Wonderful school and staff!!! One of my children is mildly special need and both of my children…read morehave excelled. Amazing school!

I am a former VMS student from way before they built this campus. From before the middle school was…read morea single room behind the Livermore Valley Tennis Club. I wanted to say that I attribute much of my present success to the advanced education I received at this school. They really encourage children to learn at their own rate, accommodating those who learn faster and those who need extra help. Beth Marshall was my teacher for most of my years here, and I know she no longer works there, but I hope they still teach in that style. The way they let the parents and children set the child's own standards for grading, and have the child assemble their own portfolio and present is unique (as far as I know). We kids felt like we had some say in how we were being taught and had more interest in school than I think any kids in public school had. By the time I entered high school at Amador, the only classes that compared at all in quality were the honors and AP classes. Besides the outstanding education I received, I fondly remember the field trips, holidays, PE classes, electives (enrichment), meditation, etc. It was a very stimulating environment and I'm glad I got to experience it. I am giving 4 stars because I don't know if what I experienced as a child is still the norm for VMS now. For any who care to know, I am now pursuing my PhD in Molecular Bio at UCSD. How much is nature vs. nurture, and how much VMS contributed to the "nurture" aspect, I don't...but looking on Facebook at my VMS classmates, I can say that all of them seem to be thriving as well. Really though, it may be because all of their parents are brilliant and therefore have lucrative careers that allow for them to send their children to schools like this. I don't know. PS-The teachers here (at least the ones I had) really care about the kids. I have seen and corresponded with some recently and was very touched to be so remembered. Thanks, VMS!

My kids went here in their early years. Super dooper…read moreexpensive, and not quality education. The teachers are not even up to standard CA.

This Yelp review is longgggg overdue--if I could give Brave Christian Preschool 10-stars, I…read moreabsolutely would. We're a military family without relatives nearby, and this school has truly become our extended family. We've been part of this community since my kids were just a few months old, and I can't say enough amazing things about the school. Why we love Brave Christian: ** Warm, family-like community - The staff and teachers genuinely care--it feels like home - My kids are deeply loved and supported every day. ** Engaging, thoughtful programming - Daily fun and enriching activities - Creative crafts (with special keepsakes for parents!); I look forward to all the fun "gifts" the kids make throughout the year. - Personalized yearly binders filled with drawings, photos, and memories that capture the kids growth and development ** One-of-a-kind facilities - Huge indoor gym - Outdoor courtyard with play structures and swings - Outside garden with weekly gardening activities - Auditorium ** Unique extras - Onsite Spanish teacher throughout the week - Pet lizard and bird to greet the kids each morning - Visits to the kindergarten classes up the hill for fun interaction with older kids - Special events like petting zoos and visits with exotic animals ** Family & community events - Harvest Festival - Ice Cream Socials - Science & Art Fair - Other onsite events that bring families together - Fun themes like Dr. Seuss week ** Nutritious (and fun) snacks provided that kids enjoy - A lot of the "snacks" are even heated/warm! ** Great communication & safety - Mobile App with daily updates and photos - Strong onsite security for peace of mind ** Support for military & families - Military discount + acceptance of military subsidies - Sibling discounts available ** Above-and-beyond teachers - Some have even become our trusted babysitters outside of school It's worth noting that Brave Christian is a faith-based school (as the name suggests), but the community is diverse, inclusive, and welcoming to families of all backgrounds and beliefs. They foster an environment where everyone feels respected and valued. At this age, the focus is on helping children grow into kind, respectful, and compassionate humans. This amazing team has helped raise my kids, and I've truly watched them flourish under their care. I'm so grateful we found this place. Thank you, Brave Christian, for pouring so much love into our family

Just sharing some more information for those looking at my review:…read more1. In terms of race and gender, they are quite diverse. But they are very faith-focused at many points. Please note that on their website they do endorse items like marriage being only between one woman and one man and even their class examining different religions has a Christian bias. That does not mean that non-Christians or people who may go against these values will 100% be treated bad(although I can't speak for any new changes or LGB people), but it is something to note if you are looking at this school. 2. Adding onto the diversity part, I had teachers that were more conservative, others that were a bit more nuanced, some I have no idea about, teachers who care about social justice. But all the teachers I had were very much nice to me in some way, even as a non-Christian. In other words, the teachers very much care about their job and ensuring your child will be well-rounded enough and good at thinking. I found that I was much better at thinking about the world as a whole, though that may be more about me than the school. But just note that there might be a diversity of views, some you might find uncomfortable, but none that I would call concerning or enough to tell you to not enroll. 3. They seem to really be investing more in sports again, and it's clearly working. Can't speak more about that, but if sports is a priority for you, that might be something to look at. 4. Please note that this review speaks about experiences for this school under its original title as Valley Christian. I can't speak for any new changes under Brave Christian, and they may result in a very different experience than my review has given. Personally, I didn't like what I heard about where the school was heading near the end of my experience there, but that is my opinion and I can be a bit pessimistic. Please do your research before making the decision about whether you would like your child to attend this school! In summary: Unless you just really do not like Christianity, it's worth having a look at this school. But be sure to have a deep look at the school before you make your choice.

As I approach my senior year in high school, I think about my time I spent here; I attended from…read morek-5 returned for 7th and 8th grade. When they moved campuses in 2015 that's when it all started going downhill. They had to renovate an office building to be the foundation for the upbringing of kids. We didn't have any real grass; we played kickball on a patch of turf. The hallways and cafeteria felt like that of a hospital's and the classrooms were white walls and brown carpet. When I started struggling with my mental health in middle school, there was no support system, I literally had to tell the Dean all of my problems. Everyone was the same and bland. Also the change in teachers was so frequent and confusing like you'd have a teacher for one year and then they'd leave the school and you'd be taught by another teacher who was just starting their first year. The tuition is expensive for such little resources like the computers we used were from 2005, no yearbooks, discontinued bus services (I had to ride the public bus for 30 minutes everyday), there was no sense of community or understanding for students. Overall if you want your kids to attend school and not an internship, don't send them here.

Went here K-6. Teachers at this school are unnecessarily…read morebrutal on literal children and have obvious favorites. I look back and I'm horrified at how I was treated when I was merely nine years old. Kids are pit against each other at a very young age and are put under extreme stress. If you don't fit the mold - "book-smart", rich, dare I say coddled and self-absorbed - you are going to struggle and come out with a lifetime of self-esteem issues. Don't go to this joke of a school

My older son went here for five years and I was so happy with how the teachers were on top of…read morething. The teachers really get to know your child and his needs. I found that they want your child to do all that they are capable of doing.My son has moved on to middle school but because of all the hard work from the teachers at bollinger, he is doing so good ( A /student). I am so happy that my little one will begin his journey to success. My baby is starting Kindergarten in the fall, can't wait. Thank you to all the teachers at Bollinger.

LVA was once a good school, but my family's experience over time tells a different story. My son…read moreattended from 2020 to 2023, and unfortunately, he left underprepared for high school. There was little to no support or guidance from LVA to ensure a smooth transition to a traditional school environment. I was surprised to see a couple of highly positive reviews appear about a year after my son had left--reviews that appear to describe him directly. These accounts do not reflect our experience and seem inconsistent with the reality we observed. It raised concerns for me about how feedback and reviews might be represented or encouraged within the school community. It is more shocking given that the individuals concerned had nothing good to say about one another at the time. During our time at LVA, the quality of education and communication declined noticeably. What began with promise during the COVID period gradually shifted to disorganization, inconsistent teaching quality, and removal of key student resources, such as lunch and recess. I also encountered several situations where staff appeared underqualified or lacking appropriate classroom management, including questionable instructional choices that were not age-appropriate (R rated movies) More troubling were instances of unprofessional conduct and poor handling of disciplinary issues, which had lasting effects on my child's wellbeing. Several parents, myself included, raised these issues repeatedly before meaningful action was taken. To the school's credit, there were a few dedicated and talented teachers who genuinely cared about their students, and they deserve recognition. However, the broader environment was not consistently supportive or healthy, particularly in leadership and communication. In summary, while LVA may look appealing on the surface, our experience suggests that the substance does not always match the image. I encourage parents to seek out multiple perspectives and, most importantly, listen to their children's experiences before making a decision.

LVA has been an exceptional school for my step son. They…read moreprovided a high level of attention to his needs. Ferishta as well as his teachers were proactive and always available to meet when challenges arose. As a child care professional myself, I understand the challenges with meeting the needs of all students and I feel that LVA was masterful in this.

It has taken me over a year to gather the courage to write this review, and my motivation is not…read moreborn out of anger alone, but from a place of profound disappointment and a broken heart. My journey with this school, which spanned nearly five years, was full of moments that initially filled us with hope but ultimately left us deeply disillusioned. When my daughter and I were first accepted, we were elated. I remember the tears of joy as we shared the news with family, and we even brought a cake to the staff to express our appreciation. We believed we had found a safe, nurturing Christian environment where my daughter could thrive academically and spiritually, and where she would form lasting, meaningful relationships under the guidance of a Christian curriculum and staff. Unfortunately, as the years went by, our experience was consistently marred by disappointments, particularly with the behavior of some of the teachers. What was even more troubling, however, was the principal's response--or lack thereof. Time after time, when issues were brought to her attention, Miss Westgate, the principal, would dismiss concerns or, worse, turn the situation around, making the staff out to be the victims despite undeniable evidence to the contrary. This lack of accountability was heartbreaking, but I continued to hope that my daughter was still receiving a good education. One of the more distressing events during our time at the school involved a teacher who submitted a letter to CPS, claiming that I was unsafe with my daughter because she sat in the front seat of the car. The car in question was a two-seater, and the airbag had been turned off--perfectly legal. CPS, when contacted, dismissed the claim as frivolous, noting they often receive baseless reports from this school. This was just one example of many, where the school staff overstepped, and yet no action was taken to address the behavior. Another shocking incident involved the leaking of private information from a live scan to parents who were not authorized to see it. Despite my attempts to bring this to Miss Westgate's attention, there was no explanation, just a shrug and an admission of ignorance. I had nothing to hide, but the idea that such sensitive information was handled so carelessly was inexcusable. As time passed, my daughter's emotional well-being became a growing concern. She was bullied by a former close friend, and after repeatedly addressing the situation with the staff, I was forced to take matters into my own hands. I spoke politely with the child involved, reminding her of their past friendship and encouraging her to reconcile. I even communicated this to the child's father and Miss Westgate, who assured me she would look into it. The following day, however, Miss Westgate informed me that I was no longer allowed on school property, that my behavior was deemed inappropriate. I was barred from participating in school activities I had been a part of for years, including chapel and father-daughter events. Despite my efforts to resolve the matter amicably, the school took an aggressive stance, forcing me to withdraw my daughter. When I made the decision to pull my daughter from the school, it wasn't out of spite but out of necessity. I needed to protect her, and unfortunately, staying at this school was no longer in her best interest. The final blow came when we enrolled her in a local public school, only to discover that she was a year behind academically, despite having been told that private education would provide a better foundation. This gap in her education, combined with the emotional toll of her experience at this school, has been incredibly difficult to navigate. We've had to hire a tutor to catch her up, a process that has added more stress to an already challenging situation. As I reflect on this experience, it is clear to me that the principal, Miss Westgate, failed to hold her staff accountable for their actions. Despite providing her with ample evidence of their misconduct, she chose to defend them and, in the end, made it impossible for us to continue our relationship with the school. It's with a heavy heart that I share this review, but I feel compelled to speak out. My daughter's experience, our family's experience, was far from the Christian, nurturing environment we had hoped for. I would caution any parent considering this school to carefully weigh these factors and consider whether this is the right place for their child.

I'd give this school no stars if I could. If you don't live in Danville or Alamo, find another…read moreschool. I reside in Walnut Creek, and everyone looked at me like I was poor or would question why I'd consider going there (even though my house in Walnut Creek is upwards of 3m and theirs in 1.5-2). My daughter went to the preschool for two years. Poor communication with teachers (they only communicate at pick up in front of other parents, while other schools have apps for communication. No focus on whole child, sit, read, write mentality. If you question anything they will slowly push you out. Was told after testing that she wouldn't do well at the school (she was four). They tested her multiple times without communicating that. There was no communication all year that she had been struggling (shows they don't care about how the kids are doing until testing). Ms. Kalina is awful. Very fake (most of the staff and other moms are). Shows favoritism and said "we will see how this baby turns out" while I was pregnant. Wasn't a good fit. Don't waste your time and send your child to Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church or Contra Costa Christian (some of the teachers at SRVCA said they heard great things about it). My kids now go to those two schools, are thriving and so happy. My daughter told me "I like my new school because they don't put me in time out" (a which we knew nothing of-go figure). Older facilities but genuine and loving community-everything you want for your baby and at least they have real grass. Oh yeah, we donated over 1k to have a buck with our name put on it for their upgraded outdoor area.

This school is really making leaps and bounds academically!!! They are bringing their test scores…read moreup in huge numbers every year. They have had multiple articles written about them in all the local newspapers and have even been the subject of a book. The teachers work extremely hard to help the kids get to where they need to be. I've seen a lot of whats going on there with the kids and the staff is awesome as well. They work very well together to achieve great results. I know when I have kids they are for sure going to Marylin Avenue School!!!