Great school This is our first year here and my kids are…read moreloving it Everyone is so nice Also they really care about education and try their best to make sure everything is done to help the student

If you're considering sending your child here, I highly recommend considering other options,…read moreespecially if your child is an easy target for bullying. This school has a very high tolerance for bullying and won't take action. We came here for a month and after witnessing it myself and hearing about it day after day, I couldn't, in good confidence send my child here any longer. The teacher we had for 4th grade was awful as well. It was an unfortunate experience for us, and I don't wish our teacher, or the bullying upon anyone else. Academically, They use Eureka math, which I like. Spelling is not part of their curriculum if that matters to you. They don't tell you that when you tour. That wasn't an issue for us, but I imagine it could be a concern for others. Celebrations: This school acknowledges NO holidays. No Halloween, no Valentine's, they won't even acknowledge your child's birthday. Not this this is of much importance, but it is something I wish I would've known. The garden is awesome, so are the chickens. I loved that about the school, but it definitely wasn't enough to keep us enrolled there.

My children all have different personalities and needs, but they are all thriving at Aveson. We…read morelost our beautiful campus in the Eaton Fire, but we're settling in at our temporary home, co-located with Alma Fuerte Charter on the former site of Cleveland Elementary. Despite it all, our kids still love Aveson, and we're still here because the community is wonderful and we share the values of the school. Aveson focuses on social-emotional learning, project-based curriculum, and personalized mastery. In practice, what that means is things like: -- Classes that begin with a short mindfulness exercise to help kids transition into a new task. -- Time spent teaching even little ones about how the brain works, and how to process big feelings. -- An emphasis on kindness and mutual respect, in how teachers interact with students, and how students interact with each other. -- A "safe spot" (cozy corner) in each room, for kids to go to if they're having a tough time or just need a quiet moment. -- Projects that are very open-ended, that all kids can get something out of regardless where they are in their growth. All grades do a lot of writing (and/or drawing, for the little ones) and learn about editing and proofreading--always useful, regardless of your level. Grades 3-5 do Passion Projects, where kids learn about the many steps in researching a project and present on it at Celebration of Learning, the twice-a-year open house. It's really cool to see the growth from year to year as the kids better understand how to research, find cooler and cooler topics, etc. They build a lot of skills while doing something they care about. -- Small groups in the core curriculum classes (Literacy and Math), so kids can work at their level while the teacher and an aide float between groups. In a math class, it's typical to have groups working at multiple levels, ranging from extra support to working ahead. In grades 1-2, the teachers have organized reading groups that each have a dedicated aide or teacher. -- A Healthy Living class, where the wonderful and warm Ms. Arlynn teaches garden and cooking. My children will try foods in her class that they'd run away from at home. And there's nothing as beautiful as starting a school morning at a garden. -- At 2nd grade, a camping trip to celebrate moving from the younger division (TK-2) to the older division (3-5). On our old campus, the campout would be on campus, which was a thrill for the kids. This year, post-fire, a parent organized a fabulous trip to Trask Canyon instead. At 5th grade, students celebrate the end of their time at school with a trip to Catalina that was their first sleep-away trip. The kids have an incredible time and come back with a new swagger. The time since the fire has been so hard, in so many ways. A lot of families in our community lost their homes or have been displaced long-term from standing homes. Some of our families have had to leave the school because of where they've had to move, or because they needed their children back in school faster than the school was able to pivot to a new location. The school is in transition as it recovers, and I suspect it will be for years to come as we figure out where we'll be long-term. But the spirit of what makes Aveson great is still here: the classroom experience. The amazing Ms. Weinstock, in 5th grade, helped her students process the fire by creating a unit on first-person historical narratives, reading accounts of Pearl Harbor and the Holocaust, and encouraging students to write their own accounts of the fire. They wrote poetry--odes to things they lost. As a class, they kept learning while also processing and grieving together. Things like that were happening in every grade. We have phenomenal advisors and caring staff, and that means so much. If you're reading this, you're probably looking for a school, and I do agree with the negative reviews that, if you're socially conservative, you might not agree with Aveson's curriculum and culture. It's a welcoming space for a diverse community, and teaches a curriculum with anti-racism and affirmation/acknowledgment of LGBTQ+ people as some of its values. My children did have questions, and sometimes misunderstood things, but talking things out at home has always been really fun and interesting, and also something I've learned from a lot. I don't think that's age-inappropriate, however; kids are capable of learning complex things if you're willing to talk and keep talking as they grow. For me, the fact that they teach these values is something that I was hugely excited about when I learned about it, and it's a piece of why I love the community. Despite everything it's been through, it's still such a beautiful school.

I rate it 2 stars because it is understaffed, some of the teachers are extremely mean and will…read moregrade you based on their personal opinion, and not on your actual preformance in the class. The students xan also be very mean and make your life hard because theres only 15 or so people per class, and they form cliques and go against different people every week. Once you report it, nothing ever changes. The only teachers everyone loved were recently laid off, and you also dont learn much. Although, I will say, it is very easy to get good grades, but I personally dont think its worth it for your mental health. I strongly do not reccomen, maybe if there were more students & more teachers who actually cared.

Foothill Progressive Montessori is a truly exceptional school that we have had the honor of sending…read moreour daughter to for the last two and a half years. Run by Ms. Kanthi and staffed by a truly excellent array of teachers, including Ms. Chrissy, Ms. Kim, and Ms. Fatema, Progressive has been instrumental in the growth and development of our daughter from age 3 to 5. With the guidance of Progressive, our daughter gained admission to our first choice private school, and one of the most competitive schools in the state. Over the years we have come to deeply value the warm, thoughtful environment of the school. Birthdays are truly special occasions frequented by princesses and superheroes, exceptional art is made with the guidance of teachers, and the educational rigor is unmatched. With the dedicated guidance of Ms. Fatema, our now 5 year old daughter can read, write, and do basic arithmetic at the level of a late Kindergartener, winning the admiration of family, friends, and admissions directors alike. Just as important, Progressive has allowed our daughter to find her voice, speak up and give her opinion, and instill her with a level of confidence that wows everyone around her. While perhaps less well known than other preschools that profess to be "feeders" for the competitive Pasadena private school scene (and who charge accordingly), Foothill Progressive is exceptional in that it stands not on a name, but the merits of its teachers and genuine commitment to the success of its students. Our daughter's success is proof that this is what truly matters. Thank you, Progressive Montessori, for everything you have done for our daughter and family. You deserve nothing less than our highest recommendation and we encourage all parents in La Canada, Pasadena, and Altadena to join your wonderful community.

We absolutely LOVE Foothill Progressive Montessori School. Our kids have been at this school since…read more2022, and I was a student 1997-1999. Ms. Kanthi was my teacher and now she owns the same school and teaches my kids! She is absolutely amazing! All of the staff are incredible. Ms. Fatema, Ms. Chrissy, Ms. Kim, Ms. Sumudu, Ms. Raquel, Ms. Angelica, Ms. Hazmik. Literally every single one of them. All of them treat the kids as if they were their own, so much love and patience with the kids. My kids love going to school and they actually get excited about learning. Ms. Fatema's science class has been amazing in instilling a love for learning for our oldest child. We can't wait for our other kids to take Ms. Fatema's science class and Ms. Kim's science class. My oldest is definitely ready for kindergarten solely because of Ms. Fatema. The school has great hours for working parents from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Hot lunch is available for an additional fee. The school goes all out for all of the holidays and graduation. There are lots of opportunities for parent involvement should you want to be involved. The environment is screen-free and true to the Montessori method.

Valley vista is an amazing facility! Warm and inviting environment and great teachers that are…read morepatient and kind. One thing that has stuck out to me is the willingness to listen and work with us as parents from the staff about personal issues or behaviors. Our little guy is a bit of a rambunctious one and everyone has accepted him for who he is all while taking the steps to guide him in his educational and social growth! Tyler is a fantastic director and I would recommend this school whole heartedly!

Our family is incredibly disappointed by our experience with Valley Vista Preschool, and after…read moreeverything that has happened, we cannot recommend this school to other parents. The final straw came when our child was expelled on his birthday--the same day we had brought cupcakes to school to celebrate with his classmates. Regardless of the circumstances, there is simply no compassionate or professional way to justify delivering that news to a young child on such a meaningful day. It was heartbreaking and is something no family should have to experience. What makes this even more frustrating is that the school had insisted we complete a comprehensive evaluation through UpLift Therapy. We spent $750 on an assessment, scheduled at the school's request, because we believed we were working collaboratively to support our child. Before that evaluation could even take place, Valley Vista expelled him. Looking back, it feels as though the evaluation was never truly about helping him, but simply about justifying a decision that had already been made. Throughout our time at Valley Vista, we consistently felt that our child was singled out and treated as though something was inherently wrong with him. He is a loving, bright, energetic little boy. Like many preschoolers, he had moments of conflict and frustration. We have never excused biting or any aggressive behavior, but context matters. Preschool-aged children are still learning emotional regulation, impulse control, and conflict resolution. That is precisely why parents enroll them in preschool. The school informed us that teachers witnessed the entire interaction leading up to the incident and were in the process of intervening. If staff observed the conflict escalating before it happened, it raises an important question: why wasn't it prevented? Supervising children and intervening before situations escalate is one of the primary responsibilities of preschool staff. Despite repeatedly asking for objective documentation regarding these incidents, we were never provided with anything beyond verbal descriptions. We also never observed this level of behavior in other environments, making it difficult to understand why our child was consistently portrayed as the problem. Unfortunately, we also found certain staff members to be cold, dismissive, and lacking the warmth, patience, and encouragement that young children deserve. Children are incredibly perceptive, and they know when they are not welcomed or embraced. What became increasingly clear is that Valley Vista seems to have very little tolerance for children who require patience, guidance, or individualized support. It felt as though the expectation was for children to behave like robots--quiet, compliant, and never impulsive--instead of recognizing that preschoolers are still developing emotionally and socially. The purpose of early childhood education is not simply to teach children who are already "easy"; it is to help all children learn, grow, and navigate challenges in a safe and supportive environment. From our experience, our child was treated differently from the beginning. Whether intentional or not, he appeared to be labeled rather than supported. That differential treatment left us questioning whether he was unfairly profiled. A preschool should focus on helping children succeed--not finding reasons to exclude them when they need guidance. We understand that every school has a responsibility to keep children safe, and we respect that. However, safety and compassion are not mutually exclusive. The way this situation was handled lacked empathy, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to helping a child through a developmentally appropriate challenge. For us, this experience revealed a school that seemed more interested in maintaining an image of perfect behavior than in fulfilling the mission of early childhood education. Families deserve to know that if their child experiences behavioral challenges, Valley Vista's response may be exclusion rather than partnership. We sincerely hope the school reflects on how it supports children who need additional patience and guidance. No four-year-old should leave preschool believing they are the problem--especially on their birthday.

I feel so incredibly lucky to have had my daughter attend Parents and Children. Today is the last…read moreday of the school year, and while I'm sad that she is graduating, I'm also very grateful for the experience she had. I strongly believe in the schools foundational curriculum of play based learning. My daughter truly enjoys learning because of the fun atmosphere they've created around it. Nothing is forced, curiosity is nurtured, and they are free and independent to explore what they want to. The teachers are all so warm and kind, they really make preschool feel like a second home not to just my daughter but myself included. Picking up my daughter with my youngest has become one of our favorite things to do everyday because we feel so welcomed and the environment is always bustling with activities and laughter. The staff is incredible. They've always taken such great care of my daughter even during her toughest moments, she was never scolded or punished, they've always taken a kind and gentle approach which I really appreciate and helped my daughter work through some tough times. Especially miss Conny, she not only kept me updated with what my daughter was working through, but gave me tips, shared personal experiences, and was just there as a friend when I had those tough mornings. This school is an absolute treasure.

Parents and Children's has gone above and beyond in keeping our daughter's experience and…read moreenvironment as healthy as possible during their return from the Covid-19 pandemic. It is of no surprise that they would make this transition so seamless, the teachers have been so nurturing since day one. It speaks volumes when your little one is very excited to go to school Monday morning and shares all the excitement of a school day. We couldn't be more grateful for our daughter's preschool, it's been a big part of her life and we are looking forward to when our 2nd little one could attend in the fall. We know that one day they will look back and remember Parents & Children's fondly just like their father does, as he was fortunate enough to attend Parents and Children's during his pre-K years. The fact that we are a multi-general Parents and Children's family evidences the educational, healthy, and happy experience they will create for your kids. P.S. they make THE best art projects and sensory activities!

An amazing school filled with the best teachers around. The school does have a new name Mary W…read moreJackson STEAM multilingual elementary school. The playground is gorgeous.

My daughter just started Kindergarten here. She's speaking Spanish! Her teacher rocks! She has pull…read moreout science lab on Wednesdays! Computer lab on Wednesdays! Gardening class! New elaborate play equipment is getting put in from a grant they just got! Exciting stuff going on over there, thrilled to be a part of it. I'm a teacher myself, have been teaching for 8 years around Pasadena, in public and private schools, and Jackson is a GREAT contender. Parents in Pasadena should invest in our public schools. They only get stronger when strong parents and students join the community and commit to making it a great place by investing their time, opinions, money and resources. The private schools around Pasadena make a strong economic line in our city that can often breed inequalities. Ponder it. Jackson is great.

Hillside school is a hidden treasure. When it came to teachers & faculty they were the best of the…read morebest! Had a great experience and always recommend the summer programs they offer as well!

We just celebrated our son's graduation from Hillside after four fantastic years. We entered the…read morehigh school years with trepidation given our son's need for academic support and fears about the bullying and social issues prevalent in public schools in our area. We couldn't have chosen better. Our son enjoyed four years of study, safety and friendship in an environment where the faculty and staff know each student and family and communicate academic and social concerns freely. Our son loved Hillside and never regretted not attending the larger public schools, and certainly never had to deal with violence, drug abuse or bullying of any sort. The years went fast, and we will miss them. Thanks for making us a part of the Hillside family.

I've only had positive experiences with this school. My son so far has had Lara and Dalida as…read moreteachers in preschool and I can't say enough positive things about them and the school. My son loves his teachers and always talks about them! It is a Christ-centered school that is proud of its Armenian heritage and preserving the culture. I have yet to see an ounce of prejudice (financial or cultural). All students are treated equally despite race and financial status, and despite being an Armenian school, is welcoming to students of all backgrounds. The leadership from the top down is solid and I have yet to have any issues with any teachers or leadership.

If there was a way to somehow put a 6th star in this review I would. It's the best feeling when I'm…read moreable to drop off my daughter here at school and not have an ounce of worry in EVERY single category. Whether it be safety, education, culture and Christian values etc. I am so happy and so blessed to be sending my daughter here at SMACS. Whats better is that the school gives plenty of opportunity to be involved in the school to give me a better look as to what's going on. My daughter comes home everyday happy and excited to tell me about her day. She loves her teachers and principal. Never seen a principal that cares so much about the kids and school in general. This was one of the best decisions my wife and I have made in sending our child here.