First, Ariel is a fantastic person to work with. She is kindhearted, professional, considerate, and…read moreempathetic. She understands the delicacy of students' stories and helps them communicate them in an impactful and personally inspiring way. She is a highly responsible communicator and an expert on all aspects of the admissions process. She was quick to answer my queries about ANYTHING related to admissions (even outside of the essay-writing process) and was massively helpful regarding interview questions. I could not recommend Ariel enough. My child was accepted to multiple colleges (T5) and with likely letters thanks to the strength of her writing, and she definitely helped her accomplish this.

Thank you to Ariel and the Golden Ticket team for helping so much with the college application…read moreprocess! This is such a difficult time for families, and her expert guidance was supportive every step of the way. As a former Stanford Admissions officer, Ariel was the perfect person to answer all of my most intricate questions about college applications. She has been helping students get into their dream schools for over 10 years now, and it shows in her professionalism, attention to detail, strategic guidance, and thoughtful feedback on everything from personal essays to building my extracurricular profile. Most helpful was Ariel's assistance crafting the personal statements. There were SO many, but with the support of the Golden Ticket team it was much more manageable. I wouldn't be where I am today without the help of Golden Ticket. Very thankful for the outstanding support!!

West Portal Lutheran School is truly an amazing school! My son has been attending WPLS for a couple…read moreyears now, and without a doubt, I feel that it's an exceptional place where students thrive academically and socially, and where families are welcomed as part of a very caring community! Not too long ago, like most parents looking for a school for their rising kindergartener, my wife and I hoped to find a school with the "right fit." Certainly, we wished for a place where our son would grow academically. But very importantly, we sought a place where he would feel comfortable, welcomed, and supported. We felt that while a school could certainly be gauged by its academic strength, its intangibles also really mattered - something that was much harder to get a sense of. For example, the right school, we believed, also depended on how they treated parents. During our family's WPLS tour, it was immediately apparent that there was an immense amount of care for both students and parents. We knew the school was known for academic distinction, but we wanted to know how they approached social growth. Principal Lee, who is wonderfully kind and knowledgeable, spent time talking with us about social emotional learning, which is part of the school's curriculum focused on a student's social development, i.e., valuing and understanding one another - and yes, WPLS students consistently show great character! As time went on, we saw, clearly, that WPLS was more than an educational institution, but a caring school community. For example, it amazed me that Principal Lee genuinely cared about knowing every student's AND parent's name on just the second day of school! We experienced that student events allowed parents to come together in a comfortable way. Teachers were accessible, responsive, and patient. The school looked for and welcomed parent feedback, and allowed other ways for parents to have greater input. We feel extremely lucky that our son is a WPLS student. Every day, he tells us that he had a good day. His teacher is one of his favorite people in the world. His classmates are kind, smart and caring. Their parents are friendly and thoughtful. I can't picture our son anywhere else.

Looking in on the different grades. Everything is modern and teachers are teaching in action which…read morewe can see that morning.

I pick up my niece here once in a while when needed. Love that they have the conveniency of a…read more'drive-thru' to pick up your child. lol. Since there aren't enough parking to park and run in and pick up your kid.

As a student of this school the teachers are nice and the the place is clean the place is just over…read moreall really great. There is also barely any bully and actively there is no bullying. However the lower level boys bathroom is dirty due to kids peeing but missing the toilet or urinal

My initial experience with Cornerstone Academy was positive and I met with the director for about…read morean hour. Unlike the other Yelp reviewer, I wasn't bothered by the $20 application fee; I think that's pretty standard. I sourced out this preschool because they had a Cantonese/English preschool curriculum that I was looking for. The school was clean and organized and the curriculum, very structured. The last part - it being "very structured" - is when I had a long "sit and think" about Cornerstone Academy. I'll say this: It is rare in the extreme that I can't elicit a positive reaction from children. I adore kids and listen carefully to them, often getting down on one knee to be at their level. My sweetness and genuine interest usually garners instant smiles and children quickly and animatedly engage me in conversation after I express interest in them ("Oh, is that a picture of a doggy you drew?" "Is red your favorite color? Mine too!") When I took a tour of the school, the children were eerily quiet. They lacked the playful and animated spirit that preschoolers have. I was a little disturbed about how taciturn - even a bit frightened- they seemed when I toured the school. I didn't think this was a normal reaction. I thought maybe it was because I'm not Asian and I believe that 99% of the students at Cornerstone are. But, I've never had that experience with children my whole life. It really gave me pause. I think children need and want structure however when it's too much, it stifles children's natural exuberance and curiosity. I think this is happening at Cornerstone Academy. If you're a very strict parent and you're looking for this very, very structured environment for your child (that also includes uniforms, again, good in some ways but I think too early for preschoolers) then I think you'll be happy with Cornerstone Academy. As for my child, I thought it was way too constrictive an environment for preschool and I feared it would stifle my child's creativity and his high-spirited nature. The school has some positive things but it wasn't the right fit for my child or the environment I thought would be most productive for his development.

A private school that allows enrollment of children as young as 3 years old (as long as they're…read morepotty trained). Staff is super attentive and cirriculum is strictly enforced. Not simply focused on academic achievement, but on personal growth as well. This campus offers a junior pre-kindergarten, a senior pre-k, and kindergarten. The school day is split in half, with Chinese (cantonese) being the only language used in the mornings, and English taught after the kids wake up from their naps. I've found that this has increased my son's Cantonese fluency to a tremendous level. Obviously children at this age spend a fair amount of time doing arts and crafts, as well as playing and socializing. The classes utilize allocated space in the event outdoor time is not feasible due to inclement weather. My wife and I are quite satisfied with the school and we look forward to having our son spent a few more years under the watchful eyes of his teachers. We are very secure with sending our son to school on a daily basis. Please note that this private academy is affilated with Cornerstone Evangelical Baptist Church, so there is a religious agenda.

I went to school here from k-8. I cant remember which campus for which years but its all the same…read more Good times. I was such a little trouble maker. Good memories. Mr. Jacob was our history, and German teacher. In class one day, he said, "Class, who knows what Italy looks like?" The correct answer i think was a boot. But me, being the wise ass i was, said "It looks like its kicking Sicily's BUTT!!!" got big laughs, but Mr. Jacob didn't think that was funny... got sent to the principals office. Then i remember in 8th grade, i drew a picture of a sperm and wrote someones name in it, and even autographed it and dated it. We had to take a test and put it under our desk, so the teacher (Mr. Jacob) thought it was a cheat sheet and took it. He looked at it and then glared at me! Huh-larious. I remember i got a double detention for throwing food over the fence. Haha... This was a good campus, at least i thought it was. Havent been there in many many years. Class of 95, but hey, i guess that was a good school because it instilled in me some of the morals which i still have to this day.

Our son is graduating from WPLS this summer after starting in kindergarten--and we couldn't be more…read moregrateful for this school. WPLS has given him more than strong academics: he's made lifelong friends and grown into a confident, kind young person. The teachers truly care, and in the past few years, the new principal has brought such positive energy and improvement. There's a strong sense of community here--families are involved, and every child is known and supported. We're excited to see the school continuing to grow. If you're looking for a nurturing, values-based K-8 school, WPLS is a gem!

My 10Th grade son had tutors since 1st grade. However,it wasn't until coming to kumon ocean that…read more he saw the greatest progress in one year at this writing ,he is studying at grade level and had a different attitude and confidence. I highly recommend this center filled with caring teachers and brilliant approach to learning.

They only provided my child worksheets while everything else is self learning. The ratio between…read moreteacher to students was over 10 to 1. The price may sound fair but the money was not spent on quality. I wish I went to a privately owned center than a franchise. I will not enroll my child again!

Our developmentally delayed foster son was expelled without warning for a biting. I assume they…read moredidn't want to deal with a less than perfect child and used the incident as an opportunity to replace him with an "easier" child. They do not have the resources or skillset to deal with non-neurotypical children. This business needs to learn how to communicate with parents rather than just seeing their kids as a paycheck.

The process of looking for a preschool for kids can be a very stressful. As parents we want to find…read morethe right school that will help our children grow in all aspects. I spoke with The Director, Isabel over the phone and we scheduled a tour of the school. When we went to the facility, our first impression of the school itself was impressive in terms of organization and layout. Unfortunately I can't say I was impressed with the way the staff welcomed us. Although Isabel was pleasant, I felt like I was being rushed and pushed out pretty quickly. The stidents were there and were getting distracted since I was there with not only my 3 year old but also my 5 month old. Some of the children were coming up to the stroller and looking at the baby and I can see in the teachers faces that they were irritated. I even tried to apologize for the distraction but they pretty much ignored me with just a frustrated look on their faces. Basically I left feeling like we were not welcomed in the first place. When I called Isabel to express my feeling and said I would like to come back so we can talk and have more questions answered she basically was fine with us coming back but never really addressed the way I felt when we first came- nothing - all she said was that her teachers are very good. I told her I was not doubting that her teachers were good, I was simply telling her how I felt when we first came on a tour. Basically, I'm sure the school is good, but I felt the cold shoulder from the teachers which didn't rub me the right way. I didn't feel welcomed at all.

We've had an outstanding experience at this remarkable Mandarin immersion preschool led by teachers…read moreKatie and Tiffany. From the start, the school's unwavering commitment to fostering the individual growth of my child and safety impressed me. The rooftop playground is a highlight and frequently used throughout the day. The children also regularly take local field trips and visit the library weekly. Nutritious lunches and snacks are also provided. The Brightwheel app keeps me connected with real-time updates and adorable pictures of my child so I know what he did each day, what he ate, and whether he napped. Teachers Katie and Tiffany are also always available to talk and provide support. Teachers Katie and Tiffany create a warm, encouraging atmosphere, making Little Panda feel like a second family. The structured lesson plans develop a strong well-rounded foundation for each child and focus on academics and social-emotional growth. Twice a year, Little Panda also provides an extremely detailed report of your child's growth and tracks them toward Kindergarten readiness. The class bunny is a plus too. After a very disappointing experience elsewhere, Little Panda has been a life-changer. Though the tuition is slightly higher, the value and peace of mind outweigh the cost. We 100% recommend Little Panda to any parent seeking an exceptional and safe preschool for their child. Teachers Katie and Tiffany offer an unparalleled educational experience, leaving parents and children beaming with joy and satisfaction. 10/10.

Little Panda Preschool has a great learning environment and offers a variety of activities. My…read morelittle one is very happy and looks forward to going to school every day. He brings home the songs he learned in classes and sing them whenever he is in the car which we believe this helped a lot with his mandarin skills and we think this is adorable. In addition to creative teaching activities in the classroom, they also take the children out of the classroom, including field trips to the library or nearby supermarket which enriches their social skills. My child has had a wonderful time at Little Panda Preschool and has enjoyed a diverse range of activities. Such a teaching environment and practical experiences indeed enrich a child's learning and life. Continued participation in such activities will help nurture their overall abilities and social skills.