I have two boys who attend KLS -- one in (effectively) 1st grade and the other in 3rd. Both started…read morethere in what would be kindergarten elsewhere, so this is our 4th year w/ the school. We appreciate the philosophy with the emphasis on mastery, the avoidance of busywork, the notion of being student-led, the mixed-age approach, and the lack of formal grades (which ratchets down the ambient Silicon Valley competitiveness). The teaching quality is excellent and, the teachers are incredibly attentive and caring. The brand attracts some great talent, with the "specials" teachers (science/project-based learning, music, and art) being exceptional as well. The school has evolved over the past few years, as one would expect of an organization transitioning from start-up to stable-state. Also, it's a laboratory school: things are going to change! The school is adapting, as one would hope an organization would as it learns. For example, turns out that age matters, and socio-emotional learning doesn't scale as independently from age as academic learning. Consequently, students move more in cohorts (i.e., classes) than had been initially envisioned. The Head of School (Rachel Skiffer) has been especially strong during this past year of COVID, racial reckoning, and politically-charged news cycles. Current leadership has helped the school community navigate the many storms of 2020 with concern and professionalism. To be clear, the school isn't a fit for everyone -- no school is. There's no "perfect" or "best" school out there. But our boys are thriving and happy and learning, we've made some good friends in the community, and so have our children.

We have been a KLS family since 2016. I have 2 boys, both who started in Kindergarten. We have…read moreseen much change throughout the years but I am truly feeling the strongest I have ever about KLS this year. I truly believe we finally have the right team in place to lead us into the next phase. The team genuinely cares about the kids and what is best for them. Especially in light of the current crisis, we have seen the team unified, communicate often + clearly, ready/able to execute a move to distance learning that executed pretty flawlessly (considering everything), adapting to feedback from students/families, transparency in communication and most important leadership during difficult times. Thank you KLS! What a journey it has been. We are grateful for all that you do.

I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND MVLA FOR THE CNA (NURSING ASSISTANT PROGRAM)…read moreI JUST GRADUATED ON MARCH,11th 2016 I Am so happy for the program we couldn't have a better Instructor Catherine Rosillo is the best very well knowledgeable and loves what she does (teaching). In our spring class 2016 we all passed our Red Cross State Exam on 3/25/16. There is no way with all the teaching and the tools instructor Catherine gives you would not pass the exam. She is the best! No matter how many time you asked the same question she will give you a good answer and never be tired of repeting it, that's how goo she is in teaching. I am now. Certified Nurse Assistant by the state of California thanks to MVLA CNA Day program teached by Mrs.Rosillo. and also got my HHA Certificate . 5 starts and more for her program and MVLA SCHOOL.

Do Not Attend!!! This review has nothing to do with my teacher Dr. Abaya. This is strictly for The…read moreadministrative department and enrollment department specifically Kimberly Kunde and Julie Vo. I was so excited to be part of this program to have a better life for my daughter and myself as a single mother I completed the academic side of the program and when it was time to do the Externship program I was hit with medical setbacks which I have doctors notes for but unfortunately I was told that six months after I completed my academic portion of my schooling I can no longer be part of the program. I wouldn't be able to finish my externship meaning I wouldn't be able to get a job as medical Assistant after I begged and pleaded to just give me one more month to complete two more weeks of Externship due to medical issues. This place is uncaring and a money grab. They crushed my dreams because I had a medical issue. Funny this is the career we all joined the medical field to take care of people who are having medical issues. These people are not nice and uncaring.

Since we've started with the Tutoring center we've seen improvement in the kids reading ability as…read morethat's what we come for. The staff is courteous and kind.l and easy to work with.

Premlata and her staff aren't just tutors...they help children have fun while deep diving into the…read moresubject they teach and that is a rare skill! My daughter has been going to the Tutoring Center for math classes. When she joined two months ago, she had severely low self confidence, was afraid of math and, in fact, resisted the idea of getting help. Last evening she told me on the drive back home that she feels much more confident about her math skills now...earlier she used to hate talking about anything remotely connected to math, now she makes multiplication flash cards in her spare time. I thank the entire team at the Tutoring Center for building up her self-esteem! The work they do is so much more than just teach the subject area.

As the parents of two high schoolers that could not be any more different, we have a deep…read moreappreciation and respect for the value of Palo Alto Prep (PA Prep) and their amazing educational staff. While one child has thrived in a traditional high school, our eldest did not. They are an amazing creative thinker but also challenged with the headwinds of a variety of learning and related social challenges. While they also handled middle school well, even thrived academically, to say that traditional high school was a train wreck is an understatement. We needed help as a family and PA Prep was there. Thankfully we discovered PA Prep through our engagement with the The Bodin Education Group (also highly recommended). After a careful evaluation of options (Bodin know them all!) and engagement with the team at PA Prep we could see that our son would benefit immensely from all that PA Prep is, and all that it offers to students like them. Is it perfect, absolutely not. But the positives for a student/young adult like our son far far FAR outweigh any minor drawbacks. The great: 1. Incredibly intimate teacher/staff/student relationships. You want your child to be known and know their school staff, they will. The ability to cater and focus on what works for your student is incredible. 2. Incredibly capable and proficient teachers who know how to work with students for whom regular school isn't a good fit. 3. Patience, understand and flexibility. Need to take a "break" road trip with your student on a moments notice? PA Prep understands and accommodates with complete understanding. 4. Diversity of classes and programs to engage an out of the box learner. From art, outdoors to flight training. Just because it's small doesn't limit the exposure of options for your student, lots to offer including independent project programs to nurture student led initiative. The realities (not bad but worthy of mention): 1. It is small, and high school is high school, no matter where you attend. This can sometimes magnify any typical social dynamics. The staff is incredibly attuned to this, but you also should be as a parent. It is important to recognize this is still high school and immediately addressing issues is critical, the staff is exceptional at partnering on this. 2. There is a diverse population of students with a diverse set of backgrounds and needs. With this comes the realities of all their experiences, lives and challenges. Your student will be exposed to this, as they would in any high school, it isn't a fully sheltered and manicured but it is absolutely safe. It is incredibly important to stay aware of this as a parent. I will ensure you the staff is very experience and aware also, together this can help any student navigate the realities of high school life safely and holistically. 3. Passion, intent and caring are the hallmarks of PA Prep staff and teachers. Organization and "manicured administration" perhaps not so much the strong suit. Do not go in expecting perfection in communication, organization or logistics. I promise this is ok, and everything is handled with the best of outcomes for the students. If you are used to the polish of a "elite" private/public high school you will notice a difference here. My strongest advice for a successful PA Prep tenure is to invest in your parental (and student) relationships with staff, they are both open and available. This will help your student, and family, easily manage what is lacking in any size, scale, capabilities on this less critical administrative front. In closing: We loved PA Prep, we could not imagine our son achieving high school success without it. For the right student this IS the right place. Attend one graduation ceremony and that is all it takes to see how different, special and wonderful Palo Alto Preparatory School is for its staff, students and families!

Backup repost from 11 months ago…read more "I'm giving four stars because I do not think the issues and censorship I experienced are an atypical response from a school. When I tried to bring light to bad deeds, I was suspended and threatened with expulsion. I never encountered physical violence. Bad deeds included severe emotional abuses, motivated by sexism, from older staff here. This and sex-based victim blaming - resembling misogynistic patterns - contributed significantly to suicidal my thoughts. Dehumanization was added through transphobia. Newer staff were less problematic than integrated ones, suggesting the administration's leadership is a source of problems. Last time I interacted, the administration did their best to manipulate the image to feign their innocence at all costs. These issues are adult topics, which adolescents like me ideally would not face; my experiences occurred about one year ago, and while I have learned to better describe them, I am not mature enough to understand the issue's whole systemic contexts."

My kids go to this location and really like the experience. The teachers are engaging. The staff is…read morevery patient and supportive as well

Hi, today I had a competitve class on comeptition math. First off, somone said us that there are…read moremany "AMC 8 awards" Okay first off, these classes are not effective as the curriculum is not matched with the others. Maybe I'm being too harsh but I would NOT recomment the AMC 8 class.

It is great learning experience for kids . My kids are here for ISEE and SAT prepare. They give…read moregreat support! Kids improved a lot! Definitely recommend who needs some extra help! They do a great job on test prepare and academic support!

Every parent wants to offer the best education support for their children, and our intention was no…read moredifferent. We joined C2 Education two years ago and were introduced to the center director, Gordon. Despite our reservations, he sold us a 100-hour package and assured us in writing that we could get a refund for unused hours with just a single email sent to the C2 helpline. He repeated this in subsequent sales transactions of 100-hour packages as well. In January 2024, we got a farewell email from him, notifying us that he was departing the center and there would be a new director. We immediately responded, worried there would be a communication breakdown and the commitment would not be honored. The former director responded from his personal email that we had nothing to fear and that the refund would be honored. We have not received a response from anyone officially employed by C2 during that period. In May 2024, as our daughter was graduating high school, we sent a formal email requesting a refund of the unused hours. We got a response from the new Center director stating that we used 64/100 hours and that we would be reimbursed only 15% of the total purchase price (which comes to around $800), which was a complete breach of commitment. Our original concerns and fears were well-founded. After several back-and-forth communications, the new Center director acknowledged that the former director, Gordon, had made a mistake. She discussed refund options with us, and we settled on an option that included a pack of 10 classes we could use once our daughter started college in the fall and a balance refund of around $1852. She sent an email saying that she would work with us through this process and sympathized with us for our challenging position. She then returned after about ten days, asking us to take a call from Scott Thomas as a follow-up, and a call was scheduled. After waiting on a Microsoft Teams call for more than 20 minutes (we sent a follow-up email saying we would be dropping off and to call a phone number - we received a phone call). We were asked the same set of questions that we had already furnished in prior calls over several days. This gentleman was extremely rude and started shouting on the phone, saying that we should be adhering to their policies without regard for what it means to be polite to the customer. He immediately followed up with an email sent to the C2 customer contract distribution center, saying that we now only have 53 100 hours, not 64 100 hours like what was communicated originally. After a few days, the VP of Operation Services, Whitney Myers, from the escalation center, responded that there was no recourse and that we would only get $851 back, refunded to our bank account (instead of the original form of payment)--why is that? There are several problems here. 1) The discrepancies in communication have been highly frustrating for us as customers of C2. 2) You don't yell at your customer and tell the customer that you don't care about helping us here. 3) It was your former employee who committed on behalf of your organization, representing your organization, and it's your responsibility as an organization to honor that commitment. You don't say I am not going to take responsibility - you are on your own. 5) All individuals (current center director, sales manager, VP operations) have gone silent despite repeated attempts to contact them during this episode for the last seven weeks. Our only recourse is to leave this detailed review across all sites so that other prospects are walking into this den of deceit with their eyes wide open. This entire experience has us questioning the credibility of C2 as an educational institution chartered with the goal of improving our children's lives. This is not how customers should be treated, and we hope every prospective customer spends the time to read this and beware of this center/franchise/organization. It is an absolutely dishonest organization with questionable practices.

This school has truly been a life-changing experience for me. I can't even quantify how much this…read moreschool improved my parenting skills, relationship with my son, and confidence in parenting. The parent education classes are a wonderful way to meet other parents, talk about burning issues, realize that we are not alone in our parenting journeys (and struggles), connect with other parents and develop wonderful long-lasting friendships, and join this amazing community of like-minded adults that nurtures the whole family. At first, I was intimidated by the thought of the parent participation commitment of volunteering in the class each week because both my husband and I work full time. However, after discussing my desire to be very involved in my son's development, my management supported this, and we worked out a way to make it happen with my work schedule. I am so glad that I did. I never imagined how much I would absolutely love being in the classroom each week! It was such a joy to get to know all of my son's friends, and ultimately their families. But most importantly, it was the key to practicing and sharpening my skills to be a better parent that I learned in the parent education classes. PSF has large outdoor areas for the kids to play and run. The curriculum is structured for play-based learning, and the teachers are very knowledgeable about childhood development. The parent education classes teach parents/guardians about developmental milestones, behaviors typical to each age group, and strategies for developing a very strong bond with your child. With parent participation at PSF, I found there were two very important parts that makes it so successful. First was attending the parent education classes to learn about child development, the skills to be a better parent, and to connect with other parents. Second was to volunteer weekly to put those skills into practice in the classroom and shadow the teachers that have developed these skills over decades. I learned so much at PSF, and I can truly say that it has changed my life. I feel much more confident as a parent, and I feel that I now have a toolbox of skills to help me be a much better parent. I highly recommend PSF if you are looking to be involved in your child's development, want to be a better parent, or are looking for a wonderful community of support to help you on your parenting journey. Every single PSF teacher and staff member is an amazing part of this wonderful community, but a special thank you to Teacher Jenn, Teacher Marjan, and Teacher French.

PreSchool Family is truly the BEST preschool in Palo Alto…read more When my son was 2 years old, I toured all of the parent participation preschools in the area. My husband and I chose PreSchool Family for several reasons - how engaged and warm the teachers seemed to be with the kids, the large and welcoming outdoor space, and the play-based curriculum that allows children to learn by exploring. We spent 6 wonderful years at PreSchool Family, with both my son and later my daughter going through the 2s, 3s, and 4s classes. In that time, I saw firsthand that my initial impressions were correct, and so much more... - The Teachers: In addition to being warm and engaged with the kids, the teachers are all highly skilled. They have higher education degrees in early childhood education, literacy, and more. Many of the teachers have been there for 10+ years. There is very little turnover - the teachers are there because they LOVE what they do. In addition to planning engaging and age-appropriate activities for the kids, they facilitate play, resolve conflicts, and are completely hands on during the morning classes. The teachers also teach the parents at night meetings (without children present) where instruction is discussion-based and focuses on child development, conflict resolution, healthy habits, etc. - The Space: The outdoor space is large, with plenty of room for the kids to run, ride tricycles, push doll strollers, launch stomp rockets, etc. Since the curriculum is play-based, the kids spend a significant portion of their time outside. There are two play structures in the 2s and 3s yard and one larger play structure in the 4s yard. There's nice shade from trees / shade structures and the teachers are great about helping the kids with weather-appropriate gear as needed. - Play-Based Curriculum: Numerous studies have shown that children do better in elementary school and beyond when they follow a play-based curriculum in preschool. Although there are no worksheets at PreSchool Family, the children are definitely learning! Many classes have a "manipulatives" table where the kids work on fine motor skills, an "art" table where art projects are done, and a "sensory" table where the kids explore their tactile senses with playdough, slime, etc. There are baking projects, music time, theatrical performances, treasure hunts, interactive space stations made of cardboard boxes, and so so much more. My children came home each day so excited by the activities they had done in school. - Parent Community: Because this is a parent-participation preschool, the parents really get to know each other. They work in the classroom one day each week and see each other at the night meetings approximately twice a month. The parent education meetings help to shape a common parenting philosophy among the adults, which builds trust and respect among all who are interacting with your children. Plus, the bonds you build are long-lasting. My children are now much older, but some of my best friends are other parents our time at PreSchool Family. I could go on and on, but I will leave it at that for now. If you're considering a parent-participation preschool, I HIGHLY recommend PreSchool Family. Your child will have the best possible experience while learning and growing, you will learn and grow so much in your parenting journey, and you will form friendships that will last so much longer than just the preschool years. Don't hesitate!

Great coaching. Structured methodical and patient. The instructors are fantastic worth every…read morepenny.

My daughter works one-on-one with UPUSH tutor Matt Pickup, and we could not be happier with the…read moreexperience. Matt brings deep knowledge, excellent teaching materials, and a highly effective approach to tutoring. He is an exceptionally qualified professional. Thanks to Matt, AP US History has become far more engaging for my daughter, and she showed impressive results from the very first session. Her overall performance in junior year has also improved as a direct result of his guidance. Thank you, Matt, for sharing your expertise with such dedication, passion, and care. We truly appreciate your work and highly recommend your services.

Apprentice Education is amazing! They can help you with everything school related. Their tutors are…read moresuper friendly and nice. Tutoring sessions are never boring. The teachers there love to teach and enjoy being there. 10/10 Would definitely recommend to friends.

From the owner: We provide quality 1-on-1 tutoring, internship arrangement, college application counseling offer…read moreone-of-a-kind Apprentice Aspirations Programs (AAP) where qualified students will get once in a lifetime experience and inspirations from North Pole to Middle East. Apprentice Education believes in personalized teaching methods and connecting their students like masters to their apprentices in the old days. We serve as role models for our students, we inspire them for well-rounded growth and prepare them for long-term success, as our slogan reflects, "Together with Passion."

Safe, happy and communicative staff…read more My daughter was at BKMV for 7 months starting year 1. I have nothing but positive things to say about the staff at BKMV. 1. I haven't experienced the kind of empathy that BKMV teachers and admin staff extend to parents before. They are very understanding of a working parent's life, concerns and trepidations. Always have something positive to say at pick/drop-off, overshare the day's activities, lots of photos and have always had someone pick up the phone at the office if I had urgent questions. 2. The campus is well fenced with good security through access codes, kids are never alone. I felt very secure in the knowledge that my baby is safe and watched after, in a clean and maintained environment 3. Teachers are happy. And it makes a difference in how they work with children. All in all if I didn't have to move cities, I'd continue with them till my baby was ready for school.

My daughter went to BK for two years, starting at 9 months old. In our search, we were specifically…read morelooking for a center-based daycare, small class sizes, and a warm environment. Class size is small in the infant room but I did not pay enough attention to the older classes. My daughter's last class (started at 23 months but not sure of the age cutoff) had 24 students with 3 teachers at one point and I believe it's down to 18 students with 3 teachers now. My daughter was getting sick very often and I wish I'd been more mindful about class sizes in the older classes in choosing her daycare. However, I think this is the price you pay when going for a center vs. in-home daycare. When touring BK, I noticed the admin seemed to know some of their students by name. My daughter had serious stranger danger so, a caring environment was a must. I was blown away specifically by Ms. Maria. She works mornings in the baby room and is the first teacher on site. If dropping off your child before 8:00, children go to Ms. Maria's room. My daughter's transition to daycare went well because of Ms. Maria. And by "well," I mean she stopped crying at drop-offs after a few weeks. Considering her strong stranger danger at the time, this was HUGE. I cried in my car the first time my daughter reached for Ms. Maria. But, I knew my daughter was comfortable so I was also very, very grateful. Two things I wish I asked about during the tour: 1. Allergy procedures 2. Teacher turnover 1. My daughter had a mild reaction to dairy. This was a new allergy at the time and was not yet confirmed by a doctor until after her start. We did inform the center of her allergies regardless. The center confirmed that this was added to their allergy list. However, my daughter was given dairy two days in a row. The second time being more bothersome, warranting a call home. The admin response was to send our daughter to school with food from home on the days when dairy was being served. However, their menu does not list allergens within the foods so we were guessing which foods did and did not have dairy. We were wrong a few times so we asked about including allergens in the menu. This was the managers reply: " We understand that when it comes to food allergies, we must take all precautions to avoid allergic reactions to products. When ordering in bulk and when the products are unavailable, we sometimes have to source some products from local stores. This can make it challenging to list allergens on the menu ahead of time." We were also told per the manager, Raji, that they would "check if adding any information to the menu is possible." No information was added. 2. The teacher turnover rate seems pretty high. At least 10 of my daughter's past teachers no longer seem to work there. And changes happen without informing the families, nor are there introductions, so there's always new faces in the rooms. Not sure if this is the norm in other centers or if teachers are unhappy at BK. Pros: - a handful of caring teachers - extracurriculars: yoga, soccer, and music (all of which my daughter LOVED) - academics in the oldest class (my daughter wasn't in this class but I've met a couple students from this class. They were certainly kinder-ready) - app with photos/videos/summaries of what students are learning and doing -- though very inconsistent. I'm not sure how often summaries are sent but at least once a month (photos are shared daily)