I would not recommend this school to my worst enemy. The staff and administration seem FAR more…read moreconcerned with potential liability than the overall well-being of the students. And quite frankly, many seem under-qualified for the positions they hold. This school is incredibly understaffed and underfunded - and it shows. To start - my first grader was allowed to walk away with a stranger on the FIRST day of school because his teacher "assumed" the adult he left with was a parent. When I spoke to the principal the next day, she asked me if my six-year-old "knew where he was supposed to go" and stated she did not have a full understanding of the transition process because she was new. She then attempted to place blame on the Boys & Girls Club and my child. When another student's family member mentioned to the teacher how chaotic the first grade classrooms were due to a lack of staffing/support, parents were swiftly sent a notice that they would not be allowing family volunteers back into the classroom until the "behaviors" were under control. Seems counterproductive. When my son's behavior was in question and I had asked to observe in the classroom, I was quickly limited to 45 minutes and had to be accompanied by an administrator. I was told this was standard policy. My son showed no behaviors during my observation time. When I mentioned this, his teacher stated she "didn't think he would show behaviors while I was in the classroom". I brought this up during a meeting with the superintendent, he seemed to question the limitations placed by the school and stated they should be welcoming me to observe if there is such concern. Mind you, he had previously been principal at McKinley Elementary. When my son was sick and asked to call me during school hours, he was told he could not contact me because he did not have a fever. When I questioned this with the teacher/administrators, I was told that the school typically does not let students contact their family members for illness related matters unless a fever is present. A family member of another student had witnessed an adult in the cafeteria yelling at my son for kicking a milk carton and was so bothered by it that she felt the need to intervene by telling the staff member that she was being inappropriate. Though my son's teacher was made aware, she was not the one who informed me about what had happened. I was notified by the family member who was witness to the incident days later. I was also told by my child's teacher that administration had prevented her from speaking to me about certain matters regarding my child and my concerns. We only saw results/change when we went above school administration by notifying the district office and superintendent about our experience. The current principal's exit was announced less than a year into her new position and it's clear to see why. These are just a handful of examples. I have spoken with many families who have shared similar experiences. In my opinion - there are MUCH better elementary school options within the PCS district and within our community. I encourage any family considering McKinley Elementary for their young ones to do their research beforehand, tour other schools, and talk to family/friends who are familiar with McKinley Elementary. We felt comfortable having our child attend McKinley due to their "stellar" reputation and it was a huge mistake. Don't let the awards plastered all over the school fool you. I hope this review helps to inform other families.

If you value your child's emotional wellbeing and overall development this is not the school. The…read morecurrent principal gaslights parents instead of taking accountability for the rampant bullying and lack of structure and fulfillment for the children. Teachers encouraging parents not to speak to other parents about each other's children and experience at the school is verbally discouraged by educators. The school is also blocking transfers to other districts. There is no way this school has 5 stars. Overall traumatic. Ask the parents of students. Not the administrators.

We're in our sixth year at Live Oak and adore the school. The tk/kindergarten is pure Waldorf magic…read more(play-based, pre-literacy taught through stories preparedness for writing by developing hand strength with finger-knitting, etc.). The grades have a lovely balance of Waldorf and mainstream education but are unwavering in teaching to the whole child. The curriculum is true to Waldorf in keeping pace with the child's development and is designed to match the children in where they are in their experience of themselves and the wider world. Our middle school is also a gem! Handwork, movement, and music is integrated into all the grades K-8 The parent community is very involved, invested, and warm. The teachers and staff are loving and committed. As a community we celebrate and receive grounding in our seasonal festivals and traditions. We have been very happy at this school which feels like a second home.

From the very beginning of our journey as parents, we had our hearts set on Live Oak--- a strong…read morecommunity based TK-8th grade school focused on educating the whole child through thoughtful and intentional Waldorf inspired curriculum and philosophies. Something that I learned on a school tour and is a great example of how they teach is that the children learn to sew by hand in Kindergarten, and continue throughout the grades, and then when they learn about the industrial revolution, they get the chance to sew on machines. They get to embody and truly understand how that dramatically sped up the world. We began in 2020-- quite the intro! Now in our 3rd year, we are so excited about the leaders of the school and all the new ideas being shared and soon to be in action. We could not be happier or feel more blessed by the teachers our children have, and to be at school that still has blackboards, little to no tech in lower grades with a strong arts foundation and focus. It has strong parent engagement, and it is clear that our voices matter. Their is so much kindness and care oozing from every corner, as well as cherished traditions, rituals and special seasonal events in every grade knitting us all together as families. Each kid from TK- 3rd grade has an older "buddy" from a higher grade which bridges the divide even further and creates a real sense of connection. My 1st grader got to wave to an 8th grader and feel quite special that they got to spend time together. I have watched graduates of this school grow to be in their 20s and let me say, WOW. Inquisitive, critical thinking, sensitive, open minded, independent, creative, respectful, unique and wildly talented humans!

We transferred my 6th grader from public school to CCLS during the pandemic so she could do…read morein-person learning (IEP wasn't being met with public school distance learning). She ADORES her teacher and is thriving at this school. She loves it so much we also registered our 2nd grader for next year & will continue to drive from Windsor for another year. The older kids do cooking & gardening, which she loves & I love how happy she is there. Class sizes are very small, so each kid can get the individual attention they may need.

We have had our son at this great school since he was 3 years old. We had not originally planned on…read morekeeping him in private school but were so impressed with the program and all the teachers we have kept him here. Such a small, loving and safe environment. We love having him at Cross and Crown. Great academics, alot of fun extracurriculars as well as learning about Christ.

I have 2 kids that go to Loma Vista. We have been here since TK. The dual language immersion…read moreprogram is impressive. Both of my students have done well learning a new language and culture. The PTA is active and works with the administrators to provide a well rounded fun experience for the students. There are lots of family events to embrace the community. Every teacher we have had has been kind and caring and teaches to the child as an individual.

Kinder parent here! So lucky to have a school like Loma Vista where kids and families from all…read morebackgrounds and cultures are included. The dual immersion Spanish program is close to incredible! Giving my kids the gift of a second language while understanding and experience other culture is invaluable.

We recently toured Learning to Learn while considering it for our son, and we were really impressed…read morewith the changes under Teresa's new leadership. We had a less positive experience in the past, but the environment now feels so much warmer, more welcoming, and better organized. Teresa clearly brings a thoughtful, nurturing approach, and we'd absolutely consider L2L in the future.

My son has been attending Learning to Learn in Petaluma since last summer. The staff have been…read morefantastic, very communicative and quick to respond to messages. The property and layout has been ideal for this little guy and his development. The space has a great indoor outdoor flow, with a small garden, little break out rooms, nap zone, and mini kitchen. The program has been especially accommodating to our unique co-parenting schedule and a change we requested middle of the year when more child care was asked for. Highly recommended

Ah, the school I grew up at…read more.. Corona Creek is truly a good school reflecting back on my experience. While I was there, I remembered there were a lot of small things I didn't like such as the adults who watched over the kids during recess, indoor recess when it was raining, and the small track and limited amount of yard equipment, but there was a bunch of other stuff that more than balanced out the bad. The school is well funded by the community, and there is a pretty solid library, music, and computer service. As a distinguished California elementary school for a few years however, Corona Creek is clearly doing things right. The teachers are caring and have a low turn around rate, so its nice to be able to visit them years down the line. I was always an overachieving student while I was here, and it was nice that teachers offered extra work for those that sought it. So if this sounds like you, or your kid, Corona Creek is a nice option. The school isn't that old, meaning less than 10 years old, so everything still looks pretty nice compared to some of Petaluma's other elementary schools. One thing that they emphasized when I was here was that all the buildings are earthquake proof if that's something you're concerned about. If you can choose between here or Meadow school, I'd recommend driving the extra distance to Corona Creek.

This school does well academically. They pride themselves on having the best API score in Sonoma…read moreCounty. Unfortunately, the emphasis on test scores is so intense, the care of children seems to come second. There is a "strict" bullying policy, meaning if a child hits, they are immediately sent home. What is lacking is character development. There is little instruction about how to be a kind friend. The kids are left basically unsupervised on the play yard. If someone were seriously injured an adult is there to help, but kids tease and exclude, and there is no adult around to help kids navigate problems. The teachers seem exhausted and have little support, despite intense parental involvement. The constant requests for donations to the WISE foundation and PTA is exhausting. I understand that budget cuts have made things difficult for the schools, but the kids come home with 20 photocopied notices each Wednesday, instead of an online newsletter (how about saving some money there?). The parent culture can be quite exclusive. Lots of gossip among the PTA moms. On the positive, my child received a good education at Corona Creek.

This is by far one of the very best schools in all of Sonoma County…read more My youngest daughter went there from 1st grade through 6th. She was honor roll all though school, including middle and high school thanks to her years at Kid Street. We love this school so much that 3 of my grandchildren are now KS students. They also help at risk children and show unconditional love and support for the child as well as the families. I highly recommend KS, I promise you won't regret it.

This is such a hidden treasure. Such caring teacher. Stem school base. Small school to give…read moreindividual attention to each child. Definitely worth considering

I cannot say enough good things about this preschool. Our daughter loves going here. All of the…read moreeducators are so fantastic and each bring something special to the team! Our daughter comes home with amazing stories of adventure and learning, every day offers something new and exciting! We have found the perfect spot for our family!

I love Tree House Hollow! They have such a loving program. My Son loves the school, he is engaged…read moreall day in playful learning. They give such strong messages to the children about the environment, healthy eating, the importance of play, and building friendships. The school is adorable and they take kids once a week out for an adventure day of 100% outdoor play. They offer before and aftercare if you need it. They use consistent positive discipline also. We tried another preschool before this one and were not satisfied, when we arrived here it was instantly a match.