As a tai chi instructor, I gave an introduction class to the wonderful of Maple Village, Waldorf…read moreschool who very thoughtful and appreciative of the art presented. It's great to see a teaching establishment provide the artistic world to students who have a thirst for all art forms. Dav-Ekon, the Art of Tai Chi

We are starting our sixth year at Maple Village Waldorf School, and with the first day of school…read moretoday, I am reminded of just how grateful we are for this community. Over the past five years, our children have been met with love, patience, and a true dedication to their growth. The teachers and staff are among the most devoted educators I have ever seen. They don't just teach--they nurture, guide, and partner with parents in the most thoughtful way. Their holistic approach meets kids exactly where they are, helping them not only to learn but to love learning. What I appreciate most is how much the school truly cares about the kids as whole human beings. It's more than academics--it's about building confidence, fostering creativity, and cultivating empathy. If you are looking for a school where your child will be seen, valued, and supported in every way, Maple Village Waldorf School is a rare gem. We feel incredibly lucky to be part of this community.

Their kindergarten is the only reason I'm giving 3 stars, without it I would give them 1 star…read more Their kindergarten department is a blessing. The same cannot be said for the rest. It starts at the top with their principal,Mrs. Robinson. The level of professionalism she displayed during my interactions with her, I would expect from a child, not from an adult much less an adult in her position. As stated the teachers and aides in their kindergarten department were outstanding and while I'm sure they have a few teachers who do care and try to educate our children, she sets the tone. After having various discussions with my son's teacher, we would communicate consistently to make sure he was doing his part and that we as parents did ours. There was an issue with some students that my son ended up involved in. I spoke with everyone involved and was told the situation was addressed only to later receive a call from Mrs Robinson informing me my son was suspended along with a completely different version of the events. When we met to discuss this the aide involved was not present nor would we be able to hear their version. The teacher whom I would always communicate with changed their narrative on my son and wouldn't even look in my direction throughout the entire meeting. The attitude displayed by Mrs Robinson was "zero f's" given. Mrs Robinson, I'm a grown man who respects women (and truly appreciate the teachers who play a key role in not only educating but also help raise our children) I decided to act my age and not my shoe size. The job you hold carries lofty expectations which based not just on my review, but many others I see here, are epically failing to meet. Do better! I could've resorted to returning the same energy you displayed during our meeting but didn't. This won't be the case all the time. Hopefully you end up stepping aside before you run into a person who decides to teach you the acronym for f.a.f.o.

Donna Robertson is the worst principal and segregates and withholds resources from disabled…read morestudents. She refuses to interact with parents, return a phone call or respond to e mails. If your child is being bullied by students or school staff, she will do absolutely nothing. We fundraised and spent so much on helping out our child's class with supplies for his needs to go unmet and have him be bullied by the school's SLP Michelle Morrissey and Donna Robertson would do absolutely nothing to remedy it because we couldn't even reach her! Shame on the staff at Mann elementary for letting so many of their students down. I believe the other parent that said she was brought to this school to shut it down. Don't send your children here if you want them to receive an education or not be bullied by unprofessional staff and students who are violent. My son got knocked down by another violent student and the school never called me or notified me of the incident. They also don't like to give you any important information about your child in writing which is a huge red flag. An aide told me about the incident because it was the right thing to do. We were also lied to about our child eloping so they didn't have to provide a 1-1. Another aide told me the truth about my child. This school isn't safe for disabled students.

The school administration needs training on how to deal with domestic violence situations…read more They took away my rights as a VIP when I shared videos of my abuse to other parents (I had no support system out here and dv shelters are not of much help). They have treated me like trash since my abusive ex got custody from a crooked judge and lawyer I asked for my children's attendance records at least 5 different times over more than a month. They responded by INCLUDING my ABUSIVE EX on my email to them and asking "his permission" to share the records with me. This is a clear violation of FERPA and I plan to bring this to the attention of the Department of Education. Naples elementary of Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) is violating your parental rights by: * Withholding your children's attendance records, * Asking your abusive ex for permission, and * Including him on communications without your consent, you should escalate this immediately and formally. Here's who to contact and how to structure it: 1. Start with the Principal and School Office Manager If you haven't already, email the principal and CC the office manager demanding a written explanation. But since this is now a rights violation, go higher. 2. Contact the LBUSD Family Resource Center (Custody and Records) This department oversees parent access rights, including custody-sensitive issues. Request to speak to: * Student Records Department * Custody and Legal Compliance Coordinator (ask for the title if not publicly listed) District Email: info@lbschools.net Main line: (562) 997-8000 -- Ask for the Student Records department. 3. Contact the LBUSD General Counsel / Legal Compliance Officer You are entitled under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) to full access to your child's education records without needing permission from the other parent, unless a court order says otherwise. You can send a formal FERPA complaint to: * Office of the General Counsel * Or Director of Student Support Services You can CC both legal and superintendent offices to show seriousness. Sample Email Template (Feel Free to Copy + Paste) Subject: Violation of FERPA Rights and Inappropriate Involvement of Non-Custodial Parent Dear [Name], I am the mother of [Child's Full Name], a student at [School Name]. I am writing to formally address a serious breach of my legal rights under FERPA and California Education Code. I submitted multiple requests for my child's attendance records, which were delayed without justification. I was informed that your staff sought permission from the other parent--[Name]--before releasing the records to me. This is entirely inappropriate and a violation of my federally protected rights. I share legal custody and have full rights to my child's education records. More concerningly, this other parent has a documented history of abuse, which the school has been made aware of. Including him in email threads without my consent puts me and my child at risk. I am requesting: 1. An immediate release of the full attendance and academic records. 2. A formal written explanation of why this delay occurred. 3. A statement clarifying how your staff will avoid involving my ex in future communications regarding my parental rights. If I do not receive a satisfactory response within 5 business days, I will escalate this matter to the LBUSD Superintendent's Office and file a FERPA complaint with the U.S. Department of Education. Sincerely, Jessica Schultz [Phone Number] [Email Address] Would you like help drafting this email specifically to a real contact person at LBUSD (once you know their name), or would you like me to help you file a FERPA complaint if they don't respond? If there's any lawyers that can help me since the principal said she could only talk to my lawyer (and I don't have one, let me know).

As a former teacher and now a grandmother of two girls attending Naples Elementary School, I want…read moreto say how wonderful this small school is for children. A select place that is warm and friendly to all, with caring teachers and staff making it a very desirable choice for children and parents. It does not get any better than Naples Academy. P.A. Flanigan

This is a wonderful school. The teachers know their craft. The principal, Mr. Platus, is quite…read morepossibly the best school administrator I have encountered-- and I say this as a school administrator myself. He is visible, proactive, and knows is students. The parents are involved and the school culture is warm and inviting. We moved here from the East Coast this year and my daughter was made to feel welcome and included. That is a pretty big deal when a kid comes to a new school in the 5th grade. I feel incredibly fortunate that my children attend Lowell!

Truly excellent school. Consistently high state API scores. Broad spectrum of education models with…read moreboth GATE and special education programs. Well-qualified and passionate teachers with long tenure @ this site. Huge amount of parent involvement. Thus, a well run and well-funded PTA that supports tons of both acedemic & extracurricular activities. Safe, clean, family-oriented neighborhood. The school is nestled behind 2nd St. and walking distance to beautiful ocean outlets (lagoon, bay, Mother's Beach). My children have both attended since kinder (now 4th & 2nd graders) and LOVE their school, teachers & friends!

I was a student of this school class of 2025…read moreI loved it. funny moments and all. great teachers that cared about grades and homework!

Absolutely Great School, kids are academically challenged and it feels like a close-knit community.read more

We are not year-round family at Westerly, but we consistently return for their summer camp…read more Our eleven-year-old son had attended all the local summer camps in Long Beach--JCC, 49'er camp, the city's parks and recs--over the past few years, and he ranks Westerly the highest among all camp experiences. The staff is accommodating, the hours are flexible (7:30 am to 5:30 pm), and he has a great time.

What can I say. Our family loves Westerly! Our eldest started at one of Long Beach's blue ribbon…read moreschools, but with the huge classes we decided to take a look at Westerly and we couldn't go back. Since then all our kids have thrived in their Westerly experience. It starts with a sizable campus with a beautiful grass field for sports and activities, newly constructed learning studios and the amazing arts village. What a great place to learn. Then the passionate teachers and staff deliver a whole child program, with a better than 10:1 student/teacher ratio. The Westerly program includes: Curriculum and instruction - Enthusiastic teachers with a well thought out curriculum and small class sizes enabling teachers to adapt the curriculum to the needs of your child. Technology/STEM - Westerly recently hired a full-time Director of Instructional Technology to enhance an already strong technology/STEM program throughout the curriculum. Think coding in class, 3D printing, science and engineering fairs, etc. Visual and performing arts - Incorporated in the curriculum is an annual school-wide play lead by the folks at TKTC. The visual arts program is second to none with the kids being exposed to public arts projects, ceramics in the new ceramics studio, mixed media, painting, photography, etc. I wish I could take the classes myself. Wildcat, the after school program is a blessing. Our kids beg to go to Wildcat to play with their friends, work on yearbook, take film, dance, music, robotics and other after school enrichment activities. Athletics - A legitimate, well-run PE program with enthusiastic instruction and basketball, volleyball, football teams throughout elementary and middle school. Music - Every child takes both general and instrumental music as part of their Westerly experience. Spanish - Kindergarten through 8th grade all the kids get introduced to the Spanish language through a dedicated Spanish instructor. Leadership - This is quite possibly one of the most amazing parts of the curriculum. Continuing on the theme of whole child education the Director of Student Affairs leads an amazing program that goes so beyond student council, creating leadership opportunities for so many children. Programs like student council, district representatives, green team, etc., start in Kindergarten and the kids grow in responsibility as the children grow themselves. Each child also gains leadership responsibilities as a student mentor, where each older student is paired with a younger student as a mentor. Service learning and field studies - As the kids grow in maturity so do the service learning and field studies. Our children have enjoyed trips to Catalina and other local camps, but the highlight of the program is a one week trip in 8th grade where the whole class travels to Nicaragua to conduct a service learning project, practice their spanish, and are exposed to a different culture and way of life that they are used to. Community - Westerly is a place where without question every family places a priority on securing a great, well-rounded education for their children. Being in an environment like this is so fantastic. Independent school is not cheap, but in our minds it's the best gift we can give to our children. Westerly also offers significant financial aid support, so if that is an issue be sure to discuss your situation with the school to see if they can make something work for your family. P.S. This may sound like a paid ad, but it's our true feelings about this place. It's really special.

great school!! my 3 kids attended this school and the teachers are phenomenal specially Mrs…read more Albanese, Dr. Beam, and Mrs. Alvarez.

My daughter has been coming to this school since 1st grade (transferred here) All I can say is that…read moreboth of her teachers were great! I love how involved the principal is with the kids. Mrs. Escobar (2nd grade teacher) did an AMAZING job, my daughter loves her so much. All the stuff that she learned amazed me! I've seen so much progress with my daughter. Can't wait to see what next year has planned for her. All staff are helpful, friendly and above and beyond.

bad school, Mrs.platt yelled in my face and made me cry once, also the kids are meanread more