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.

An exclusive private school. The school provides high quality education for Pre and Elementary…read morelevel up through middle school. They offer bilingual Mandarin preschool. Impressive. You may set up an appointment with the school head to tour the facility. They have their own parking lot.

An amazing school filled with the best teachers around. The school does have a new name Mary W…read moreJackson STEAM multilingual elementary school. The playground is gorgeous.

My daughter just started Kindergarten here. She's speaking Spanish! Her teacher rocks! She has pull…read moreout science lab on Wednesdays! Computer lab on Wednesdays! Gardening class! New elaborate play equipment is getting put in from a grant they just got! Exciting stuff going on over there, thrilled to be a part of it. I'm a teacher myself, have been teaching for 8 years around Pasadena, in public and private schools, and Jackson is a GREAT contender. Parents in Pasadena should invest in our public schools. They only get stronger when strong parents and students join the community and commit to making it a great place by investing their time, opinions, money and resources. The private schools around Pasadena make a strong economic line in our city that can often breed inequalities. Ponder it. Jackson is great.

Like so many parents in the Pasadena area researching private schools, we did alllll the tours. We…read morehadn't heard much about Saint Mark's and always assumed from the name that it would lean heavily religious, which wasn't something we were looking for. We also didn't like that it ended at 6th grade (something we later decided was actually a plus). Toward the end of the touring season we decided to stop in simply because it was close to our work. I am not exaggerating when I say we walked out of that little school under the shady pine trees like "this is The One". Coming from a strictly play-based non-academic preschool, we really wanted to continue letting our kids be kids, learning through play and curiosity. But we also knew we wanted them to be challenged academically. And not to sound boastful but we have nice kids; we wanted them surrounded by other nice kids. I didn't want my kids to lose their sense of just being nice, kind humans. What we found at Saint Mark's was a balance that really worked for us. Academics are strong, learning is hands-on and meaningful, and the kids are still excited. Their teachers clearly care about them. The kids are happy. And nice. Polite and well spoken. During the tour, they looked like they were having a good time being at school, laughing, joking with friends at lunch, singing on the way back from recess. Overall we've been really happy since enrolling. We are now in our third year here. Watching what they do, even in Kinder, has been impressive. They have Writer's Workshop and write diary entries about their Halloween class pumpkin decomposing in a tub for months. In another unit, they raised tomato hornworms we brought in from our garden and watched them transform into hawk moths, documenting the whole process. For Valentine's, I offered to drop off homemade pink play-dough to our worldly first graders (an homage to my pre-k co-op years), assuming they'd say the kids were too old. Instead, they embraced it with rolling pins and cookie cutters. The teachers are so special and genuinely know each kid as an individual, even across grade levels. Small groups in the classroom let kids learn together at the same level, wherever that may be. When my DK-er had a rough start to the school year, his teacher rearranged the daily schedule to help him feel comfortable/safe and wrote me daily emails of his progress. And speaking of progress, I never expected that it would be normal for a progress report from his teacher to include a personalized letter detailing his personality, strengths, leadership, character... It was just so unexpected and thoughtful. I'll admit that when we enrolled, I was focused entirely on academics, student/teacher ratio, kind teachers, diversity, outdoor space, and letting kids be kids. While Saint Mark's checked all those boxes, I didn't realize how special the community would be. They interviewed us as parents and not just our kids, which felt like they care about building a community of families with the same values. (I joke that I would vacation with almost any of these families, and we could definitely get through a zombie apocalypse together) Socially, there are grade-level parent parties in the Fall so you can get to know the other families, sans kids. There are events like the Fall Fest with petting zoos and bounce houses and bake sales and confetti eggs, there are potlucks and picnics, book fair, hikes. There is an annual gala fundraiser where parents can let loose for the night, as well as smaller socials that make it easy to build friendships. There are ways to be ON campus: classroom jobs and PA positions and many ways to give time/talent/donations. You can sign up to stuff red envelopes for Lunar New Year or hand out hot lunch on campus and spy on your kids while they eat. After the fires we did consider relocating. And while it may seem unusual to be temporarily housed on another campus, our kids do get to use the beautiful outdoor spaces, fields, gym and basketball court at EF. What I was initially worried about has become somewhere the kids love to be. We did still have moments of doubt about relocating or not. Ultimately Saint Marks was a big factor in our decision to stay. I know it's wild to think elementary school is what kept us from jumping ship, but we stayed in the Pasadena/Altadena area because of this school. Our kids love it and we love it for our kids. We plan to remain living locally through sixth grade because of the school, and probably longer after hearing where the 6th graders matriculate to. We're really looking forward to the rebuild. We feel incredibly lucky that we found this small, somewhat under-the-radar school almost by accident. It's hard to explain how great the culture is here until you walk through the classrooms and campus and talk to some of the students, parents, and faculty. Like any school it won't be the perfect fit for everyone but for our family our experience has been very very positive.

Dear school seekers, Ultimately we chose Saint Mark's for…read moreour children because it displays balance- we see both modern ideas surrounding whole-child social emotional culture with a more traditional classroom/academic load and structure. Saint Mark's has true authenticity when it comes to role-modeling what community means for our children. The Episcopal elements of school feel universally welcoming to all. As a multi-racial family, we feel very at home with Saint Mark's where DEI is not a department, an option, or a fad but a natural part of the school's identity. When we chose the school we were intentionally seeking academic rigor for our kids; and because the school embraces differentiated learning groups, we know our kids will get what they need in all subjects. The children have lots of movement throughout their day with a wide variety of subjects to explore. The school maintains boundaries with being responsible, respectful, and safe which allows all the students to take risks and lean-in knowing they have a foundation of structure and support behind them. I have noticed our children's imaginations have been flourishing due to their time at school. The teachers are joyful and friendly which invites a warmth. The parent-community is strong (and fun) which is deeper than a good time when we realize we are showing our student-body what it looks like to work-together and create something bigger that everyone can enjoy. The leadership prioritizes modern changes to education while keeping the jump-ropes and math text books in close reach. To open a new campus about six weeks after the Eaton Fire is a true symbol of how strong the community is. Come and tour! All the best, Melissa

Two of my three kids attend Altadena Arts Magnet currently and they're doing exceptionally well…read more The quality of the teachers, the involvement of the parent community, the support for the arts and foreign language, and the music, dance, garden and theater programs have truly enhanced my sons' lives. The principal, Dr. Hill goes above and beyond to make sure the kids have a good experience. I am so glad we chose this school for our kids.

Context for 2026: While some residents expressed concerns about campus conditions following nearby…read morefire damage, it remains a key PUSD arts program site. Note that Eliot Arts Magnet Academy is a separate, nearby middle school with a similar focus.

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

What remains of the school after the Eaton Fire. Taken on two different days. Now the lot is…read morecleared of all the buildings, just some playground equipment remains.

I recently took a tour of Loma Alta Elementary. Principal Yure was very frienndly and informative…read more I work in the education field myself and was very pleased with this school and teaching I observed. My daughter will be attending Loma Alta next school year. I want to encourage all of my neighbors in Altadena to put their faith back into their neighborhood schools. If nothing else, go on a tour for yourself. The more we get involved, the better the school will be.

Love Elliot magnet such a great middle school love the Art program suggested to anyone looking to…read morego to middle school.

My son is in 6th grade and, as he is an artist, is learning so much from, not only his art and…read moredrama classes, but from the after school conservatory. He is taking two fine art/drawing classes, stop motion animation, and graphic design. As I have no artistic talent, he is getting much needed direction, support, and encouragement. In addition, he is getting strong core curriculum instruction. The conservatory, along with the Capturing Kids Heart program, have created a vibrant, kind, calm, and enriching environment for students to learn.

Amazing school and the teachers show respect this school gives off a warm energy. So excited for…read morethe middle school to open next year.

My 3rd grade son absolutely loves Crestview. We can't wait to enroll our two younger ones. The…read moreteachers are all so invested in the students. They don't just hand you a stack of papers for the parent teacher conference. They sit down with you for an allotted one on one meeting and provide full detailed info regarding their academic progress and any social hurdles that have been observed. The Head Of School Mrs. Taylor knows every single student. She advocates for each child. You will see her in car line every morning waving to the students as they walk in. She even hosts an annual Coffee with all the parents for each grade level to help parents prepare for the new academic year and to educate us on new developmental changes that will occur as they go into a new year. Her administration team is so accessible. There's also parent education night hosted throughout the year with great speakers and highly trained individuals in education who come on campus to share insights, thoughts and answer questions for parents. We couldn't be happier here. My son wakes up every morning so eager to go to school. This is the BEST school in La Cañada.

I never write reviews but I wanted to include my experience. The principal is a loving individual…read morewhose personality positively impacts the school environment but she needs to be more organized and skilled as an administrative educator. She lacks the knowledge and skills to manage the learning environment including teachers, student issues, and special student needs. The small class size seems appealing but quickly you realize that many of the teachers are still overwhelmed and unable to meet the educational needs of the students. My opinion was validated by several other parents. I would investigate the school and your needs very, very carefully before sending your child there. Our educational experience was substandard.

This school is terrible. If your child is disabled don't send them here. I was told my son isn't a…read moregood fit and needs to go somewhere else. No inclusion terrible

We feel our school is family. The teachers and staff are caring, helpful and all about the students…read moreand their learning. They express and help educate students in entrepreneurs. My granddaughter started in kindergarten and now in second grade. She has done great and still achieving. They have cheerleading, culinary, flag football, a basketball team, gardening, ect. The principal is a very hard worker who has students, staff, parents in concern as we work together for our students. I'm so thankful my daughter was introduced to the school because aa a grandmother I was and will always be concerned about my granddaughter education. We believe it takes a village and Alma Fuerte is a good village beside a village with fry. I will stop now but.....

Lousy school. Lacking in so many ways. Poor leadership, unruly students and administration not…read moredoing a thing about it.