My children all have different personalities and needs, but they are all thriving at Aveson. We…read morelost our beautiful campus in the Eaton Fire, but we're settling in at our temporary home, co-located with Alma Fuerte Charter on the former site of Cleveland Elementary. Despite it all, our kids still love Aveson, and we're still here because the community is wonderful and we share the values of the school. Aveson focuses on social-emotional learning, project-based curriculum, and personalized mastery. In practice, what that means is things like: -- Classes that begin with a short mindfulness exercise to help kids transition into a new task. -- Time spent teaching even little ones about how the brain works, and how to process big feelings. -- An emphasis on kindness and mutual respect, in how teachers interact with students, and how students interact with each other. -- A "safe spot" (cozy corner) in each room, for kids to go to if they're having a tough time or just need a quiet moment. -- Projects that are very open-ended, that all kids can get something out of regardless where they are in their growth. All grades do a lot of writing (and/or drawing, for the little ones) and learn about editing and proofreading--always useful, regardless of your level. Grades 3-5 do Passion Projects, where kids learn about the many steps in researching a project and present on it at Celebration of Learning, the twice-a-year open house. It's really cool to see the growth from year to year as the kids better understand how to research, find cooler and cooler topics, etc. They build a lot of skills while doing something they care about. -- Small groups in the core curriculum classes (Literacy and Math), so kids can work at their level while the teacher and an aide float between groups. In a math class, it's typical to have groups working at multiple levels, ranging from extra support to working ahead. In grades 1-2, the teachers have organized reading groups that each have a dedicated aide or teacher. -- A Healthy Living class, where the wonderful and warm Ms. Arlynn teaches garden and cooking. My children will try foods in her class that they'd run away from at home. And there's nothing as beautiful as starting a school morning at a garden. -- At 2nd grade, a camping trip to celebrate moving from the younger division (TK-2) to the older division (3-5). On our old campus, the campout would be on campus, which was a thrill for the kids. This year, post-fire, a parent organized a fabulous trip to Trask Canyon instead. At 5th grade, students celebrate the end of their time at school with a trip to Catalina that was their first sleep-away trip. The kids have an incredible time and come back with a new swagger. The time since the fire has been so hard, in so many ways. A lot of families in our community lost their homes or have been displaced long-term from standing homes. Some of our families have had to leave the school because of where they've had to move, or because they needed their children back in school faster than the school was able to pivot to a new location. The school is in transition as it recovers, and I suspect it will be for years to come as we figure out where we'll be long-term. But the spirit of what makes Aveson great is still here: the classroom experience. The amazing Ms. Weinstock, in 5th grade, helped her students process the fire by creating a unit on first-person historical narratives, reading accounts of Pearl Harbor and the Holocaust, and encouraging students to write their own accounts of the fire. They wrote poetry--odes to things they lost. As a class, they kept learning while also processing and grieving together. Things like that were happening in every grade. We have phenomenal advisors and caring staff, and that means so much. If you're reading this, you're probably looking for a school, and I do agree with the negative reviews that, if you're socially conservative, you might not agree with Aveson's curriculum and culture. It's a welcoming space for a diverse community, and teaches a curriculum with anti-racism and affirmation/acknowledgment of LGBTQ+ people as some of its values. My children did have questions, and sometimes misunderstood things, but talking things out at home has always been really fun and interesting, and also something I've learned from a lot. I don't think that's age-inappropriate, however; kids are capable of learning complex things if you're willing to talk and keep talking as they grow. For me, the fact that they teach these values is something that I was hugely excited about when I learned about it, and it's a piece of why I love the community. Despite everything it's been through, it's still such a beautiful school.

I rate it 2 stars because it is understaffed, some of the teachers are extremely mean and will…read moregrade you based on their personal opinion, and not on your actual preformance in the class. The students xan also be very mean and make your life hard because theres only 15 or so people per class, and they form cliques and go against different people every week. Once you report it, nothing ever changes. The only teachers everyone loved were recently laid off, and you also dont learn much. Although, I will say, it is very easy to get good grades, but I personally dont think its worth it for your mental health. I strongly do not reccomen, maybe if there were more students & more teachers who actually cared.

I love this school. My daughter is enrolled in the Toddler program and started last year when she…read morewas 2yrs old. My daughter is very happy there - she does the full day and the aftercare program. She will be continuing this year with the same teacher. The guides are thoughtful and so experienced. I feel supported as a parent and I have learned a ton about how to interact and deal with difficult situations that come up in toddlerhood (potty training, sleep transitions, picky eating, boundary pushing, etc). It has helped me keep my sanity. Additionally, the parent community is awesome and the school events are thoughtful and fun.

Read the contract before you enroll. It's insane. There are clearly dedicated teachers but also a…read morelot of turnover. Having attended 2 of the AMI accredited preschools in the area, OKMS was my least favorite of the two.

We enrolled our child at AAM excited about the schools' arts focus and community. Unfortunately,…read moreour experience was deeply disappointing. During the school year, multiple children in the TK class were involved in incidents that were not handled appropriately by the classroom or administration. The situation ultimately resulted in a teacher facing criminal charges for "willful cruelty to child", along with documented concerns involving multiple children. As parents, it was incredibly difficult to continue sending our daughter into an environment we no longer felt confident in her safety of the school or PUSD leadership's judgment. Our concerns extend beyond one classroom or one teacher. In our experience, Principal Dr. Hill did not provide the level of leadership, transparency, or accountability we expected when seriously concerns were brought forward. We repeatedly left conversations feeling that our concerns were minimized rather than addressed directly, an dour confidence in the administration quickly eroded. Parents, teachers, and aides had all brought up concerns to the principal before the teacher's actions escalated to a criminal level. She did nothing to prevent harm coming to students. To be fair, there were a few positives. Our child loved making friends and there are caring staff members who genuinely want the best for students. However, trust is foundational and once that trust is broken, we could not justify keeping our child there. We ultimately withdrew from the district entirely. Every family's experience will be different, but I believe prospective parents deserve to know that serious concerns arose during our time there and to ask detailed questions about school culture, supervision, and how concerns are handled before enrolling.

I went to this school and, this school is very fun. For 5th grade we had many exciting activities…read more We went to Knotts Berry Farm and it was amazing! All the staff is so comforting ! The teachers are amazing and kind. The school is very diverse and lots of people fit right in. The first time I went there was fun and amazing. I fitted right in with all the students and made many friends. I hope for the best for all the students! If I was you I would definitely enroll my child!

Where do I even begin with this amazing place? IMA is truly a gift to children, parents, families…read moreand the entire community. First and foremost, the teachers are stellar! They are incredibly talented, caring, and passionate about teaching children-not only foundational academic skills like reading and math, but important life skills such as cleaning up after themselves, problem solving, independence and responsibility. I truly feel like we found a treasure in IMA. Although I am sad my first child's time there is coming to an end, I am incredibly grateful for the educational foundation he has received. I know the skills, confidence and love of learning he has developed at IMA will have a lasting impact throughout his life. Thank you, Mrs. Sollito for such an exceptional job of creating an environment where children feel safe, loved, supported and excited to learn. IMA is such a special place and we cannot thank you enough for all you have done for our children!

Our family has been part of the IMA community for the past five years, and with our youngest now…read moregetting ready for TK, it's bittersweet to say goodbye. If you're looking for a school where the owners and staff are 120% dedicated to creating a safe, loving, and nurturing environment for your children, you've found it. Their kindness, patience, and genuine passion for what they do are evident every single day, and those values naturally rub off on the children. We truly believe our kids are more kind, empathetic, and confident because of the environment IMA created. We feel incredibly fortunate that both of our children were able to attend IMA. The fact that they prioritize siblings during enrollment was also a huge blessing for our family. The teachers and staff are simply wonderful. They consistently go above and beyond, especially during the summer program. Every week is filled with exciting activities like petting zoos, magic shows, carnival days, pony rides, and so much more. You can tell how much effort goes into making each event special with all the decorations, treats, and thoughtful details for both the children and their families. As working parents, we also found tremendous value in their extended early drop-off and late pick-up hours. It gave us much-needed flexibility, and our kids genuinely enjoyed being there, even if it's past 8 hours. Having them in the same program year-round (with scheduled holidays) made life so much easier and helped keep our family's routine consistent. We also felt the tuition was an incredible value for everything the school provides. More importantly, every interaction with the staff was met with understanding, warmth, and genuine care. They always made us feel like part of the IMA family. We will truly miss IMA and everyone there. Our children were incredibly lucky to grow up in such a nurturing environment, and we will always be grateful for the love, support, and unforgettable memories they gave our family. We wholeheartedly recommend IMA to any family looking for an exceptional Montessori school. It has been one of the best decisions we've made for our children.

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.

My son intoned and he got bullied hated this school. It is very did I pointing I think they need…read moresome nicer kids in my opinion it is a little sad my son comes back crying

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.

My daughter got into Waverly via the ISA Scholarship, so if you are concerned about tuition fees,…read morethis is an option for students who have the academics to get in. She has only been there a month or so, but she has already begun to bloom as a person, which is what we wanted for her. She has the grades and the work ethic to do well at any school, but we felt Waverly was right for her because of its commitment to a progressive and inclusive community (not just the curriculum, but that's a big part of it). Kids will not be left behind if they are introverted or neurodivergent, or are from a different socioeconomic background, or a different ethnicity or are part of LGTBQ+, all of which can be factors that lead to isolation at other schools. Not at Waverly--here, they are nurtured and encouraged to develop into themselves without any sort of judgment that you'd find elsewhere. Classes are small and full of tremendously interesting material. Kids get experience with arts and literature they would never have heard of at other schools. Ok, and my daughter texts us from time to time about the long lunch times she gets; she considers that a huge plus. I have been asking the school teachers and administrators some questions on my own, and they are true experts in their fields. Anyhow, that's what we have experienced so far in a nutshell. I wish I had known about this school earlier!

I didn't think it possible for middle and high school years to be as calm & joyful as our…read moreexperience at Waverly --though fair warning: if you want your MS & HS students to have 3-4 hours of daily homework, Waverly is not the right school for you! -Small class sizes -Progressive learning (--not endless tests and excessive homework!!) -Teachers who know your kids and what they need - adapting their workload to push them at the right pace and depth of learning -Supportive engaging sports program (-not intensely competitive & exclusive) -12th graders who voluntarily hang out with 9th & 10th graders -Head of School in 2nd year making thoughtful changes -$4M donation led to buying building next door -Strong tuition assistance program -Organic farm for education and fun Our first daughter joined in 6th grade and enjoyed it so much our other two daughters joined the next year. We are in our 3rd year at Waverly and love the teachers, administrators, students & families in this community.

We love Our School! My son started here at 2 and a half, and as soon as we toured the school, my…read morehusband and I knew it was the perfect place for him. It has an old school and homey vibe that gave us a good feeling. The teachers are all wonderful and you can tell that they really love the work they do. There is a structured schedule that they stick to daily, which I think has been really good for my son. Plus, they are somehow able to get the boy to nap, which is a feat all in itself. We have also loved that they offer a swimming program in the summertime, 5 days a week: a truly immersive experience that has been invaluable to my son. They will also send you videos of your child so you can see how they progress, which I love to see. I would recommend anyone and everyone to send their child to Our School.

It's been a few years since we graduated from Our School and we are still so happy with our…read moredecision to send our daughter here. We visited recently and everyone still remembered our daughter's name and anecdotes about their time shared together. Everyone here is just so generous and loving; Im so grateful they exist in our community.