We absolutely love Stratford School in Altadena! My older son is in fifth grade and my younger son is in first, and both have truly thrived here. The small class sizes mean every child gets individual attention, and the curriculum is very advanced, engaging, and thoughtfully designed to challenge students while keeping learning fun. The teachers and administrators are exceptional, caring, very communicative, and deeply invested in every child's growth. But what really makes Stratford special is the community. The kids are kind, well-behaved, and genuinely happy. The families are wonderful, invested and share the same goal: creating a nurturing, protected environment where children can still be kids. Parents are on the same page about carefully monitoring what our children see and hear, helping them stay innocent and grounded for as long as possible. People often comment on how sweet and polite the Stratford kids are and it's true! This is especially the case for the kids in 5th grade. They are so kind, welcoming and supportive. The school reinforces the same values we prioritize at home: being good citizens, good friends, and good students. Our family's experience with Stratford has been truly life-changing. Before coming here, our older son went through a very difficult 3rd grade year at another school where he experienced bullying. What hurt us most was that the school failed to inform us despite multiple incidents. There was zero communication until something major happened. Our son suffered in silence for much of the year. When we finally discovered what had been happening, we immediately decided to immediately pull him out and make a change. Stratford was already at the top of my list. I had toured the school and met the principal two years earlier when we were exploring different options -- and, by some miracle, there was one spot open in third grade after another student moved over the holidays. Within a week, our son had taken the assessment and started at Stratford. The transformation was incredible. His anger and sadness melted away, and our sweet, happy boy returned. We will be forever grateful for this school. It's more than just an excellent academic environment, it's a refuge, a true community that supports the whole child and we'll never stop being thankful. read more

An exclusive private school. The school provides high quality education for Pre and Elementary level up through middle school. They offer bilingual Mandarin preschool. Impressive. You may set up an appointment with the school head to tour the facility. They have their own parking lot. read more

Stratford School - Altadena - Signage - Preschools Near Me - Altadena, California

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Heard great things about the community and the inclusiveness of the school. Kids are taught respect and critical thinking skills.

I'm writing to share our family's experience with Stratford School. Our sixth-grader joined at the end of 2024 after we had to withdraw him from our local Glendale school due to significant issues we were encountering with his teachers. Joining Stratford in Altadena was the best decision our family could have made; it felt like we rescued our son. We were captivated from the moment we met the school's wonderful Director, who has since retired. When I asked about what makes Stratford so special, the staff shared that they operate like a family, which is genuinely how it feels. Their warmth is felt everywhere from drop off to pick up. The sixth graders recently returned from an incredible two-night trip to Catalina Island, and my son can't stop talking about his experiences. Sincerely, read more

This is a very cool school ! I just don't want to leave Stratford school I have many amazing friends. But sometimes we make mistakes and we keep going and that's what I like about Stratford school! But there is more I like about Stratford for example like we have many fun things to do and I love it when we have art class because it's so fun using our imaginations to think what to draw and other times we do painting! read more

We moved my son to Stratford in second grade, and it was the best decision ever for him. This small but mighty school offers everything, from outstanding staff to curriculum. My son has excelled in his classes due to the individualized attention afforded by the smaller class sizes. He's made lifelong friends and built a community rooted in education, progress, and family values. He loves his teachers and friends. In addition to his core classes, he's learning Spanish, typing, computer science, art, and music. Thank you, Stratford, for being so good to our son and family. read more

Stratford is a gem of a school. Our experience was very positive. All of the teachers and extended day staff are extremely kind and nurturing. Parents are very nice and we mutually cared about our kids' education. Unfortunately we left due the fires, but the staff did a great job with clean up. Highly recommend this school. read more

Our kids have been with this school for six years. We love all the teachers and working stuff there. But I want to share some real experiences to help future parents to determine if it is a school fits their expectations. The school focuses on academic learning. For parents who want to develop the kids academic levels it should be a good fit. However, as a parent who also cares about the development of imagination, passion of life we, like myself , I definitely expect more on their educational philosophy. The first day when we walk into the door try to get some information the principle held the door half open and told us they were not public school we have to pay tuition to send our kids here. we stayed because my oldest son liked the toys displayed in the classroom. The constant changing of teaching staff is a real problem of Stratford. All my kids experienced change of teachers in the middle of the semester. There were two teachers stopped teaching without any notice. read more

Great school with an amazing campus, curriculum, and experience for its students. First iff, I love how it's located within such a cozy neighborhood. I know its simple and tacky, but those things go a long way for me. I attended an open house and I truly appreciate their curriculum offerings to its students. It truly prepares them not only for higher education, but provides the foundations for their future success. They even go up to middle school, which is a definitely plus. Shoutout to Angela Andikyan for her exceptional knowledge and support throughout the open house process. She made me feel at ease and had no trouble answering all of my questions. It is evident that their staff is knowledgeable and truly love what they do. I cant say enough about this school, and encourage any prospecting parents to give Stratford Schools Altadena a look! read more

We have been part of the Stratford family for the last 4 years and are very happy our child attends this school. They have a well-designed curriculum focusing on math, english and science. The staff is very welcoming with an open door policy allowing parents to discuss any issue that concerns them. We did a lot of research and toured many schools prior to choosing Stratford. What you see is what you get. A strong academic education with plenty of support. The families of Stratford are just as impressive. The students attending the school are well behaved and grounded children. Even regarding something as simple as drop off and pickup, the school has a smooth and efficient system compared to the stories we hear at other schools. Overall it is an amazing school and we highly recommend it! read more

I am beyond excited to have my boy come to this campus. He isn't two yet, but I've already made sure to sign him up for their Early Preschool Program next year. I understand that strong programs like these are hard to come by and get filled up so quickly. So impressed with how their two year olds, preschoolers, and pre-kindergarteners get taught their daily routine, practice independence and manners to live by. I've seen the children in action and I want my boy in it!! Academics, for me, is just their cherry on top. It's everything else offered apart from the strong academic foundation that's delivered through a balanced approach, one that's infused with the arts, movement, music and fun; one that is captivating and engaging. Being a type A mom who's toured countless schools for my boy for months now, I've never seen a facility as beautiful, inviting, spacious, and immaculately clean as Stratford Altadena - a place so effortlessly conducive to learning. I understand that teacher attrition is part of any school out there as unavoidable and unpredictable circumstances come about. In this campus' case, I've noticed that many of their core/founding teachers are still there and leading their classes effectively. Also, the reason why their children move to the next level successfully! Of course, I had to look into that because those are the things I'm looking into to prepare my boy for next year. read more

We are so happy with Stratford, we enrolled our child in preschool and feel lucky he was accepted. From the moment we met Ms. Judy, Ms. Lisa & Ms. Angela we had a great feeling we were making the right choice. We couldn't be happier with the care they show my son and everything he is learning. I would 100% recommended this school. read more

I cannot say enough about how amazing Stratford Altadena is. My daughter attended Stratford in Hollywood for preschool and preK and we were devastated when it closed. We trialed public school for kindergarten as Altadena was too far from us at the time. We quickly realized realized we needed to make a major change and get my daughter back into Stratford, even though that meant moving. Every single staff member at Stratford is a gem. The front office staff are so incredibly pleasant and helpful. Ms. Burbank and Ms. Ribaya are amazing leaders. I love that everyone knows not only my daughter by name, but make a point to refer to all parents by name and get to know us (something we were lacking in our last school). All of the teachers are incredible and go above and beyond to ensure the children are succeeding. I had no idea how advanced the preschool and preK curriculum was until we went to a different school for kindergarten and my daughter was starting over with information from preschool. I have been impressed with how advanced the 1st grade curriculum is and how quickly my daughter's teacher, Celeste Yanez, was able to make up for her lost ground in kindergarten. Ms. Yanez is so incredibly kind, makes learning fun, and is very responsive to any questions or concerns we bring up. The afterschool program staff are also lovely and fun. We are thrilled to be back at Stratford and would recommend it 100%. read more

Stratford School is a very great school. All my three are here and they all love Stratford. Our school has very strong academics which is I am looking for. I don't need put extra time to tutor. read more

As an auntie, I am so impressed with Stratford school! My niece attends this school and in just a few weeks of attending, I noticed a major difference in her growth and development. I believe that is due to the unique STEAM curriculum that Stratford provides. I have visited the campus a few times and it is one the cleanest facilities I have seen, along with very professional and personable staff. Most importantly, it's always nice to see a security guard before entering the premises. I see pictures of some of the cool projects they work on with the students, and let me tell you it makes me wish I can be a kid again! If you are looking to provide the best opportunity for your child, look no further. I can't wait to one day take my own kids here. read more

Stratford School - Altadena - Music lesson with Ms. Sarine - Preschools Near Me - Altadena, California

I enrolled my son in Stratford's online Mandarin preschool during COVID last year and I was honestly blown away by the quality of their program. The teachers care so much and are insanely accessible. The material the kids are learning is at least a grade or two higher. You would think you're getting less quality and connection by being in an online program but the kids were still able to make friends remotely, which blew my mind. We have since switched my son to the in-person program for the summer (which he loves) and fall, but I would not hesitate to recommend Stratford online or in person to anyone. read more

The saying " the days are long but the years are short" is true when raising kids. Time flies by too quickly and I am long overdue for writing a review of the best decision we have made for our kids. Our kids spend more (waking) hours a day at school than they do at home and we wanted to make the right decision on where they would spend these precious hours. We transferred over from a different school because we were not happy with the way our school handled the distance learning in 2020 when the pandemic hit. The Head of School, Ms. Burbank is beyond amazing. There was not a glitch in education during this unprecedented time thanks to her quick action, care for her students, teachers, and parents. She made sure her campus not only got through Online schooling but exceled even with the remote learning. The curriculum is without rival. I have compared notes with former classmates at different schools and my children are learning at a higher level. I even find myself stumped checking the homework they complete with ease. The teachers truly care about the children and it is such a relief to us that we made the right choice in Stratford Altadena. What more could we ask for as parents- a safe, amazing learning environment where the curriculum is superior, the children are cared for like family, and the teachers - each and every one of them is unique, motivated, and motivating. Our kids look forward to going to school every day and we are so thankful to everyone at Stratford Altadena. Make this decision! You won't regret it! read more

My daughter has been doing online here during covid, so we don't have experience with on campus, but online here has been great. I keep it short because there are already so many great reviews here I agree with. This is probably one of the best schools in LA read more

Our kids love this school. We have been here a few years now. There are a lot of choices for private in pasadena but Stratford has a great curriculum and diversity which is what we love. Our kids are learning so much. I could really tell the difference when we go to pick them up they don't want to leave because they are really enjoying it versus other schools we have attended in the past the kid's can't wait to go home. read more

I have been to Stratford's Altadena campus multiple times since it's opening. All of the staff and educators are very welcoming making the school feel like a close knit community. Mrs. Burbank is one of the most kind and warm hearted heads of school I have ever met. I feel like their STEAM curriculum is top notch and thoughtfully integrated into their learning programs. They are even introducing a bilingual classroom program that will truly bring this school to the next level. I'm also so excited to see what the campus will look like after the expansion and instillation of the field for elementary and middle school levels! read more

We are very happy with my Stratford for my daughter, who is in kindergarten there. I am very impressed with how well she is reading and doing math. They offer a lot of support and engagement for parents as well. read more

Love this school! One of the best up and coming private schools in our area. We are so happy we found Stratford. Our son is very happy here and we feel that they are really creating a strong foundation for his future. I can't say enough good things about the head of school Mrs Burbank and the teachers and staff. They are the best of the best and add so much to the wonderful nature of this school. read more

We have enrolled our daughter at Stratford since they opened the Altadena campus. Prior to deciding on Stratford, we toured numerous preschools and were on several lists. After visiting Stratford, we were in love with the program. The STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) curriculum is simply amazing. Our preschooler learned topics that I was expecting in elementary school and, at 3 and 4 years old, they did an excellent job with phonics. But it wasn't only the academics that were great. The school does a lot with Art and Music, allowing the kids to be kids and have a great time. My daughter has loved her experience and I can't think of a better experience. The Stratford community also feels like a large extended family. The parents and kids all know each other and it greatly enriches the experience. If you are looking for a preschool with great academics, a place where kids can have fun and be social, and a strong community feeling, you need to check out Stratford. read more

About a month ago, I brought my niece in for a tour at Stratford. Right when I walked through the door I was greeted by Angela. She was so nice and made us feel very comfortable. We took a tour with Ms. Burbank and she was amazing. I could see my nieces expression as we walked into the classrooms. She was so excited. All the teachers were very nice. You could see that the children in the classes were very happy and engaged. We left that day feeling excited. Two weeks later she was back for a shadow day. That was it for my niece and our family. She loved it! Needless to say we enrolled her and she will start in the upcoming school year. read more

We've been at Stratford School-Altadena since it opened and are very satisfied with its offerings. The school administration is accessible (including Principal Judy Burbank) and helpful. They are also sincerely compassionate towards the students which translates into the values our children learn at school. The facility and classrooms have been completely updated to provide a safe environment, with new play areas, security personnel, and new fencing and safety gates. The curriculum is well-balanced between STEM education and the arts. Teachers create a structured environment, yet there is a clear emphasis on play-based learning. We love that they offer music and Spanish as subjects. I have also been able to observe the class during different times of the day and with various teachers, which is very reassuring. The school community is also amazing--families are involved, inviting, and diverse. We toured many preschools before choosing Stratford. Although new to the area, I would highly recommend it because it is an established learning institution in the Bay Area. Their educational programs are definitely not being "tested" on our children, which is what one would assume with a new school. read more

My husband and I are very pleased with Stratford School-Altadena and highly recommend it to others who are looking for a nurturing and welcoming school in the area. Stratford focuses on STEAM and incorporates music and arts into its academic curriculum. This is one of the major reasons that I decided to send my three-year old son to Stratford last Summer. My son always surprises us at home by singing songs he learned from school. "Show-and-Tell" is scheduled every Friday, which is a great opportunity for kids to practice public speech and presentation skills. My son loves it and always asks me "mommy, is it show and tell today?" Ms. Burbank, the head of the the school is another major reason for me to send my son to Stratford. We met in Stratford's temporary office in Pasadena before the school even selected its permanent "home" in Altedena. I was deeply impressed with Ms. Burbank's passion for education and her love for kids. Her great leadership and rich experience of school management/administration has made Stratford-Altedena campus prosperous. Miss Gia, the office administrator, is caring and always very responsive. She is like my son's Auntie, who greets and hugs him every day. She knows how to cheer my boy up when he is not in a good mood. She brought extra tissue boxes to my son's class when she learned my son had bad allergy. My son fell asleep on her lap, when he was sick and waiting for us to pick him up. I am deeply touched by what she has done for my son. Miss Lisa and Miss Ani, who are my son's teachers, are dedicated and passionate about their teaching. They pay attention to details. Toys, books and pictures on the wall are very well-organized. Their class door is always nicely decrorated. The facilities at Stratford are wonderful. The playgrounds for both pre-school and bigger kids are well-maintained. Classrooms are spacious and bright. The School also organizes events such as STEAM event and parent appreciation week for kids to spend weekends together and for parents to get to know each other. As parents, nothing is better than you know that your child loves his school and he grows academically, emotionally and social-culturally. read more

Just updating my review, now that my daughter is completing 1st grade, after attending Stratford since preschool. Stratford continues to be an amazing school, perfectly melding strong academics, fun, and warmth. I was so impressed with the quality of instruction on Zoom during the pandemic - the kids didn't fall behind at all. With the kids now back in person, Stratford has followed careful protocols for safety. My daughter continues to love Stratford, all her kind teachers, and school in general because of Stratford. read more

Love the Stratford Altadena team: teachers, office staff and head of school are fantastic! We have both of our children currently attending Stratford in Pre-k and pre-school and we couldn't be happier with the care, development and fun that they have at Stratford. After looking around at other programs in the area, we think that Stratford by far, offers the best Pre-K and Preschool programs in the area. Campus is clean and safe, teachers are engaging, Friendly and most importantly - genuinely caring of the students. We love Ms. Lisa & Ms. Ani, Ms. Sarita & Ms. Angelica. Our kids look forward to attending Stratford every morning! read more

Updating my review now that we are entering our 5th year at Stratford! We continue to LOVE this school. Our 2 boys are now going into 4th grade and 1st grade and our daughter started preschool early this year. She will be doing part time preschool again this coming year before moving onto preK (she's 3). Being able to have all my children at the same facility is wonderful, especially when both the preschool and elementary school are equally impressive. My 3rd graders math ability last year blew my mind, I couldn't believe what this group of kids knew and were able to do- things like long division, that even challenged me a little ;-) The curriculum, though challenging- is taught in a nurturing, fun way that really engages the kids, and the school environment is wonderful. The campus and faculty continues to grow and we look forward to a bright future for our children at Stratford. read more

We absolutely love Stratford. My child was very reluctant to go to school and shed many tears the first few days of preschool. I felt so comfortable leaving him at school because I immediately saw the love and affection that the teachers gave him. He had no problem adjusting. In just a year, he has grown so much, and it's all due to his exceptional teachers. The faculty and staff treat you like family. The education is always a step ahead, and as a result, my 3 year old is now reading! I could go on forever. Overall, Stratford is an excellent school. read more

Imagine being greeted by everyone you encounter, including the security guard, as you run to school. My daughter wakes up every day and can't wait to get there! We weren't necessarily looking for an academic environment for our 3-year-old (we value education in the natural world at this age). But, when I toured the school, I was amazed by how kind and loving the teachers were. Judy Burbank leads an incredible team of teachers and administrative staff. The STEAM program and academic curriculum are impressive. We enrolled our daughter and couldn't be happier. She's thriving! She has music EVERY DAY. And they don't just teach songs, they teach theory. THE BEST music program we've ever encountered in our 16 years of parenting. We're thrilled to be part of this community and can't wait until they take over the site and add a field/green spaces! Thank you, Stratford! read more

Our daughter attends their remote learning program for pre-K. We have been extremely happy with the program. The curriculum is wonderful and comprehensive. The teachers each are skilled, and we very much appreciate the specialty classes (Spanish, art, music, etc.). Covid-remote learning is so tough, and we are really grateful to have found Stratford's program. read more

I'm a parent at Stratford in Altadena. My kids are in PreK and 3rd Grade. I have endless compliments for this school. When I came back from Asia and wanted to keep my children in private school. I toured a few schools and when I found Stratford, I felt like I found a hidden gem. This school is top notch! Academics (STEAM program) They always said the programs in Asia for math were so much more advanced than in the US. Well, I was worried (We're Chinese Americans and my husband was a Math major‍). But this school is ahead and has an excellent math, science and arts program. She's consistently challenged and brought to different levels of understanding. History topics are integrated with day to day life, so kids have a better grasp of learning. Music! I just love Ms Doris. She's made my 8yr old love the piano again. When my daughter came home telling me the composers and songs she learned. She went running to the piano to practice on her own. I couldn't be more grateful. English... The novels they are reading to the vocabulary words. I can only say, above and beyond my expectations. Definitely stronger than most schools I've toured. The Stratford program has given her an integrated learning environment that brings out her curiosities to explore, challenged her perspectives on how to find answers and given her safe place to learn. My son is in PreK. The songs and skills he's learning are amazing. The level of hands on work (motor skills) to adaptive learning. Let me just say, he's made strides and he's happy. The teachers, Ms Veronica, Ms Celeste and Ms Norma have been wonderful. Experienced, Attentive and Heartwarming teachers. Diversity (Students and Faculty) I don't know where to find a private/public school who's staff and students could be so diverse. The PTA is energetic while no pressure to those who are busy busy with day to day life. Community ( a sense of Family ) My children love the teachers and faculty. They feel penalized when I tell them they don't have school the next day. My son just wants to see his friends and teachers all the time. He comes home with so many stories. I believe its what makes him want to learn. Relocating back from overseas, I was worried at the assimilation for my children. Stratford has been a blessing. Security (Safety) Ms Burbank, the principal and all the staff at Stratford are so aware and have made many personal touches to make sure the children and families are emotionally and physically safe here. The location is well guarded and fenced. Teachers and staff are very good accommodating allergies (it is a nut free school)and the facilities are so clean all the time. read more

We are very grateful for this school. I toured 7 different schools and decided very quickly on Stratford. I was struck first by how clean it was, how awesome and shaded the playground is, and how private and more secure seeming this school is. My child's pre-k classroom is 8:1 and often 6:1 on a given day. On the playground there are other children she can play with and additional adults. The intimate size makes the academic learning very manageable. My daughter has a fabulous, loving, patient teacher named Roxana. I'm told Veronica is also amazing. I hope the school does everything It can to keep them and continues to hire great people like them. The school uses manipulatives and songs to teach very effectively following various reading, writing and math programs. The school is very organized and communicates with parents. The school works with the parents schedule. In a perfect world there would be a spanish immersion dual language program, a large library, art dept and fully developed science lab. That said I can highly recommend Stratford. read more

This is my granddaughters first year at Stratford. In such a short time I have seen growth in her confidence. Everyday she attends school she is excited and has a happier disposition towards her academics. She really enjoys her teacher Mrs. Ribaya. She is so patience and encouraging to my granddaughter and I feel that she is thriving because of it. I would highly recommend this school. read more

I'm so impressed with the care shown at this school. I had heard good things before and they definitley deserve the great reputation they have. I'm especially pleased with one of the administrators, Angela, there. You can hear the kindness in her voice and her customer service is impeccable. I'm so happy to know that the staff here genuinely care. read more

My husband and I love Stratford. Our daughter has been there since they first opened and I have seen so much growth in her, both academically and socially. We are impressed that she knows the days and months in Spanish, as well as the colors. She has interests in things that I know she would not normally take interest in like Space exploration. We had a rough start at drop offs but the teachers have these special ways of helping her not cry when I leave the classroom. The curriculum is amazing, and I am blown away everyday when she tells me what she has learned for the day. I look forward to how she will continue to grow as a whole. read more

This is an absolute gem of a preschool. The entire staff loves my daughter, and she loves them back. The instruction is top-notch. Many schools claim "STEM," but Stratford delivers. From monthly interdisciplinary units of study and engaging hands-on centers, to daily music lessons, a science and Spanish teacher, and flexible before and after school options, it doesn't get better than Stratford. Mrs. Burbank and Ms. Lisa are dedicated leaders and educators. Take a tour... you won't regret it. Thanks, Stratford! read more

Our child is in his second year at Stratford School-Altadena, and we are thrilled with the campus, the faculty and our child's progress in this STEAM-based learning program. Pasadena/Altadena has a wealth of stellar private schools, and we toured/visited them all, but Stratford rose above the rest with it's time-tested methods of STEAM-learning, structure and excellent leadership. Ms. Burbank, the Principal, is an outstanding representative of the Stratford school mission, (founded in the San Francisco Bay area) and her passion for students and education is apparent in every interaction you have with her. The teachers are wonderful, caring and best of all, have instilled a love of learning in their students. The office manager, Ms. Gia, greets the children with hugs and smiles, and I've found it very easy to connect via email or phone to the office/teachers and always receive a quick reply back. They offer extended care which is an extension of the methods/program of what the children are learning in their class during the school day. Stratford is down the street and to us, feels like a neighborhood school (albeit, one with the highest of educational standards). I am so proud of the growth that Stratford has had thus far, and am grateful that our child has had the opportunity to receive such a solid base so early in his academic journey. read more

Lots of potential. Took a tour but since they are just building up their student base in Altadena, not many kids. Which could be fine for many but we are looking for more of a dynamic environment. Like I said, I'm sure they will get there soon! Principal is very nice. read more