Some years ago, after being annoyed enough, some parents indicated they moved their kids out of…read moretheir rowing program to a private program, because of a series of extremely questionable characters they (still) have involved there, that even with a minimum of investigation, the school would find quite concerning. Anger management issues, nepotism, career frustration, and various probable psychological complexes seem to only scratch the surface. There seems to be a clear 'look the other way' syndrome going on there, and am not sure to what extent it may be in other areas at the school.

BB&N, my high school alma mater, prepared me for academic life in amazing ways in which I can not…read morequantify. When I was a student, I definitely had times in which I struggled and had no idea how I would graduate, but in the end I made it and did very well. This school prepares you so that when you enter you undergraduate institution, it really does seem like cake, because when you were at BB&N from grades 9-12, you were pushing yourself already doing a college workload and being taught by teachers who were parallel to college professors who will follow you throughout your life. As Max B. said, you will come out of your four years here more than ready for college, and then when you're done with undergrad, you'll be more than ready for graduate school or your career because of what BB&N taught you. It's just that awesome. The teachers are top notch. They recognize talent and they will also help you when you are down. I will always be indebted to this incredible institution of learning on the Charles. -Andrea D., Class of 2006

I've two kids - one Pre-K and the other being in 1st grade. The school builds on five principles:…read morecommunity, stewardship, integrity, simplicity, and equality - but it doesn't just talk about it. It _embraces_ them. It instills the value of community teaching the kids to be good people - to care about other folks, to think of other folk feelings. At the same time it balances the individual spark each kid has - recognizing our differences and building on the strengths. With the class sizes being on the small size it means that the kids who are excelling can get more individual attention to get more challenging problems (so that they don't get lazy), and for those who are having a harder time they can get the attention to improve. The older kids are buddies with the younger ones - sending inter-school mail, to foster reading and writing skills. Stewardship is manifested via its focus on the tangible things - recycling, carrying for the butterflies (yup, every day in the spring they learn about metamorphosis seeing caterpillars turning into butterflies), and taking care of the garden. Integrity - the kids learn to take ownership of their actions, of being truthful by setting plans out ahead and understanding ones strengths and weakness. This is a hard -try asking a kid "what were you thinking?" and the answer is never straightforward. But the teachers have a knack of asking and listening and getting to the bottom of the issue and un-jamming the emotions the little ones have. Simplicity and equality is embraced by their social justice program. The kids learn about very touchy subjects such as class injustice and racial injustice at Pre-K level! They did a play where each kid would take a different role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott - bus driver, Rosa, etc. And then swap to have other roles to try to understand each person viewpoint. Academically they are able to focus on high performers to challenge them and on the low-performers to help them. This is math, writing and reading, gym, etc. They also are able to deal with the more "energetic" kids by having ways in the class for those kids to get their energy out (swing, or climbing structures, chairs with balloon), and for the Pre-K kids having _two_ recess time. This was especially important for me as our kids are very high energy. We are very happy with our kids at CFS.

A sad excuse for a school. Back when I went here I was bullied and even spanked by teachers, in…read moreaddition I got locked in a closet for forgetting to put a block away. Not to mention the relentless bullying which included attempted strangling, isolation, physical assault, harassment, etc, and later led to death threats so bad that I had to switch towns and schools, and of course the teachers didn't do anything about it. The sheer lack of supervision also meant that kids (under the age of 10 even) would be making out in the bathrooms, in addition to vaping. And don't even get me started on the faculty, that's a whole other story. In short, I'm for the schools ultimate downfall.

A current student in their graduate program and greatly appreciate the education that they provide…read moreto working professionals with the option to complete the program remotely. Teaching and support staff are amazing and curriculum is updated to stay current with industry. One of the best values for the high caliber of education offered.

There is systemic injustice at Harvard Extension School. Their policies as stated on their website…read moreare not upheld. I had a professor who graded anything beneath a 90% as a 0%. So, in other words, if you don't get an A you fail your assignments. I withdrew, brought this to the attention of the Dean, and asked for financial credit so I could take another course instead. She did not respond but simply forwarded my concern to a registrar who refused to do anything about it. The registrar said, wrongly, that the professor was acting in accord with HES policy. The grading system on the website does not in point of fact map onto the grading system of all the professors. So be forewarned that you may end up with a professor who will give you an F if you get less than an A. Don't waste your money at HES and don't expect the administration to act justly. I've matriculated a different program. HES just lost the 30K they would have made if they would have simply rendered a just decision.

All three of my kids went to St Peter for 10 years, from pre k to grade 8. It was a great, safe…read moreplace for them. The school is small, one class per grade, but no one is lost in the shuffle. Because the classes take turns conducting the Thursday morning Mass, they get to practice public speaking from a young age. My kids are all confident speaking to large groups and look forward to the opportunity to do so. Can't say enough about what a positive thing St Peter has been for our family.

I live in the area and walk past the school every day. Several times their students bumped into me…read moreon the sidewalk, through something that hit me accidentally, etc. It's absolutely chaos and the school does nothing about it, even though it's happening right out front on Highland Ave. Their students are kids, I understand, kids will be kids. But the school should take measures to make sure their students are not disrupting the rest of the community. I've seen their students yell at other women, throw things at other people on purpose. Etc. I'm going to change my walking path to avoid this place for now. I hope the school does something about the chaos that happens out front every single day

This school is great for the CTE department, but the academics leave a lot to be desired. That's…read morenot to say that one shouldn't enroll here. They need to work not only on their teachers and staff, but on their curriculum, as well.

I worked on the MATCH corps, the summer tutoring squad dedicated to helping students do well enough…read moreto continue at the appropriate grade level. I was impressed-- it was still early in the program and the staff seemed to have it together. The students were for the most part well-behaved, and if they ever weren't the staff was right on them. The students seem eager to learn and seem to really WANT to be there. The staff seems to have their resources worked out well-- they avoid using technology as an end-all and turn to it as what it is, a good resource.

The leadership team created by Annmarie Quezada is simply phenomenal. Our child has attended St…read more John School for the last 5 years and loves it. The majority of the teachers have master degrees from Boston College and are excellent teachers. The staff and other educators are meticulously chosen and contribute to the school at the highest level. St. John School is only Catholic elementary school (Age 2 - 6th grade) in the heart of Boston proper and is conveniently located in the North End - and close to all major employers for parents to consider. Many families attend from East Boston, Medford, Revere, Saugus and many Boston neighborhoods. The students are out-performing BPS schools on MAP testing and exceptionally prepared for junior high. The 6th grade students interested in exam schools opt in to tutoring and prep for the fall exams and outperform their peers in many instances. The school community is bar none the best. Families have left SJS and returned because the community of teachers, staff, parents, grandparents, and extended family are exceptional. You cannot find this level of care and community anywhere else! This is also the most affordable private school option for many families who want to instill a Catholic education. All the students participate in what's called the Tower Garden. Ms. Shay created a hydroponic garden that is tended by each class over the course of the year. After the greens and veggies are harvested, they are hand delivered by students to different local non profit organizations like St. Anthony's Shrine and ABCD. Having the option of afterschool from 2:30 pm - 6pm plus a variety of enrichment classes and music lessons, makes this school even more attractive and special. Tours are provided by appointment all year round. And parents are always willing to share their experiences. I should note that a 2 year old program begins in September. That's in addition to the 2.9 yo program. Definitely check out the social media pages too. Facebook and instagram @stjohnschoolnorthend

Where a school is more than just a great education - but an amazing community of families - who…read morevalue education and a responsibility to the world around them. The last remaining Catholic school in Boston proper one understands how it is still here 120 years later, it leads in educational programming from Greek-Latin Roots program, Scratch, Kahn Academy to language and arts. It is a wonderful place for any child to to attend from K3 to 8 - and for any family who is looking for a true sense of community. An excellent school on all levels!

We switched our eldest to Fayerweather at the start of 3rd grade seeking a school where the…read morelearning would be significantly challenging, values-rooted, and joyful. We wanted a place where our inquisitive kid could really stretch her edges and feel comfortable taking academic risks (and sometimes making mistakes). Now 12, she has a deep sense of who she is and what matters to her - and this strong sense of self has allowed her to take risks (academically and socially) and push herself as a learner and community member. She understands that justice and community are the essential foundations for learning and social impact. Our younger child (now 7) started at FSS in kindergarten and we have found that, while quite different from his older sibling, he is just as seen, valued, and supported. He has gotten incredible guidance navigating his intensity and high energy, and he is academically challenged in just the right ways - he works on meaningful problems and his sense of accomplishment is significant. Fayerweather has helped him have a voice and language for his feelings, his challenges, and his successes. The loving support and developmentally appropriate and thoughtful curriculum have allowed him to discover his best self and build the skills and agency to choose his actions wisely. FSS is all we hoped, for both kids.

We just started school at Fayerweather this fall, and my 1st grader and 6th grader cannot get over…read morehow friendly the school community is. My son came home from school after his second week of being a new kid (a middle schooler, no less -- in the 6th grade) and said "mom I give it 5 stars!!! Everyone is SO nice, teachers and kids, and I love it!!!." Now that we are four months in, happily his review remains. He also says that his homeroom and math teacher is "literally THE best math teacher" he's ever had. I'm continually impressed with how in touch with my son's learning style the teachers are, and he's growing leaps and bounds. My 6 year old daughter, who is usually shy, is coming out of her shell socially and is really starting to take to reading (which she has avoided prior to Fayerweather). Her teachers are incredible and so in tune with her and helping her to grow where she is ready to, and there is such insight into the social emotional ecosystem of the classroom. Fayerweather has the academics *and* the community we'd hoped for -- the school has a joyful, healthy, connected vibe and is inclusive and diverse to boot. We couldn't be happier.

When we were considering Lesley Ellis for preschool, we asked around on the playground, and just…read moreabout every parent we talked to told us, "It's excellent! The only negative is the cost." That matched our experience perfectly. The tuition is steep - though financial aid is available! - but everything else was fantastic, and we were consistently impressed with the teachers, curriculum, field trips, awareness of kids as individuals, interaction with administration, and more. My mom worked for decades in early childhood education, and (as an interested and involved grandparent) was also very impressed. They welcomed/encouraged heavy parent involvement, from "come into the classroom to talk about something you're knowledgeable/passionate about" to occasional parent-meetups-over-coffee in the morning and more. But I was never, ever made to feel guilty about not being able to participate heavily, which was the norm once we had our second kid. (Who also went to LES for preschool, once old enough.) We can't speak to their K-8 experience, but for preschool/pre-K/TK they were fantastic.

Lesley Ellis is an independent school from pre-school to grade 6, but expanding soon to 8th. Our…read moredaughter is in her third year there and we have been delighted with the program. The teachers are an outstanding group and attuned to the needs of each individual student. The administration is truly exceptional as they create an environment where parents, children and the school come together to form a nurturing and vibrant community.