grader has experienced increased confidence, a lifting up of strengths, and targeted support in areas that needed growth. Even though this is a small community, I'm awe-struck at the dedication of both the administration and the teaching staff. The school's overall approach intertwines tried-and-true teaching techniques, evolving educational modalities, social justice, and the needs of the students. Their enrichment and exploration programs aren't boilerplate; they are well thought-out. At first, the parent participation seemed daunting. Still, I realized that while families of all beliefs comprise this community, the school's social-justice-inspired Quaker philosophies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship have made collaboration seamless.

This preschool is a beautiful hidden gem. If we could I'd give 10 stars! We enrolled our little…read moreApril 2021 and have watched her blossom. The teachers and their aids are all very kind and playful. We receive daily reports accompanied by pictures. It really helps us feel connected. I cannot say enough great things about the staff! They do an amazing job providing the kiddos with a nurturing environment that allows them an opportunity to develop their academic and social skills.

This school has the potential to be a wonderful part of the community. Unfortunately, our family's…read moreexperience was severely overshadowed by the current Director's leadership. Communication was a major issue. Policies restricted teachers from having direct, meaningful conversations with parents, making it nearly impossible to discuss routine concerns or conflicts involving our child. We also experienced beloved teachers leaving without any communication to families, leaving children confused and parents without answers. What made our time here especially difficult was the inconsistent treatment of families. For instance, some parents were allowed to use aftercare on an as-needed basis, while others were required to commit and pay regardless of usage. Policies also felt arbitrarily enforced; being publicly reprimanded for arriving two minutes late to pickup while other parents arriving even later faced no response created significant anxiety around daily drop-offs. We also noted clear double standards in school structure and operations. For example, while the website advertises every classroom as having a lead and assistant teacher, one classroom uniquely listed a 'co-teacher' a position held by the Director's sister. Most concerningly, private matters regarding our family were shared with other school parents without our consent, which completely destroyed our trust in the administration. The hardest part was the impact on our child, who developed a genuine anxiety around going to school. We ultimately moved to another local school, and the transition has been life-changing. We finally have the warm, transparent partnership with teachers and administrators that every family deserves. I do not write negative reviews lightly, but I hope sharing our lived experience helps other prospective parents make an informed decision. While the physical campus is beautiful, we learned the hard way that the leadership and culture behind the scenes matter far more.

It's been a few years since we graduated from Our School and we are still so happy with our…read moredecision to send our daughter here. We visited recently and everyone still remembered our daughter's name and anecdotes about their time shared together. Everyone here is just so generous and loving; Im so grateful they exist in our community.

Our daughter started going to Our School in April 2023 when she just turned 2.5 and fully potty…read moretrained (required). And now she is going to be turning 5 this summer and graduating! Time flies and I couldn't be more thankful for the wonderful women who make this school so special. It is truly a safe space and a home away from home. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this place. Where to begin? I've toured a lot of preschools before seeing Our School and I instantly fell in love with how cozy and intimate the environment felt. Some of the other schools felt a little too "corporate." Here, there's no app or portal. Just good old fashion face-to-face chats with teachers and Ms Janel. They genuinely foster a sense of community so it feels like you are a part of the school too. In general, the school is well structured and organized. The staff ensures a good mix of boys and girls and will move kids up classes when they are ready socially and emotionally. Our daughter started off in Ms Yolanda's class, then Ms Doretha's class, and now in Ms Tiff's class. She has so much fun! She's grown so much socially and academically. The school gives you a booklet of the work they do everyday and it's such a treat to see how much they progress over time. I have no doubt she is more than prepared for kindergarten. The school also has a saltwater pool and my daughter swam everyday in the summer as an extracurricular (additional fee). This is her third summer swimming and is swimming like a fish. In the fall and spring, the school offers dance and gymnastic and pizza Mondays year-round for an additional fee. There's tons of fun activities that Miss Tiff does to make school so engaging and exciting. But above all, they all know your child SO well that you know they are truly paying attention to each child everyday. And during the Eaton Fires, Miss Tiff opened up her heart to make school feel as normal as possible and made sure the Our School families were cared after. Pajamas days, lunch provided for all students, donation drives for affected families, she did it all. There is so much intention and humanity built into this school and I am so grateful to have been a part of it. It's going to be really hard to say goodbye.

We feel so fortunate to have stumbled upon this school in our search for a preschool for our 2 year…read moreold daughter. Our daughter is a very sensitive child who has had difficulty separating from parents since infancy. To see her go skipping into preschool without so much as a look back at drop off warms our hearts and speaks to the nurturing, caring environment that the teachers and director of this school have fostered. Things we love about this school: the small size of the school (only 3 classrooms, each with no more than 15 kids), the longevity/retention of the teaching staff, the child-centered curriculum which combines a great deal of outdoor time, open-ended play, and developmentally appropriate opportunities for the honing of pre-academic skills. Things to note: there is no use of an app (we love that the teachers' full attention is on the kids, but we miss getting photos/updates throughout the day), there are a few weeks off throughout the year (planned well in advance- and likely helps with the teacher retention I mentioned above, as these teachers surely benefit from these well-deserved breaks). In short, we couldn't have dreamed of a more perfect first school experience for our daughter. As a parent, all you can hope for is to find a place where your child can be accepted and celebrated for who they are. Thank you San Marino Congregational Preschool for being that place.

We LOVE this preschool! My 3 kids (oldest is 19, youngest currently there). It's a small family…read moreoriented preschool with all the good stuff! Just enough academics and lots if fun! The teachers are very smart and nurturing! AM care at 8:30 and extended day from 12-3 PM with the legendary Miss Avelinda!

I'm a tutor working with a student at SGCS. I found the teachers to all be extremely supportive of…read morethe student, and me in my attempts to help the student. They went out of their way to help the student overcome the difficulties. In addition, I must admit that, after tutoring for 50 years, I expected to find the academic level here on the low side, but instead the school is quite demanding. Unlike the previous school, which had ignored problems for 4 years, SGCS teachers quickly perceived the problems and took effective steps to remedy them. I am impressed!!

This is a safe and nurturing school. My children have received an excellent and strong education;…read moreall three were well prepared for high school and college. Sending our kids here was the best decision ever. The teachers are so loving and truly care about the students. It was a wonderful, wonderful community to be a part of as well. I miss having my kids there.

I've toured this school twice and I think it is such a lovely campus. The classrooms are intimate…read moredue to the student to teacher ratio. My observation was a well manicured and clean campus, happy children, friendly parent volunteers and staff eager to answer our questions . Olivia, our volunteer parent, who escorted our group around campus was so warm and delightful and shared with us her experience as a parent. Gretchen offered everyone a warm welcome reception prior to the tour and I'm particularly fond of the emphasis on unity and inclusion. It cracked me up to see the kids on unicycles as they attempted to push off from walls and pedal. I found it to be an inspirational outdoor activity ; keep on trying combined with the importance of balance in life. I've noticed many changes in the school from when we first toured it before Covid. There is something to be said about progress during unprecedented times I I observed many wonderful new editions.

Chandler is a unique school that I am very proud to be associated with! Not only did I graduate…read morefrom Chandler, but I am also a parent of a middle school student currently attending. The school provides a well rounded education in one of the most beautiful settings in Pasadena overlooking the Rose Bowl. While I love the fact that Chandler is academically challenging, I also appreciate the importance that the teachers, administrators, and staff place on teaching good values, citizenship, and character. The Chandler community is very strong, and in recent years supported the construction of a new, world-class middle school. While the school is very technologically advanced (all the middle school students have their own laptops), Chandler does a great job balancing this with the more human side of learning. Students learn to think critically, and work both independently and collaboratively. As an alumnus, I still keep in touch with many of my former classmates. They are an amazing group of people who have achieved a lot. If you are exploring schools, be sure to check out Chandler!

As a parent of two daughters who have only attended elite, very expensive private schools up until…read morenow (schools that cost more than double the tuition of High Point) I can confidently say that High Point is, without question, the best place for my children to learn and grow. Yes, it is known for its academic rigor, and it absolutely lives up to that reputation. But what really sets High Point apart is the way its teachers meet every student exactly where they are. They scaffold thoughtfully, set the bar high, and, most impressively, get their students there. I've never seen anything quite like it. Even more important than academics, though, is the culture the school fosters. My children feel genuinely loved, heard, and respected every single day. There is a warmth and authenticity here that is rare, especially compared to the elitist entitlement that can be so prevalent in many independent schools in the area. My only regret? Not sending them to High Point sooner. Then again, if I hadn't experienced the alternatives, I wouldn't fully appreciate just how special this school truly is.

This is currently our first year at HPA, and we have been loving it!…read more We've been especially impressed by our kinder teacher- she is super nice, very approachable, answers emails almost immediately, and puts out weekly updates via email. We expected all that, but we were really impressed by how well and how quickly she recognized our son's strengths and weaknesses, and how she's been able to tailor the curriculum to fit him. Even though he's quite advanced, she adjusts his assignments so that he doesn't get bored with class. After he finished the advanced reading/writing workbooks, she encouraged him to really use those skills by reading a nonfiction book, writing down notes, and then putting it together for a presentation. He's super proud of being able to do this, and was recently even more excited to be able to mentor a friend in class who's about to start a similar project. She has done a great job of keeping my gifted child engaged and enjoying class, but also keeping him socially instep with his classmates. When my son had some self-control problems in class, she told us immediately, and continued to work with us by providing reminders, helping him set up boundaries so he wouldn't be tempted to misbehave, and continued to give us feedback as his behavior improved. We really appreciated her patience in working together with us on helping our son mature. My son has said that he likes all his ancillary teachers as well- art, music, spanish, library, and of course, everyone's favorite- PE. After school classes have all been fun and enjoyed by many kids- chess, science, dance... It has been a very friendly school- the Head of School Mr. Stern, and Mrs. Haines are both at the front of the school every day greeting the kids by name :) Our crossing guard, and even our temp crossing guard are super nice too! The older kids at carline dropoff are always so nice and polite! We see the other kinder parents on a regular basis, whether it's for class volunteering or class parties, and we've really enjoyed their company. We have liked getting to know all of our son's friends' parents. The parents in our class have all been very generous with their time and efforts for the kids (wow, they kids made out like bandits at the class Christmas party)! They have some really fun kinder traditions- teddy bear picnic where all the families come too, special tshirts, author visit, petting zoo at school... I wish they had all that when I was in school! The tuition is very reasonable, especially considering the quality of the education, and the breadth of offerings. Our school has regular fundraisers, but we've never felt pressured to give more to get more, and we are not constantly solicited for additional fees, which I've heard parents from other school's complain about. The school is also very helpful w/ their days off/staff development days. They often have them the friday before a vacation week- which means headstart on vacationing! Great education, thoughtful teaching, and nice people!