My two daughters have been at sparrow since 2021. It was such a relief to find a school that has…read morecommunity and meets criteria for education. Our teachers thus far have been caring, knowledgeable, and dependable. While the school has gone through a few changes over the years, the sparrow community continues to hold together for the kids with help of parents and staff alike. The most important thing is my children are HAPPY at sparrow. They have made true friendships, they know all the staff on a first name basis, and are learning to love learning. Waldorf education is a different kind of educational pathway, however at sparrow all concepts that are seen in public school are still met at sparrow bcuz they are a charter and state funded. They just teach it in a different way. They are not perfect and it's an uphill battle to keep this charter school functioning as a Waldorf since we still have to meet state testing, but the village it provides makes it worth while. Those looking into Waldorf education private or charter, should really work to understand what, how and why, waldorf curriculum is taught.

This school has been one big disappointment after another. I would switch but I have split custody…read moreand the father doesnt want to deal with that. My son is so far behind and they didnt tell me I went to them and told them and then all the sudden they agreed. There is absolutely no communication between facilitiy members. I've been lied to and now I've called Neda 4 times and have yet to recieve a call back. I can not recommend this school. On an educational level I knew this was not traditional but I had no idea my son would be so behind. Im having to pay several hundreds of dollars each month for tutors. I love norse mythology but I did not think that would completely take place of history. My child has not been taught about presidents or wars or anything really related to us history. I do not blame this new teacher the year just started. This whole experience for the past several years has been disappointing. ​

We feel incredibly grateful to be part of such a warm, welcoming, and enriching school community…read more From the very beginning, our family has felt supported not just academically, but personally as well. The teachers and staff truly go above and beyond to create an environment where each child feels seen, valued, and encouraged to grow. We currently have three children at the school, and each of them has had such a positive and unique experience. The balance between strong academics and character development is something we deeply appreciate. It's clear that the school is focused on nurturing the whole child, building confidence, kindness, and a genuine love for learning. One of the highlights for our family has been the musical program. Our daughters have been involved in the school musical, and it has been such a meaningful experience for them. Not only have they grown in confidence and creativity, but they've also formed friendships across different grade levels, which has been so special to see. The sense of community that comes from these programs is truly something unique. We couldn't be happier with our experience and feel lucky every day to be part of this amazing school. It's a place where children are encouraged to thrive, friendships flourish, and families feel genuinely connected.

I have only GREAT things to say about Mt. Helix Academy!!…read more My little 3rd grader has THRIVED at this school. Known to be very shy and often wouldn't participate in class, we were desperate. There wasn't ever any trouble, just no willingness to be part of school functions, class projects, and we were about to succumb to the idea that was just the way it was. No joy for school or even extra-curricular activities. Well... these teachers did amazing things!! My child is like a whole new kid. The small class sizes helped them focus on my child's needs, and the care the teachers showed made such a difference. Now my child loves school, can't wait to "try" math (it can still be hard) and is in the school play! I would have never thought this could happen. I was just looking for a place where a child could feel welcome and loved, and, oh yeah - learn. I am so very thankful that we took a chance on Mt. Helix Academy. I can't recommend them enough!

Serious Concerns Regarding Student Safety and Administrative Negligence…read more As a concerned parent, I feel it is necessary to raise serious concerns regarding the ongoing lack of safety protocols and administrative accountability at this school, where my child is currently enrolled. Over the past several months, I have witnessed and documented several troubling incidents involving not only negligence on the part of the administration but also potential endangerment of students. These include: Failure to Vet Adults on Campus: The school has allowed unauthorized adults onto school grounds without conducting proper identification or verification procedures. This has resulted in individuals misrepresenting themselves as parents and engaging in inappropriate behavior, including bullying and harassment of students and other parents. Bullying and Harassment: The school has failed to take adequate steps to prevent or address bullying. Specific individuals, including adults, have repeatedly harassed students, with incidents involving verbal threats and coercion. Despite being verbally banned from campus, these individuals were still allowed to return and continue their behavior without consequence. Involvement of Firearms: There was a reported incident involving firearms on or near school grounds, tied to individuals previously reported for misconduct. This incident was not transparently addressed with the school community, and no apparent disciplinary or legal action was taken against those responsible. Neglect of Mandated Reporting Duties: Concerns have been raised with the school about potential neglect and emotional abuse of students, including my own child. Despite these concerns being reported, the school has failed to follow up or escalate them to Child Protective Services, as required by law under mandatory reporting obligations. Lack of Transparency and Cooperation: As a legal parent, I have been repeatedly denied access to basic information such as incident reports or the opportunity to safely communicate with my child on campus. This has occurred despite involving law enforcement and having legal rights in place. Allegations made by another parent were accepted without proper investigation or due process, leading to further barriers in my involvement with my child's education and well-being. Failure to Uphold Protective Orders: The school has not enforced protective measures that are in place to safeguard students and families involved in these conflicts, further putting children at risk. Pattern of Unsafe Environment: There have been multiple incidents requiring law enforcement and school lockdowns. The frequency of such events points to a larger systemic issue in maintaining a safe and secure learning environment. What is most disheartening is that the administration appears more focused on maintaining the school's public image than protecting the students and addressing serious safety concerns. The failure to act responsibly and transparently has significantly eroded trust within the school community. While I do not wish for my child to be removed from their educational setting, it is ultimately the school's responsibility to ensure all students are safe and protected from harm--physically, emotionally, and socially. I urge the district and relevant oversight bodies to thoroughly investigate the current environment at Rolando Elementary and take immediate steps to implement meaningful reform. I have also communicated with a couple of the other parents who have been negatively impacted by the recent turn of events and encouraged them to take these concerns to the board and even take the right legal avenues to hold the school responsible. The safety and well-being of children must be prioritized above all else.

I enjoy going to this school. My teacher is Ms Campbell. The school is really nice! I've been going…read morefor 7 years now. Recommend!

We absolutely adore this school…read more We are so lucky to have an opportunity to be apart of this community. This school embraces a sense of connection and care. We feel seen in this school. The school staff reflect those that they serve. Many are people of color and have males of staff, which does not occur at all La Mesa-Spring Valley schools. We feel safe and seen in this school. Please tour it for yourself and talk with the staff and families that choose to come here. You will likely see something different than what's reflected in many of these reviews.

I went to this school in 1957 from 4th grade to 6th grade. I had both positive and negative…read moreexperiences based on the teachers I had at the time.

Both of my kids went to Murray Manor. We had great teachers and now both of my kids live in La…read moreMesa and are planning to send their children to Murray Manor

Let's just say we live out of the district and make the commute so that our children can attend…read morethis fine school. Enough said.

SMTA is a great school with excellent academics that helps instill strong Catholic Christian…read morevalues. My children have thrived here and have grown in their faith, with the connection to parish life fostering a sense of personal value and community. One of my biggest regrets in life was not moving my children to the Academy sooner. The pastors and teachers are amazing!

Don't send your innocent young children here…read more My 5yo son was I believe wrongfully removed from school.. He had never experienced pre school and never really had consistent interactions with other kids. So as school started 8/21 he had to be redirected a lot to his station and there were incidences he was struggling with transitions and shows his frustration. There were 3 times he was sent to the office and based on what happened I believe some of those cases the school over reacted. He is 5! And since school started he had been absent 1-2 days each week because he got sick and other days he got sent home. Anyone would agree my son had barely any time to really adjust. The school requested for an IEP assessment from qualified professionals who do these, as well as his pediatrician which I proceed to get set up. The worst is they made us sign a behavior plan saying if things don't get better by 10/3 (document signed 9/19) they will remove him. According to the behavior plan document date - signed by the principal and his teacher SMA provided October 3 as his next review date. Last Thursday 9/27 he was sent to the office and sent home for something I truly believe was not necessary for him to skip the rest of the class. When I picked him up from the office - and on that day during the meeting with the principal and his teacher they reinforced the written Behavior Plan document and told me there can be no further incidents as a "warning". I had kept my home Friday 9/27 to give him some time to reset and start fresh Monday. I got a call from the principal on Friday afternoon 9/27 and she told me in these words "we (her and the diocese) had a meeting and determined that (my son) is not developmentally ready for the school" and they decided he no longer needed to come to school on Monday - she used the words "developmentally ready"... my response was that she (the principal) and the diocese are not qualified to make that assessment. That should be left to the professionals which I set out to make appointments. And if the professionals do conclude that my son is completely normal for his age then that says a lot about the school - this is prejudice. I believe that decision was made in retaliation to the emails I sent on 9/26 to advocate for fairness in disciplinary actions on my son. I requested a meeting to discuss my concerns, and my son was met with removal from school. I am heartbroken for my son and very angry that this school handled this so coldly. I grew up going to a catholic school and believe me there is nothing God loving, compassionate nor kind about the principal running this school.

I was only at this school for Kindergarten and half of First Grade, and I am going into Sophomore…read moreyear this year. I remember so many things about this school, despite not attending for long. The principal was such a sweet person, the teachers (most of them) were incredibly nice and supportive, and I made friendships there that I still keep active to this day. Overall, this school really impacted the course of my life, and I'm glad I got to be a Gator. 17/10 overall.

Love this school and area! The principal is commendable…read morehe's outside directing traffic for the parents daily and continues to stay active in the school! Teachers are all so great.

My daughter attends this school and she LOVES it! And of course, that makes me happy. They're…read morefocused in great education and creating great citizens. The kids are all wonderful. Her teacher is great and the ESS Leaders are fantastic. Small, nice, SAFE and quite. Hopefully soon they'll get a cafeteria and can provide better school lunches.... ;-)

Love, love, love this school!!! This is our girls' first year at Lemon Ave and what a refreshing…read morechange from their last school. The teachers are kind and knowledgeable. The office staff are courteous and cheerful. The parents are down-to-earth and friendly. After our first week here, the kids decided they love this school and already started making new friends. We've attended two other elementary school in the past and my only regret is we didn't transfer sooner!

This is a smaller school, nestled off of Lake Murray Blvd. My son has been enrolled here for seven…read moreyears. There have been many changes over the years, but it has still managed to keep its community spirit. Due to budget cuts class sizes have gone up since he started here. They do a pretty good job though. I think it helps that it's a smaller campus. One thing I think they've done really well with is the Learning Center. Joe Malek does a tremendous job running it. He is so energetic and positive. Every school would be lucky to have a teacher like him. Maryland Ave has some really great support staff on campus. I think a lot of times people remember the teachers and might forget about all these other wonderful folks who make a huge difference in our children's lives everyday. I know early on I realized this because they ALL knew who my son was within the first few days of school. And it wasn't because he was a problem child, it was because they cared and made a point to get to know him even though he was very shy.

Love the school it's such a great place for your children to go learn and make friends.read more

I have been working as an educational consultant at GSDA for 7 years. It's not only a job for me,…read moreit's like a second home. GSDA provides an alternative T-K through 12th grade educational setting, appealing to families from all walks of life. It's amazing to watch our homeschool parents learn and refine their homeschooling techniques, and I love being a part of that experience. Our high school independent study program is amazing - students don't slip through the cracks at GSDA because the high school team knows exactly how to address the educational and emotional needs of all types of kids. It is an "everyone knows everyone" type of atmosphere. The consultants go above and beyond to make sure that all students are successful, something that is really hard to find in a traditional high school setting. Working at a small school gives all of us the opportunity to get to know each student personally. I love being able to try different curricula, projects, and teaching techniques with my families. No two kids learn in the same way, and GSDA provides a supportive environment for all types of learners. It's a great place to work!

Our daughter will be graduating this from GSDA week, and she has had a wonderful experience. After…read moreattending traditional school for many years, and not being happy there, we made the switch to GSDA when she was in ninth grade. She will be attending a 4 year university in the fall, and she feels that this would not have been possible without the support of her consultant and other teachers at GSDA. She became involved in the ASB, and she enjoyed this as well. We are very happy that we made this decision. A lot of parents don't know that there are choices out there, and that they can make a choice that might make a difference for their child's future. Every student is different, and this school makes a great effort to meet each student's needs. Good job, GSDA!