Very happy with this school. It feels safe, welcoming, and loving. Our daughter is well cared for…read moreand likes her teachers and classmates. The school has a great Christian worldview and philosophy and they challenge students well. The playground is awesome for junior kindergarten up to 2nd grade. It's spacious, has swings, slides, kitchen, a garden, grassy areas, tricycles and more! The students above 2nd grade have other play spaces which are also fun and spacious. Mrs. Freda and Mrs. Holt are fantastic leaders and have done an outstanding job with the school. Brynn at the front desk is a sweetheart and has been knowledgeable at answering all my questions quickly and with professionalism. The classrooms are beautiful and kept up looking clean and organized. Everyone has high expectations and it's amazing to be in that kind of environment. Highly recommend!

The community at The Geneva School is a welcoming community united by faith and a genuine love for…read morelearning. Students read the most influential works (offend in Latin) that have shaped human thought. They engage in socratic discussions. Their verbal reasoning skills surpass anyone you meet. The participation in small, intensive socratic seminars is responsible for this skill. They are guided by caring faculty with distinguished credentials. The Geneva School teaches the skills of deep reading, Latin, charitable discourse, excellent writing, and Singapore math. Your child will receive a holistic education that is advanced and rooted in Christ. It is a pathway to leadership.

My 13 year old twin middle schoolers are absolutely loving this Homeschool co-op. They are…read moreflourishing in their classes, excited about the field trips, making great friendships, and looking forward to continue learning new useful life skills each day. The teachers are all accredited, fun, and really know how to light up a teenager's mind. We are excited to grow with the school as they continue to expand!

Homeschool charter family beware!…read more Dina and Ernie along with creative have effectively stolen all semester charter funds when our child attended twice. When the class he was placed in was not educationally appropriate we immediately contacted them to try to work things out. I formally met with them and they came up with a plan which I presented to his charter teacher of record. Dina repeatedly ignored the teacher of record's advice and continued to push him into classes of an entirely different grade. They also charge for a full year of material fees, but will not provide any materials. They take days upon days to reply to correspondence so that they can push out the timeline of their withdrawal policy, therefore keeping extra funds and then they have the audacity of demanding more. They also completely lied to the charter when we made complaint stating that they had spoken to us on the phone when they can't even reply to an email. But don't worry you'll get all of their marketing spam and they don't have an option to opt out. This review is posted after numerous attempt attempts to try to resolve this with them. This "learning" center is truly just a "money grab" center.

We love Pathway! My daughter is in 8th grade this year and we have been going to Pathway for the…read morepast 3 years. She has blossomed and grew in her confidence and academics greatly. Such a loving and supportive community! Highly recommended to any family with kids who need alternatives to learn and grow!

Pathway School has truly been a gift and a blessing for our son…read more He entered Pathway in 5th grade after attending public school, where he struggled with ADHD, dyslexia, slow processing, and orthographia. Traditional classrooms often left him feeling frustrated and unseen, and his confidence in reading and learning continued to suffer. Since joining Pathway, everything has changed. Their personalized learning approach, combined with small class sizes and genuine care, has helped him improve his reading by four levels over just two years. More importantly, he feels seen, heard, and encouraged to embrace exactly who he was designed to be. We're especially grateful for the school's strong Christian foundation and values. Every teacher, aide, and staff member leads with compassion and a heart for these precious children. Pathway also does an exceptional job partnering with parents, offering regular, transparent communication about his growth and progress. We give Pathway our highest recommendation--it has been truly life-changing for our family.

Horrible awful school!! I would give zero starts if I could. The school has zero structure you can…read moreliterally go into the office check your child out or any child out in fact and they won't even ID you! They don't clean the school it's filthy. If you walk along the school fence you will see beer cans, cigarette boxes and trash it's disgusting. They do not properly update parents of what's going on unless it's a ESL related event when the school does not strictly have Spanish speaking students. For instance the 6th grade promotion had Spanish music playing in sorry but why are not playing music kids would know or some Sort of graduation music this isn't your Tia's backyard party. The principle absolutely should not be the principal. I've called the district multiple times to complain about how he doesn't handle things correctly. We had an incident where another student was taking my daughters glasses off daily and resulted in breaking them and the principle suggested MY daughter be removed. This school should shut down and they should rebuild this school with all new staff etc. You will have a better experience sending your child to any other school besides this one. Only good thing I have to say is about the kinder teachers they are wonderful but not enough to continue sending my student to this school. We removed our child after 1 year here.

I am attending this school and all the bad thing I remember is that a kid got his hand stuck in the…read moremiddle of to bars. one lose hit another with a rock. my leg got cut on a pole. bees formed a beehive in the middle of lunch. we found a bong at the 3-1 graders playground. The girls and boys were fighting and someone's teeth got knocked out. In another fight a kid broke his finger. And if you got sick they would give you a ice pack and tell you to go back to class. And that's all I remember while righting this.

I really wanted to love this school, but our overall experience was very disappointing…read more In my opinion, the school maintains a narrow model of 'ideal' student behavior. From what I observed, they are quick to flag children who do not fit this specific mold, often suggesting professional assessments as the primary solution for behavioral differences. I also had concerns regarding supervision. I would receive incident reports that lacked any true insight into what actually happened--situations that likely could have been prevented with better oversight and supervision. For a full year, my child was miserable and would cry every morning, dreading school. After changing his school, the transformation was immediate. Seeing my child thrive in a new environment made me realize the issue was the school. Another major concern was how feedback was communicated. On multiple occasions, teachers raised negative comments about my child directly in front of him, which is entirely inappropriate and not how concerns should be addressed. These conversations should be handled privately with parents--not in a way that can embarrass or impact a child's confidence. What was even more troubling was hearing my son's peers repeat the same language to describe him--terms I had previously heard used by his teachers. That was very telling. It strongly suggests that the language modeled by staff was being picked up and repeated by other children. Therefore, I would have to agree with the shaming and scolding reviews left by others. On a practical note for parents: avoid sending your children in any nice clothing or shoes. In our experience, new items were constantly ruined by the dirt on the playground. Overall I would not recommend this school and I recommend not to be fooled by the pretty magical environment.

My twins have been at Willowbrook since preschool and will be entering 6th grade next fall. They've…read morethrived in every way here....academically, emotionally, physically, etc. The social emotional learning they've been introduced to has been phenomenal. The minute I set foot on this campus for a tour I fell in love. The campus embodies the natural Laguna Beach spirit, surrounded by animals, beautiful trees, a creek, quaint buildings, birds, and happy kids! We've grown close to several families throughout the years thanks to all the activities held on campus. The class sizes are small which was the main reason for choosing private over public. The meals are healthy and delicious. The staff is so wonderful. The commute is 15-20 minutes from Irvine.

My son started at Oxford Preparatory Academy - SV in kindergarten and is now in first grade, and we…read morecouldn't be happier with our experience! From day one, the teachers and staff have been incredibly supportive and dedicated. The chancellor and dean personally welcome students and families each morning, which sets such a positive tone for the day. As a parent volunteer, I've had the chance to see firsthand how much care and effort goes into creating a nurturing, engaging environment for the kids. The teachers go above and beyond to meet each child where they're at, providing individualized support to make sure they can truly thrive. OPA-SV feels like a community, not just a school. We are so grateful to be part of it and look forward to many more years here!

Our daughter is entering first grade at OPA this year. Last year was our first year at the school,…read moreand we had an amazing Kindergarten and overall school experience. The amount of growth I saw in my daughter after her kindergarten year is directly attributable to her amazing teacher, the caring administration, and the involved community of staff and parents. We also see a lot of growth in her academics through nightly reading and homework assignments to reinforce the lessons throughout the day/week. We also love how the kids are exposed to music, Spanish, and Mandarin, and the offering of after-school clubs is diverse and fun (running club, board games club, debate club, gardening club are just a few). There are also a number of school events through the PTA and school throughout the year to enrich the children's' and families' experience. The fundraising done goes directly back to the children and is used to enhance the school environment. In terms of overall learning/academics, we love the theory of multiple intelligences the school uses to tailor to the individual child. Even in kindergarten, my daughter's confidence and love of learning grew through family projects, classroom projects, plays in front of parents (ABC fashion show and a kinder circus), and so much more. Im looking forward to seeing her growth this year too, and hopefully will have my son start TK there next fall! Lastly, I'd say the experience is best when students and parents get involved and work together to make it a great school - even small contributions have a big impact in a community like OPA.

We started this year in TK, so we have been in this school for about 6 months now. I have to say,…read morewe love it. Now let me just start by saying, this school is different and I truly feel lucky that we got in. Also, I have to say this school might not be attractive to every parent ok.... Please take the intake seriously, because you could be taking a lottery spot for someone who truly wants to be in a Waldorf school. How would I describe our experience so far ? If you or your kid loves the outdoors (sun, rain, moon, stars, ocean) things that grow and live in gardens, nature walks, learning how to care for Mother Earth, etc. then this is your dream school. If you or your child enjoy playtime in mud, dirt, don't lose your mind over stains, love rain boots, umbrellas, etc. then this is your dream school. If you or your child enjoy all things magical/wholesome make-believe, like fairy tears, knights, puppets etc. then this is your dream school. Ok I think you get the point :). Reminder , this is a review of my experience in the kindergarten program... where my child learned how to write her name, craft, knit, cut vegetables, set the table, do chores, sing songs, explore, pick up worms, and much more. I like and admire our teacher and her aid. They are extremely experienced and are really good with the kids. I don't need to be the teachers best friend, I just need to hear from my child that she loves her and is excellent with the kids, that's all that matters to me, and she is! The school is small, which I love, it feels old fashioned in all the good ways... like in ways that will remind you of your childhood school days. It is truly a Waldorf school, so make sure you research that and know what you are signing up for. I love it for our family, I personally couldn't imagine my child anywhere else. It's a little gem and I'm so glad it exists. Also, there are things they ask for like, no Disney/characters on clothes, no fancy nails, hair color, makeup, stuff that could be competitive/distracting and I'm sooooo grateful for that. They really want them to have this beautiful slow childhood. There are also so many resources for the parents! So if this all sounds lovely to you and your family - Best wishes and good luck on lottery day!!

My child was enrolled for TK/K for about 3 months in 2024, at which point I pulled my child…read more Journey is a bit of a co-op school that relies very heavily on parent participation for campus upkeep, festivals and volunteering - so if you enjoy being really active on a school campus, this school has plenty of opportunities. I throughly enjoyed this aspect. They are Waldorf-inspired and the festivals are charming and educational philosophy enchanting. The time spent outdoors is a gift to young children. The classrooms, or at least the TK room my child was in, was exactly as you'd expect a Waldorf classroom to be set up: low stimulus, intentional, curated to fit the rhythms of the day. The communal table and shared snack and responsibilities (my child came away loving bean soup) are things I fondly remember. But in our brief, but intense experience, this school is neither quipped nor (it seems) interested in becoming equipped to provide meaningful and impactful support to children who are different: neurodivergent, learning differences, or just struggling - even temporarily. It is a school of choice and the position of top level administration, in my opinion, is one of complete indifference in the hopes that doing nothing will get you to leave by choice. Which is what happened with us. And was likely for the best. At orientation they stressed that this school may not be for all families. But my impression is that what they are trying to convey is that it may not be a good fit for families who want, for example, a rigorous academic curriculum, or heavy technology use. What they don't say is that it may not be a good fit for families whose children may struggle - either socially or academically or behaviorally. And I think that is what they need to share. Given that this is a public charter, I'm still sort of amazed that they operate with what seems absolutely no understanding of how to identify and support students who struggle, when all other public schools have pretty typical and standard supports in place. The school also seems to struggle with bullying management - or another way said, they seem to place very low priority on intentionally supporting, in age appropriate ways, social and emotional development and guidance. I was hoping for an inclusive experience for my child but found the opposite. Between what I witnessed on the playground at drop off and what my child shared, teasing and bullying are at best ignored and at worst enabled. For such an aspirational educational program, it felt like the social and emotional development of young humans was totally absent. I couldn't put my finger on it at the time, but the only way I can describe it is it felt like the preservation of childhood was at the expense of who these kids would eventually be as adults. Two years in to attending our local public school, and watching how seriously and intentionally bullying is dealt with (conversely, how much emphasis is placed on social and emotional development and guidance) I feel some guilt for allowing my child to stay here for as long as they did. When we received a spot in the lottery we felt very lucky. The lottery is intense and the waitlists are long. We had high hopes for a positive, experiential introduction to education for our nature loving, inclusive, friendly child at the TK/K level. We committed to a commute that we would not otherwise undertake because of what it seemed to offer. In the end, our nearby public school turned out to be the fit for our child, with services and supports abundantly available when and if needed, and high levels of inclusivity, positivity and interest in the well being and development of future adults.

From the information provided by the school, this seems like one of the better charter schools in…read morethe area. Results from standardized tests show that this school produces good results, across all student demographics. I didn't get to tour the facilities, which did seem rather tired and in need of some renovations. The location and teachers seem okay, and the curriculum is thoughtfully designed.

As a student, the school doesn't provide neat education, the principal handles problems In…read moreunhelpful and rude ways, the secretary and staff are being nice in front of board members and parents but are rude to kids. The kids are bullies, I stuck with 1-2 friends for 2 years and The teacher Danielle Rynders scammed her way into becoming a full time teacher and she is just cruel. They have too much fundraisers and use that money to fund luxuries for the teacher and not spend it on renovation or learning expenses. Parents are being manipulated into thinking this school is great and there is a lottery now and 1000+ kids waiting in the line to get in. WAKE UP THIS SCHOOL IS NOT GREAT.

My younger child graduated 8th grade at VDA this summer. I agreed with everything Allison said in…read moreher previous review. As a parent of two strong STEM kids, VDA provided the best Language Arts in Orange County and was our only viable math solution after exploring all public/private options. We are deeply grateful VDA allows self-motivated students to accelerate while building a solid foundation. By graduation, my kids completed all high school math curriculum, respectively, placing into the next math level on high school placement tests. In our experience, VDA teachers are collaborative, and offer actionable guidance. Here are some details about our experience: Lower Grade Math: VDA uses Singapore Math, which I find far superior to Common Core, as an engineer. To schedule math at the exact same time across all classrooms, each elementary teacher adopts one grade level. Faster paced math learners can move up one or even multiple grade levels. This flexibility was crucial to keep my kids challenged and engaged in school math. Middle School Math: High-school Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 follow Singapore Math 6A/B. To deliver quality, two middle school instructors (math/science) plan availability outside class schedules. Regular track takes 3 years to finish Algebra 1, spending significant time introducing functions and quadratic factoring. Seeing this pace, my older child decided to move to the advanced track (one curriculum per year). Instruction occurs in 30-minute sessions 3 days/week before or after school. During regular class, students work independently or collaboratively at the back of the room. My kids adapted seamlessly. Though VDA opens doors to all rather than cherry-picking, it crafts the best possible setup given its resources. LA: look at their schedule posted online. Departmentalization tells everything. Ms VanDamme, Mrs Steele, Mr Lewis, Mr Cobra definitely built a great foundation to my kid's writing and literature analysis skills. Two Tips for Prospective Parents: Accreditation: Many public high schools do not accept unaccredited math/science credits from VDA. If returning to public school, it is an option to arrange accredited coursework through another institute. VDA accommodates, but plan ahead. No-Homework Policy: Great for reducing daily friction, but can hide learning gaps. We supplemented 30 minutes of competition math at home for math modeling training and study habits, plus 15 minutes of daily reading outside of class reading assignments to cultivate a lifelong reading habit. I will miss the Friday morning coffee tradition with other parents and all the teachers who are more of mentors in enlightening my children's education. Thank you.

As parents, we all seek the best educational and developmental environments for our children…read more After 3 years in public school, we realized that both of our kids were getting lost in the large classes and needed a small school environment to thrive. We sought out a school that with small classes, stimulating curriculum, engaged teachers, and a supportive social environment. Vandamme Academy has exceeded on all levels - and we only wish we had enrolled sooner! The small classes and overall school environment are what first brought us to Vandamme. We love that each grade level has only one class with roughly 15 students. The homeroom/subject matter class structure makes a huge impact in that it allows students to form relationships with multiple adults (and role models) at school. As we approach the end of our first year at Vandamme, we have seen how much maturity and confidence our kids have gained through these relationships. It is also clear that the teachers truly get to know each student's learning style, personality, strengths, and areas of need. The rigorous academic program is thoughtfully designed by Ms. Vandamme and the teaching staff in a way that challenges and inspires students. We love that the teachers specialize in subjects that they are passionate about. In doing so, they pass on their interest onto the students, so that students become interested and engaged in each subject. Just last week, I was blown away when my fourth grader asked to go to the library for books on Shakespeare's works. Beyond academics, we love Vandamme's positive and inclusive social environment. Students seem to come from diverse backgrounds and neighborhoods throughout our county, and the school staff does a great job of modeling kindness, inclusion, and respect. I've had the privilege of volunteering at two school events and chaperoning one field trip this year. In all instances, I've been so impressed with how responsible and respectful all of the students are. The food is also wonderful! While we don't order hot lunch every day, my kids always look forward to Chef Faustino's healthy and delicious creations. We are so grateful to Ms. Vandamme and the entire staff for providing a learning environment that not only enables ours kids to excel academically, but also build character and confidence.

I went here in the late 70's , great teachers & staff, from the Los alisos Jr high, wow memories,…read more anyone else went to Cresent bay in the summer

This school and the staff members here are so awesome. My son has been attending speech therapy…read morehere for the last year, and he LOVES going. He talks about his teachers all the time! The speech therapists here are SO kind and friendly and really work with him in a FUN way. He's improved his speech so much, that he met his yearly goal a few months early! Thank you so much Miss Robyn and Miss Heather and the other loving therapists that have been working with him. You guys are the best!