Honestly, I don't think you can really give a review about schools or rate them. Really, what are…read moreyou gonna base it on? Anyhow, this is a very wonderful school. My brother is a Down syndrome and has been going there for the past seven years. He will be transitioning soon to adult program.

I am writing this to warn other Families about the current Leadership at the Sam and rose Stein…read moreSpecial Education Center. While this school is funded to support severe special needs, the director has shown a complete lack of understanding of autism behavioral support and basic safety. Ever since my urgent email request on September 1,2026 the director has actively avoided holding an emergency IEP meeting to fix our son transportation plan. Instead of helping he demands that we Immediately drive over to pick up our son whenever he has a rough day or exhibits escalating behaviors. The director casually assumed we live 1-5 minutes away and tried to control our schedules. He does not care about family safety or the reality of highway driving ; he just expects us to drop everything because he cannot handle special needs. Instead of implementing proper behavioral interventions or accommodating school-provided transit, he relies on evasion and punitive measures - ultimately issuing a sudden 20 days removal notice to run out the clock. It is a Shamed that a facility meant for vulnerable special needs children is run by administrators ChrisH, who avoids Legal IEP meeting and try to bully parents proceed with extreme caution. the previous director Ms Chayo Chavez she's been amazing to us for 3 years , she understands about families with special needs children.

Navigating the school system for a child with special needs can be overwhelming, but Sarah Tira has…read moremade all the difference. Working with her has been an absolute game-changer. She takes incredible initiative and is deeply dedicated to her clients. Her expertise makes me feel supported and confident during every IEP meeting. If you need a passionate, proactive advocate who will fight for your child's services, look no further! Thank you Sarah for being in our corner. You are truly a blessing for our family!

I am so grateful to have Sarah on my team. My autistic daughter has a great Speech and Occupation…read moreTherapist; and an excellent ABA team. We work together to help my daughter making so much progress at home, but she kept struggling at school. I was having a hard time communicating with the school to provide for proper supports for my daughter. I am searching for an advocate who can help me navigate the special education program/ public school system. I found Sarah. Sarah is kind, calm, and knowledgeable. She used to teach a Special Day Class. Sarah understands the system and knows what a student needs to succeed in school. She is a valuable member of my home team.

This is a great specialty school for students in special education. I take kids here who need lots…read moreof one-on-one attention, and the staff are very dedicated and patient with each student.

I do NOT like this school. I went here a couple of years ago and let me start off with talking…read moreabout the primetime staff. The old supervisor sucked balls and was a very sh1tty person she would always yell at kids and not care about them. The supervisor would always make up lies about children and even talk sh1t about them when all of them left which is why I had to drop out because of how careless they were to kids. Let me also talk about the music teacher she was racist,disrespectful and judged kids about how they would play with certain instruments that she provided us the p.e teacher is also a very careless person and I don't not like her at all she was very very bratty and had a bad attitude towards kids?

I've had 2 children attend McKinley Elementary School. One just graduated from there and one is…read moreentering 3rd grade. This school has been phenomenal and has gone above and beyond. We have experienced different teachers year, and each one has been more than exceptional. They have been absolutely lovely, caring, thoughtful, smart, and have the best interest of our kids, their classmates, and even their community in mind. They have been taught not only the basic academics, but also how to be a good human in this crazy world, and how to lean on community and their peers to grow and become educated. I have felt like the teachers have always kept the individual student in mind, and advocated it on their behalf for all of their needs. The school, the teachers, the staff, down to the janitors....Absolutely lovely. The community that is involved at Mckinley Elementry school is the absolute best. There is a constant fundraising happening by the parents and community to support Mckinley's vast programs. The jog-a-thon, Sono Fest, the Gala, etc. Programs like music, theater dance for, art, and Spanish, our kids have been getting a very well rounded experiences in elementary school.

Crystal Sanford was very helpful in assisting us with the IEP process with our son's school. Our…read moreson is 5 years old with autism and wasn't getting the attention he so desperately needed. His old IEP wasn't being followed, so we needed assistance to be aware of our rights and make sure the new IEP included everything he is entitled to. She reviewed the new IEP and proposed various changes and corrections to it, which the school accepted.

My husband and I decided to use Sanford Autism Consulting to help us with our son (5 years old)…read moreIEP. She offered us free initial interview where we sat down and voiced our concerns first. After our intial meeting we decided to use her service. We gave Crystal a copy of our son current IEP, she reviewed it and developed a proposal action plan/suggestions geared toward getting the best help for our son at his school. Crystal was very professional, well experienced and genuinely helpful. I will personally recommend Crystal to every parents of a child with IEP. Please consult with an advocate first before signing an IEP. She undertstand and helped us with our concerns that we don't know how to ask with school district, she gave us pointers and typed it all out for us to bring on the meeting. We are very thankful for her and definitely recommending her to other parents.

We feel incredibly grateful to be part of such a warm, welcoming, and enriching school community…read more From the very beginning, our family has felt supported not just academically, but personally as well. The teachers and staff truly go above and beyond to create an environment where each child feels seen, valued, and encouraged to grow. We currently have three children at the school, and each of them has had such a positive and unique experience. The balance between strong academics and character development is something we deeply appreciate. It's clear that the school is focused on nurturing the whole child, building confidence, kindness, and a genuine love for learning. One of the highlights for our family has been the musical program. Our daughters have been involved in the school musical, and it has been such a meaningful experience for them. Not only have they grown in confidence and creativity, but they've also formed friendships across different grade levels, which has been so special to see. The sense of community that comes from these programs is truly something unique. We couldn't be happier with our experience and feel lucky every day to be part of this amazing school. It's a place where children are encouraged to thrive, friendships flourish, and families feel genuinely connected.

I have only GREAT things to say about Mt. Helix Academy!!…read more My little 3rd grader has THRIVED at this school. Known to be very shy and often wouldn't participate in class, we were desperate. There wasn't ever any trouble, just no willingness to be part of school functions, class projects, and we were about to succumb to the idea that was just the way it was. No joy for school or even extra-curricular activities. Well... these teachers did amazing things!! My child is like a whole new kid. The small class sizes helped them focus on my child's needs, and the care the teachers showed made such a difference. Now my child loves school, can't wait to "try" math (it can still be hard) and is in the school play! I would have never thought this could happen. I was just looking for a place where a child could feel welcome and loved, and, oh yeah - learn. I am so very thankful that we took a chance on Mt. Helix Academy. I can't recommend them enough!

Karla has been a lifesaver for our family. The school district repeatedly refused to identify our…read moreson's dyslexia. They insisted he was "fine". But he couldn't read, write or do math (all those word problems require a lot of reading). Worse, he was beginning to think he was stupid. The IEP process is complicated. You absolutely need someone with experience to guide you and advocate for your child. Our son is now reading above grade level due to an appropriate school placement and related services. Karla literally saved our son's future.

If she has a waiting list wait for her. For me, the key to a great advocate is someone who will…read morelisten to my child's story, his experiences, his challenges, and his strengths and combine them with the knowledge of how an IEP works to create a plan that actually moves my child forward. IEP San Diego gives you that, as a parent she makes me feel fully heard in my concerns, most importantly she knows how to express those concerns in a way that carries my child's education forward with meaningful goals in a setting that allows him growth, safety, learning, and friendships. I admire the depth of analysis she gives to each one of the assessments, protocols, and many documents that make up the file. She is really interested in understanding what has been done and how in order to create an IEP that is appropriate for the child.

If you're looking for a quality school environment for your child-- my recommendation is to look…read moreelsewhere. Our experience with a kindergartener. --The school experienced much upheaval last year when the beloved Principal of over a decade, was fired, no explanation given. She was just "gone". -- the school makes it very difficult to have informal conversation with a teacher. Parents are not allowed inside the gates, so they rarely have the opportunity to have a casual "check in". This makes for a very impersonal relationship and lacks fluidity between school and home. -- If you're interested in the 50/50 German immersion, last year the SDUSD approved a change in the charter, which alters how German will be taught, and how often. The German teachers are the best-- they hold that school together, but who knows now that changes to the school charter have been made, exactly how much input they will have -- the uniform code is ridiculous, and enforced sporadically. Our kinder wore the wrong colored skirt on the second day of school and she was sent to the office to change . A simple note home would have been far more preferable than to frighten and humiliate a five year old in a new school -- this is a minor point, but one to consider. If you're picking your child up in the afternoon, plan to be in the pickup line for 20-30 mins, occasionally longer. Their drop off/pick up system is highly inefficient. --Our child was hit with a basketball, not once, but twice in the head by accident, by an older child. No msg from the teacher, school nurse, nothing the first time. The second time the hit was hard enough to cause a nosebleed, and she was sent to the office, but still no note from the teacher. --The instruction was "all over the map". Homework packets were sent home, rarely was it ever checked, some lessons were turned in that required the child to explain their homework to the class, but the teacher never acknowledged their work. This certainly sends the wrong message. Parents of kinders were told that homework was "optional". Also, at the beginning of the year, at orientation our child's kinder teacher announced that she would be attending every soccer tournament, ballet or piano recital-- to our knowledge she never attended a single one. There is massive building expansion going on at the school. With quality already at an abysmal level, adding more children does not seem to be a good direction for the school to go. --This is not to disparage all of the teachers at AEA, but our child's kinder experience fell far short of expectations. She is now in a different school and has already participated in several back to school events that have brought exuberance towards school, and helped ease the transition of being in a new school environment. I would definitely not recommend AEA, San Diego.

I applied for the lottery believing this was the best possible school my daughter could go to. I…read morehad previous connections to some staff and the best principle I've ever met, Greta Bouterse. I absolutely love Frau Claudia & Holt, and despite my multiple requests being denied for my daughter to be in the latter's class, after jumping through all of the other hoops, we put her in the school anyway. Sadly, just after the cutoff date for applications to other charter schools closed, Superintendent David Sciaretta and the Board deviated from their charter, firing Principal Bouterse under suspect circumstances, truly undermining the foundation of the school and damaging relationships with parents, faculty and staff. This single blow has been truly devastating to our community, and has shattered our confidence in Sciaretta and the Board, who seem corrupt, power-hungry and lack transparency and integrity. We have yet to receive a reason for this firing, after 23 years of excellent service by Greta, 12 as Principal. Furthermore, despite parents and faculty showing up en-masse to meetings, airing grievances and raising objections, with hundreds more emailing in, requesting that Superintendent Sciaretta and the Board hold true to their charter and divulge information, all requests unheard or denied. On site, there is consistent physical assault, bullying, teasing, and unhealthy, unsafe, and unnecessary negative interactions that are not being resolved in quality manners. Office staff deny requests for restorative justice, there is no on-site nurse, and many of the teachers lack quality pay or resources to support their needs. Many of whom are paying out of pocket for supplies, with parents also donating to make up the difference. All this while Sciaretta has spent over 300,000$ on advertising and has a ridiculously large salary as well. The administration of Sciaretta and the Board is appalling, injust, disheartening, and disappointing. Many efforts are being made to protest, demand transparency and a return to the schools charter. I will be enrolling my child in a different school next year. It is pathetic and unconscionable to see the downfall of this school, once a heralded, prestigious institution of our community. Do NOT SUPPORT this corrupt administration, demand justice be served!

Exceptional educational program/school but at a huge costs. Unfortunately I don't fall into the…read morecategory of being able to afford their services. My son made huge strides for the 2 months he went there. It's frustrating how private institutions can show the capability of your child but I would literally have to sell my kidney to keep him in the program. If you got the dough, I highly recommend!

From the owner: We specialize in working with students who struggle with dyslexia, reading, writing, and math,…read moreauditory processing, attention, memory, anxiety. We have years of experience with IEPs and special education. Students who are bright but working too hard have found our methods life-changing! The inspiration behind the Learning Center is the banyan tree. This amazing plant grows in regions where the soils is not able to support the heavy branches. It has learned to compensate for the weakness by growing support limbs as the tree branches out. Like the banyan tree, our goal is to provide support and strengthen foundations for learning as students mature into lifelong learners. In addition to the concept of the Learning Center providing support to learners, the foundations, or roots of the tree, must also be feeding the tree and entwine to make a strong trunk. The foundational skills that must be in place for efficient processing are memory, attention, language, reasoning, and integration. When these are intact and working together, students are ready to branch out... and learn basic skills, develop their unique gifts and areas of interest, and find success academically, socially, and emotionally. At Banyan Tree Educational Services, we can assist students in developing skills in any of these areas, either academic or foundational. Please browse our site to find how we can help students at all levels of learning.

Everything was exceptional! Nicole Goldfarb is a fantastic clinician who goes through her…read moreassessment in great detail and truly cares about her patients. Her expertise in myofunctional therapy is second to none and the community in San Diego is lucky to have her. The person I spoke with initially to set up the appointment was very pleasant as well. I highly recommend Nicole and her team!

Our daughter has been working with Clare for nearly a year and has made leaps and bounds. Clare…read moremakes speech therapy sessions fun and highly interactive! After each session I am always provided with an update and homework to practice. So happy we are here!