This is Thanksgiving and I have pledged to thank those who helped me succeed this year…read more I'm an alumna of this school. To be fair, I arrived with a solid academic foundation from Foothill Country Day School. Poly was a great school though. Quite large, so you need to find your people, as they say. But overall, the campus is beautiful, the classes challenging, and the other students were kind and ambitious. I went from Poly to Princeton and now work in a science field in Silicon Valley. I'm grateful to Poly for guiding me on my path.

Administration is full of hypocrisy. This school tries to mold young kids into thinking a certain…read moreway than allowing them to freely learn and critically think. 1/2 the kids in upper school are socially awkward and equal amount of parents are clueless as this school is living off a rep from 20 yrs ago.

We Love Rosebud My Daughter is doing so well here she's growing so much I love Ms DuBoe Best…read moreTeacher ever!!!!

Wonderful program Sister Robin is amazing with the kids and discipline and learning…read more Stop by and take a look My son loves this school

I've toured this school twice and I think it is such a lovely campus. The classrooms are intimate…read moredue to the student to teacher ratio. My observation was a well manicured and clean campus, happy children, friendly parent volunteers and staff eager to answer our questions . Olivia, our volunteer parent, who escorted our group around campus was so warm and delightful and shared with us her experience as a parent. Gretchen offered everyone a warm welcome reception prior to the tour and I'm particularly fond of the emphasis on unity and inclusion. It cracked me up to see the kids on unicycles as they attempted to push off from walls and pedal. I found it to be an inspirational outdoor activity ; keep on trying combined with the importance of balance in life. I've noticed many changes in the school from when we first toured it before Covid. There is something to be said about progress during unprecedented times I I observed many wonderful new editions.

Chandler is a unique school that I am very proud to be associated with! Not only did I graduate…read morefrom Chandler, but I am also a parent of a middle school student currently attending. The school provides a well rounded education in one of the most beautiful settings in Pasadena overlooking the Rose Bowl. While I love the fact that Chandler is academically challenging, I also appreciate the importance that the teachers, administrators, and staff place on teaching good values, citizenship, and character. The Chandler community is very strong, and in recent years supported the construction of a new, world-class middle school. While the school is very technologically advanced (all the middle school students have their own laptops), Chandler does a great job balancing this with the more human side of learning. Students learn to think critically, and work both independently and collaboratively. As an alumnus, I still keep in touch with many of my former classmates. They are an amazing group of people who have achieved a lot. If you are exploring schools, be sure to check out Chandler!

My son goes to Stratford for their Early Preschool program and I have nothing but incredible things…read moreto say about the school and the curriculum. He absolutely loves it and learns so much every day. The teachers are so hardworking and dedicated. Parents are awesome. We are so grateful.

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.

Besides being set in such a gorgeous and safe location out of traffic areas, up in the wilderness,…read morenestled in the foothills-- this school has incredible teachers to the point where two of my three children that have attended throughout the past 11 years, now, want to be teachers. I must add that I have never seen a principal so protective of the school, and Mr. Maynard never ceases to amaze me on the great care taken in every avenue. Thank you, Don Benito!

I take my son here but im currently thinking to take him back. I have him eat the cafeteria and he…read moresays their food tastes really bad and one time he spit out one of their burritos he ate! He also says the staff favorite specific students and on google it says when staff do things like that it's unprofessional!! He tells me that if he needs to take a number 2 in the toilet, theres usually poop stains all over the bathroom! One time i came for his spring concert and the cafeteria was hot as my dads barn in bakersfield. They really needa turn on some A/C there. This is a giant school and it takes up ton of land. Take away a quarter of this school and ill be happy. Overall. I would 100% not recommend this dump of a school

My daughter and I played outdoor pickleball at McKinley School on a Sunday afternoon. It was around…read more1:00 PM. There were 3 courts open at the time. One court was already taken. We played until shortly after 3:00 PM. The courts are really nice. I prefer the permanent pickleball court on the north side. The permanent pickleball court on the south side has more shade because there are trees near it. However, I find the ground on that side with more leaves and dirt. Hence, the north courts are better IMHO... there is still some shade there later in the afternoon. Luckily, we found street parking that is free on Sundays. I think there is a parking lot on the school campus, but I just don't know where exactly. The courts are actually on the side of El Molino Ave. Entrance is north of the gymnasium that happens to be north of the courts. When you see the courts, just walk north of them. You'll see a gate that will be open. Walk through it, then you'll see the gymnasium on your right. After you pass by the gymnasium, you'll walk through another gate. Walk down the steps and turn right. You'll see the courts in front of you. Stay on your left as the entrance onto the courts is on the left. There is only one entrance and one exit. Entrance and exit is the same. Have fun playing pickleball and/or tennis!!! We did. We'll definitely be back for more pickleball play. It's a very good pickleball courts alternative besides Allendale Park and Farnsworth Park in Pasadena.

Please don't send your child here unless you want them to be constantly bullied by kids that are…read morenever held accountable for their actions. The only reason my child has stayed as long as they have is because of Ms Dot from learns and Ms Ortega. Kids are always fighting and from what Ive heard smoking in the bathrooms. Please steer clear from this school and save yourself the headache.

I really appreciate Mrs. Cooper, the principal at Hamilton Elementary School in Pasadena. She has…read morebeen involved and supportive of my son since kindergarten, and he is now in fourth grade. I also have a first grader at Hamilton. Mrs. Cooper and the entire staff are amazing, caring, and involved. I'm very happy with our experience at Hamilton Elementary

I love this school! The staff and teachers work very hard to create quality programming for all…read morestudents. I can attest to this as I was their Guidance Counselor and Site Coordinator for 5 years. The parent body is amazing and quite dedicated to making the school shine! I'm not sure if people who don't work in public education understand how hard it is for teachers, principals and admin. to juggle it all. Working in an environment and being a constant giver, healer and educator can really take a toll on a person. That's why I'm so very grateful for the loving staff and students who gave me hugs and kind words everyday. Some of my fondest memories are here and I learned so very much. I'm grateful to have been a part of such a dedicated team! Go Bobcats!

High Point is amazing and has been the best thing for my daughter. We started at the school when…read moreshe was in 2nd grade and she's now in 5th. My daughter used to pick the skin around her nails because she was so anxiety-ridden at her former school. Now she is thriving and joining sports teams at school! The difference is night and day. All of her teachers have been great but special mention to her 2nd grade teacher who really "got" her and helped her develop and feel seen with her skills. There is so much attention to the individual student with small groups in math and reading, every learning level/speed can be accommodated. I also appreciate that they have dedicated PE every day and they learn various sports. High Point has high expectations for academics, which is great--but I'm also glad the kids have classes in art, STEAM, library, Spanish and music as well. There are great opportunities for parents to get involved and I've been impressed that the parents are also kind and down-to-earth. When we first toured the school years ago we were so impressed with the way an 8th grade student responded to their teacher that we joked that it must be staged. But now that we've had the pleasure of volunteering on campus I can say that the behavioral expectation is high and it wasn't staged! The 8th graders are respectful and kind and mature. It's a real benefit to have K through 8th grade at High Point.

As a parent of two daughters who have only attended elite, very expensive private schools up until…read morenow (schools that cost more than double the tuition of High Point) I can confidently say that High Point is, without question, the best place for my children to learn and grow. Yes, it is known for its academic rigor, and it absolutely lives up to that reputation. But what really sets High Point apart is the way its teachers meet every student exactly where they are. They scaffold thoughtfully, set the bar high, and, most impressively, get their students there. I've never seen anything quite like it. Even more important than academics, though, is the culture the school fosters. My children feel genuinely loved, heard, and respected every single day. There is a warmth and authenticity here that is rare, especially compared to the elitist entitlement that can be so prevalent in many independent schools in the area. My only regret? Not sending them to High Point sooner. Then again, if I hadn't experienced the alternatives, I wouldn't fully appreciate just how special this school truly is.

Sequoyah School has been an indelible safe space for learning and growing for both of my daughters…read more(two years apart). It's practically impossible to list the pros of what this school has provided by way of positive experience, fruitful knowledge, and open/creative thinking. In so many ways it has prepared both of my children with the tools they need not just for a positive college experience, but for themselves in life, knowing who they each are and how to be the most truthful individuals they can be.

I have three kids at Sequoyah, and they have all been at the school since kindergarten (this is our…read moresixth year at the school). I cannot speak highly enough about this school. It's a place where teachers and administrators fiercely guard the experience of childhood and being a kid, while also challenging kids academically. Our kids deeply love school (they're disappointed when there's a three-day weekend!) - they are engaged in and excited about what they're learning. I've been so impressed with the level of the academics for all the kids - the teachers at Sequoyah expect a high level of achievement from the kids, proportionate to what they know each kid is capable of. Even more importantly, every teacher we've had has truly *seen* each of our kids for who they are - they see what motivates each kid, what their social experience is, and how much they should push versus encourage. The school community is, quite simply, what keeps our family in LA. The families at Sequoyah are diverse, kind, warm, and interesting - exactly the sorts of people I'm thrilled my kids get to grow up around, and I get to have as my friends. Sequoyah is the sort of special place that I truly think is making our corner of the world a better place.

An absolute gem of a school! My kids and I are so happy we found it. It is academically strong, but…read morein a positive and uplifting way. I'm particularly impressed by their genuine commitment to the social and emotional development of the children. The children of all ages play together in the school yard; it's like the idyllic 1980s neighborhood kids. As a parent, I love being able to be part of the school community as a whole, chatting with parents in the school yard before class starts and giving hugs before my kids go into their classrooms (no car line drop-off!) The co-op requirements are surprisingly do-able, even as a single parent who works outside the home for compensation, and I appreciate the feeling of giving back to this community.

We switched our second grader to Friends Western in February 2024 after it became apparent that it…read morewas a better fit than our school. We are coming to the end of the third-grade school year, and our third grader has experienced increased confidence, a lifting up of strengths, and targeted support in areas that needed growth. Even though this is a small community, I'm awe-struck at the dedication of both the administration and the teaching staff. The school's overall approach intertwines tried-and-true teaching techniques, evolving educational modalities, social justice, and the needs of the students. Their enrichment and exploration programs aren't boilerplate; they are well thought-out. At first, the parent participation seemed daunting. Still, I realized that while families of all beliefs comprise this community, the school's social-justice-inspired Quaker philosophies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship have made collaboration seamless.