When people ask me why SFC, my simple answer is the teachers. Expanding upon that answer, I would…read moresay that SFC teachers care about their students, provide mentorship, are role models, and prepare the students both academically and spiritually for college. My daughter just graduated from SFC and I'm 100% confident that she will thrive in a large public university in part because of the foundation laid by SFC.

It's been years in the making for this review as our child has long since graduated, but after…read morereflection I feel it necessary to reveal our experience at SFC Schools. Our child attended this " Christian place of learning" from 3rd-10th grade and the end result was us removing him from a very bad situation. The lower and middle schools were ok, although their academic standards are so low, it's actually a misleading misnomer to call it a Blue Ribbon School. However, the upper school is a cauldron of ugly, political, elitist, bullying poison that is condoned and promoted by unqualified teachers and administrators concerned only with the largest donors' kids. Our child was subjected to incessant bullying and verbal abuse by unchecked peers and was ostracized by faculty, administrators and coaches when it was brought to their attention. The best move we ever made was to remove our child from that place and return them to public school - where they flourished. But there was one ugly surprise during the transition - the academic level was so poor at SFC that our child had to take extra courses to catch up to the other students. Thankfully the new counselors guided us through this and by the start of Senior year, it was reconciled completely. DO NOT ever consider sending your child to this school past the lower levels unless you want them to be harassed or to turn out like the students who are harassing good kids out of spite and meanness. Our child was marred by it for many years and it feels good to finally write this after years of silence.

St. James Academy is the best Catholic school, period. As a parent, there is no greater peace of…read moremind than knowing your kids are safe, being educated in the best way possible, and learning to love their faith. The principal, Mrs. Lang, is incredible. She is out there every day, greeting the students, and knows every child by name. The teachers from preschool through 8th grade are all exceptionally well trained, caring, and committed. I went to a Catholic school in San Diego myself, and I chose not to send my kids to the school I attended. The vibe at St. James and the presence of true Catholic values can be felt the moment you walk through the door. What sets this school apart is the sense of community. You are not just a number here. You are truly part of a family, and I mean that genuinely. We feel so lucky and grateful to be a part of such a loving and faith-filled environment.

Our kids have attended St. James Academy (SJA) for the past 2 years. SJA is not just a "school" it…read moremuch more than that. It is a caring and nurturing student-focused educational facility with a strong sense of community. It is our extended family! Everyone has been welcoming and inviting, the teacher/student ratio is low, so every child gets personal attention to help them thrive with individual needs. The teachers and other SJA families care deeply about the kids. SJA has helped our kids grow both spiritually, academically, emotionally, physically and socially. They really educate the whole child. We have loved the families we have met through SJA. Not only are our children obtaining a great education, but they are learning to be good people with great morals and values in a safe and loving environment. It is beautiful to see the older grades connecting with the younger ones. During lunch time they play together, and the older kids sit with the younger ones during Friday mass. The students even have "school families" where kids throughout all different grade levels come together monthly to do activities. It creates a strong relationship and friendship between all the children on campus - the older kids help teach the little ones. SJA has been the best investment in our children's future. We love it here and would highly recommend it to any family.

This school traumatized me. Students were so mean and terrible and no one did anything about it. I…read morehad a few REALLY awful teachers as well!! Ms Brown and Ms Olson were the only 2 teachers at that school that made me WANT to show up. I actually still almost 7 years later really appreciate them!

This is my 2nd student attending this school. My older child attended when they had the old school…read moreunder construction with the portable classrooms on the soccer field, but those were airconditioned and she loved it! Now we have a brand new school with distance learning for my incoming 7th grader and it is very difficult. It is hard for my child to distance learn at EWMS. EWMS is now offering limited space for on campus virtual learning for kids who are "falling behind" or "at-risk". I believe if the private school across the street can get all of their kids back into school, EWMS should ALSO! I'm giving this 5 stars because I believe the staff is doing their best with the restrictions due to COVID 19. The campus is beautiful, it's an absolute shame kids cannot all be on campus together. The psychological and educational toll this is taking on kids is becoming worrisome.

Amazing summer camp programs! Amazing staff. Highly suggest. Great variety of classes…read more(art/science/coding/chess/reading were our favs)

My family has been at Del Mar Pines for 8 years now. The small environment not only gives the…read morechildren a very small student to teacher ratio (especially for reading and math) but it also allows the school to pivot and adjust to any obstacle. DMP was the first school to go online during the pandemic and is very good at listening to the parents' voices. Given the chance, I would choose the school over and over again.

Such a wonderful group of people that work here. Everyone is so kind. They truly make you feel…read morewanted, welcome and like family. So glad to have found this church.

Best Preschool Ever! all three of my children have attended and I could not say more positive…read morethings!!!

We have had a wonderful experience at LePort. Our child has participated in both the infant and…read moretoddler programs, and the growth we've seen has been incredible. At just two years old, she comes home each day with new skills and a strong sense of independence, ordering for herself at restaurants and helping wash dishes at home. She has been in Ms. Donna and Ms. Valerie's classroom, and we have nothing but positive things to say about both teachers. During her transition from the infant to toddler program, Ms. Sarah, the Head of School, provided daily updates and checked on her in the classroom each day, which made the transition feel thoughtful and supportive.

Our daughter has been at LePort Montessori since she was 18months old, and now at 2.5, she's…read morethriving in every way. The school provides a secure, caring environment where toddlers can explore, play, and learn independently. She regularly does Montessori activities like pouring, sweeping, stacking blocks, puzzles, climbing, and even practicing dressing skills like zipping and putting on her own clothes -- all helping her gain confidence and independence. Contrary to rumors, Montessori at LePort is not overly strict, and kids do play together. There's a wonderful balance of individual learning, group activities, art, and outdoor play. We couldn't be happier with how much she's grown -- capable, confident, and enjoying every day. If you want a daycare that truly nurtures independence, learning, and play, LePort Montessori is amazing!

Sea Change Prep is so unique! The students are taught to use and apply mindfulness in all aspects…read moreof their life. They are encouraged to feed their curiosity by taking a genuine interest in their schoolwork. The staff at Sea Change are incredible. They dedicate their one-on-one time with each student so that they can learn to think critically, ask questions that are challenging, and self advocate. The staff are actively involved in the student's progress, getting them ready for college, and ultimately seeing them off to their dream school. In addition to the rigorous, college preparatory academics, the students at Sea Change are forced to explore their physical abilities in the ocean. The students are all part of an open-ocean swim team where they swim miles in the ocean before school starts. Not only does this boost the confidence of these young people AND allow them to apply their mindfulness to nature, it also raises their productivity levels throughout the day. Sea Change kids swim up and down the coast of California, setting world records, and becoming wiser individuals as a result.

This school impressed my husband I from the second we made initial contact with the Admissions…read moreTeam. I felt welcomed, understood in my desire to find something different for my daughter and quite frankly super intrigued to know everything about this school! When it comes to your kids, you research to the ends of the earth to be sure you are making the right moves with them. We didn't leave any stone unturned when it came to Sea Change and I can say without a doubt that there is ZERO validity to the statements made in the ONE previous negative review. The response from the Board shows how this school handles business and the character they instill in your children to handle tough issues that may be thrown at them in life. I have spent a lot of time with the students, the staff and at the facility learning about all that Sea Change has to offer and I have never seen my daughter happier than the first day I took her to see her new school. Permanent smile. Education is not one size fits all. Parents owe it to their kids to give them the very best and I am so fulfilled knowing I am doing just that in sending mine to Sea Change Prep.

My son whom you asked to leave your school just graduated from CSUSM and got his CPA license…read more Hiring a school psychologist would help your students to find out why they aren't performing rather than just booting them out. My son was diagnosed with ADHD and with medication he went from needing a tutor to being a tutor at CSUSM. It's a disservice to students to not tell parents to get testing and talk to a school psychologist about problems like bullying in school which also occurred at Grauer and affected his performance. Lack of motivation is associated with ADHD and also the severe bullying that was occurring off campus when he was biking to school. A psychologist would have been able to deal with these issues.

Wonderful school, with a beautiful and peaceful campus. The lesson plan is designed to engage…read morestudents in discussion, and completely embrace todays highly politicized, and identity centric curriculum seen in public schools. Head Master and Founder of school Dr Stuart Grauer, is recognized nationally as sincere and thoughtful leader of the small school movement. Get his book her https://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Teaching-Collected-Stuart-Grauer/dp/0986016004 Dr. Grauer is a strong proponent of Socratic learning, and that philosophy is embraced by some, but not all faculty. Dr Grauer is a believer in experiential learning, and twice a year sends students on excellent national and international expeditions of learning and service! He also strongly believes in giving his students a stage to both preform on musically (amazing program, led by amazing instructors) , and one to pontificate on via a once a year special event for parents and grandparents put on by the Girl Rising club called Grauer Speaks. In past years it has been a night of student, and sometimes faculty monologues exploring a wide variety of social problems; from from LBGTQ issues, to women's rights, and the "Rape Culture in America" to name a few that I witnessed. It is often an intense night of student involvement and activism. My daughter excelled while at Grauer, and is now attending a prestigious women's College in western Massachusetts and thriving in the liberal arts program. Bottom line, Grauer School has an excellent college preparatory program , led by a thoughtful and principled leader. Grauer School embraces the gamut of todays enlightened curriculum. Highly recommend!

We are so grateful for The Rhoades School supporting our son with a midyear transition. What stood…read moreout the most in the application process is the kindness and genuine care shown to our son. The environment is incredibly welcoming, not just for students but for families as well, which made the transition smooth and reassuring along with the small class sizes. It's clear that Rhoades values both academic growth and emotional well-being, and we're so grateful to have found this school!

Staff and teachers here go above and beyond! From the first day and everyday you step on to campus…read moreyou are greeted with warmth and enthusiasm. My daughter started here in the third grade and has thrived both socially and academically. She is now in 5th and we have been so happy with her progress. Everyone here has been so positive, kind, and professional and all lead by example. I have been thoroughly impressed with the administration, teachers and the foundation. Parent support has been amazing as well. I can 100% say that sending her to Rhoades has been one of the best decisions for her! Thank you to everyone at Rhoades!!

Del Mar Hills is a truly extraordinary school. Class sizes are small and the teachers are…read moreexperienced and guided by cutting edge teaching philosophies and strategies. The curriculum is academically rigorous and also focuses on nurturing a culture of curiosity and thinking; inspiring a love of learning; modeling kindness, empathy and good global citizenship; and teaching emotional recognition, regulation and problem solving. My daughter loves her teachers and classmates and looks forward to going to school every day! Our principal, Andrea Sleet, is as warm and compassionate as she is devoted to her students' learning, safety and emotional wellbeing. She is deeply engaged with students, teachers, staff and families by greeting students as they arrive each day, regularly visiting classrooms, hosting principal coffee meetings and a book club with parents, and attending all PTA meetings and school events. She is a celebrity on campus and the students adore her. The community at Del Mar Hills is friendly and inclusive and the PTA sponsors many events throughout the year to provide opportunities for students and their families to gather (e.g. an ice cream social, Halloween Spooktacular, world festival, and the family carnival). Fourth through sixth grade students are deeply involved in these events and are encouraged to create and oversee games, as well as to construct and guide students through an impressive haunted house at our Halloween Spooktacular. My preschool-age child also receives special education services through Del Mar Hills and has made tremendous progress in her speech production and articulation. We feel so supported by the teachers, staff and families at Del Mar Hills Elementary and are so fortunate to be a part of the SurfRider community.

Would have been 5 star if it wasn't for Nancy Swanberg. She smacked my hits table with a ruler and…read morewas really rude to the kids.