It's unconscionable that a children's school would use a rodenticide on California ground squirrels…read moreduring the season when their babies are being nursed. Walking on to the field with my dog and finding 4 - 6 week old babies running up to me, emaciated, crow attacks, and dehydration because the parent is dead!!! This is cruel!

This is for the Spanish/English immersion program. I had my worries and doubts about this program,…read morebut finally my child is actually communicating in Spanish! It took a lot of effort outside the classroom with an hour a day of Spanish focused practice and more relaxed activities like singing and playing board games in Spanish, but it has worked after 1.5 years! I couldn't be more impressed with the teachers' genuine concern for the students. Also, she is above the grade level for reading in English as well, so I can see it is nicely balanced.

We had high hopes for North Creek Academy, but the TK assessment process was incredibly…read morefrustrating. Expecting 4-year-olds to already be writing and recognizing letters feels academically misplaced for a Transitional Kindergarten level. What's worse is the inconsistency--it's clear the "rules" don't apply to everyone, as kids who can't yet write their names are accepted while the process remains a "black box" for everyone else. It feels more like a biased "who you know" system than a transparent evaluation of a child's readiness. We also noticed during our tour that the school's diversity is very low. In today's world, we want our children to learn in an environment that reflects the broader community, and we didn't see that here. Definitely something to consider if transparency and inclusion are priorities for your family.

I would like to add a star and acknowledge all the wonderful members of the NorthCreek community…read morefor contacting me to let me know that Esther McClellan's appalling behavior does not reflect the community as a whole. Their kindness means a great deal as we had just moved to the area and Esther's gang really affected us negatively. Also, many have come forward with their own stories of their children being treated poorly by Esther. I'm collecting these stories anonymously and plan to file a complaint. If you have a story about Esther that you'd like to share anonymously, please contact me privately. Many thanks, Christine Patellaro

We've been a Seven Hills family for over five years, and I truly can't speak highly enough of this…read moreincredible school. Our daughter started in 4th grade and is now thriving in 8th; our son began in Kindergarten and is currently in 4th, and both of them have grown in such distinct, beautiful ways thanks to this school's Whole Child approach. What stands out most is how deeply seen and known my kids are. Teachers and faculty don't just know their names, they know their learning styles, personalities, quirks, and strengths. There's a genuine warmth and intentionality that permeates every interaction, from the classroom to the carline. Our daughter was always more cautious and slow to warm up (nothing wrong with that!), but over time, Seven Hills helped her find her voice. She's now confidently volunteering for public speaking opportunities and participating in leadership roles like the Student Ambassador program. The Middle School program has been phenomenal and it's given her a strong academic foundation and the confidence to advocate for herself. One of her favorite subjects has been science, thanks to their incredible Middle School lab and interactive curriculum. She'll often tell us about the experiments they're doing, and it's clear she's not just learning science, she's experiencing it. One of our favorite traditions is the Buddies Program, where older and younger students are paired up for the year (think: 4th graders with Kindergartners). Watching my kids grow into both the mentee and the mentor role has been incredibly touching. They read together, do projects, and genuinely form bonds that span grades and years. We also love the family-friendly events that bring everyone together, from community dinners to beginning-of-year teacher phone calls. These touch points make us, as parents, feel like we're part of something bigger, not just dropping our kids off, but truly participating in their educational journey. The curriculum is rich and thoughtfully designed. My daughter learned about World War II in history class -- and then walked through the beaches of Normandy during the school's immersive Europe trip. It's the kind of education that sticks for a lifetime. The arts are equally valued: my son is learning ukulele in 4th grade, and my daughter is playing guitar in 8th. The annual plays, music programs, and outdoor educational trips -- it's all there. My only complaint? I just wish Seven Hills went through 12th grade. The transition out is going to be tough, not because she isn't ready, but because the bar has been set so high. After five years of academic growth, rich leadership experiences, and meaningful social-emotional development, my daughter is heading into high school capable, and deeply grounded. Honestly, I'd keep my kids here forever if I could, but alas, even magical places like this have to end at 8th grade!

Bad experience with this school. Unprofessional admission staff do not waste your time and money…read moreon this school especially for Asian Family. Due to time conflict, I send an email to request a different time, never received a response. The person over Zoom is not a pleasant person to talk with

This was my elementary school and it honestly was amazing. I never had a teacher who was mean, a…read moreproblem that wasn't unsolved, or anything go wrong. Sure the occasional fight with a friend, but all in all it was an amazing place to go as I grew up. I have the best memories there.

What a great school! Thanks to all the wonderful teachers and volunteers for everything you've done…read morefor my babies.

We completed the full application process with Sonder Creek Academy, including paying the $100…read moreapplication fee. Because we applied a bit late, we were placed on the waitlist, which we completely understood. What was disappointing was the total lack of follow-up after that point. Despite reaching out directly to the admissions officer to inquire about our waitlist status, we never received a response -- not even a simple notification that a spot was no longer available. When a family pays a $100 application fee, there is a reasonable expectation of communication and transparency throughout the process. To add to the frustration, we continued to receive marketing emails about summer programs despite never hearing back about our child's application. The disconnect between their marketing outreach and their admissions communication was striking. We can't speak to the school itself, but based solely on the application experience, the lack of follow-through left a poor impression.

Sonder Creek has absolutely been the best school for my child. We were looking at a wide variety of…read moreschools (public, non religious private, and religious private) to see what would be the best fit and I can tell you from the moment we reached out with interest, to the tour, to our child having his first 1/2 day visit there, we knew this was his school.  Staff is knowledgeable and knows my child to a depth that truly sets him up for success. It also makes me feel comfortable that they are doing everything in their power to help my child succeed and thrive. I love that they allow him to excel academically (even past his grade level) as well as support him with challenging subjects (teachers stay current with where he's at and are skilled at providing support very quickly if the child needs it while also keeping parents in the loop so we can help when needed too) while allowing him to stay with his grade level of peers so he's not only being cultivated in the classroom, but also learning to be social amongst peers his age. A big concern of mine was coming out of covid, my child wanted to so desperately make friends, but I know sometimes kids show no mercy. At Sonder Creek, overall it's been way over my expectations. Very involved parents, attentive staff that keeps you in the loop, and students who are open to connecting to one another.  My child has loved the STEM programs at school (especially the after school robotics class) as well as learning both Mandrin and Spanish (coming from an English speaking household, it's been amazing seeing him now speak another language which we will continue to encourage moving forward). He also is asking to do the after school Art program and this is coming from a child who started off barely wanting to hold a pencil correctly.  The community here is so special and you get to see that when everyone comes together. This was our first year we participated in Trunk or Treat with his school and it was such a blast; we will be doing it again next year. The international potluck is a family favorite to attend (combo of incredible foods from all over as well as mini performances from the language programs with the students is so darn adorable) and the Christmas Concert is absolutely precious. Sonder Creek is our child's school and we cannot recommend it enough.

Our pre school daughter goes here and she loves it. She's grown in all aspects including her faith,…read morewhich has been a joy to see. It's a loving environment and we are very happy to have here at CCCS.

This school has been so perfect for our son! He transferred sophomore year and immediately made…read morefriends and felt welcomed. The class sizes are small so the kids get a lot of individual attention. Teachers actually try and get to know the kids and make a connection, which has been wonderful for him as a newcomer. We wish we had found it sooner, it's such a hidden gem!

I've had at least one child attending Indian Valley Elementary School since 2002. For a smaller…read moreschool in a chronically underfunded small school district, the teachers and staff here do an awesome job. It's a clean, safe school with experienced and caring staff, and a lot of parent involvement.

Indian Valley Elementary has surpassed any expectations I had coming here. My family has moved…read morehere from another state and the staff and teachers here have made sure that my children are feeling welcome, safe and adjusted to our move. Trude (office manager) has been the best! she has even called after a few weeks to see how we were all doing. Beautiful setting and great kids. I have been very pleased with our decision to go here.

We truly cannot fully express the amount of joy, comfort, and confidence we feel leaving our…read morechildren in the loving hands of Meher Schools. When searching for the perfect preschool, we had very clear priorities - and White Pony/Meher Schools was the only preschool that checked every box after extensive research, visits, and interviews. After falling in love with White Pony preschool, we decided to stay for The Meher Schools elementary school - also, one drop off for kids if you have one in preschool and another in elementary?! Yes, please! The Meher Schools met our top priorities in choosing aas did the White Pony Preschool: 1. Teachers who genuinely practice kindness, patience, and love, creating a safe, nurturing environment that mirrors the care we provide at home. 2. A strong focus on kindness, emotional and spiritual development alongside academics, using the Nurtured Heart Approach to teach leadership, right from wrong, and strong values - something that truly matters in today's world. 3. A calm, organized, clean, and open learning environment inspired by Montessori/Waldorf principles, filled with music, dance, art, nature exploration, and joyful activities that spark curiosity and a love of learning. 4. Low teacher-to-student ratios with consistent, dedicated staff and minimal turnover. 5. The ease and convenience of reliable daycare availability and consistent school hours, which is invaluable for working parents and provides tremendous peace of mind. Our children have grown into calm, patient, loving, socially and emotionally intelligent individuals. They come home happy - singing songs, performing dances, and confidently demonstrating leadership skills such as speaking up, standing up for others, self-regulating ("resetting"), appreciating nature, and truly loving life. We are incredibly grateful for the dependable, efficient, and communicative staff and teachers. Watching our children's growth, confidence, curiosity, and joy throughout their time at Meher Schools has been nothing short of amazing. We wholeheartedly and highly recommend Meher Schools to any parent looking for the very best for their child.

I want to start by saying this is a long time coming, and this is just my experience…read more We first looked at Meher after learning our son's previous preschool prioritized moving kids up to open seats, over real development. He was three, and his old school, though called Montessori, felt like just unstructured play with no guidance. We wanted better for him, so we applied to Meher. When I spoke with the administrator, she was initially hesitant to transfer him but ultimately accepted our application but in hindsight it felt influenced by where we live and work more than our child's needs. On our tour, we learned about the school's "legacy" tradition: multiple generations attend, and one teacher is even an alumna. It struck me as both odd and charming--I wondered if our son's future children might go there too. They want you to stay on his first day (and as long as needed) to help him adjust. Since we both WFH, one of us could be there until he settled in. We appreciated the school's structure: clear work time and play time, unlike his old school's laissez-faire approach. Fast-forward to his transition: he struggled with the new routines, having mini-meltdowns when he couldn't do things his way. On day one, another child cried for an hour over a forgotten jacket. Day two, the same child sobbed over his beanie. Then our son had his first major meltdown screaming and crying. Concerns arose when a parent complained her son was negatively affected by our child's outburst, even though her child had cried extensively before our son had any issues. We were also told one of the girls in the class reported the meltdowns to her principal father. During one episode, the teacher scooped our son up facing her; he flailed and knocked her glasses off. I don't think what he did was right, but at age three, kids sometimes lash out in fear or frustration. After just four days in class, the school questioned whether Meher was right for him. They cited the legacy parent's complaint, the report to her father, and the incident with the glasses. This happened just before Founders Day; a big celebration we didn't know about and weren't part of. When I picked up his things, I saw the pomp and realized the decision had more to do with "show" and pleasing established families than supporting all students. In the end, I learned two things: 1. In the school, legacy families hold sway, and compassion is in short supply. 2. The administration cares more about appearances for legacy parents than the well-being of every child. They promised to "follow up" and welcome him back, but we never heard from them again. If you're new to the area (we moved to Saranap in 2021) and lack connections, think twice before choosing Meher. Your child won't get the same grace as those with legacy ties, and the school won't invest in you as much as you'll invest in it.

We are so grateful for the positive experience our daughter has had at Noble Learning Academy this…read moreyear. She transferred from a large public middle school where she often felt lost socially and overwhelmed by the large class sizes and disruptive environment. Looking back, we only wish we had made the move sooner. At Noble, she has found a nurturing and supportive community where she truly feels seen and valued. The small class sizes have made such a difference, both academically and emotionally. She has made meaningful friendships and has really been embraced by both the students and staff. One of the things we appreciate most is the hands-on learning and enriching field trip opportunities that simply were not possible at her previous big public school. We have also been so impressed with Principal Cassie and how involved and hands-on she is with the students and families. Her leadership creates a warm, welcoming environment where the children genuinely feel supported and cared for. The change has been incredibly positive for our daughter. We now plan to send our son to NLA when he enters middle school.

My daughter really enjoyed her time at NLA. She worked on…read moreimaginative projects that she learned quite a bit from. She would often talk about interesting discussions she had in class or assignments she was working on. We found the teachers very supportive and went out of their way to help our family. My son is there now and likes his classes and the other children there a lot. We really appreciate being part of NLA's warm and inclusive community.

St. Mary's is a Catholic school with strong academics and lots of love. All four of my kids went…read morehere. My grandson has the same third grade teacher that his Mom had! Teacher retention is highest in the diocese. Jenny Bellows is the current principal and a top-notch educator; a Carondelet grad. She's a gift to the school. The teachers singing and dancing on stage at the end of last year's concert was priceless! If you are just looking for a private school as an alternative to public education - you are looking in the wrong place. It's a Catholic school - with huge parent involvement/commitment - checking homework, fundraising (if you know you know), participation in Mass, faith families (older kids mentor the younger). The hall is lined with all the graduates. People often write negative reviews, but check things out for yourself. I'm blessed my kids went here.

This place is terrible. The principal isn't even credentialed and openly favors certain kids over…read moreothers, prioritizing her reputation over education. She has no idea how to handle conflict, which the school is riddled with. The parental drama and complaints run her life, and it's at the expense of the children. Our sons were both under 6 and made to believe they were bad kids, basically due to being high energy. The "curriculum" is a joke, most kids can't read at grade level and the need for tutoring runs rampant. There are no checks and balances in place, and they cannot retain a teacher for any length of time to save their life. Run - don't walk - away from Jenny Bellows, the principal with no credential or leadership training, and all things St Mary. Nothing they do embodies Catholicism and it is all a poorly executed disaster. Ask around.