I went to this school and, this school is very fun. For 5th grade we had many exciting activities…read more We went to Knotts Berry Farm and it was amazing! All the staff is so comforting ! The teachers are amazing and kind. The school is very diverse and lots of people fit right in. The first time I went there was fun and amazing. I fitted right in with all the students and made many friends. I hope for the best for all the students! If I was you I would definitely enroll my child!

We enrolled our child at AAM excited about the schools' arts focus and community. Unfortunately,…read moreour experience was deeply disappointing. During the school year, multiple children in the TK class were involved in incidents that were not handled appropriately by the classroom or administration. The situation ultimately resulted in a teacher facing criminal charges for "willful cruelty to child", along with documented concerns involving multiple children. As parents, it was incredibly difficult to continue sending our daughter into an environment we no longer felt confident in her safety of the school or PUSD leadership's judgment. Our concerns extend beyond one classroom or one teacher. In our experience, Principal Dr. Hill did not provide the level of leadership, transparency, or accountability we expected when seriously concerns were brought forward. We repeatedly left conversations feeling that our concerns were minimized rather than addressed directly, an dour confidence in the administration quickly eroded. Parents, teachers, and aides had all brought up concerns to the principal before the teacher's actions escalated to a criminal level. She did nothing to prevent harm coming to students. To be fair, there were a few positives. Our child loved making friends and there are caring staff members who genuinely want the best for students. However, trust is foundational and once that trust is broken, we could not justify keeping our child there. We ultimately withdrew from the district entirely. Every family's experience will be different, but I believe prospective parents deserve to know that serious concerns arose during our time there and to ask detailed questions about school culture, supervision, and how concerns are handled before enrolling.

We absolutely love Stratford School in Altadena! My older son is in fifth grade and my younger son…read moreis in first, and both have truly thrived here. The small class sizes mean every child gets individual attention, and the curriculum is very advanced, engaging, and thoughtfully designed to challenge students while keeping learning fun. The teachers and administrators are exceptional, caring, very communicative, and deeply invested in every child's growth. But what really makes Stratford special is the community. The kids are kind, well-behaved, and genuinely happy. The families are wonderful, invested and share the same goal: creating a nurturing, protected environment where children can still be kids. Parents are on the same page about carefully monitoring what our children see and hear, helping them stay innocent and grounded for as long as possible. People often comment on how sweet and polite the Stratford kids are and it's true! This is especially the case for the kids in 5th grade. They are so kind, welcoming and supportive. The school reinforces the same values we prioritize at home: being good citizens, good friends, and good students. Our family's experience with Stratford has been truly life-changing. Before coming here, our older son went through a very difficult 3rd grade year at another school where he experienced bullying. What hurt us most was that the school failed to inform us despite multiple incidents. There was zero communication until something major happened. Our son suffered in silence for much of the year. When we finally discovered what had been happening, we immediately decided to immediately pull him out and make a change. Stratford was already at the top of my list. I had toured the school and met the principal two years earlier when we were exploring different options -- and, by some miracle, there was one spot open in third grade after another student moved over the holidays. Within a week, our son had taken the assessment and started at Stratford. The transformation was incredible. His anger and sadness melted away, and our sweet, happy boy returned. We will be forever grateful for this school. It's more than just an excellent academic environment, it's a refuge, a true community that supports the whole child and we'll never stop being thankful.

An exclusive private school. The school provides high quality education for Pre and Elementary…read morelevel up through middle school. They offer bilingual Mandarin preschool. Impressive. You may set up an appointment with the school head to tour the facility. They have their own parking lot.

My daughter got into Waverly via the ISA Scholarship, so if you are concerned about tuition fees,…read morethis is an option for students who have the academics to get in. She has only been there a month or so, but she has already begun to bloom as a person, which is what we wanted for her. She has the grades and the work ethic to do well at any school, but we felt Waverly was right for her because of its commitment to a progressive and inclusive community (not just the curriculum, but that's a big part of it). Kids will not be left behind if they are introverted or neurodivergent, or are from a different socioeconomic background, or a different ethnicity or are part of LGTBQ+, all of which can be factors that lead to isolation at other schools. Not at Waverly--here, they are nurtured and encouraged to develop into themselves without any sort of judgment that you'd find elsewhere. Classes are small and full of tremendously interesting material. Kids get experience with arts and literature they would never have heard of at other schools. Ok, and my daughter texts us from time to time about the long lunch times she gets; she considers that a huge plus. I have been asking the school teachers and administrators some questions on my own, and they are true experts in their fields. Anyhow, that's what we have experienced so far in a nutshell. I wish I had known about this school earlier!

I didn't think it possible for middle and high school years to be as calm & joyful as our…read moreexperience at Waverly --though fair warning: if you want your MS & HS students to have 3-4 hours of daily homework, Waverly is not the right school for you! -Small class sizes -Progressive learning (--not endless tests and excessive homework!!) -Teachers who know your kids and what they need - adapting their workload to push them at the right pace and depth of learning -Supportive engaging sports program (-not intensely competitive & exclusive) -12th graders who voluntarily hang out with 9th & 10th graders -Head of School in 2nd year making thoughtful changes -$4M donation led to buying building next door -Strong tuition assistance program -Organic farm for education and fun Our first daughter joined in 6th grade and enjoyed it so much our other two daughters joined the next year. We are in our 3rd year at Waverly and love the teachers, administrators, students & families in this community.

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.

Like so many parents in the Pasadena area researching private schools, we did alllll the tours. We…read morehadn't heard much about Saint Mark's and always assumed from the name that it would lean heavily religious, which wasn't something we were looking for. We also didn't like that it ended at 6th grade (something we later decided was actually a plus). Toward the end of the touring season we decided to stop in simply because it was close to our work. I am not exaggerating when I say we walked out of that little school under the shady pine trees like "this is The One". Coming from a strictly play-based non-academic preschool, we really wanted to continue letting our kids be kids, learning through play and curiosity. But we also knew we wanted them to be challenged academically. And not to sound boastful but we have nice kids; we wanted them surrounded by other nice kids. I didn't want my kids to lose their sense of just being nice, kind humans. What we found at Saint Mark's was a balance that really worked for us. Academics are strong, learning is hands-on and meaningful, and the kids are still excited. Their teachers clearly care about them. The kids are happy. And nice. Polite and well spoken. During the tour, they looked like they were having a good time being at school, laughing, joking with friends at lunch, singing on the way back from recess. Overall we've been really happy since enrolling. We are now in our third year here. Watching what they do, even in Kinder, has been impressive. They have Writer's Workshop and write diary entries about their Halloween class pumpkin decomposing in a tub for months. In another unit, they raised tomato hornworms we brought in from our garden and watched them transform into hawk moths, documenting the whole process. For Valentine's, I offered to drop off homemade pink play-dough to our worldly first graders (an homage to my pre-k co-op years), assuming they'd say the kids were too old. Instead, they embraced it with rolling pins and cookie cutters. The teachers are so special and genuinely know each kid as an individual, even across grade levels. Small groups in the classroom let kids learn together at the same level, wherever that may be. When my DK-er had a rough start to the school year, his teacher rearranged the daily schedule to help him feel comfortable/safe and wrote me daily emails of his progress. And speaking of progress, I never expected that it would be normal for a progress report from his teacher to include a personalized letter detailing his personality, strengths, leadership, character... It was just so unexpected and thoughtful. I'll admit that when we enrolled, I was focused entirely on academics, student/teacher ratio, kind teachers, diversity, outdoor space, and letting kids be kids. While Saint Mark's checked all those boxes, I didn't realize how special the community would be. They interviewed us as parents and not just our kids, which felt like they care about building a community of families with the same values. (I joke that I would vacation with almost any of these families, and we could definitely get through a zombie apocalypse together) Socially, there are grade-level parent parties in the Fall so you can get to know the other families, sans kids. There are events like the Fall Fest with petting zoos and bounce houses and bake sales and confetti eggs, there are potlucks and picnics, book fair, hikes. There is an annual gala fundraiser where parents can let loose for the night, as well as smaller socials that make it easy to build friendships. There are ways to be ON campus: classroom jobs and PA positions and many ways to give time/talent/donations. You can sign up to stuff red envelopes for Lunar New Year or hand out hot lunch on campus and spy on your kids while they eat. After the fires we did consider relocating. And while it may seem unusual to be temporarily housed on another campus, our kids do get to use the beautiful outdoor spaces, fields, gym and basketball court at EF. What I was initially worried about has become somewhere the kids love to be. We did still have moments of doubt about relocating or not. Ultimately Saint Marks was a big factor in our decision to stay. I know it's wild to think elementary school is what kept us from jumping ship, but we stayed in the Pasadena/Altadena area because of this school. Our kids love it and we love it for our kids. We plan to remain living locally through sixth grade because of the school, and probably longer after hearing where the 6th graders matriculate to. We're really looking forward to the rebuild. We feel incredibly lucky that we found this small, somewhat under-the-radar school almost by accident. It's hard to explain how great the culture is here until you walk through the classrooms and campus and talk to some of the students, parents, and faculty. Like any school it won't be the perfect fit for everyone but for our family our experience has been very very positive.

Dear school seekers, Ultimately we chose Saint Mark's for…read moreour children because it displays balance- we see both modern ideas surrounding whole-child social emotional culture with a more traditional classroom/academic load and structure. Saint Mark's has true authenticity when it comes to role-modeling what community means for our children. The Episcopal elements of school feel universally welcoming to all. As a multi-racial family, we feel very at home with Saint Mark's where DEI is not a department, an option, or a fad but a natural part of the school's identity. When we chose the school we were intentionally seeking academic rigor for our kids; and because the school embraces differentiated learning groups, we know our kids will get what they need in all subjects. The children have lots of movement throughout their day with a wide variety of subjects to explore. The school maintains boundaries with being responsible, respectful, and safe which allows all the students to take risks and lean-in knowing they have a foundation of structure and support behind them. I have noticed our children's imaginations have been flourishing due to their time at school. The teachers are joyful and friendly which invites a warmth. The parent-community is strong (and fun) which is deeper than a good time when we realize we are showing our student-body what it looks like to work-together and create something bigger that everyone can enjoy. The leadership prioritizes modern changes to education while keeping the jump-ropes and math text books in close reach. To open a new campus about six weeks after the Eaton Fire is a true symbol of how strong the community is. Come and tour! All the best, Melissa

My son has gone to Education Spectrum since he was 3 years old. Now he is 14 and is thriving in…read moremiddle school. If it wasn't for Education Spectrum's help and support my son would not be as successful and well rounded in all aspects of his development. He is now very social and knows how to keep triggers at bay. He is able to make and keep a network of friends. Education Spectrum has been a blessing to our entire family. We have confidence in our son to strive and be successful in life. He now is capable to own his creativity and his individuality. Thank you staff at Ed Spectrum!

Dr. Laurie Stephens disregards trauma. Dangerous at worst and unhelpful at best. Her advice is…read morebiased.

Great learning center. You can park across the street or in the lot next to this parking lot that…read morethe facility is in! Easy to find, go up the stairs and through the doors. There's a great waiting area inside or outside there's a courtyard and clean bathrooms to wait. They take your child back, tutor them and bring them back out when the session has ended. Clean, bright, and they do a great job with hiring caring patient staff. I recommend bringing your kid for whatever tutoring needs they may have. Welcoming, comfortable environment.

My daughter attended Stowell a little over a year. I can't stress how much she has improved in so…read moremany areas. The reading and comprehension is 100% on grade level. I'm so happy we decided to invest in the Stowell program. It is costly but worth the sacrifice. They have taught her important life skills in improving her Dyslexia and Auditory Processing Disorder. My child has confidence and willing to stand up for herself. The staff is amazing and flexible to work with. I hope they open a center in the Santa Clarita or San Fernando Valley area. Lots of children could benefit from there program. Trust me your child will improve!

It's been a few years since we graduated from Our School and we are still so happy with our…read moredecision to send our daughter here. We visited recently and everyone still remembered our daughter's name and anecdotes about their time shared together. Everyone here is just so generous and loving; Im so grateful they exist in our community.

Our daughter started going to Our School in April 2023 when she just turned 2.5 and fully potty…read moretrained (required). And now she is going to be turning 5 this summer and graduating! Time flies and I couldn't be more thankful for the wonderful women who make this school so special. It is truly a safe space and a home away from home. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this place. Where to begin? I've toured a lot of preschools before seeing Our School and I instantly fell in love with how cozy and intimate the environment felt. Some of the other schools felt a little too "corporate." Here, there's no app or portal. Just good old fashion face-to-face chats with teachers and Ms Janel. They genuinely foster a sense of community so it feels like you are a part of the school too. In general, the school is well structured and organized. The staff ensures a good mix of boys and girls and will move kids up classes when they are ready socially and emotionally. Our daughter started off in Ms Yolanda's class, then Ms Doretha's class, and now in Ms Tiff's class. She has so much fun! She's grown so much socially and academically. The school gives you a booklet of the work they do everyday and it's such a treat to see how much they progress over time. I have no doubt she is more than prepared for kindergarten. The school also has a saltwater pool and my daughter swam everyday in the summer as an extracurricular (additional fee). This is her third summer swimming and is swimming like a fish. In the fall and spring, the school offers dance and gymnastic and pizza Mondays year-round for an additional fee. There's tons of fun activities that Miss Tiff does to make school so engaging and exciting. But above all, they all know your child SO well that you know they are truly paying attention to each child everyday. And during the Eaton Fires, Miss Tiff opened up her heart to make school feel as normal as possible and made sure the Our School families were cared after. Pajamas days, lunch provided for all students, donation drives for affected families, she did it all. There is so much intention and humanity built into this school and I am so grateful to have been a part of it. It's going to be really hard to say goodbye.