My son attended the preschool, 3s and then pre-k. I cannot day enough about this preschool. I can…read moretell the teachers love my son and are eager to discuss his progress and behavior. They are kind and gentle and patient. Esther is a wonderful director and we have been blessed to know these people. My son was on the younger side in his class, but thrived in the classical Christian education setting. The classrooms are well organized, large, and very clean. We are so sad that we won't be able to send our kids for the 20-21 year, but thankful that we were able to call this preschool 'home' for a little while.

We had high hopes for North Creek Academy, but the TK assessment process was incredibly…read morefrustrating. Expecting 4-year-olds to already be writing and recognizing letters feels academically misplaced for a Transitional Kindergarten level. What's worse is the inconsistency--it's clear the "rules" don't apply to everyone, as kids who can't yet write their names are accepted while the process remains a "black box" for everyone else. It feels more like a biased "who you know" system than a transparent evaluation of a child's readiness. We also noticed during our tour that the school's diversity is very low. In today's world, we want our children to learn in an environment that reflects the broader community, and we didn't see that here. Definitely something to consider if transparency and inclusion are priorities for your family.

My son is now a junior. Northgate is a wonderfully supportive school. I went to Northgate myself…read moreand feel fortunate that my son was able to go there. They even have a pool and a football field that wasn't there when I was a student.

I have several friends with kids who play on different local teams, and nearly every game against…read morethis school is wrought with filth & what appears to be dirty reffing. ------------------------------------------------- When their basketball team hurls insults, including racial slurs, at another team... that says so much about the privileged, entitled attitudes. Pretty sad & embarrassing. Then add to it, the ref was locked arm-in-arm with this school's coach, haha, and literally had an arm around the waist at one point!! Suddenly it makes sense why there were sooooo many TERRIBLE calls. You know it's bad when you hear parents on the opposite team commenting about the bad ref calls IN THEIR FAVOR! This poor ref was so "proud" of himself that he refused to provide his name to the score keeper's table to put on record as having reffed the game, lol. Literally refused!! As if they wouldn't find out eventually, I mean, he would like to get paid, right?!... ------------------------------------------------- For football... if you're the opposing team & you're winning, KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE CLOCK!!! Whoever is in their scorekeeper's box/tower INTENTIONALLY starts the clock a few seconds after the snap in order to give their team more time to catch up, AND sometimes when the clock is supposed to keep running, they'll randomly stop the clock. It's insane! Then, when they're ahead, you watch the clock suddenly begin starting/stopping correctly. No joke! Also, same with other sports, be prepared for the refs to behave as if they're paid off... bogus calls & penalties for the opposition, while allowing dangerous hits (blindside, late hits, leading with helmets, undercover punching, aligator-twisting legs as they tackle, pass interference, & more) go "unnoticed." The refs fail to do their jobs so things get out of hand & injuries occur. Never fails at thos school's games. It's sad & disgusting.

As a graduate from Eagle Peak myself, this school has been one of the best things to ever happen to…read moreme. I've been at Eagle Peak for eight years, and it's been one of the best experiences of my life. Not only did I learn much more than I could have from a public school, it was also incredibly fun. Some of the friends I have made at Eagle Peak, who I have known for years, will probably end up being my friends for a long time from now. The Adolescent Program (AP) took all 34 of the 8th graders, and all 26 of the 7th graders, and made us into a community through a variety of fun activities. We all know each other as though we were best friends, and there's hardly any fights between us, and when there is the teachers are great at working them out. During AP I not only learned a lot about math, science, social studies, and language arts, but also about myself. Through AP, I have become braver, stronger, more outgoing, and better at solving my own problems. On a field trip, we hiked 16 miles from the heart of San Francisco to the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was hard and long, but everyone made it, and I learned how much stronger I was than I thought. I would highly recommend staying in Eagle Peak until you graduate. Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary (1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade, and 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, respectively) were also great for me. During those years the teachers taught us not just what we needed to know, like addition and subtraction, science, basic geometry, cursive, and a lot more, but also how to make friends, how to keep them, how to settle arguments, to express gratitude, and so much more. However, Eagle Peak may not be the right school for your child if they have difficulty applying themselves to their work. The whole system only works if the students are trying to learn, much like a regular school. However, in Eagle Peak there is a much less stressful atmosphere, so some kids might just not do any work, which is hard for the teachers, because they can't exactly follow children home and force them to do homework. The only reason Eagle Peak worked for me was because I learned to apply myself and to care about my work from my parents, and then, later, my Lower Elementary teachers. Overall, though, Eagle Peak was a great school, and personally, I don't think there could have been a better school for me. Sincerely, Roland

EPMS is a wonderful school. My son has been attending, and he truly loves it. Prospective families…read moreshould keep in mind that this is a Montessori school, where some of the most important elements are mixed-age classrooms and student autonomy. Coming from a traditional school myself, I disliked sitting at a desk for hours listening to a teacher, with only short breaks between classes. At EPMS, children have much more freedom in the classroom, and I believe this helps them enjoy school rather than see it as an obligation. Student autonomy also builds a strong sense of responsibility--they're not just running around all day There is a clear structure and flow in the classroom, and everyone knows what to do and when to do it. What I love most about EPMS is the customized learning plan for each child, based on their individual level. Every child moves at their own pace, and their work during class is adjusted accordingly. The mixed-age classrooms really support this approach. If your child is more advanced in certain subjects, they can both receive help from peers and help others. The school offers a thoughtful balance of academic and emotional learning. If you are looking for a highly competitive, homework-heavy environment with constant academic pressure, EPMS may not be the right fit--and that is exactly why it works so well for our family. I have not heard of a single bullying incident in our class, and the school is very strict about this. The children are respectful toward one another and toward their teachers, and conflicts are handled in a healthy and constructive way. Dianne Adair is also fantastic and does an amazing job with the after-school activities. Compared to public schools, where 30 students are often crowded into one classroom with a single teacher, EPMS feels like a much better option. While private schools are another alternative, I appreciate that EPMS admits students through a lottery system, allowing children from diverse backgrounds to learn together.

I've had at least one child attending Indian Valley Elementary School since 2002. For a smaller…read moreschool in a chronically underfunded small school district, the teachers and staff here do an awesome job. It's a clean, safe school with experienced and caring staff, and a lot of parent involvement.

Indian Valley Elementary has surpassed any expectations I had coming here. My family has moved…read morehere from another state and the staff and teachers here have made sure that my children are feeling welcome, safe and adjusted to our move. Trude (office manager) has been the best! she has even called after a few weeks to see how we were all doing. Beautiful setting and great kids. I have been very pleased with our decision to go here.

We completed the full application process with Sonder Creek Academy, including paying the $100…read moreapplication fee. Because we applied a bit late, we were placed on the waitlist, which we completely understood. What was disappointing was the total lack of follow-up after that point. Despite reaching out directly to the admissions officer to inquire about our waitlist status, we never received a response -- not even a simple notification that a spot was no longer available. When a family pays a $100 application fee, there is a reasonable expectation of communication and transparency throughout the process. To add to the frustration, we continued to receive marketing emails about summer programs despite never hearing back about our child's application. The disconnect between their marketing outreach and their admissions communication was striking. We can't speak to the school itself, but based solely on the application experience, the lack of follow-through left a poor impression.

Sonder Creek has absolutely been the best school for my child. We were looking at a wide variety of…read moreschools (public, non religious private, and religious private) to see what would be the best fit and I can tell you from the moment we reached out with interest, to the tour, to our child having his first 1/2 day visit there, we knew this was his school.  Staff is knowledgeable and knows my child to a depth that truly sets him up for success. It also makes me feel comfortable that they are doing everything in their power to help my child succeed and thrive. I love that they allow him to excel academically (even past his grade level) as well as support him with challenging subjects (teachers stay current with where he's at and are skilled at providing support very quickly if the child needs it while also keeping parents in the loop so we can help when needed too) while allowing him to stay with his grade level of peers so he's not only being cultivated in the classroom, but also learning to be social amongst peers his age. A big concern of mine was coming out of covid, my child wanted to so desperately make friends, but I know sometimes kids show no mercy. At Sonder Creek, overall it's been way over my expectations. Very involved parents, attentive staff that keeps you in the loop, and students who are open to connecting to one another.  My child has loved the STEM programs at school (especially the after school robotics class) as well as learning both Mandrin and Spanish (coming from an English speaking household, it's been amazing seeing him now speak another language which we will continue to encourage moving forward). He also is asking to do the after school Art program and this is coming from a child who started off barely wanting to hold a pencil correctly.  The community here is so special and you get to see that when everyone comes together. This was our first year we participated in Trunk or Treat with his school and it was such a blast; we will be doing it again next year. The international potluck is a family favorite to attend (combo of incredible foods from all over as well as mini performances from the language programs with the students is so darn adorable) and the Christmas Concert is absolutely precious. Sonder Creek is our child's school and we cannot recommend it enough.

Springfield Montessori is, hands down, the best option for children ages 2-5. From the moment you…read morewalk in, you feel the warm, loving, and nurturing environment that the school has cultivated. Each classroom is a well prepared environment. The educators are experienced and genuinely dedicated, guiding and leading not just in the classroom, but in every interaction throughout the day. What sets Springfield apart is that they don't take a one-size-fits-all approach -- it's one size fits MOST, meeting children where they are and helping them grow at their own pace. The administration team is outstanding and truly hands-on, involved in day-to-day operations and knowing each child by name. That level of personal attention is hard to find. With over 35 years of experience as a private Montessori preschool, Springfield has a track record that speaks for itself. I can't wait for my grandchildren to attend and have this same incredible academic experience as I've seen, firsthand, with so many children who have come through the doors. Highly recommend to any family looking for the best start for their little ones.

I really wanted to love this preschool, but unfortunately our experience with the admissions…read moreprocess was so poorly handled that I would not feel comfortable enrolling my child here. It started before we even toured. I spent some time trying to get in touch with someone and received no response. I was ultimately only able to connect with the school after a coworker, whose child currently attends, reached out on my behalf. Once we finally had a tour scheduled, the school canceled on us the day of the tour and rescheduled us for the following week -- despite the fact that we had taken time off work specifically to attend. When we finally toured, we actually liked the school and were excited enough that we planned to enroll our child. We discussed the schedule we needed and understood that the 7am-6pm option was available. We told the staff that we would immediately pay the deposit. She was fine with us leaving to go home to get our check and coming right back. We live 5 minutes down the road. We left to go home and get our check and returned immediately afterward to secure his spot. In that very short window, we were suddenly told the 7am-6pm schedule was full and that they could only hold 9am-3pm. If we needed care outside of those hours, we were told it would be an additional $30 per hour. I understand that preschool spots are limited and availability can change. What I cannot understand is how a family can be sitting in the school discussing enrollment and availability, leave specifically to retrieve payment, and return shortly afterward to find that the schedule they had just discussed is no longer available -- without any communication or acknowledgment of the "confusion". The entire experience left me with serious concerns about the admissions process and the emphasis on additional fees. When you're choosing a place to care for your young child, communication, transparency and trust matter enormously. If communication is this difficult and inconsistent before your child even starts, it is hard to feel confident about what communication will look like once your child is actually in their care. Afterward, I went back and read through Yelp reviews and was surprised to see other parents describing similar frustrations with the admissions process, including concerns about communication, transparency and cost. Obviously I can only speak to my own experience, but reading those accounts after what happened to us reinforced the concerns I already had. I understand the school has recently had a change in admissions leadership, so perhaps some of this is related to that transition. Regardless, families are making significant financial commitments and, more importantly, trusting a school with their children. They deserve clear information, empathy and consistent communication throughout that process. We genuinely wanted this school to work for our family. Instead, after time of unanswered outreach, a tour canceled the day of after we had taken off work, and then having the schedule we were prepared to pay for become unavailable in the short time it took us to retrieve our check, we walked away feeling that we could no longer trust the admissions process enough to enroll our son.

It's unconscionable that a children's school would use a rodenticide on California ground squirrels…read moreduring the season when their babies are being nursed. Walking on to the field with my dog and finding 4 - 6 week old babies running up to me, emaciated, crow attacks, and dehydration because the parent is dead!!! This is cruel!

This is for the Spanish/English immersion program. I had my worries and doubts about this program,…read morebut finally my child is actually communicating in Spanish! It took a lot of effort outside the classroom with an hour a day of Spanish focused practice and more relaxed activities like singing and playing board games in Spanish, but it has worked after 1.5 years! I couldn't be more impressed with the teachers' genuine concern for the students. Also, she is above the grade level for reading in English as well, so I can see it is nicely balanced.

ACS has been part of our family since the pandemic when we were looking for the right place for our…read moreeldest daughter. She was more than prepared for TK while having a preschool focused on being outside, play and arts/crafts. I always recommend ACS and their amazing teachers. Teachers have been here for awhile - always a good sign!

My daughter used to have a really hard time separating from me, but since starting here, everything…read morehas changed. She absolutely loves it and has so much fun every day! The environment is incredibly creative, engaging, and full of positive energy. She's learning so many wonderful things. I truly love this place and highly recommend it!

I have had a very positive experience with Buena Vista as both a parent and an employee. Both of my…read morechildren, one with special needs, attended BV from K-5. They received excellent educations and support at the hands of very caring and experienced teachers and support staff. It was and still remains a "family" with parents and staff working together to achieve the common goal of top notch education for each and every child. As an employee, I see everyday the hard work and dedication that goes on behind the scenes especially by the principal, Amy Espinoza. With 560 students, you will never be able to make everyone happy. But Mrs. Espinoza handles all situations with fairness and all students and parents with respect. Unless you have walked in her shoes and done her job, you have no idea what it takes to run a school like BV with all its complexities and diversities. Having worked with other principals, I can tell you, she does an amazing job and it shows in the education the students receive. It is unfortunate that individuals such as David C. choose to make unsubstantiated statements and that he sees his child as "disabled". Perhaps if he was involved in the school as a volunteer and in the PTA he could be a positive voice for change instead of sharing his negative, hurtful opinions (oh, and remember what they say about opinions . . .). It's really too bad. Thank you for taking the time to read this review/rebuttal. I know it's long, but I am very passionate about Buena Vista, it's teachers, staff and administration. Any student would be fortunate to attend.

Pretends they are a private school and will deny your kid if they can. Never responded to my email…read moreabout a follow up.