My younger child graduated 8th grade at VDA this summer. I agreed with everything Allison said in…read moreher previous review. As a parent of two strong STEM kids, VDA provided the best Language Arts in Orange County and was our only viable math solution after exploring all public/private options. We are deeply grateful VDA allows self-motivated students to accelerate while building a solid foundation. By graduation, my kids completed all high school math curriculum, respectively, placing into the next math level on high school placement tests. In our experience, VDA teachers are collaborative, and offer actionable guidance. Here are some details about our experience: Lower Grade Math: VDA uses Singapore Math, which I find far superior to Common Core, as an engineer. To schedule math at the exact same time across all classrooms, each elementary teacher adopts one grade level. Faster paced math learners can move up one or even multiple grade levels. This flexibility was crucial to keep my kids challenged and engaged in school math. Middle School Math: High-school Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 follow Singapore Math 6A/B. To deliver quality, two middle school instructors (math/science) plan availability outside class schedules. Regular track takes 3 years to finish Algebra 1, spending significant time introducing functions and quadratic factoring. Seeing this pace, my older child decided to move to the advanced track (one curriculum per year). Instruction occurs in 30-minute sessions 3 days/week before or after school. During regular class, students work independently or collaboratively at the back of the room. My kids adapted seamlessly. Though VDA opens doors to all rather than cherry-picking, it crafts the best possible setup given its resources. LA: look at their schedule posted online. Departmentalization tells everything. Ms VanDamme, Mrs Steele, Mr Lewis, Mr Cobra definitely built a great foundation to my kid's writing and literature analysis skills. Two Tips for Prospective Parents: Accreditation: Many public high schools do not accept unaccredited math/science credits from VDA. If returning to public school, it is an option to arrange accredited coursework through another institute. VDA accommodates, but plan ahead. No-Homework Policy: Great for reducing daily friction, but can hide learning gaps. We supplemented 30 minutes of competition math at home for math modeling training and study habits, plus 15 minutes of daily reading outside of class reading assignments to cultivate a lifelong reading habit. I will miss the Friday morning coffee tradition with other parents and all the teachers who are more of mentors in enlightening my children's education. Thank you.

As parents, we all seek the best educational and developmental environments for our children…read more After 3 years in public school, we realized that both of our kids were getting lost in the large classes and needed a small school environment to thrive. We sought out a school that with small classes, stimulating curriculum, engaged teachers, and a supportive social environment. Vandamme Academy has exceeded on all levels - and we only wish we had enrolled sooner! The small classes and overall school environment are what first brought us to Vandamme. We love that each grade level has only one class with roughly 15 students. The homeroom/subject matter class structure makes a huge impact in that it allows students to form relationships with multiple adults (and role models) at school. As we approach the end of our first year at Vandamme, we have seen how much maturity and confidence our kids have gained through these relationships. It is also clear that the teachers truly get to know each student's learning style, personality, strengths, and areas of need. The rigorous academic program is thoughtfully designed by Ms. Vandamme and the teaching staff in a way that challenges and inspires students. We love that the teachers specialize in subjects that they are passionate about. In doing so, they pass on their interest onto the students, so that students become interested and engaged in each subject. Just last week, I was blown away when my fourth grader asked to go to the library for books on Shakespeare's works. Beyond academics, we love Vandamme's positive and inclusive social environment. Students seem to come from diverse backgrounds and neighborhoods throughout our county, and the school staff does a great job of modeling kindness, inclusion, and respect. I've had the privilege of volunteering at two school events and chaperoning one field trip this year. In all instances, I've been so impressed with how responsible and respectful all of the students are. The food is also wonderful! While we don't order hot lunch every day, my kids always look forward to Chef Faustino's healthy and delicious creations. We are so grateful to Ms. Vandamme and the entire staff for providing a learning environment that not only enables ours kids to excel academically, but also build character and confidence.

We've had such a wonderful experience with the 2-year-old program at this school, especially with…read moreMs. Roxy and her team. When our 2-year-old daughter first started, she didn't speak any English at all since we mainly spoke Chinese at home and she was mostly cared for by her grandmother. Because of that, it took her a little longer to adjust to school. Even after two months, she was still feeling frustrated and would mostly sit and watch her classmates instead of joining in. Ms. Roxy was incredibly patient and understanding. She took the time to help our daughter feel comfortable, understand what was happening in the classroom, and slowly build confidence. Now, after three months, we're so happy to see her sitting with the class, following directions, joining activities, and interacting with her teachers. Seeing her progress has been so meaningful for us as parents. We're truly grateful to Ms. Roxy and all the teachers for their patience, kindness, and support. Thank you for helping our daughter feel safe, confident, and happy at school. We highly recommend the Twos program and this school !!!

My son has only been to this school for a month but the progression he is making and engagement is…read morewonderful. He never spoke much about what he learned in school in the past and we would have to dig it out of him. Now he comes home excited to show his work and talks about what he learned in school. We are very happy with what he is learning here and highly recommend! The lake view is also a plus!

S. Paykov has created a wonderful school of education and creativity, where children, both young…read moreand teenagers, can come. My grandson Matvii has been a regular visitor since 2022. This is especially convenient when children are on school holidays: there is a lot of free time, parents are busy with work, and this school is the place where children can spend time with benefit and interest.

Our son goes here for 5+ years. He learned AI, programming and robotics here. Great opportunity to…read morelearn from real programmer and software engineer. Very thankful we found this place. Some students go to the center to learn in small groups or individual, some students take classes online. Highly recommend.

LPPP in Mission Viejo was recommended to us by a friend who had her 3 children attend and are now…read morealumni. We did a walk-through of the school and didn't need to look anywhere else. Our son started with the Parent & Me classes. It was a great way to ease kids and parents into the world of play-based preschool. The Parent & Me classes are led by Teacher Jackie (all the teachers are amazing, btw) and she not only prepares your child for preschool by focusing on the child's well-being and social emotional skills but the parents as well on managing expectations around this age and how to help reinforce the lessons learned at LPPP by implementing them into your home. I can honestly say that attending these classes made me more comfortable when it came time to start the 3-year-old classes and initiate drop offs. Our son now attends the 3-year-old class and is really thriving. We watched our only child learn how to engage with other children and follow direction better. He's now formed friendships with his classmates. He loves learning about different cultures, exploring the sciences, and listening to stories but his favorite is still playtime. Parents also continue to be educated at monthly meetings in order to support their children inside and outside the classroom. LPPP is special in that it gives the parents opportunities to engage and contribute to the school. It has been such a blessing being there to watch my son learn and grow at LPPP. We've already signed him up for next year!

When I say this school is an OC hidden gem, it's an understatement! My daughter had the privilege…read moreof attending Lppp for the last two years and I'm beyond grateful. I have never met a group of teachers that  cared so much about each individual child's needs. Our first year there, my daughter was struggling with transitions especially during pick up time. Teacher Jackie went out of her way to come up with a plan to help my daughter. She would also walk with us to our car to help minimize any additional behaviors. I don't know many schools where the director of the school will walk you to your car to help with your child's transitions. Any emotional or behavioral concerns the teachers will come up with a game plan and implement it to help your child grow. The support they offer is unmatched. Also, every month is educationally play themed and so much fun for the kids. My daughter was excited everyday for school. She loved lppp so much. Everyday I dropped her off, I knew she was in good hands. They also had monthly parent night where all the parents would get together and teacher Jackie would go over topics to help us parents implement support strategies for our kids. When I say this school cares, I mean it. It was truly a magical two years that I am forever grateful for.

I put in a request to schedule a tour of the school…read more Because I answered "everyone" to a question about who would be masked in the "ideal" circumstance, I received a two sentence email thanking me for my interest and telling me they are a "mask free school." Never mind the fact that I was not insisting on masks and merely answered a question about what would be ideal. Not to mention, I didn't mean that this should be a year round policy--only if and when necessary. They didn't even ask if I had questions that might address any concerns, or if I would even like to tour the school and learn about the program. In my opinion, this is unprofessional. Not sure why I was treated this way.

Where do I even begin...this is by far the best school that my daughter has ever attended. The…read morestaff and children are as wonderful as can be and the school philosophy is one of a kind. My daughter THRIVED thanks to the teachers and structure taught here. We have since moved to Northern California and there really isn't a day that goes by that my daughter doesn't tell my husband and I that she misses her friends and teachers. We plan on visiting every chance we get

We started this year in TK, so we have been in this school for about 6 months now. I have to say,…read morewe love it. Now let me just start by saying, this school is different and I truly feel lucky that we got in. Also, I have to say this school might not be attractive to every parent ok.... Please take the intake seriously, because you could be taking a lottery spot for someone who truly wants to be in a Waldorf school. How would I describe our experience so far ? If you or your kid loves the outdoors (sun, rain, moon, stars, ocean) things that grow and live in gardens, nature walks, learning how to care for Mother Earth, etc. then this is your dream school. If you or your child enjoy playtime in mud, dirt, don't lose your mind over stains, love rain boots, umbrellas, etc. then this is your dream school. If you or your child enjoy all things magical/wholesome make-believe, like fairy tears, knights, puppets etc. then this is your dream school. Ok I think you get the point :). Reminder , this is a review of my experience in the kindergarten program... where my child learned how to write her name, craft, knit, cut vegetables, set the table, do chores, sing songs, explore, pick up worms, and much more. I like and admire our teacher and her aid. They are extremely experienced and are really good with the kids. I don't need to be the teachers best friend, I just need to hear from my child that she loves her and is excellent with the kids, that's all that matters to me, and she is! The school is small, which I love, it feels old fashioned in all the good ways... like in ways that will remind you of your childhood school days. It is truly a Waldorf school, so make sure you research that and know what you are signing up for. I love it for our family, I personally couldn't imagine my child anywhere else. It's a little gem and I'm so glad it exists. Also, there are things they ask for like, no Disney/characters on clothes, no fancy nails, hair color, makeup, stuff that could be competitive/distracting and I'm sooooo grateful for that. They really want them to have this beautiful slow childhood. There are also so many resources for the parents! So if this all sounds lovely to you and your family - Best wishes and good luck on lottery day!!

My child was enrolled for TK/K for about 3 months in 2024, at which point I pulled my child…read more Journey is a bit of a co-op school that relies very heavily on parent participation for campus upkeep, festivals and volunteering - so if you enjoy being really active on a school campus, this school has plenty of opportunities. I throughly enjoyed this aspect. They are Waldorf-inspired and the festivals are charming and educational philosophy enchanting. The time spent outdoors is a gift to young children. The classrooms, or at least the TK room my child was in, was exactly as you'd expect a Waldorf classroom to be set up: low stimulus, intentional, curated to fit the rhythms of the day. The communal table and shared snack and responsibilities (my child came away loving bean soup) are things I fondly remember. But in our brief, but intense experience, this school is neither quipped nor (it seems) interested in becoming equipped to provide meaningful and impactful support to children who are different: neurodivergent, learning differences, or just struggling - even temporarily. It is a school of choice and the position of top level administration, in my opinion, is one of complete indifference in the hopes that doing nothing will get you to leave by choice. Which is what happened with us. And was likely for the best. At orientation they stressed that this school may not be for all families. But my impression is that what they are trying to convey is that it may not be a good fit for families who want, for example, a rigorous academic curriculum, or heavy technology use. What they don't say is that it may not be a good fit for families whose children may struggle - either socially or academically or behaviorally. And I think that is what they need to share. Given that this is a public charter, I'm still sort of amazed that they operate with what seems absolutely no understanding of how to identify and support students who struggle, when all other public schools have pretty typical and standard supports in place. The school also seems to struggle with bullying management - or another way said, they seem to place very low priority on intentionally supporting, in age appropriate ways, social and emotional development and guidance. I was hoping for an inclusive experience for my child but found the opposite. Between what I witnessed on the playground at drop off and what my child shared, teasing and bullying are at best ignored and at worst enabled. For such an aspirational educational program, it felt like the social and emotional development of young humans was totally absent. I couldn't put my finger on it at the time, but the only way I can describe it is it felt like the preservation of childhood was at the expense of who these kids would eventually be as adults. Two years in to attending our local public school, and watching how seriously and intentionally bullying is dealt with (conversely, how much emphasis is placed on social and emotional development and guidance) I feel some guilt for allowing my child to stay here for as long as they did. When we received a spot in the lottery we felt very lucky. The lottery is intense and the waitlists are long. We had high hopes for a positive, experiential introduction to education for our nature loving, inclusive, friendly child at the TK/K level. We committed to a commute that we would not otherwise undertake because of what it seemed to offer. In the end, our nearby public school turned out to be the fit for our child, with services and supports abundantly available when and if needed, and high levels of inclusivity, positivity and interest in the well being and development of future adults.

We love Streamline Christian Academy! Our daughter has been attending for over a year now and we…read morecould not be more pleased with Ms Vanessa, Ms Michelle, and Ms Faith. The teachers are all amazing, kind, loving, and fun! They have created the sweetest and safest environment for the kiddos to grow. We highly recommend it! Best outdoor preschool!!

This was my sons first preschool and it has been a dream. It is a safe, friendly, caring and…read morelearning environment. I've know Mrs Vanessa for many years and I had every faith that she would bring her 20 years of preschool experience into her own environment and set up a wonderful place. My son loves Mrs Vanessa and has learnt so much in the short time he has been going. I would highly recommend Streamline Christian Academy to any first time preschooler or anyone looking for a new preschool.

We were at Kensington for over a year and it was wonderful! The administration, teachers, and…read morefamilies make this place special and help shape our young ones. My child has developed long lasting positive habits and a love for learning that I attribute this school to. Montessori was excellent for our child. During one of the parent teacher conferences, one of the most influential pieces of guidance I received as a parent was given to us by Ms. Stacey. Her advice has shaped the growth of our child and was passed along to their following teachers. Safety is #1 at this school. It's a gift when you can drop off your child, and go about your day knowing they're developing, safe, and actually enjoy their experience. We like it so much that we requested to come back for the summer after our child has already graduated from the program!!

Kensington Montessori of Laguna Niguel has been an absolute blessing for our family. Our daughter…read morecurrently attends, and our son was here for 2.5 wonderful years before graduating to TK -- and we could not imagine a better early-childhood experience for both of them. It's rare to find a school that truly lives up to the Montessori philosophy, but Kensington is one of those special places that stands out from the crowd. While many schools simply use the "Montessori" name as a marketing label, this school genuinely embraces the principles: independence, hands-on learning, thoughtful redirection, and individualized attention. Ms. Stacy, Ms. Viviana, and Ms. Yulia are incredibly communicative, warm, and attentive -- the type of educators who not only know your child, but truly understand them. The community here is just as exceptional. The school regularly hosts interactive activities and parent gatherings that bring everyone together. Our kids were always excited to go to school each morning, and even after pickup they loved playing with friends on the playground. The moms have formed amazing friendships as well -- getting together both with and without the kids, which speaks to how strong and welcoming the parent community is. The location is another plus: a beautifully maintained, safe campus perched on a hill near the town center, with an adjoining church that has always been friendly and receptive. Kensington Montessori is one of those rare finds that exceeds expectations in every way. We're incredibly grateful for the loving foundation they've provided for both of our children. Highly, highly recommend.