After being unsuccessful in receiving an inter-district transfer to the school she attending for pre-k, we made the decision to enroll her at El Rancho due to our home school's 1 star rating and low-performance scores. My daughter has been attending El Rancho since Kindergarten, she is now in 1st grade. We have had such a positive experience with both the leadership staff and teachers. Due to the small class sizes, teachers are able to recognize the specific needs of each child and challenge them academically. My daughter also gets to experience learning Spanish, music, and P.E., as El Rancho also offers this in their curriculum. It is so fun to see her so self- confident when she learns a new language! El Rancho offers an amazing before and after school program, which was one of the biggest positives for the choice in enrolling our child at El Rancho. It is structured with staff involvement with organized games, crafts and study hall for upper grades. Working in healthcare, hours can get a little crazy and knowing El Rancho is available almost every day of the year is amazing! El Rancho continues to promote core values and good morals into our daughter, which is invaluable to her in her elementary school years. If you are looking for a school "home" for your child, I encourage you to visit El Rancho! read more

My daughter attended this school for 4 years ages 4-8 and it was AMAZING! I'm looking for a woman that taught there 1986-1990 her name was Mrs Fields. read more

El Rancho School - Mrs Fields and my daughter Chloe. - Elementary Schools Near Me - Carmichael, California

My experience with El Rancho School was not a positive one and hopefully my review reaches someone who is considering this institution and points them in the opposite direction. If you are a person of color you need to avoid this establishment at all cost! Holly Olsen, the owner, has made my experience at El Rancho HELL. I feel me and my child have been racially discriminated against and he had only been going there 5 months. She has blamed my child for being aggressive and breaking things and singling him out for this proposed behavior. She has never failed to be rude towards me even when I've tried to let things go in the past. I feel she is not a good educator and is not trained enough working with children or parents. In my experience, she has just blamed my toddler for his behavior and failed to take acknowledgement when I called her out on her behavior. The school also does not help with potty training like they say. I paid an extra $150 and my kid was frequently left with a full pull up nearly every time I picked him up. I feel she has lied on multiple occasions about my son's behavior and my behavior stating herself that I threatened the school and had erratic behavior. I feel as though this woman falsely escalated this situation and me in a negative light and I will be pursuing a complaint with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education regarding this matter. Management really needs improvement. read more

My daughters have been attending since 2016 and absolutely love it! I know my kids are receiving the best care and education at ERS. They are treated like family and given the one on one attention necessary for kids in school. They also offer before and after care for this parents who actually have to work all day! read more

See all

El Rancho School was amazing for all three of our children. Our kids had an amazing experience at all grade levels. El Rancho teachers and staff exude compassion and kindness. The small class sizes allow the opportunity for individualized learning and attention to each student. Our family enjoyed the summer programs, environment and learning community spanning nearly 10 years-- from preschool years through 6th grade. read more

My daughter has been at ERS about a year and a half now. Being a babe born shortly before the pandemic, my husband and I were anxious for her to meet other children. Luckily ERS provided a warm and welcoming atmosphere for her to thrive. She has made numerous friends, enjoys school, comes home telling me what she's learned or singing songs they are teaching the whole class. They supported our potty training journey. My daughter is now fully potty trained and their assistance was invaluable. The facility is charming, they have a darling play area with lots of large shade trees! Beautiful gardens which I think is an important visual aid for the children, to see things growing, thriving, being cared for, much like they are, right? There are several staff that I have developed a deep affinity for, as they've treated my daughter with such kindness, and patience! My daughter's first teacher at ERS is an actual angel. Luckily there is a lot of collaborative support from the staff, so my daughter still sees and interacts with this teacher on a regular basis. She is so wonderful with the littles, many crafts, art activities, and what seems like endless patience. She is really just a lovely light of a woman and we were so lucky it was our daughter's first experience with an educator. Thank you for having us ERS, and making our first interaction with education so enjoyable. read more

This is the first year of my son attending El Rancho School , and my son has improved so much in such a short period time .I am impressed with principal, Mrs. Olson how she handled some of the situations happened at school . We loved the small class size and one on one attention . read more

Can't say enough about this school. My son started for 5th grade and has never been happier. We are impressed with his teacher all the way to the principal. Great atmosphere and safe place for our son to thrive in his education. Wish we started sooner. read more

My son has been with El Rancho school for 1.5 years. We toured several preschools in the area when moving here. El Rancho was heads above the rest and well worth the 30 min drive for us. The minute I walked on the campus and met Ms Holly and Ms Rosalia I knew this was the right school for us. The campus is beautifully maintained, very cheery, and looks like a park. My son has always been treated with such love and kindness. Swim classes in the summer helped my son so much, at 4 years old he started swimming without any floaties. All the teachers have been wonderful and so patient. He loves his school and often times when I pick up him up he tells me Mommy I am not ready to go yet . read more

To start with they lost 300.00 dollars at the beginning of yhe school year and I was still made responsible for it. Then needed to pull my son out of school because of both financial and medical reasons at home. After I pulled him out their accountant (stole) accessed my checking account without my authorization to withdrawal over 900.00 dollars. So my advice to anyone planing to attend this school DON'T and if you do pay by money order or cashier check do not pay for anything with your personal checking account or your credit or debit card as they record and save your numbers and WILL not hesitate to steal money from your accounts. The teachers here at least the two I've met were ok but sense I've put my son in another school he has thrived where he was failing at El rancho. I personally cannot and will not recommend this establishment for any reason. And do highly recommend if your student is there to watch your bank account. I am currently seeking an attorney to address the money theft from my account. Merry Christmas there ruined ours hope they choke on it. Signed John daley read more

My son has been going to this school for 2 years and he loves it. There is a very good balance of academics and playing. I do want my son to play and enjoy childhood, but at the same time i need him to learn and develop daily. I think El Rancho has been providing this for us. read more

I attended El Rancho from preschool to 1988 and I have very fond memories from my experience. Folks from the admin level to of course the teachers but also the cooks to the yard supervision; everyone knew you; it was like a family. 42 years old now in a couple weeks; would be remiss to not mention El Ranchos personnel and teacher's influence in my life; very grateful!!! read more

El Rancho (ERS) is a great school. Holly, the Principal/Owner and all staff are very caring and adequately prepared. Kids form strong friendship bonds and learn about good behaviors and learn while having fun. Our kid attended Kindergarten and 1st grade, Ms. Peyton and Ms. Alim are excellent teachers who really care about the kids learning progress. Their small groups are a great advantage to a child's educational development. Further, ERS COVID-19 safety protocols are OUTSTANDING, outbreaks were successfully prevented. Since the pandemic started kids had to do distance learning for ONLY 2 WEEKS! That's unheard of anywhere else in the area, and it was a HUGE accomplishment that was only possible due to the quick/strategic reaction from ERS staff to adapt, plan and implement new policies and programs to help the kids succeed. Parents are forever grateful. Our family just moved, and decided to let our kid attend our new neighborhood school to make friends nearby; but trust me, should we decide to go back to private schooling, ERS remains our first choice. read more

I checked out TONS of schools before deciding to send my son to El Rancho. It shone as the clear choice. El Rancho is a sweet and beautiful school with a compassionate yet firm teaching staff. Their prices are reasonable, and the grounds are a historic oasis. The playground is absolutely beautiful with tons of room to run, play, and explore. The classrooms are well organized and the walls are covered in the kids' projects and art. I am forever thankful to El Rancho for providing a safe place for my son to learn and grow. read more

The 1950's called. They want their educational practices back. If you are conservative, Christian, and think that all girls love dolls and all boys should play baseball, send your kids here. If you're happy with a staff who "sells" incentives to kids ("Tell your parents to sign you up for school early and we will give you a free plasma car!") and who can't handle any questions or concerns you may have about your child's well-being or happiness, then this is the place for you. They may want to consider removing the words 'nonsectarian', 'diverse', and 'all are welcome' from their website and just cop to being 'christian leaning', 'homogeneous', and 'intolerant' so that people like us don't have to go through the heartache of moving their child to another school on short notice. I'd like to propose a new name for this place - "El Stepford". read more

VERY biast school! Children are not treated fairly especially if parents are not within the "clique". This school is family run. Grandma is Principal and daughter is Vice Principal. Although that sounds nice and cozy, deeply consdier this. If there is an issue with one, there is NO ONE to speak with about your concerns. The school will happily inform you that today will be your child's last day if you disagree with any of EL Rancho's, regardless of the circumstances or tuition already paid. Academics are good for the most part, however, you are nickel and dimed here. Although tuition is heafty, you are still asked to donate money, holiday supplies, and are required to pay for your child to participate in the holiday sing along. If you have a "do-no-wrong" child, can completely trust teachers/administration without hesitation, don't care to ask questions, and don't mind continuously giving money/goods, go here! Think twice though. I was warned and wish I had listened. You will be showed test scores, advanced placements, spoken to kindly, and be guarenteed EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO HEAR when you first go, I remind you though, think twice. read more

Not impressed with this school. We went to our two hour trial and it did not go well. During the trial your child plays on the playground and then goes into the classroom while you wait in another room. Before the trial I asked questions and was told if things weren't going well the school would come get you so you can comfort your child. I was also told that we could do a trial a few weeks before so that if things didn't go well we could do another trial. While I waited in the other room one of the staff members came in a few different times. I asked how things were going and she said things were going well. At the end of the trial the principal comes in to discuss the trial. That's when I was told the trial did not go well. Apparently he spent the whole time in the corner crying. Then she went on to say that my son just doesn't listen. Keep in mind he is 2 and in a brand new strange place. Her next question to me was, "Does dad live at home?" (Yes, he does) I was told we just were not a good fit. I was not offered another trial. Nor would I want one. Since this experience I have heard other bad stories about this school. I guess this was just a blessing in disguise for us. read more

My son has been in 5 different daycare/preschools, and this was by far the worst experience due to the administration/management. One example - my husband walked in on the principle yelling at my son (3y old). My son is not an easy child, and I know how frustrating it can be when he is not listening, but the principle's behavior on several occasions was unacceptable. They have some good teachers, but that can't make up for the poor management. read more

Our kiddos are just shy of 20 years apart and it's so fun that they were both able to start their educational journey at the same school. Our oldest had a wonderful experience at El Rancho and still talks about his days there fondly. He was matching me page for page in reading Harry Potter books by 1st grade and not missing a word. El Rancho helped him not only excel academically, but also helped him become a kind, creative, and respectful young person. Our youngest had a rough start at another preschool. For 10 months, he cried and threw giant fits every single time we left him there. At El Rancho, he is most always happy to be there. He drags us out of the house in the morning to get to school. When we pick him up, he tells us how happy he is and how much fun he has. The school has excellent communication with parents. We always know what he's learning so can reenforce his education at home. Our little guy also has a significant speech delay and both the director and his teacher have made extra effort to include his speech therapy and also work on his speech in the classroom. We had some concerns about being an openly queer family at a small private school in conservative Carmichael, and have been pleasantly surprised how big of an issue our queer family is not. In fact, it's not really a factor except that our kiddo made two mother's day projects and we were asked in advance if we were comfortable with him making a father's day project. Which we were, and he did...and papa loved it! The teachers and directors are strict, but fair. Accepting and accommodating, but not coddling. They expect a lot of their students and it seems to me that the students are happily rising to expectation. Most importantly...the kids are happy and thriving. If you're hunting for a preschool or private school for your kiddo, definitely check out El Rancho. read more

Holly is so rude. Asks extremely personal questions, she lacks professionalism! There are some good teachers but the management is AWFUL. I would never recommend this school to anyone. The management is so poor. read more

We've had a fabulous experience at El Rancho. I sent my daughter here for Kindergarten after we were less than impressed with our son's experience at our home school. It is a smaller environment that is able to teach to each child's level and needs. They cultivate an environment of kindness and promote a well-rounded educational experience. I love that their Kinder is full day and offers Spanish, piano, music and PE. We are looking forward to sending our youngest to preschool at El Rancho soon. read more

We love El Rancho! Our 3 year old has been attending El Rancho since she was two and we could not love the staff more. The staff all know our kid and will talk to us about her day or tell us an anecdote about her (whether she's in their class or not). The principal has called on two occassions to inform us how well she's doing and how loved she is at school. They are very education based and teach the kids at a steady pace. They are understanding and will work with you in helping to ensure your child gets the best care possible. The children are encouraged to be independent and to do their best. They have a lot of fun spirit activities and holiday activities. We love El Rancho and when baby is 2, will definitely be attending! read more

Great school. Great teachers. Great campus. Could not more highly recommend this school for your child. My three children have gone here over the course of the last 7 years. They all began around 2 1/2 and stayed through Kindergarten. They are all excellent readers and human beings. Send your kid here! read more

My Son has been at El Rancho for almost 2 years now and they have been fabulous with him. He has excelled so much in just the past few months, let alone 2 years. I highly recommend this school to any parent that wants a great learning environment that truly takes the time to get to know your child. read more

We are a family that is El Rancho strong! 3 kids and three years in. We could NOT be happier with the facility, the staff, and the program. We have referred, and continue to refer families all the time. The negative comments below completely confound me. The school is non-denominational. Our children have never been pigeon-holed into gender stereotypes or encouraged to play in any one particular manner. The extra curricular activities are well-rounded and we've always found other parents and families to be warm and inviting with us. If you're looking for a preschool or elementary school where your child will receive fantastic one-on-one attention, be challenged academically, and be cared for in a warm environment, this is your place! read more

Our child has been going to the preschool program for year now and will be attending Kindergarten there as well. We checked out a half a dozen schools before choosing this one. So far it is going great! I love that they instill disciplinary into kids in a respectful manner. All the teachers are kind and down to earth. My preschoolers learned so much in a short time. read more

This school has the human touch which is rare in this world today. The staff are like family to the children. When the children were saying "bye" to my four year old as we left I asked her who are those kids? She replied, "my sisters." The setting is real not cold glass and steel with an emphasis on "we're new so we must be good". The one on one attention the children receive assures no child is lagging behind. I am so grateful I found this private, secure school for my 4 year old. The perfect place to make lasting memories. Teaching children to love to learn is so much better than just teaching children the latest knowledge. I totally recommend this school. read more

I completely agree with the two previous comments rated with one star. I will say that some of the teachers are great. But there is a bad air there even amongst them when it comes to management. While I have heard teachers tell me things about the management I never witnessed it personally. Sad to say my family attended the school a few years. The teachers they had were always good and for the most part there were minimal issues. Or I should say issues the teachers took care of. But after witnessing a teacher having a child pull his ears in a corner I was outraged. Just completely shocked. You can imagine the fear as a mother wondering how many times does this happen while parents are away. Yet there are bad seeds in all staff. So naturally I took the issue to Vice principal who is the daughter of Principal/Owner. Not only did she call me a liar but defended the teacher. I then came down to the school thinking the owner will no doubt take care of this. I mean my family has been going there years, with about 5 children and thousands in tuition. The Principal, Vice Principal, and the teacher all came in to the room. Not even enough respect to get my story before having the teacher sit in there with us. Nevertheless I told what had happened. The teacher sat quietly with a smirk. The Principal said I must have been confused. I cried. Told them I was not lying. Why would I? This was my first issue I ever brought to their attention. I have been bringing my family there for years. They just sat and refused to admit any wrongdoing. I mean at least say we will talk to her. The vice principal was simply rude, and acted as if she heard nothing I said. Other staff members said that this was not the first time the teacher had done this. But they were sorry they could not speak up or they would be fired. It was heart breaking. The guilt as a mother knowing you have left your children with these heartless money motivated people is awful. Do yourself a favor and take your children to another school. Don't judge on the beautiful campus but the hearts of teachers and owners. read more

When my daughter went there, it was great! She has friends, fun, and teachers were nice. Then, in 4th grade, she was bullied by the teachers and students. Every day she would come home sad and upset. She told me this one time, she came back from the dentist, WITH a doctors note, and both teachers yelled at her. Another time, her teacher crumpled her paper because she 'spaced' it to much. So, over all, I think that it is only really good for kinder-2nd grade. read more

My son and I went to do a trial day for preschool, and I am glad I stayed with him. What they have planned for children at 2 and 3 years old is not developmentally appropriate and could even be reported to the state licensing department. They had them sit in circle time, without fidgeting or talking for over 30 minutes while the teacher directed them with flash cards (which were inconsistent and confusing, it would switch from the middle letter like the i in pig, to the first letter, like d in dog.). While I was there observing the teacher threatened the children numerous times if they did not obey her. They're children not dogs. Reward and punishment systems do not reflect a quality preschool. Threatening to take away a child's sticker is perceived as a real punishment to them. She also threatened to call their parents or send them to the principals office. My son and I walked out. In the car on the way home he told me his stomach hurt and that he never wanted to go to school. That's the kind of sickening anxiety you install in children when you do not have developmentally appropriate practices. read more

I moved my son to El Rancho at the beginning of this year because he was doing very poorly in public school. He has a diagnosed mild reading disability and mild ADD, and was very unhappy. He is repeating 1st grade this year and thriving at El Rancho! There are only 15 kids in his class (as opposed to 32), and this makes a huge difference for him. He's more focused - too few kids to hide from the teacher! His teacher is wonderful, a perfect mix of loving/nurturing and no-nonsense (not gonna fall for his tricks!) He really respects and cares for her, and that is important for me. He received (really earned!) As and Bs on his first report card. His confidence (which started in the toilet..."Mom, I know the other kids are smarter than me") has soared, and he has a great sense of pride about what he's done. I am so grateful for the turn-around this year! read more

We have two children, a girl and a boy, in El Rancho. Our oldest started at El Rancho in pre-K and is now in third grade. She has excelled in the program at El Rancho, which has a heavy emphasis on reading. She began reading in Pre-K and has always tested two or more grade levels above her own on the standardized test administered each year. Her writing, reading comprehension, and math skills are far advanced especially in comparison with her cousins who attend public school. What impresses me more has been the school's impact on her younger brother. Faced with some minor but noticeable developmental delays that received only ten minutes of individual attention in the IEP offered at public school, El Rancho's smaller class size and the pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st grade teachers' focus on the individual and his or her needs has resulted in marked improvements in his learning, language, and social skills. He is currently in first grade, earns A's and B's in reading, writing, spelling, and math and loves going to school. I am certain he would have fallen between the cracks in public school. The only challenge at El Rancho (earning them 4 instead of 5 stars) is the smaller class size in the advanced grades (after second grade). Hopefully, more parents will consider enrolling if they check out the school and it's program. read more

My mother pulled me out of deterding elementary school to put me into this small private school. I truly think that this was one of the best moves of my life. When my parents were trying to decide which private school to put me in, they had me go around and try each candidate school for a day--in the end, because of the cozy campus and the safety and connection i felt there, i ended up choosing el rancho. At el rancho, I met friends there that I am still friends with to this day--8 YEARS LATER. Before I went there, I was terrible at math, I hated reading, and I did not know my cursive. The teacher I had taught me very well and I was always in competition with my friends to see who could get their math done faster and more accurately. It was also at el rancho that I gained some of my first musical experience. Mr. S is the music teacher there and did an extremely good job of teaching the music program--so good, in fact, that I ended up taking piano lessons and guitar lessons from him (I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIM, he does private lessons at a church as well as school lessons). Again, I was still taking music lessons from Mr. S for 8 YEARS after I "graduated" from this school. I am in my third year of college now and I really have to say, El Rancho was some of the best times of my life. Its a small campus with small classes, but the teachers are incredibly committed and you will make lifetime friends. As far as the "staff politics" or "parent-teacher" relations, I can't really comment on. Im speaking from the viewpoint of a kid who truly, truly enjoyed this school. read more

I have two children, one is now 24, the other is 6. I enrolled my 24 year old in El Rancho school when she was in the 5th grade, many years ago, because she was falling behind after being in the Berkeley, CA, public school district. El Rancho school helped my eldest in so many ways. With the small classroom size of only 10 students and two caring and excellent teachers, along with Ms. Hansen who provided one-on-one tuturing, my daughter not only caught up but she exceeded all expectations, regaining her confidence in herself. Because of the small class room size and the dedication of the school teachers, I decided to place my youngest at El Rancho as well. She has been at El Rancho since she was 2 1/2 and is now in first grade with Ms. Hansen, who is still teaching at El Rancho after 25 years, which says a lot about the school. My daughter has been reading since Kindergarten, loves math and going to school, and has made many friends that will last a lifetime. The kids at El Rancho are not only smart, but they are all very kind to one another and well mannered. The school is well-balanced in that it provides both excellent education with the right amount of nuturing, so that the kids feel safe and loved and able to perform at their highest level. read more