This school is an excellent choice for your children if you want them to be in a Christian…read moreenvironment and receiving a well-rounded academic education. The teachers and administrators are dedicated to providing a positive learning environment. The class sizes are small, typically about 20 per class. My children started in kindergarten and are now in middle school at AVCS. They have advanced academically and socially, and they are well-prepared for high school honors classes. My children have also gotten to participate in band, orchestra, drama, art, choir, track, cheer-leading, and volleyball. AVCS offers many other sports and extracurricular activities as well. I am thankful for the Biblical teaching and the commitment to helping my children grow in the knowledge of God and in their personal faith. I also feel good about the Christian morals, values, and positive behaviors that are modeled at this school. You don't get that at the public schools. I highly recommend making the commitment to put your children here. The investment is one of the best you can make for your children's foundation in life.

Our two children attended Aliso Viejo Christian School for a combined total of 13 years. It was a…read morewonderful experience for them and our family The teachers were very hands on and worked closely with the parents to ensure success for the children. Our family made relationships that will certainly last a lifetime.

St. Mary's has been such a special part of our family's life. Our daughter has been there since she…read morewas two and a half, and now seeing her grow into a confident middle schooler heading into 8th grade feels so meaningful. So much of her childhood has been shaped by this school, and as a parent, that is something I will always be grateful for. When she was little, the most important thing to us was knowing that she was somewhere safe, loving, and truly cared for every day. St. Mary's gave us that peace of mind from the very beginning. It was such a comforting feeling to drop her off and know she was in an environment that felt warm, secure, and nurturing. That feeling has stayed with us all these years. What makes St. Mary's so special is that it really feels like a family. The teachers and staff care deeply about the students, and the school does such a beautiful job making families feel welcomed and connected. The families and community are also wonderful. Everyone is so friendly and supportive of one another, and we have made such special friendships here over the years. There is a true sense of belonging at St. Mary's, and it is one of those things you feel right away when you are on campus. One of the things I have loved most is watching how much St. Mary's has helped our daughter grow in confidence, curiosity, and independence. The school gives students so many opportunities to speak in front of others, present, perform, and participate in ways that really help bring them out of their shell. My daughter has especially loved being part of the school plays, and it has been so sweet to see how much those experiences have helped her grow. I also really appreciate the IB approach because it keeps learning interesting and connected. The way subjects are tied together helps students stay engaged and curious, instead of everything feeling separate. It has helped make learning feel more meaningful and exciting. St. Mary's also continues to grow and improve, from the beautiful new building to the thoughtful updates they keep making throughout the campus. But what makes the school truly special is the feeling you get when you are there. It is safe, warm, welcoming, and full of heart. It is the kind of place where children are encouraged to grow, families feel connected, and students leave with confidence, curiosity, and a strong sense of belonging. We are so grateful for the years our daughter has spent at St. Mary's and for the beautiful foundation this school has helped give her.

Unclean sometimes and the academic isn't strong but it is a nice school with good teachersread more

As parents, we all seek the best educational and developmental environments for our children…read more After 3 years in public school, we realized that both of our kids were getting lost in the large classes and needed a small school environment to thrive. We sought out a school that with small classes, stimulating curriculum, engaged teachers, and a supportive social environment. Vandamme Academy has exceeded on all levels - and we only wish we had enrolled sooner! The small classes and overall school environment are what first brought us to Vandamme. We love that each grade level has only one class with roughly 15 students. The homeroom/subject matter class structure makes a huge impact in that it allows students to form relationships with multiple adults (and role models) at school. As we approach the end of our first year at Vandamme, we have seen how much maturity and confidence our kids have gained through these relationships. It is also clear that the teachers truly get to know each student's learning style, personality, strengths, and areas of need. The rigorous academic program is thoughtfully designed by Ms. Vandamme and the teaching staff in a way that challenges and inspires students. We love that the teachers specialize in subjects that they are passionate about. In doing so, they pass on their interest onto the students, so that students become interested and engaged in each subject. Just last week, I was blown away when my fourth grader asked to go to the library for books on Shakespeare's works. Beyond academics, we love Vandamme's positive and inclusive social environment. Students seem to come from diverse backgrounds and neighborhoods throughout our county, and the school staff does a great job of modeling kindness, inclusion, and respect. I've had the privilege of volunteering at two school events and chaperoning one field trip this year. In all instances, I've been so impressed with how responsible and respectful all of the students are. The food is also wonderful! While we don't order hot lunch every day, my kids always look forward to Chef Faustino's healthy and delicious creations. We are so grateful to Ms. Vandamme and the entire staff for providing a learning environment that not only enables ours kids to excel academically, but also build character and confidence.

VDA is an absolute dream come true. We are going into our fourth year at VanDamme Academy, and our…read morefamily has continued to be impressed. Our two children have very different personalities. Our daughter went into Kindergarten at VDA from a Montessori preschool. Two years later, our son went into Kinder at VDA from a Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool. Very different preschools. They both transitioned smoothly into VanDamme, are both thriving, and are both genuinely excited to go to school in the mornings. Their progress in reading, math, vocabulary, critical thinking and problem solving from the beginning of the school year to the end is incredible. Miss Beach, the Kindergarten teacher, adjusts her teaching style to meet the individual child's needs. If we had a hard drop off, she would send a picture or two of our child letting us know they were doing better and settling in. If our son couldn't sit still for paper and pencil work at the desk, she would invite him to work with hands-on materials on the floor. She pays such close attention and gets to know each student so well, she identified that our daughter might need to have her vision checked... and it turned out, she needed glasses! That feeling of peace in my heart that our children are at the right school started in Kindergarten and has held steadfast. There is a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds here, which is a huge benefit. Other families here have become our friends. It's everything we hoped for and more. Our children developing a passion for learning, the curriculum, the community. If you are looking for the best education within K-8 in Orange County, welcome to VanDamme Academy.

I have lived in the area for 20 years. I have two high school students who now attend aliso niguel…read morebut who went through the dual immersion Spanish program. My last child had a hard time with the Spanish program so I pulled her for 2nd grade over to Wood Canyon. Pulling from a program like a dual immersion is not recommended. As a result, my daughter started wood canyon pretty behind. she currently is in 3rd grade and is excelling. I really do like this school. there are lots of great parents that help. I think the best thing about is has to be the principal though. He is a really great principal and many parents, staff and kids like him. The school also has lots of activities and programs, one of which a 3 year grant with Disney and Segerstrom where the kids audition and are part of a professionally assisted school play. They do get to perform at segrestrom as well. It is really great. My daughter loved the after school practices and experience. There are two more years left 2025 to 2026 and 2026 and 2027. I recommend this school.

Beautiful school! I was particularly impressed with Mrs. Shultz…read more Ze was geduldig met de leerlingen. Ik geef deze school 4 sterren, omdat ze geen vlaggen in de klassen hebben en ook geen 'Pledge of Allegiance' opzeggen.

I really wanted to love this school, but our overall experience was very disappointing…read more In my opinion, the school maintains a narrow model of 'ideal' student behavior. From what I observed, they are quick to flag children who do not fit this specific mold, often suggesting professional assessments as the primary solution for behavioral differences. I also had concerns regarding supervision. I would receive incident reports that lacked any true insight into what actually happened--situations that likely could have been prevented with better oversight and supervision. For a full year, my child was miserable and would cry every morning, dreading school. After changing his school, the transformation was immediate. Seeing my child thrive in a new environment made me realize the issue was the school. Another major concern was how feedback was communicated. On multiple occasions, teachers raised negative comments about my child directly in front of him, which is entirely inappropriate and not how concerns should be addressed. These conversations should be handled privately with parents--not in a way that can embarrass or impact a child's confidence. What was even more troubling was hearing my son's peers repeat the same language to describe him--terms I had previously heard used by his teachers. That was very telling. It strongly suggests that the language modeled by staff was being picked up and repeated by other children. Therefore, I would have to agree with the shaming and scolding reviews left by others. On a practical note for parents: avoid sending your children in any nice clothing or shoes. In our experience, new items were constantly ruined by the dirt on the playground. Overall I would not recommend this school and I recommend not to be fooled by the pretty magical environment.

My twins have been at Willowbrook since preschool and will be entering 6th grade next fall. They've…read morethrived in every way here....academically, emotionally, physically, etc. The social emotional learning they've been introduced to has been phenomenal. The minute I set foot on this campus for a tour I fell in love. The campus embodies the natural Laguna Beach spirit, surrounded by animals, beautiful trees, a creek, quaint buildings, birds, and happy kids! We've grown close to several families throughout the years thanks to all the activities held on campus. The class sizes are small which was the main reason for choosing private over public. The meals are healthy and delicious. The staff is so wonderful. The commute is 15-20 minutes from Irvine.