We have been at Red Hill Lutheran for 6 years now, and want to share our positive experience as we are in our last school year. The teachers truly care about the kids and it shows. Our daughter's math teacher even holds evening Zoom reviews before tests on HIS OWN TIME to answer any questions they may have just to help the kids feel prepared. I mean, who does that?! It honestly means so much to his students and us parents. The front office team know our names, and greet us the minute we walk into the office. The Admissions Director remembers every birthday, every detail about each student, and always makes you feel like you are a priority. My daughter used to get so anxious and shy when she was in elementary school. The school nurses and receptionist would stop what they were doing to make her feel comfortable, and she was always able to take a break and then go back to class when she was ready. They didn't have to take their time to make her feel secure and loved, and they always did. The school has gone through a lot of positive changes this year, and we've really seen everyone step up and make great improvements focusing even more on the students well being. As our time here comes to a close, we will so miss this group of people. We will especially miss morning car line drop off which is a line of welcoming hugs from her previous teachers. read more

Just ok & good to find parking. Big for service but other rooms for bible study or Sunday school after is not welcoming to me nor my friend. Lack of fellowship to show. Nice to have events listed in brochure. A lot of mess they show. read more

Red Hill Lutheran School - Elementary Schools Near Me - Tustin, California

A school once hummed with hopeful song, Where laughter echoed bright and long. Each classroom held a vibrant spark, A beacon shining through the dark. Then came a voice that spoke with pride, But left compassion cast aside. Commands replaced the open ear, And trust gave way to doubt and fear. The staff who gave their hearts each day Found kindness slowly stripped away. Families seeking common ground Met walls where warmth could not be found. A leader's title filled the door, Yet leadership was something more. It lives in listening, lifting high, In seeing hope in every eye. The light that made the school unique, The joy in every smile and cheek, Grew faint beneath a heavy hand That could not truly understand. But even when the halls seem gray, And brighter days feel far away, A school's true heart is people still-- No single shadow breaks their will. For lights once dimmed can shine anew, When led by those whose hearts are true. And hope, though quiet for a while, Returns with every child's smile. read more

Can't say enough good things about RHLS. We have two daughters ages 3,5. Both girls started in the Pre School tiny tots class, our oldest is now in Kinder and youngest is in Pre-K. All staff that we have encountered is great, from teachers aids, teachers, Ms. Lori the admissions director is so warm and welcoming, to the amazing principal Dr. Marquardt- you can tell they all have a love for children and serving God. Our daughters love the school. The pre school program is great, we did the three day option for our girls. Love that we could choose that to ease them into school life. We are just starting our school journey with our girls but feel so happy that we chose RHLS, happy to be a part of this community! read more

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As a former student at Redhill lutheran, my experience here can be described in two words, living hell. Let's start with the school building, the school bathroom were in HORRIBLE conditions, if you were to bang the door a little bit harder, then it would just swing right open. The gaps between the bathroom stall and the wall were wide enough, if I were to just have the bathroom door open, it would make no difference. The volleyballs that were present were always in bad condition and there was only two good volleyballs that were always used but its okay, we can always just buy new basketballs to make up for it instead. When I was a middle schooler, we were not allowed on the swings because as the staff said "we were too big for it." Some of the elementary students are heavier than the 6th graders so it's just an excuse to say you don't want to use the money for playground equipment. The school has a tone of money donated to them because students are buying snacks, free dress pass, tickets for dances, and where does that go too? Well the answer is definitely not to the teacher's salary. The staff here are like a coin, its a 50/50 that the teacher will be good or bad. We had a stem teacher who I will not be naming who genuinely loved the students here and always used his own money to buy ice cream and snacks for the students. He always thought of fun activities for us, even for the 8th graders because he knew how tough the homework and studying can be. One day, we all got emails saying that he wont be teaching at Red hill anymore and students broke. Many cried and were upset, we all never got to say goodbye or thank you. This showed extremely poor decision making of the school and caused so many kids to be heartbroken. Some staff were extremely rude to us, some were extremely impatient with us and some would actually gossip with the students about others which is extremely immature. When my friend joined the volleyball team to practice a new skill and have fun, she genuinely looked drained every time I saw her at school because the coaches always picked favourites with the girls who already had experience and would always punish the girls who were new by making them run laps or punishing the whole team, causing the girls to hate their teammates, not support them. Not only are stuff rude but the kids. One time, my classmate was changing in the bathroom for P.E and a student kicked down the door while they were still changing. (this also circles back to the bathrooms being in bad condition) Did they get in trouble? No. Coming back to my experience, once I was doing homework in the bathroom because I had a pretty tight schedule and some kids who were just trying to go on their phones called us fatso because my friends and I were in a stall and taking our time. The students here can be really mean and I feel like we don't have any teachers who are really caring about it, just a warning and thats it. If you think students and staff being mean and gossiping isn't that bad, just wait until you here who else does it. The principal (who I will not be naming) There was an incident where one of the parents got an email sent to them about the principal and staff gossiping about a student's financial and mental situation. This is EXTREMELY unprofessional and so out of line. I can see where the rudeness stems from now. Another issue with the bullying is race, with students being 80% white, they feel more superior than the others. We had white students saying the N word and mocking asians. Some students would report this to staff and nothing would happen. All the students who were faced with racism would just have to suck it up. A boy stretched his eyes out at my friend and told her, "do I look like you now?" My friend tried to stand up for herself and guess who got in trouble instead. If you said the racist classmate, you would be wrong. If you are a parent or guardian who is wondering about the education, I wouldn't go here. Every day felt like hell and it was more about how much longer until class is over and not how much information can I understand and learn to improve until class is over. I had nights where I cried because I felt so burnout and unmotivated because the education system is more about getting the higher letter on your paper instead of learning about the subject to get a high grade. Most students used AI to make their learning experience easier and honestly, I don't blame them at all. If you think a student writing this shouldn't be something to be taken seriously and is just some teenager who's being overdramatic, we had two other former students who written one star reviews, students leaving before school even ends, the amount of people who left red hill staff is 7 (probably because of really low salary.) Yes I can understand that Redhill has so many opportunities like an 8th grade DC trip or the science pig dissection that can help students become future surgeons but was it really worth all the pain. read more

My wife and I have been fans of Redhill Lutheran School (RHLS) since we sent our kids to this school. I've got a 7th grader and a recently graduated 8th grader. They've been with RHLS since they were 4 years old. (I miss that age). I can tell you that my daughter was well prepared for her next phase of education and my son is thriving as a middle schooler. What I love most about RHLS are the staff and teachers. From the leadership down to the maintenance crew, they love God and they care about my kids. Look ... no school is perfect ... and parents are demanding ... but having researched all the public and private school options around Irvine/Tustin, I can tell you that we've made the right choice. From the small classroom sizes to the Christ-centered approach to teaching. I like the fact that what we're learning on Sunday matches up to what my kids are exposed to Monday thru Friday. If you believe in bringing Biblical values as a part of your home and your family's upbringing ... then look no further. read more

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RHLS has been a blessing to our family. We have seen our daughter grow and learn in new and exciting ways. The teachers and staff are dedicated to each child and we have felt that first hand. Our daughter is so loved and cared for by her teachers and the communication we receive is clear and helpful in creating the best educational experience for her. The lessons and creativity teachers use to integrate differentiation to meet all learning levels is something RHLS does at an exceptional level. We love the leadership and the way the school is run; from the open arms and welcoming smiles to start each day to the fun sincere goodbyes at the end of each day. We feel RHLS is the best place for our daughter and would highly recommend RHLS to any family looking for a school with a safe atmosphere, high quality lessons, and faith based whole hearted education. read more

My daughter attended this school for 8th grade and I wish we enrolled her sooner. She had a wonderful experience here with her peers and much of the loving staff. She was academically challenged and extremely well prepared for high school. This school excels with small class sizes, passionate teachers, very responsive and thoughtful administration and a wide range of elective classes that are not found at other local private and public schools (i.e. choir, journalism, Spanish, music, home economics, school trips, sports, etc). My daughter attended both a local public TUSD school and another local parochial private school before we enrolled her here. Additionally, I did comprehensive site visits and interviews at 8 private school in the Tustin/Orange area and this school topped our list. We were very happy to be part of the Red Hill Lutheran school community. read more

Our family loves Red Hill Lutheran School! My older son attended when he was 3 & 4 years old. Ms. Lori Brown is the administrator director and is so sweet and remembers everyone's name. All of his teachers were so caring, loving, and patient with him. They prayed before lunchtime, sang praise songs, and had chapel every week. I'll cherish the memory of him randomly singing praise songs while doing crafts at home and the joy it brought me. As a parent, you are required to volunteer which is nice to be welcomed and included. A bonus for me was all the wonderful mom friends I made that shared my faith and values. The pick up line can be long and intimidating, but I recommend parking in a nearby street and walking. As soon as my younger son was 3 years old and potty trained, we knew without a doubt he would also go to Red Hill Lutheran School and he is loving it so far. I highly recommend to all Christian families. read more

For a school that claims to be all about love and Christian values, we were treated very poorly during the application process for my son. As soon as they heard he had an IEP (for speech) and needed a little more attention (the entire reason we wanted to move him to a private school), they said they did not have the resources for him. It was cold and abrupt. I would have been fine if they had been nicer in their rejection. Very disappointing. read more

Thank you so much, RHLS--our children have felt so welcomed, cared for and encouraged from Day 1!! We are so thankful for this nurturing and vibrant community. With joy and gratitude read more

A private school was never in our plans for our children's education. However, when it came time for our oldest to attend Kindergarten, we looked at our local public school and decided that we wanted more for her education. Red Hill Lutheran School checked all the boxes we were looking for : music program, Spanish classes, arts, PE, small class sizes, rigorous education, and a close knit community. A bonus for us was a Christian centered education. Our plan then became to stay for 2 years, so our daughter can get a good reading foundation down, and then we will transfer her. Well, the transfer never happened. Each year, we re-evaluated our plan and loved how she was growing, not only academically but spiritually. She had a strong peer group, and we loved her friends' families too. The time came to think about middle school. I wanted to send her to the local middle school, however our daughter had other ideas. She persuaded us to keep her at RHLS, and we are so glad we listened to her! Their middle school program fully prepared her for high school. Her teachers had a strong rigorous curriculum that sent her into high school above everyone else. Not only are these students prepared academically, but they are given many opportunities to be effective presenters, performers, and leaders. We've had such a wonderful experience with our oldest, that we no longer need to re-evaluate our plan for our other children year after year. We love the well-rounded program our children are receiving. The teachers are caring and nurturing, the academics are rigorous, the music program is amazing, and we love the Christian education. Our children feel safe, loved, and happy. We've experience all the levels, from preschool through 8th grade, and this school has everything you could possibly want for your child. So glad we listened to our hearts when it led us to Red Hill Lutheran School. read more

I have heard great things about this school, but I never got to experience it because the office stopped emailing me back regarding new enrollment as soon as I mentioned my son has high functioning AUTISM. I think that speaks for itself and i would never want my son or any of my kids to attend a school with staff like that. read more

This preschool charges tuition for two months up front and says there is NO refund.  Even the lowest rated fitness clubs don't do that.  This evil church school took 840 dollars from us.  I have a feeling that these people are more focused on money than caring for kids. If parents don't volunteer certain set hours, you have to pay extra for not volunteering, which adds hundreds of dollars to the total cost. Their greediness starts with a very high registration fee, which is more than 300 dollars.  Of course, this is not refundable too!!   This school seems to focus more on brain washing your kids about jesus and god than any other faith based schools.  It is too much for little ones. I would stay away if you want to protect your hard earned money from this money hungry school.  If there is god, I pray that it does NOT bless this school! read more

I have four children. Two go to the Elementary School and the other two go to the preschool. This is our 2nd year at RHLS and it has been life changing. We came from public school, a public school that I did love, however, I had no idea what I was missing until I made the change to RHLS. My kids have grown spiritually, academically, and their overall kindness and love has blossomed. I credit the amazing teachers, staff, overall program, and incredible principal. In public school my kids were a number, the teachers did not KNOW my kids, the classes were too big. During parent teacher conferences, I would get an assessment of how my kid was doing compared to the rest of the class, get some of their work shown and then it was over. My experience with parent teacher conferences at RHLS the first year there brought me to tears because the teachers KNEW my kids! They knew their personalities, how to teach them, what gets them excited to learn, how to navigate their strengths and weaknesses. They truly create lifetime scholars, and the kids are challenged to push their abilities (my two older boys are in GATE math) however, it is so much more than academics, they are and can show us parents how they nurture their hearts, how they celebrate character. It makes me cry just writing this knowing my kids are so well taken care of loved there. The preschool teachers are wonderful! They LOVE the kids so much! They spend so much time on their daily "FUN" creating a magical place for the kids to learn, thrive and PLAY! They structure it just enough to teach kids routine but allow for fun and play and new discoveries. I had planned on my preschoolers to only attend 3 days a week but my kids begged and cried to go everyday they were not there! That is how much they love it. I call this school the unicorn school! I am forever grateful my kids get the opportunity to attend! I feel blessed that we are part of such an incredible community. read more

We have several friends who have been at RHLS for years and raved about the school, so we felt comfortable sending our son for their transitional kindergarten class, and I'm so happy we did. We have only had positive experiences at RHLS, from the point of admission/enrollment with Ms. Lori, to now with the teachers and all of the families in my son's class. His teachers are outstanding - I could not have asked for better caregivers and teachers this year. They are so positive and welcoming and truly love the students. It's been amazing to see his confidence grow throughout this year. I cannot recommend RHLS enough! read more

My daughter attends Red Hill Lutheran and it has been an incredible experience. She has thrived here academically, spiritually and emotionally. Also, the music program is unparalleled and won't be found anywhere else! I am grateful for the staff and amazing leadership. The principal and admissions director are the best! read more

I went to this school years ago, the education here is okay but the teachers don't quite teach as much as you think. However, most of the students will ignore you if you don't think the same way they do. Most of the kids there are bratty and are able to get away with almost everything. For example, there have been a few incidents where the students would tell on me for no reason and two students were fighting in the halls and no one did anything about it. This school also has tons of money but none to fix the bathrooms or do some remodeling but would rather spend it on things such as ASB and a small area of field. If you could pick any school in Tustin I suggest this one should be last pick. read more

I'm selfishly hesitant to write this review, as RHLS has proven to be a hidden gem for our family. This is not your traditional OC private school where affluence and pomp are on showcase each day at the pick up line. This school has depth & authentic, talented staff who show incredible love & care for our childten. RHLS is a place where Christian character is fostered & Christ is valued above all else. I had a concern about something during our first year & the amazing Principle, Dr. Marquardt, encouraged me with wise advice. He reminded me that the school implements the Matthew 18 biblical model related to working through concerns or conflicts. Although I didn't want to, I went to the person I was concerned about and we had a great outcome. This same approach is taken amongst the students and surprise, it works to foster healthy relationships. God's Word is lived out, not just preached at this wonderful school. The fruit of that is good and evident. The academics are excellent but appropriate and the supplemental character building is priceless. Our daughter received a Christian character award at school last week for being a peace maker. It meant so much that we aren't just at a school that values head knowledge but wholistic, authentic growth in all areas. Spiritual, mental, physical & emotional health are all valued and it shows. Lori and so many others brighten our day each day with their smiles & authentic love. We are grateful for this school and pray God uses it to bless many families & the staff. read more

This school is truly amazing. My husband and I toured 5 separate private schools in the area and as soon as we met Lori and the rest of the faculty we were in love! The teachers really care about your children's entire well being. They care about their spiritual health, their academic health, their social and emotional health, and their physical health. Best of all, Jesus is taught and I have seen my daughter grow in her relationship with Jesus. Thank you Red Hill Lutheran! read more

I cannot say enough great things about this school. I feel so incredibly lucky and grateful to be part of a the community at Redhill Lutheran. My two boys have been going there since Kinder and I have seen them blossom intellectually, in their faith and socially. The staff is wonderful, the teachers truly care for the students and the community of families have become a family outside of the school. Do yourself and your kids a favor and invest in their education, check out the school you will never look back. read more

I can't say enough to describe how amazing this school has been for my kids and our whole family. As a husband of a public school teacher, I was hesitant to pull my kids and enroll in a private school. Let me say, it was the best decision for our entire family. Our kids are thriving, the teachers are incredible, and the staff works hard to build a community where everyone feels like family. My children love all the opportunities that public school does not provide (performing arts, music, robotics, STEM, Spanish, PE, school sports teams, family events, etc). It is worth every penny and we look forward to the growth, learning and memories we will create as a family throughout our time at RHLS. I can't recommend this school strongly enough. read more

I am very thankful for this school! They are doing a fantastic job educating my son. Thank you Red Hill Lutheran School!!!

I absolutely LOVE this school! It has been an answer to so many prayers! The principal and staff are wonderful and involved! They know every kid and family--they are so helpful and welcoming! My kids hear about Jesus AND experience His love and grace every day at this school! I'm so grateful for RHLS!! read more

Excellent school, excellent teachers and staff, very supportive family environment. We have been here for three years and I have loved it. I also toured 6 other schools in the area but felt Red Hill Lutheran had the most to offer in terms of enrichment while living Christian values. The director has a magical way of welcoming each and every child and family by name--not only does she remember everyone's name, but she remembers grandparents and nannies' names who help with pickup and drop off. My son loves his time at RHLS and his little brother can't wait to begin once he turns 3. I highly recommend checking out Red Hill and speaking to some of the parents if you are looking for a school community that is loving and kind. read more

We have two children at Redhill Lutheran School (kinder and 2nd), both of which have been there since preschool. My entire education history was public schooling while my wife had a combination of public/private. The thinking was to go public for the 2020/2021 school year, but Covid hit, and we were going to home school the kids this fall. What changed was RHLS decisiveness about getting back to in-classroom learning. RHLS has always encouraged parent involvement, with parents being active in the various activities on campus, but this past summer the school really did its part to engage parents on their preference about learning options for students. RHLS conducted surveys, solicited feedback on school reopening approaches, and shared feedback the school received from local health and education authorities. Parents were part of the process in identifying Covid education unknowns, and in the end, RHLS felt it could reopen and get kids safely back on campus. The school puts safety at the top of the list, but it did not start with Covid. They have always had stringent parent drop-off and pickup policies, keyfob entry, and a robust buddy system for the kids when moving throughout the school, to name a few. During Covid, they added all the proper PPE (personal protective equipment) and screening protocols, constantly disseminate information to parents about what is occurring on campus, engaged with community health leaders, and have modified parent on-school procedures. All of this at the expense of the school to ensure it is safe for the kids. RHLS is rock solid when it comes to safety and Covid procedures. But beyond child safety and parent engagement, the learning atmosphere is second to none. While these are my personal opinions on RHLS, we did tour three other schools in the area, and I can say definitively that the frequency by which RHLS sends kids to classes like STEM, foreign language, etc., is more than any of the other schools when we toured them at the time. Our two kids are excited to go to school every day and love learning, and I love the fact that the school supports learning through hands-on experiences instead of just using the iPad. I could have written a review about RHLS a couple years back, but this year the timing could not be better to post about our experience. The entire staff, custodians, office personnel, administrators, aides, and teachers go above and beyond to ensure your child succeeds and makes you part of RHLS community. read more

Is it the policy of this school not to keep a parent in the loop as to how his kids are doing in school or to even contact him as to the lesson plan for the year or a parent teacher conference even over the phone? How about even checking on him during a difficult time? This school pretends to have Christian values but trust me a Christian value to them only means money. I will post an image of me asking my son's teachers how they are doing in school and their response or lack of one. read more

We came to RHLS in sixth grade from a public school system and it has truly been a wonderful experience. The teachers and staff are so giving with their time, attention, prayers, support, and so much more. We feel truly blessed to have our child at RHLS. The middle school program is top notch and the education she is receiving is phenomenal. Even in this crazy time(Covid distance learning) , she is thriving. She's excited to learn, excited to come to class, even if it's on zoom at the kitchen table. RHLS has gone above and beyond to make sure our kids are engaged and learning during this tough time. She has grown leaps and bounds this year, not just academically, but personally as well. We could not be happier here. read more

If I could put 0 stars I would. The preschool teacher made my daughter sleep on top of the doormat at the front entrance/door of the classroom everyday for nap time(like a dog). I brought up how unsanitary this is and the teacher dismissed my concerns. I also asked 3 times for them to move her to a separate location as I don't feel comfortable with my daughter sleeping on top of the dirty doormat(where parents and kids and teachers wipe their muddy shoes after it rains), and where all the foot traffic is, the teacher refused all 3 times and even had the audacity to say that I have no authority to have my daughters nap spot moved since I'm not in charge of their classroom. I then emailed the director and she did not even apologize for this, but said she is sorry that I am taking my daughter out of their school, they did not admit that what they did was wrong and they did not take responsibility or ownership for what they did. She also lied and said that they could have accommodated my request to move my daughter into the classroom into another spot(the teacher refused 3 times). I am disappointed in how they treat my daughter and how disrespectful they are to the parents as well. Not to mention having my daughter sleeping in front of the front door is fire hazard, so goes against all safety regulations. Very upset about this, so called Christian school. Please don't send your children to a school where Christ is preached but not lived out read more

My son went to RHLS for nine years and just started high school this year. He is gifted especially in mathematics. RHLS advanced him a grade at our request and he is in trigonometry his first year in high school. I can't say enough about their willingness to respond to our situation. Not allowing him to become bored is always our dilemma and RHLS handled it nicely. Perhaps the best testament I can offer is when the schools were shut down for the pandemic on a Friday evening. The staff worked all weekend to set up everything for virtual classrooms and had the kids come in for half day on Monday to get familiar with the new online learning. Tuesday they were in virtual classrooms. Unlike public schools they never missed a beat. My son is excelling in his first year in AP classes and says he already learned a lot of the material at RHLS. I can't possibly thank the staff enough for the experience we had there. Money well spent! read more