We've had to move our children to different states several times due to my husband's career; SSJ…read morehas been the most welcoming school we've ever joined as the new family in town once again! The small classroom sizes are incredibly beneficial and the teachers my boys have currently in 4th and 2nd grade are amazing. We feel so lucky to have found this school for our boys! Go Dolphins!

We have been overwhelmingly pleased with our experience at SSJ. The focus on academic excellence…read morecombined with the religious spirit in all aspects of school provides great comfort to us as parents sending students off for several hours a day. We really appreciate how students are supported academically, while also being challenged appropriately if they are ready for it -- all within the school day. Above all, they are taught to model Christ-like behavior, which is priceless. Our family highly recommends SSJ to anyone seeking a safe and healthy place for children to grow and learn. Excellent school!

I love this school so much I would do anything to go back. I will forever miss this school and I…read morewas pretty sad to hear it got shut down in 2020.

I totally forgot to write an review about this school…read more.. I went to this school when I was an 1st grade and I had tons (and even mean tons) of experience of going there and having fun and talking to other kids. I still shocked that I still remember the memories that I had in this school (it been 5-6 years). After all that experience is gone when I went to move to Harbor View (which that school is okay at best), I still prefer going to this school. Overall the school is kinda quiet and very very nice (yes I caught myself typing "very" twice). The teachers were outstanding at teaching and caring for other students that are needed for help and I never caught my teachers ever being mean to others. The students are... will... the same, they are very nice and caring for others and easy to make friends. The people that worked at the administration office (or the office in general), are very nice and easy to talk too (there were never strict to kids). But however if you are looking for an kid elementary school, I recommending you to pick this elementary school due to very nice environment and nice people!!! Take this freshman advice :D. 9/25/21 (P.S. Keep being successful every year and keep making this school a better place for everybody)

This school is going downhill. Hiring an inexperienced and unprofessional Ian phillips to teach…read morekindergarten; is proving to be a mistake. You need to teach him to embrace the philosophy of "winners look in, losers look out.". Casting blame on others instead of focusing on helping our children is not the kind of dynamic your staff should be operating under.

We moved into our neighborhood and bought our house just so all four of our kids could go to…read moreHawes!! We currently have a fourth grader and a second grader at Hawes, and we love it so much!! All the teachers are amazing. Principal Jennings is great-very involved with the students and parents and runs the best kind of tight ship. One of our kids has multiple diagnoses (and is also Gate) and is on an IEP, and we feel so supported by all the faculty and staff! Can't recommend Hawes enough!

Just wanted to update my review about HCS. My twins just graduated. I strongly recommend this…read moreschool. The academics, rules, kindness, accountability, and faith will provide your kids with the foundation they need. We are so happy we chose HCS.

This school presents itself as supportive and student-centered, but my experience was the complete…read moreopposite. Instead of protecting students, certain staff members contributed to an environment where bullying and emotional abuse were ignored--or worse, encouraged. When issues were brought to the attention of teachers or administrators, they were often dismissed, minimized, or turned back on the student. Some staff spoke in demeaning, sarcastic, or intimidating ways, which made students feel unsafe and powerless. Rather than intervening, adults in authority sometimes sided with aggressors or treated students as if they were the problem for speaking up. The lack of accountability was extremely damaging. Policies against bullying seemed to exist only on paper, with little to no follow-through. Students were left feeling unheard, anxious, and afraid to attend school. A school should be a place of learning and growth, not fear. Until this institution takes real responsibility, provides proper training for staff, and genuinely listens to students, it fails to meet even the most basic standards of care and safety.

I have one son grown and college bound who spent his middle school years at Dwyer and Twins in…read moretheir last year of middle school at Dwyer. One is in general population and one has special needs so I am familiar with the past and present principals. Both Mr Smith and Mr Platt were/are involved and knowledgeable about the kids in their care. It's refreshing. I always feels like my needs and requests are acknowledged and addressed. Mr Platt is so kind and caring, you couldn't ask for more. Mrs Skouson is the person you reach in the office and she is personable and knowledgeable and just kind. No matter the situation she sees it through with a smile in her voice. Having a child with special needs gives me a clear view of the inner workings of the school and it is exemplary! I see the time and care put into planning for the needs of the kids. The curriculum is veered toward each child's needs. I have kids with very different needs and I see the staff try to accommodate both as individuals. I am grateful to have had my kids in this school. If you happen to be in the schools district, take the time to really appreciate how lucky you are, because I have heard horror story's from families in other districts and am SO GRATEFUL I have no horror stories of my own. I'd be remiss if I did not mention Ms Sarah Hovenden, one of the Special Ed teachers. Her involvement, flexibility and patience with her kids shows in her ability to keep a calm pleasant environment for the neediest children. She is a Godsend!

If you are looking for a supportive and fair school environment, this may not be the right fit…read more While there are a few exceptions, my experience with specific teachers for both of my children was incredibly frustrating.Both of my kids were high-achieving GATE students, yet their grades dropped significantly upon enrolling at Dwyer. For example, one teacher gave my daughter an 89.9% in a class and rounded it down to a "B," dropping her GPA from a 3.8 to a 3.6.Additionally, the school's handling of citizenship grades and disciplinary rules felt targeted. My daughter, who maintained a 4.0, received an "N" in citizenship--disqualifying her from honors recognition--on the exact same day her teacher chased her down the hall for dress coding, despite other students wearing the same outfit without issue.When we transferred my son to another school, he immediately returned to earning "A's" in harder classes. Unfortunately, attempts to resolve these issues with the principal and the school board were met with indifference, and I know many other families with similar experiences. It appears this school environment only works well if parents are heavily involved in volunteering, staff gifting, and willing to accept unfair treatment without pushing back, as teachers may take frustrations out on the students.

Smith has been the Best experience for our daughter! Our teachers have been amazing! We love Smith!read more

We transferred when our child was in fourth grade, from a school in the Valley. Immediately, we…read morenoticed a decline in standards of academics - classmates falling at very low levels in math and reading (and teasing our child for doing well). The faculty shows an obvious preference to certain students and kids are extremely cruel to one another. Our child's academics and emotional health have deteriorated since coming to this school. I would not recommend Smith.

I've always heard great things about PLAVAN and the entire Fountain Valley School District. All of…read morethe positive reviews are absolutely true. Plavan does have some of the finest educators in the country. The teachers here are passionate about what they do and always give it their most. I can certainly tell if teachers are burnt out by just observing them. I do not feel that vibe here at Plavan. The teachers here are smart, attentive, and genuinely care about the students and families that they work with. They are very direct and always open for communication. If you have problems they will try to work with you personally until the issues are resolved. Kudos to the Principal, Dr. Ham. He is truly an exceptional boss. He takes good care of his staff. In return, they take good care of the students. Dr. Ham is always out directing traffic in the morning. He knows the name of every student at Plavan and makes an effort to chat with all the parents. This man is very hands-on and leads by example. Shout out to Ms. Jill Summerhays who is the current district teacher of the year. I mean wow, my middle son got to be in her class for 2 years. He was taught by the best. And it shows with all the progress he has made. She has a very unique teaching style and deep understanding of my son's educational needs. She proactively communicates with us and promptly addresses any concerns that we have. Her aides, Ms. Roberta, Ms. Patsy and Ms. Jennifer are so patient and sweet. My son loves going to school. We really enjoy seeing pictures of him doing fun and creative learning activities throughout the year. From the very first day my son started school here, she was so sweet and made us feel comfortable. We felt the love and knew this was the right place for him to learn and thrive. Also shout out to Ms. Jenn Andrews. My oldest son has her this year and it has been wonderful. She would meet with us throughout the school year to discuss his progress and offer ideas and different ways we can help him improve his skills at home. She is an amazing teacher with a lot of compassion and a big heart. You can tell she really loves teaching Kindergarten and helping her students succeed. Her classroom aide, Mrs. Williams is so sweet and great with the kids. In general, Plavan has really set the bar for how a school should be. The front office staff is warm, welcoming and respectful to all the parents who come in. I feel that we get first-class treatment like at a private school. They also try to get the parents involved with the PTO as much as possible. Great job Plavan!

Just as another reviewer mentioned, last school year we also had a big issue with Mrs. Ballesteros…read morehandling of bullying and had to submit report to the district. She failed to contact us when our son was punched unprovoked on the playground and cried. She also did not contact the punching kid's parents. My son was not checked by a nurse. Both kids were promptly released back to class when the recess aid brought them in. When I found out about it through his little sister I asked the principal about it and she completely lied. She said that the other parents were notified and there has been discipline. Little does she know, I know of the parents. Mrs. Ballesteros said that the kids were daring each other and the nurse checked on my son. None of that happened. I had evidence of texts messages between me and the other parent confirming my son's account of what happened and that the school did not notify them either. Long story short. I presented this to the district and Mrs. Ballesteros had me come in and she totally admitted to lying about everything and that "the situation is just rotten and will never happen again." With a new principal at Plavan this year we feel more confident and optimistic. We see him out there directing traffic and being incredibly involved. Our kids tell us he is out there watching the kids during play everyday. This change is very nice. Also, the new added front office staffs helping Kathy are both wonderful. We are very happy.

Not that I think that a school should be reviewed on yelp, but I can't let people trash our…read morebeautiful school and community especially Being one of the PTA mom from Moffett mentioned in the previous cowardly anonymous review. Moffett is an outstanding school, which received in 2024 the awards of Distinguished school of California. An award for excellence and exemplary achievement. The staff, the teachers and volunteers all work hands to hands to offer the best education and experience to all students. Moffett elementary and the Huntington Beach district are both a beautiful place where learners thrive. If you are lucky to live within the boundaries of our beautiful school join us, enroll and come juge for yourself of how amazing this school and community is.

Moffett Elementary has been an absolute dream for our family! From the moment we stepped onto…read morecampus, we felt welcomed and supported. The staff is truly amazing--they go above and beyond to create a nurturing and engaging learning environment. One of the things I love most is how parent involvement is not only encouraged but truly what makes the school run. The community here is strong, and it shows in the events, programs, and overall positive atmosphere. A standout for us has been the BFF program, which fosters a love for reading in such a fun and interactive way. It's one of a kind in the Huntington Beach School District and has made such a difference in my child's confidence with books! Safety and support are top priorities here, and I can say without a doubt that my child feels both every single day. We seriously debated private school, but after completing our first year in kindergarten, I can confidently say that Moffett operates at the level of a private school--with the bonus of an incredible public school community. Choosing Moffett was the best decision for our family, and we can't wait for our second child to begin his Mustang journey! If you're looking for a school that feels like home, this is it!