I took my kid here and she came back crying in tears! Overall bad!…read moreMy kid made no knew friends!

School is not for the kids. kids run wild in classes they do not get the support needed. Parents…read morearen't held accountable for their children and actions. Cynthia is always trying to sugarcoat the situation. Teachers do not last because of the toxic environment and lack of support from colleagues. Overall, my kids will be leaving and i would not send any kids here unless you want them to learn nothing and develop bad habits. there are no extra curriculum activities. no filed trips. no sports offered. my kids always complain of cold food. i know way to many parents whose kids struggle with being bullied and " not seen or heard". Cynthia is well aware and does nothing! save your children and go elsewhere. trust me.

Looking for volunteer opportunities, a friend of mine who recently got a job working for them…read morerecommended that I check out Arriba juntos on Mission Street. Arriba Juntos, (Spanish for arriving/upward together) was founded in 1965 & was called the Organization for Business, Education, & Community Advancement (O.B.E.C.A). Their name was changed to Arriba juntos in 1967. The original mission of Arriba Juntos was to meet the basic service needs of the Latino immigrants moving into the Mission District in the 1960's. Those needs were housing, education, employment, childcare, & health care. In the 70's many new agencies began to serve the Latino population of the Mission District. Throughout the 70's & the 80's Arriba Juntos grew & added many new programs & services w/ its strong suit being employment & training programs. From the mid 90's to the present Arriba Juntos has expanded its vision & now provides educational & employment programs on a citywide basis serving many neighborhoods & many different ethnic groups & cultures. The clarion call of the agency is still the same: "Upward Together - Arriba Juntos." Santa's Yelper sez: "It's cool that they are not singular race-centric or exclusive as many other non-profits tend to be!"

Rarely have I run into the unpleasant experience of being the victim of fraud. After a quick Google…read moresearch of "free tax preparation" I decided to try this location out in hopes of getting the stimulus money from the recent bills that were passed to aid the country and help in recovering from the devastation of all types that Covid-19 has brought forth. Although the initial visit was mostly pain free I came to find out weeks later that the return was filed incorrectly. Odd I thought considering that I reviewed the information personally before signing and handing the documents over to the tax preparer before leaving. After an awkward visit to the IRS I came to find out that the return was altered after I gave the documents over and changed to a different address. I also received a call from the preparer (415-241-0201) saying that the "information was changed" which I did not understand until weeks later. (After seeing that my tax return was directed to a new address.) The entire ordeal taught me several things. One of which is go to a reputable tax preparer. Just because something is free does not make it good. And unfortunately there are all too many people in the world who will take your information and commit fraud with it. Overall this place is now NOT a great place to go if you're of African decent. While other places may or may not be overly enthused about your business tax season is one of the few times where everyone is pretty much welcomed being that nearly everyone is getting some money back. This location will take your business but what they do with the information after they have gathered it is another story. There are a lot of other free tax preparers or even paid tax specialist in The City which I would recommend going to versus coming to Arriba Juntos. As you can see from my other reviews I have not had the most pleasant experiences lately in The Bay Area...However! I write these reviews based on my experience so that others will benefit from the experiences that I have. But always do your own research!

All three of our children graduated from Saint James and we couldn't be more grateful for the…read moreexperience they each had. We have been a part of the Saint James family for 8 wonderful years and tonight, we celebrate our son's graduation. Saint James provided not only a strong academic foundation but also instilled in them values rooted in faith, compassion, and community. The dedicated teachers, supportive staff, and nurturing environment helped shape our children into confident, respectful, and well-rounded individuals. We always felt our kids were truly known, cared for, and challenged to reach their full potential--spiritually, academically, and personally. Saint James has been a blessing to our family, and we will always hold it close to our hearts. We highly recommend Saint James. Thank you Mr. Endo and the entire Saint James family!!!

Just completed a Tour of this school as we look for a smaller jr. High for an incoming 6th grader…read more I was completely impressed and frankly touched with schools academics, and teaching approach, the faculty/administrators, the current student body and the religious part of the curriculum. The teachers/administrators have longevity and several of them are Saint James alumni. The students, including the classroom ambassadors from Grades k-8 --communicated their classroom structure and daily activities in a superb manner--including the kindergartens/first grader's-- through the 8th graders. I was able to chat with the principal, Vice principal, and each teacher. My guide was Francis and she was wonderful. Great school near Noe Valley.

Update 4/15/13: Yep, still very happy here - our son has learned to read in English and Spanish…read more Only kids leaving the program are the ones who are moving. Prior comments still stand: We enrolled our son in the dual-immersion Spanish-English program for Kindergarten this year, and have been very happy so far. The school boasts a full-time arts program, caring teachers, a renovated building, on-site After School, better food than SFUSD & no-added-sugar-for-sale policy, a new computer lab, a thriving 3-year old Spanish-English dual-immersion option in the lower grades (will grow every year until 4th grade I believe), rapidly rising parent participation & fundraising (but never enough). There are uniforms, a fairly traditional discipline policy of rewards for good behavior & consequences for bad behavior (which is exactly what our son needs), and even before-school yoga - which our son loves. There's an invigorated Parent-Teacher Committee - I spent 1 hour yesterday sorting TECA t-shirts with other parents, and another 30 minutes writing thank-you notes on Teacher Appreciation gift certificates with yet another group of parents (the teachers loved their little gifts!) Meanwhile, Spanish-speaking parents were helping out in the classrooms, testing kids on their Spanish so the teachers can provide individualized instruction to every student. Yes, the school has warts - I did mention not enough $, and test scores could be higher (but don't get me started on how test scores are NOT an accurate measure of a school's performance, especially when viewed on their own). Bottom line: the teachers are caring people who believe in the mission to nurture "the whole child" and help the kids prepare for top high schools (3 admitted to Lowell last year- huge for our size/7 admitted this year - that's unheard of!); & over $160k in scholarships were granted to other top schools. The administrators listen to good ideas, the arts program is unmatched, and parent participation is way up. Good things are happening here!

I am very disappointed with my experience at this school. My child experienced bullying, and I did…read morenot feel that the school provided the support or assistance needed to address the situation. I also reported concerns about students bringing electronic cigarettes (vapes) to school and offering them to other children in the bathrooms. I communicated this serious issue to my child's teacher, but I never received a response or any follow-up support. Parents trust schools to provide a safe and supportive environment for their children. Unfortunately, my experience was that my concerns were not taken seriously, and I did not see the action or communication I expected.

Long before we ever came to Synergy, it was always a magical place we walked by -- the cool…read morebuilding with the wonderful mosaic and happy kids in the yard. Little did we know, we'd be lucky enough to become a "Synergy family" when our son started as a 6th grader. Synergy feels like an oasis in so many ways. Dropping off in the morning, you're greeted with a smile and a wave. The feeling of community at Synergy starts with the wonderful staff. The educators here are caring, honest, and continuously supportive -- they see your whole child. It always feels so good to watch our son walk into school because we know he is in such a positive, caring place. He feels it and we feel it. In addition to the amazing staff, one of the things we've appreciated most about Synergy are the real-life adventures they've given our son: Farm Camp, the 7th backpacking trip, and soon Puerto Rico, not to mention wonderful events like spring concert at Herbst Theater, Trading Day, the Probability Fair, and the Science Fair. It has also been wonderful our son has gotten to try so many sports including cross country, futsal, basketball, and volleyball; at a bigger school that may not have been possible. When we started at Synergy not only did we reconnect with many of our favorite families from preschool, but we have also made lasting connections with new families. We have enjoyed connecting with other families on social justice issues, at various sporting events cheering together, and just checking-in about parenting in the 21st century. We will remember and cherish everything Synergy has meant and given to us. Thank you Synergy! We love Synergy!

A warm, nurturing & academically stimulating school for your child as well as a true community for…read moreyour family. Centered on a progressive & intentionally inclusive education, we found Synergy to be the ideal school for our son during the middle school years. Just coming out the pandemic, we were seeking the right educational base to guide our kid though the often tough & turbulent middle school years, and after 6 years in a local public school which ended at 5th grade, we felt that this was the best choice & investment for our family. Synergy is a true community with extremely accessible and dedicated teachers who are committed to nurturing the whole individual. My son, who has a learning difference, was always supported by his teachers as they were routinely available for additional guidance & clarification when needed. Synergy's teachers and staff truly know each child and are remarkable at individualizing their learning and overall needs while still maintaining healthy expectations. Synergy's curriculum approach is based on project-based learning, wherein students apply what they learn in History, Language Arts (English), Science & more. For instance, the students can opt to create a graphic novel, write & perform a song, &/or do a cooking project based on their history learning & focuses. Also, in Science, they can propose a science project in which they are most interested and work either individually or in groups. At Synergy, there is ample hands-on group work and interaction both in and outside of the class, fostering an authentic appreciation for each individual child and the beautiful and diverse backgrounds which they bring to the group. Synergy is a small supportive school, with just 22-24 kids per grade in the middle school years, and a safe & warm place to grow. If these values resonate with you, certainly visit & apply. We feel so very fortunate for our son to have had this opportunity as he preps to launch into high school now, knowing that he has a solid foundation, both academically as well as socially, along with strong social bonds to continue growing and blossoming ahead.

Oh wow, my kid's former preschool on Yelp. Cool! It was a long time ago my son went here, but I…read morehave often thought about the positive experience he had at the Mission YMCA preschool. They offered a good blend of skill building in socialization, numbers, language, arts, and preparation for kindergarten. The price was right and the schedule was convenient. Most importantly the teachers were nice and communicative with parents. What I know now that I didn't know then is that the bottom line with preschools is what elementary schools are they getting accepted to. My son made it into our first choice, private school so Mission (YMCA) accomplished. ******* The reason for the mediocre star rating is because of the negative experience we had with the summer camp offered through this Y. My child turned five while in preschool and we were told he could go to their summer camp, so I agreed not knowing that it was not as nurturing of an environment as preschool. The facility in Glen Park was depressing, kind of like a pit of kids with dirty toys and the camp counselors were not friendly at all (not even a smile or a hello). It appeared as if they trolled prisons to recruit these camp counselors, as opposed to the norm of Early Child Development college students. He went for one day and then went back to preschool, for which they accommodated me immediately, and I learned to scrutinize day camps thoroughly from then on. So four stars for the preschool and one for the summer day camp. FYI the Embarcadero Y summer day camp is top rate.

I have never left a negative review anywhere or on anything, but after several weeks of concerns…read moreand an upsetting experience today, I feel parents deserve to know what our experience has been. My four-year-old attended the Mission Branch YMCA summer camp for much of the summer, beginning at the Dolores Huerta site and later transitioning to the Mission YMCA location. I want to emphasize that I tried very hard throughout the summer to be patient and understanding. I know camps are busy, unexpected things happen, and working with young children is challenging. I gave the staff the benefit of the doubt repeatedly because I genuinely wanted this program to work. Unfortunately, today's experience was the last straw. While there were some counselors who were kind, the overall leadership and communication left me feeling increasingly uneasy as a parent. Throughout the summer: * When my daughter was struggling socially, I reached out for support but never felt I received meaningful guidance or follow-up. * During difficult drop-offs, I would ask how she recovered later in the day and was often told, "I don't know, I wasn't with them," leaving me with very little information about how my preschooler was doing. * One field trip changed locations after the children had already left, and parents were never notified. * On another field trip, the buses returned approximately 30 minutes late, and parents waiting at pickup received no communication about the delay. * I also overheard a counselor speaking to the children in a way that I found concerning, telling them how "terrible" they were behaving. Today's incident was the final straw. We arrived approximately five minutes late for a field trip. I understand there may be safety procedures around attendance and transportation. However, we were told that my daughter could not attend camp at all that day. After reviewing the camp emails and handbook, it clearly stated that if you are late on an excursion day and miss the bus, you will need to drop your camper off at the excursion location. The bus hadn't even left yet and the camp director told us that my daughter wouldn't be able to attend that day, with very little explanation. More disappointing than the decision itself was the response when I tried to discuss it. Rather than acknowledging my concerns or taking a moment to understand why I was upset, I left feeling dismissed. Had someone simply acknowledged my frustration and explained this decision with empathy, this review likely would not exist. As a parent of a four-year-old, I don't expect perfection. I do expect clear communication, professionalism, and a collaborative relationship with families. Unfortunately, that was not our experience. After leaving today, I looked through other reviews and was disappointed to see that many parents described concerns very similar to my own. I sincerely hope the YMCA takes those patterns seriously because this has the potential to be a wonderful program with stronger leadership, better communication, and a greater commitment to partnering with families.

I LOVE MDA!! My daughter has attended this school since kindergarten and is now in 3rd grade and I…read morecouldn't be happier with the quality of education she is receiving and how caring and committed the staff are. It is such a great feeling to know that I am dropping off my child to school each day, knowing she will be greeted at the front entrance by faculty that knows each childs name and greets them with a smile, hi five, and in my daughters case a hug because she loves to give hugs to those she loves and trusts. The teachers are very approachable and good at communicating with parents as much as needed. Due to this great level of communication we concluded that my daughter should be evaluated for ADHD. Since confirmation of her diagnosis staff has been very supportive and have been open to providing reasonable accomadations to help with my daughters difficulty with focus and impulsivity. In addition to the quality of education MDA offers I also like the following (1) Affordable tuition (2) Aftercare until 6pm (3) Sports (4) Chess (5) Latin (6) First Communion, and Confirmation (7) Reasonable number of parent hours easy to complete (8) They teach the kids to care about each other and give back to the community (9) They offer Summer School!

Extremely dissapointed. please consider another catholic education for your child. After a school…read moreyear of dealing with rude and disrespectful parents which obviously do not practice the roman catholic doctrine in their home, I see no real value in having to pay full tuiton cost where the school staff and teachers do not have any organized control or any outlined safeguards at this school. Make sure you visit other catholic schools before registering here. Good Luck!

COVID era: I am so grateful that my younger daughter has the chance to go to Centro Las Olas as…read morewell now. It is still an extraordinary preschool! Rosalina and Bethica are such wonderful people and talented teachers. Bethica is an unusual preschool director--so intellectually engaged with the children and with new ideas in her child-centered pedagogy (she teaches in the Child Development Department at CCSF as well). The school takes Covid precautions very seriously and has devised a good system of pods where the kids still get a chance to spend time with each teacher over the course of the year.

Our boys did not attend. This review is primarily for the entire admissions process. We applied and…read moreno one got back to us for 6 months... only to say there were no spots but that if we wanted to attend we could submit another application for the new school year (and pay more money, presumably to not hear back). No thank you.