We have been at this school since my son was in 1st grade and my daughter started Kindergarten. It…read moreis truly a special and unique school. My son particularly loves learning about animals and the ocean, and there is a Nature Studies class offered, taught originally by Mary and now Nathan. Both excellent! They learn not only about animals, but ecosystems and plants. My daughter told me the other day that they are growing things in the outside garden and making salads from what they grew that they actually get to eat! We have been pleased with all of their teachers so far, but my son's 4th teacher Alexa really stands out. She is vibrant, engaged, and kind, and I can tell genuinely interested in the students and eager for them to learn. My son is sad to see this year come to a close because he has enjoyed the year so much. He has generally not been one to seek out opportunities to lead but Alexa has trusted him to do that, and I can tell it has boosted his confidence. My daughter's teacher this year for third grade is Adrienne. My daughter loves her. She said she is so patient and kind, but she get's the kids to learn. My daughter told me the other day that she wants to become a teacher because of Adrienne- what better testament to her teaching skills than that! My daughter will be sad to see the year come to a close as well. And finally I want to give a shout out to Natasha, the theatre teacher, and Sam, who teaches ceramics. Just wow. The theatre program at Innovations is truly one of a kind. She puts on so many shows, it is hard to see them all! I have enjoyed each and every show I have seen. My kids have also enjoyed classes with Sam. This is also a unique opportunity that not every school has to learn pottery, and working with ceramics to make various things like flowers, pizzas, ghosts, snow men. I love the projects they bring home. No school is going to be perfect, but as a family we are very grateful we found such an amazing school.

I'm very grateful for this unique public charter school that my kids love. They enjoy going on…read morefrequent field trips, learning through projects, not having homework, and having great friends and kind teachers. I appreciate that their curriculum includes SEL (social emotional learning) and that the students aren't allowed to have cell phones while on campus. The highlight of our experience has definitely been the fantastic teachers! Adrienne Reighard has been a phenomenal teacher for my third grader. She's genuinely interested in getting to know each of her students and finding ways to support their learning. She's so calm, patient and kind, yet firm enough that the kids listen and respect her. She goes above and beyond to create a supportive and efficient classroom environment. And as a parent, I really appreciate her clear, consistent communication. Becca, the 3rd grade teacher's assistant, is also proactive and really gets the kids. Patrick, the Spanish teacher, is one of the most dynamic, engaging, and effective teachers ever. His students love the fun activities and catchy songs he incorporates in his class. He makes learning fun! He also teaches chess and woodcarving and it seems like he can make any subject interesting. Kristy Fitts and Christie Fullerton were also great teachers, and planned lots of engaging projects, field trips, and holiday-themed activities. Nathan, the nature studies teacher, is fantastic and plans some great hands-on activities for the kids, like making their own salads to eat and making their own hugenkultur beds for gardening. For families who prioritize a nurturing environment with smaller class sizes and a variety of electives, this school has a lot to offer. The academics are more relaxed than rigorous, which would be a good fit for those prioritizing a balanced lifestyle. That said, we have found that the school has been navigating some challenges with managing disruptive behavior effectively, which impacts the learning environment.

The social and academic support my children have received here has been unparalleled. The writing,…read morephysical education and character development worked into the curriculum are critical to promote the skills and habits that children will carry into adulthood. Additionally, the faculty and staff genuinely care about the children. They are advocates and positive influences on them. I appreciate the community here. Every morning, I know my children are not just safe in school, but cared for.

My kids attend this school. I love the teachers and leadership- they truly care about the kids as…read morehumans and help kids grow not just academically, but also emotionally.

My children started school at Hawthorne in 2015 this is our neighborhood school and we decided to…read moregive it a chance. As a parent we all want the best for our children and one of my biggest concerns for me is safety. Second, I wanted them to be around well behaved kids (no bullies). As far as their education goes, I decided from the very beginning that I would take an active role in my children's learning. Teachers and staff are faced with a difficult job daily and really don't get enough support. Almost 5 years at that school and I am very proud of what they have accomplished. They made it to the 2020 list of California's Distinguished schools!! The campus is always secure, they believe in building character and this foundation is important in preparing our kids for their future. It's a small community which encourages a it's members to have fun and to get involved. I am most proud of our Principal Miss Lauren Robinson. Her passion and dedication truly is heartwarming. She is extremely hands on and is easy to talk to. She's often in front of the school before and after to ensure all is going well for drop off and pick ups. You'll even meet her parents mom and dad Robinson; they are so supportive and helpful and it's always a pleasure to see them on campus. Remember I was concerned about safety? Every morning a staff member is at the drop off zone and the front gate is secured as soon as school begins. After school the staff stays out front until each student has left campus. If any student is left waiting, that staff member walks them to the office. This school was rated a 4 in 2015. Today it's now an 8! Education requires a ton of support and so do our schools. Give Hawthorne Elementary a chance.

I worked at this school as a PrimeTime staff and I gotta say that this is a good school. They have…read moregood teachers and good faculty. I really enjoyed working with the kids after school during PrimeTime. The kids are wonderful!

We are starting our 5th year at Barnard. We chose Barnard to normalize the process of learning a…read moresecond language with Mandarin being a part of my child's heritage. We were concerned that learning a second language would detract from other learning that should happen in a monolingual school. However, kids are sponges and these kids have been able to learn it all! The number of opportunities at this school is endless. Yes, we experienced a pandemic slump. March 2020 through June 2020 were definitely low points. 2020-21 was an improvement but still rough. 21-2022 rough on the teachers and admin, but blissful for kids. The teachers and admin led the Barnard community with grace and supported our kids through these rocky times. I think our school, with the help of the PTA, integrated as many activities as possible to keep our kids stimulated and learning throughout the pandemic. This is a magnet school. Families care to make the extra effort not only to travel to this school daily to drop off their kids, but to support their children through bilingual education. The teachers and administrators are completely dedicated to our children and helping them excel. The Barnard hive mind really shows in school pride, confident children, family participation, and an amazing PTA. We are very fortunate to be a part of this school. I would highly recommend it to anyone who believes that bilingual education fully challenges and expands your child's mind and learning potential. The teachers, principal, and other parents will be here with you on your child's learning journey.

I am so so SO incredibly happy that we chose Barnard for my two girls, currently in 1st grade and…read moreTK. I had always hoped we could bring mandarin regularly into our lives and this is working well for us. Not only is my oldest comprehending chinese and learning to read and write (half of the day is in chinese!) but she actually enjoys learning it. We have had amazing teachers and the PTA is incredibly involved and supportive. This is a solid school for parental involvement. Partly because all the families choose to be there with intention (it's a magnet school). I really appreciate the diversity of the student population, makes us feel at home as an ethnically mixed family.

If she has a waiting list wait for her. For me, the key to a great advocate is someone who will…read morelisten to my child's story, his experiences, his challenges, and his strengths and combine them with the knowledge of how an IEP works to create a plan that actually moves my child forward. IEP San Diego gives you that, as a parent she makes me feel fully heard in my concerns, most importantly she knows how to express those concerns in a way that carries my child's education forward with meaningful goals in a setting that allows him growth, safety, learning, and friendships. I admire the depth of analysis she gives to each one of the assessments, protocols, and many documents that make up the file. She is really interested in understanding what has been done and how in order to create an IEP that is appropriate for the child.

Karla has been a lifesaver for our family. The school district repeatedly refused to identify our…read moreson's dyslexia. They insisted he was "fine". But he couldn't read, write or do math (all those word problems require a lot of reading). Worse, he was beginning to think he was stupid. The IEP process is complicated. You absolutely need someone with experience to guide you and advocate for your child. Our son is now reading above grade level due to an appropriate school placement and related services. Karla literally saved our son's future.

this school is horrible, daily they harass you when you drop off your kids there's basically a no…read more zone for kids. They have the smallest section and they only you three minutes to drop off your kid even if your kid is five years old they expect you to take three minutes to drop them off in class and come back or else down your plate plates and the safety patrol holds about 50 cars stop sign waiting for one kid to stop. They cost traffic and mark your absent every day. I will be switching out my kids as soon as possible.

This is a caring community of teachers and staff that work hard to bring the richest curriculum to…read moretheir students. The garden is amazing!

CCPAA has been an absolute game changer for our military family. If you know anything about…read moremilitary life, you know the constant uprooting is a challenge--our children have experienced more school changes than we ever wanted, not by choice but by necessity. At this duty station, things were especially tough; we had to go through three different schools in our first year here. That all changed when my husband found this diamond in the rough. Before CCPAA, our kids attended a private school that felt cold, cliquish, and unwelcoming. Finding CCPAA was like finding a second family. From day one, we were welcomed warmly, and it has made all the difference. My children have been at CCPAA for a year and a half now, and they've loved every single moment. The teachers are passionate and truly engaged with the students, and the administration is always on top of everything. They create an environment that is not only academically enriching but also incredibly nurturing. What really stands out to us is the vibrant creative offerings--dance, music, jazz band, art, drama, and more. For our family, creativity is just as important as academics, and CCPAA allows our children to explore both. They're thriving, not just as students, but as artists, thinkers, and young individuals with diverse passions. The school's inclusive, diverse environment and sense of community have given our family stability, warmth, and a place to belong in the midst of the frequent changes that come with military life. We couldn't be more grateful for this incredible school.

Our son has been attending CCPAA for two years and has completely blossomed during his time there…read more(currently in sixth grade). Once a shy and somewhat insecure child, he has now grown into a tween that performs in front of an audience, has friends and pushes himself academically. It is a bit of an unconventional school due to the small size but some kids thrive in that type of environment where everyone knows your name and the students interact with all ages.

Navigating the school system for a child with special needs can be overwhelming, but Sarah Tira has…read moremade all the difference. Working with her has been an absolute game-changer. She takes incredible initiative and is deeply dedicated to her clients. Her expertise makes me feel supported and confident during every IEP meeting. If you need a passionate, proactive advocate who will fight for your child's services, look no further! Thank you Sarah for being in our corner. You are truly a blessing for our family!

I am so grateful to have Sarah on my team. My autistic daughter has a great Speech and Occupation…read moreTherapist; and an excellent ABA team. We work together to help my daughter making so much progress at home, but she kept struggling at school. I was having a hard time communicating with the school to provide for proper supports for my daughter. I am searching for an advocate who can help me navigate the special education program/ public school system. I found Sarah. Sarah is kind, calm, and knowledgeable. She used to teach a Special Day Class. Sarah understands the system and knows what a student needs to succeed in school. She is a valuable member of my home team.