If you, like our family, are looking for an alternative to traditional schools around East Bay,…read moremake sure you put Acton Academy on your list. We are experiencing an education environment we have been hoping to provide to our kid with an asynchronous learning style. At Acton, students learn at their own individual paces, together. Learning at their own paces, most of the time, but not always means accelerated. Sometimes, it takes a squat to leap higher. There are no teachers to lecture students on the same materials at the same time but guides to provide a guardrail to ensure students focusing on their goals each school year and milestones each session. We think Acton as a project-based progressive school. For example, in one session the elementary studio is learning oceanology. Students studied anatomy of gut and cleaned sardine, blew a tank of blue water to observe waves, created dioramas of coral reefs, and made dumbo octopuses by shredded papers. All of these are backed by students' own researches which were presented to their parents at the exhibition by end of the session. This review feels like overdue. We are very grateful to have an opportunity to learn and engage with Acton Academy. Kids need to feel safe, not judged, when they need more time to master a topic or make mistakes. They hold each other accountable to be kind, supportive, and inspiring. They bound with each other through music (taught by a musician), PE, and filed trips in addition to the science and art projects. Teamwork comes naturally because the students host seven exhibitions a year. In such a small community with ages from K to Middle School, everyone has something to contribute. I have to say the transition from a traditional school to Acton's learner-driven education model took our family sometime to embrace the differences. Now looking back, it was totally worth it. Part of me want to keep this micro-school a secret but I think it would be selfish if I do not share knowing other families may benefit from our experience.

Acton Academy is an amazing school. The teachers are passionate about fostering curiosity and a…read moregrowth-mindset in all the students. They want you to do your best and, they are there for you whenever you need help. The school provides a safe, supportive environment that challenges students to reach their full potential.

Our son loves it at Valley Montessori School, and is truly thriving! He has gone all the way…read morethrough the Toddler program, and is now starting his 3rd year there, in Primary class. We honestly did not know very much about the Montessori program when we first checked it out. But the more we learned about it, the more we liked. It is designed to instill confidence in its students, letting them explore and grow at their own pace, and preparing each child for a lifetime of learning. We learned much more just by seeing it for ourselves -- after taking a tour of the school, meeting the teachers, and speaking with Admissions staff about the program, we were impressed. Throughout the process, they worked hard to help us better understand what the school is about, and to answer our many questions. It soon became clear that this was the right place for our son. The overall philosophy of Valley Montessori is to foster a child's innate curiosity, through the various well-structured activities ("works") that the children perform. The children are able to gravitate toward things that spark their interest. Students gain confidence by mastering one concept before branching out, or exploring more advanced concepts. There are a wide variety of activities for children to work through, corresponding with different subjects. The works are creative, presenting concepts in a way that is playful, and that attracts the student. As the children become absorbed in these activities, they seem to be having so much fun, they hardly realize they are learning. But most importantly, the teachers at this school are absolutely amazing people. Every one of them that we have met at the school comes across as very nurturing, intelligent, patient, and extremely well-trained. They are in tune with what the children are going through, and the level of care and attention they show toward each of the children is easy to see. This is a school that obviously cares about their teachers and staff, gives them time and resources to develop, sending them for regular workshops / training. They are true Montessorians, and it shows. The school environment is very clean, well-laid-out, and welcoming, giving children the perfect setting in which to learn. If you get a chance to observe a classroom there, I would strongly suggest it. Each one is a peaceful little society, where children and teachers work together to maintain a harmonious and orderly place. This gives students a predictable and comfortable (and most often, amazingly quiet) space in which they can learn and grow. They are mixed-age classes, where the younger child gets a chance to learn from the older children in their class, while the older kids gain confidence reinforcing their own knowledge sharing what they have learned with younger classmates. The school promotes and uses a Positive Discipline approach, resolving differences in a way that is respectful to the children. They even have classes for parents to learn how to better employ Positive Discipline techniques in the home. The children know what is expected of them at school (and at home, if you use it there), and they have the opportunity to share in problem-solving process, not just to have everything dictated to them. The school's list of accreditations is a detail that may be easy to overlook, but to me it is extremely impressive. They have worked to obtain full accreditation from the American Montessori Society (AMS), the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). This is definitely NOT just a childcare facility that hung out a "Montessori" shingle, to attract more families. They truly care about the philosophy and the methods, which have been proven extremely effective. Bottom line: if you want to teach your children how to LOVE learning, harness their natural curiosity, and really grow their knowledge (not just to shove facts into their brains in order to pass a test), then Valley Montessori is the place for you. We firmly believe that it has already been a life-changer for our son, as he has shown amazing advancement in the time he has been there. He is surrounded by wonderful and caring teachers, and (importantly, as an only child) has made many great friends to grow alongside. We plan to keep him at VMS throughout the entire program (up to Middle School), and we firmly believe it is the best school to help him reach his full potential.

I am a former VMS student from way before they built this campus. From before the middle school was…read morea single room behind the Livermore Valley Tennis Club. I wanted to say that I attribute much of my present success to the advanced education I received at this school. They really encourage children to learn at their own rate, accommodating those who learn faster and those who need extra help. Beth Marshall was my teacher for most of my years here, and I know she no longer works there, but I hope they still teach in that style. The way they let the parents and children set the child's own standards for grading, and have the child assemble their own portfolio and present is unique (as far as I know). We kids felt like we had some say in how we were being taught and had more interest in school than I think any kids in public school had. By the time I entered high school at Amador, the only classes that compared at all in quality were the honors and AP classes. Besides the outstanding education I received, I fondly remember the field trips, holidays, PE classes, electives (enrichment), meditation, etc. It was a very stimulating environment and I'm glad I got to experience it. I am giving 4 stars because I don't know if what I experienced as a child is still the norm for VMS now. For any who care to know, I am now pursuing my PhD in Molecular Bio at UCSD. How much is nature vs. nurture, and how much VMS contributed to the "nurture" aspect, I don't...but looking on Facebook at my VMS classmates, I can say that all of them seem to be thriving as well. Really though, it may be because all of their parents are brilliant and therefore have lucrative careers that allow for them to send their children to schools like this. I don't know. PS-The teachers here (at least the ones I had) really care about the kids. I have seen and corresponded with some recently and was very touched to be so remembered. Thanks, VMS!

Friendly people and a really good pastor. Greeters at the door make me feel welcome. The church has…read moresome talented musicians too. I love the children's gathering and the pastor gives a lesson to the young ones. There's plenty of parking for everyone.

My daughter has just graduated from the preschool and we have decided to keep her here for…read morekindergarten! We are also enrolling our other child as well. We have met so many nice families and it is a very nice community. Fast Forward to 2019- Still at the school and it has only gotten better under the leadership of principal Julie Knight! I could not imagine my children being anywhere else!

BEST SCHOOL EVER!! What I am trying to say is that this school is both fun and an incredibly great…read moreplace to learn. There were a few reviews concerning the principal, but we have a new one now, and the school is even better than before. Also, I don't think this page is set up by the school themselves, since the school's name is "Emma C. Smith Elementary school" Not "Smith Emme C Elementary School" Thanks, A student.

This is the best school for my children. They really enjoyed going to school and all teachers are…read morecaring. They leaned a lot in this school. I think that previous reviews from 2014 were not fair for this school. The charter school is closed down anyway.

This is my daughters second year at King's Academy & we love it. The teachers are all wonderful &…read moreI love knowing that my daughter is getting a solid education.

I'm blessed to have found this school for my daughter. The teachers are great and very…read moreknowledgeable. I find it very important that my daughter gets a classical education in a christian environment. Great school with smaller size classes.

5 stars for making good use of limited resources in challenging times for Catholic schools. There…read moreis lots of room to improve (no such thing as a perfect school!) but I see positive steps toward improving academics and social well-being of the children. An example: new full time counselor for students. Tuition is very reasonable compared to other private schools in the area. I have noticed a steady improvement in my child's academics and the standard seems very high. The values of Christianity are emphasized, but I know non-Catholics are welcomed and also benefit from the lessons of Christ. The school has taken positive steps to address bullying - but need to continue to improve in this area. My hope is that they instill more of that classic Catholic discipline in the children. Since it's a smaller school, fostering a positive environment for kids that will follow each other up the grade ladder is paramount. To teachers and staff: Keep up the good work. To anyone that values Catholic schools, please plead with the Diocese to make serious investments in the remaining Catholic schools in the area in order to make them standard bearers for Christ and worthy of the Catholic tradition of academic excellence. More funding for teacher retention has to be a priority. Tuition alone will never cover all the expenses. St. Michaels has a lot of potential, and is a great option if public school is not for you. A note to Samantha A, who left that terrible review- I am very relieved you are home schooling! No school, public or private, should have to deal with attitudes like yours!

While the youth basketball program should be about community, character building, and support for…read morethe kids, the leadership board for the St. Michael CYO basketball program is deeply disappointing. The current board runs the program like an exclusive club, creating an unwelcoming, hostile, and defensive environment for families who just want to participate or ask simple questions. Communication is routinely ignored, and any attempts to give feedback or address issues are met with a completely defensive attitude rather than a desire to help. It is incredibly frustrating to see a church backed youth ministry handled with such a lack of transparency and basic professionalism. If you expect a collaborative, welcoming environment for your child, look elsewhere in the Tri-Valley area.

My two boys have received an excellent education here. Teachers and principal keep the students and…read moreparents informed. Good environment.

This school sucks went here for 1 year then transferred. I was the teachers pet in all my other…read moreschools yet none of the teachers liked me here. I am highly dissatisfied with your staff team and think you should reconsider who you hire.

My family and I just LOVE this school. My eldest one graduated here, middle one is attending now,…read moreand youngest one will be there soon. Directors, Diana and Stephanie, are doing awesome job to make the school as happiest place ever for kids. About 2 years ago my wife and I found this school by chance. We visited for tour, and we immediately enrolled our girls right after we had conversations with Ms. Diana, director and owner of the school, who was giving the tour. For us it was impressive she knows every details of individual kids. Staffs were also looking happy for their job, which was another important point for us when making decision. Staffs are friendly and kind, always be willing to help families of their students, which I sincerely appreciate. They communicate to each other very well, I can literally leave message to anyone or can hear about how my little one's day was from anyone. I also like the part that they bring in many kinds of events to the school rather than going on field trip. It is their strategy for safety. They regularly arrange visiting of fire fighters and kids just love it. Various activities make kids happier and families have full access to many events. They offer in-school birthday party for reasonable price which I had for my little ones. Sometimes during the weekend they offer child care for special days like Christmas shopping, or Thanksgiving preparation. They seriously care about their facilities. They don't let something remain in broken or dirt. I am very happy about it. As I know a sandbox in front yard is being covered for every night so kids can play with cleaner sand. They periodically install new mulch on playground. Thank you all and just keep doing the awesome job! My family and I are so lucky to have you all.

The Learning Tree in Livermore is such a wonderful school! The teachers are caring, patient, and…read moretruly dedicated to the children's growth and happiness. They create a warm, welcoming environment where kids feel safe and excited to learn every day. I've seen so much growth and confidence in my 3-year-old daughter since starting here. A huge plus for us has been the onsite enrichment programs, like soccer and Spanish class, which means we don't have to spend our evenings driving around town for extra activities. Also, the live camera access is a much appreciated added bonus that our last daycare didn't have.

This is a long-overdue compliment to the school, especially to Ms. Sangeeta and Ms. Susmitha. We…read moreenrolled our son when he was about a year old through our company's backup care program, and he has now been attending for almost two months. We love seeing his growth and the positive impact the classroom has on him. The teachers truly care for him, and Ms. Sangeeta goes out of her way to keep us updated on his progress during drop-off and pick-up. We are so grateful for the care and dedication of the staff! We would highly recommend this school. Thank you so much Ms. Sangeeta, Ms. Susmitha and the school staff.

As a first-time mom, the thought of sending my son to daycare was honestly nerve-racking. My son…read morehad never been away from me before, so we decided to try Primrose Livermore's Discovery Days--and the experience completely exceeded my expectations. On his first Discovery Day, my son cried almost the entire time because it was his first real separation from mom. But the teachers were incredibly patient, gentle, and loving. They held him, comforted him, and truly cared for him throughout the day. What meant the most to me was how often they updated me--sending pictures and notes through the ProCare app so I knew exactly how he was doing. Being able to see that he was safe and in caring hands helped ease my anxiety tremendously. Since he had such a tough first day, we decided to bring him back for a second Discovery Day to see if he was more ready. This time, everything changed. When my son saw Miss Anna and Miss Sandra, he recognized them and calmed down after few minutes and enjoyed his lunch and snacks. He looked so much more comfortable and ended up having an amazing time! I received tons of photos again, and I could tell from the updates that he was playing, smiling, and really enjoying himself. When I picked him up, he seemed genuinely happy--loving his teachers and even interacting with friends. I left feeling so relieved and confident that he might actually be ready for daycare. Before all this, I had spoken with Adrian, the Director, because I had a lot of questions and concerns as a new mom. She was incredibly understanding and patient, answering every single question with transparency and warmth. After meeting her and seeing how she ran the school, I felt reassured and gained a sense of trust that I didn't have before. Overall, Primrose Livermore made what could've been an emotional and stressful transition into something positive and encouraging. The staff truly cares, the communication is excellent, and the environment just feels safe and nurturing. We're now planning to send our son to Primrose San Ramon once it opens, since it's closer to home--and I'm truly hoping it will be just as wonderful as the Livermore location. If it's anything like our experience here, I know our son will be in great hands.

Expensive? You betcha. What price do you put on an education…read morefor your most precious asset? I have a daughter that was literally drowning in public school, I personally would pay twice the asking tuition based on her dramatic turnaround. By the way, this is day three. The acceptance process is arduous, and there are no underachievers accepted. Finally, a true college prep in the East Bay.

This school should be investigated for water damage and mold exposure, it is making students sick…read more When I reported this to the school they rewarded me by terminating my child's enrollment and didn't refund my money back. Parents and teachers- if you (your child) are sick , it could be the school responsible for it- please investigate and report. This is not ok and they cannot get away like this. Parents- you are not paying this much money for the school to make your child sick. Please do your own research. Management is a joke and need lessons in management. They failed to provide a safe healthy environment for my child to learn and grow. They mocked my doctor and my family and we had to go through unnecessary trauma. New families pay attention and avoid unnecessary trauma that we went through unfortunately. Keep your families safe!