Stellar saved our family! Our daughter is smart, creative and funny. But reading was destroying her confidence. We watched her go from a kid who loved learning to one who resisted school and just shut down. She could not keep up. She was not even able to participate in video games during computer class due to reading challenges. One day, she came home and said "I am the dumbest kid in my class." It was heartbreaking. We tried everything. We tried to talk to the teachers and the school and got no where. We hired tutors, in person and on zoom, and saw only mild progress despite a very loaded tutoring schedule. I also sat with her daily to try to "help" her with homework. It was worse than pulling teeth and really hurting our family time. Then one week before the start of the next school year, we found Stellar!!!!! A tiny non-profit school in Newark, CA that specializes in helping kids with dyslexia. After the first info session, I knew we had to take a chance. I was worried about making my kid leave her friends and go to a new place, but it was the best decision. It has been life-changing for our daughter. We stopped fighting at home, and she was finally learning at school. !!! What makes Stellar special: Teaching methods that actually works! -- The teachers are experienced and certified on ways to teach specifically for how dyslexic brains learn. My child is making significant progress. In contrast, our local public school has no specialized support for dyslexic learners, even if you do qualify for extra support via IEP. Just extra reading exposure without the right methods just trying to brut force the solution. It is painful and does not work. Real small-group attention -- For core academics (reading, writing, math), my daughter's leaning cohorts has been around 1 teacher to 4 kids. I think that changes year to year depending on cohorts, but that is a ton of specialized, individualized attention. Recess and afternoon classes like art, PE, and science have a larger group of 10+ mixed age kids, which is great for socialization. Deep neurodivergent expertise -- The staff really get dyslexia. They been through it with their own kids. They get it on a level that goes beyond training. Beyond dyslexia, the staff is skilled in supporting kids with ADHD and morel. There is thoughtful SEL classes also weaved into the curriculum. Genuinely kind and warm -- I can't say enough nice things. It's all the little things, like the head of school is there each morning to receive the kids and greet them all individually. And when my daughter broke her toe and had limited mobility in a boot for a few months, the staff brought out bubbles, chalk, and hula hoops so she could still play at recess. During a field trip to a local park, they added a "walking contest" alongside the running contest so she could participate -- she was a speedy walker in her boot! lol Lean and financially accessible (this matters) -- Most Bay Area schools specializing in dyslexic learners are close to $60k/year. The sticker shock was real for me. Stellar was a bit less than $30k! That's a real difference for a lot of families. You can tell they work very hard to keep it accessible. This investment is truly worth it. Last bit, here's what my child has to say about Stellar: 1. the teachers are the nicest in the world. She loves all the teachers and staff and feels close to every one of them. 2. The school is so small that every kid becomes friends with each other, even across wide age ranges. This was an unexpected bonus! The small school environment did wonders for her confidence and social skills. This is a hidden gem of a school with decades of expertise and so much heart. If you're a Bay Area parent navigating how to support your kid, I cannot recommend Stellar Academy enough. They also offer summer camps and dyslexia screening. read more

When my son Sam started 6th grade at Stellar Academy, he was struggling. He couldn't subtract, multiply, or divide, and he was reading at a 2nd-grade level. I felt helpless, knowing he needed significant dyslexia support that his public school district simply couldn't provide. It was my parents who had the wild idea to enroll Sam at Stellar Academy--a school 133 miles away from our home. At first, I thought they were out of their minds. But after reading reviews and seeking advice from family, friends, and advocates, I decided to attend Stellar's orientation. I fell in love with the school and made the decision to enroll Sam. It was, without a doubt, the craziest decision I've ever made--but it turned out to be the BEST! The Slingerland Approach and multi-sensory mathematics instruction worked immensely for Sam. By the end of that same school year, he was reading at grade level and had mastered subtraction, multiplication, and division. But the most remarkable transformation was how much he grew to love school--something I had never seen before. He adored his teachers, his friends, and even the schoolwork. For the first time in his life, Sam felt confident in his abilities as a student. He came home every day energized and excited to share something new he had learned. As a parent, I've never felt more supported by a school. The commute was no small feat... Fridays were especially tough, with rush-hour traffic stretching the drive to 4.5 hours. At one point, I mentioned to Heather, the incredible director of Stellar, that switching the school's minimum days from Wednesdays to Fridays would make our weekly commute more manageable. Heather spoke with her staff, and together they agreed to make the change. That simple act of kindness showed just how deeply the staff at Stellar care about their students and families. Even though it's been three years since Sam attended Stellar, I still reach out to Heather for advice. She remembers Sam and always takes the time to help, no matter how busy she is. Stellar Academy wasn't just a school for my son--it was a lifeline. It's a community of people who are truly dedicated to children, families, and education. I will always be grateful for what they did for Sam. Looking back, I'd sit in that 4.5-hour traffic all over again. The end absolutely justifies the means. read more

My daughter has been at Stellar for 6 years now. She had grown so much academically and socially. They use Slingerland and Making Math Real which are great programs for dyslexia and dyscalculia. My daughter could barely read or write when she started Stellar in 3rd grade and is now a great reader! The teachers and office staff are great! I highly recommend Stellar for kids with dyslexia. read more

My son has attended Stellar Academy for the last 5 years. He came not knowing how to read, spell or write and was failing in his public school classes. Over his time at Stellar he has learned how to do all these things and more. He is now an AVID reader. Stellar uses the Slingerland method which helps children with dyslexia learn how to do what seems to come so naturally to other children. The teachers and staff are all very supportive and help foster confidence in the children, despite the challenges they endure. I highly recommend Stellar! read more

Stellar is the best school ever! I started Stellar in 4th grade and graduated in 8th grade. The approach they use for dyslexics is perfect! I learned so much there, made awesome friends and had the best teachers! Stellar helped me overcome to trial of Dyslexia in my life. Before I went to Stellar I could barely read. Now I am able to read with ease. Strongly Recommended for anyone with or without Dyslexia! read more

If your child is struggling in reading and you still can not figure out what is going on then Stellar is the Answer. Early intervention is very important please do not wait if you think your child has reading difficulties have him her tested out for dyslexia. The approach is slingerland to teach kids with phonics. Stellar is small school and teaches kids in ver small groups. This school has helped our child and she is confident, full of self esteem and More over a Happy Kid. Reading has improved and looking forward more improvements as we are only in our first year there. read more

Changed my life. Gave me the tools I needed to unlock reading writing and math. I only went there for one year and went up six reading levels. Was able to go to a public high school and straight in to a state college and graduate with a BA in psychology and minor in africana studies . Starting work on my master next year. I can't thank this wonderful school enough. read more

My daughter attended Stellar Academy from 3rd to 8th grade. Stellar Academy has helped give her the confidence she now has by helping her figure out how to learn with her Dyslexia. My daughter went and checked out another school for dyslexics in Oakland and liked Stellar much better! The teachers at Stellar really know what they are doing. They are constantly making sure they are up to date on their teaching of kids with Dyslexia. I would highly recommend Stellar Academy! read more

This is the little school that can get the job done. Our daughter attended, making great strides thanks to the teachers that really care about their students and understand dyslexia. This fall, she is going to start the Industrial Engineering program at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Kate Gleason School of Engineering. Thank you, Stellar Academy! read more