I recognize this will probably be brushed aside as another concerned parent, over reaching to be heard. But I feel my recent experience isn't an isolated case. In Modesto, educational options are limited. You often have to choose between overcrowded public classrooms or high-tuition private schools. On the surface, GVA (Great Valley Academy) seems like the perfect middle ground: a non-tuition public school with smaller classes and a focus on 'the whole child.' I attended the orientations and understood their pillars, but I was never informed that my child would be graded on her character on a numerical scale. There is a massive disconnect between encouraging 'character development' and issuing a formal report card that scrutinizes who a child is as a person. It is heartbreaking to receive a document that feels more like a subjective pronouncement on my child's personality than an academic evaluation. While I am thankful my child is too young to understand this level of scrutiny, the precedent it sets is alarming. Furthermore, the front administration's response to parental concerns is disappointing. If you disagree with a policy or wish to opt your child out of an assessment you feel is detrimental, the standard response is effectively, 'You can go to a different school.' While technically true, this 'take it or leave it' attitude is a failure of leadership. It treats parents as obstacles rather than partners. In the real world, performance is measured by output, reliability, and conduct. It is never measured by a superior's personal interpretation of your 'spirit'--especially when that superior isn't held to the same standard. Parents deserve a choice in how their children are evaluated without being told to simply leave if they ask for professional transparency. read more

I do not recommend this school! Its all good until your child needs help or if a troubled child is in your class..... If your child is behind or struggling, no help... just excuses... If another child that is troubled in your child's class they will not do anything... they can curse, throw things, talk inappropriate, but just send them to the "connecting room". I know many parents who took their kids out of this school and I'm thinking of doing the same. Very disappointed. read more

If I could give this school 0 stars I would but I guess I need to give them 1 but I don't recommend this school! we have been here for a few years now and I tried to give the school the benefit of the doubt but things don't change, there whole way of running that school is not good at all, they don't hold kids accountable, kids can throw chairs, desk, pencils, yell, say bad words and they aren't hold accountable as the previous parent said they only get sent to the "connection room" one of the VP Farley is soo rude, not to mention the front desk ladies you walk in there and not welcoming at all, it's like they choose who to be nice to. Don't waste your time by sending your kids here, definitely not worth it. read more

My 4 children have been at GVA Modesto since 2019. We have been incredibly happy attending here. I love that GVA represents subject mastery before moving students on to the next part of the curriculum. GVA has an incredible emphasis on character building and kindness. This creates a favorable school community and growing children that will be positive influences in society. A few of my children have needed extra resources with reading and speech and those supports were given ASAP. I also have 1 student that has needed a 504 plan and over time it has been suggested to move him into an IEP. I love that GVA has a private school feel and size, yet is public and receives the state funding for providing these supports to families and students. The school offers many after school clubs and enrichment programs during the school day. I am extremely grateful that my children are learning Spanish at a young age. The school offers before and after school program, as well as summer school when needed and summer care for working parents. We look forward to our children being at GVA another 7 years. Our family is extremely happy with our experience at GVA Modesto. read more

Great Valley Academy - Boys have Grizzley hats for the new mascot! - Elementary Schools Near Me - Modesto, California

My son never learned anything here for 2 years and was very unhappy. I wasn't sure why. He now goes to another school and had testing done and is way above average and is in stem class and extremely happy. This school was very confusing and awkward. read more

I was a student at GVA from kindergarten through grade 8. You might think I'm just another whiny kid that puts a bad review on the school for a bad reason, but I have a legitimate concern that needs to be addressed. Based on my experience I have realized the grading process of this school is based heavily on behavior and not on actual smarts. Most of the staff here have the ideology that a bad behaved student means that they would not get far in life. During high school balloting my school did not think I was smart at all and forced me to take normal classes as honors classes require a signature. Long story short I got all A's my freshman year and realized I could've done it all. Because of this school, my options were limited throughout my high school career, and I am now over-working myself by taking a 3 AP classes during junior year and even more senior year. One example of this is the math pathway in high school, where I got put in algebra 1 even though we already learned it. This caused me to lose the chance to complete the math pathway to AP calculus without a summer class. (I am currently trying to take a summer class but it is not confirmed if there is going to be one yet.) I do not know if I am going to get into a good college now after attending GVA. Another thing to add on to this, the way they classify bad behavior is absurd, one of my male friends got a 2-day in school suspension for accidentally rolling an apple into the girl's restroom. (This is while the children who throw chairs across the classroom get the same punishment). Another example of this is when the class is in PE, where we were practicing soccer dribbles and we each had our own individual balls. Some students forgot which ball was theirs and kicked the wrong ball, every student who did that got a thing called a CVP, where it was basically detention during lunch. DO NOT TAKE YOUR CHILDREN HERE IF YOU WANT THEM TO SUCCEED read more

Awful front office customer service specifically " Stephanie" morning drop off, having to stop on a busy street at 7:45 in the morning is extremely dangerous & having to find parking on Woodrow if you choose to walk your child in is a nightmare! They offer extension which is suppose to be educational but it's confused for "smart time" which is optional and they charge to use smart time (before & after school care) the program is very confusing and not clear at all! read more

Interviewed here last year for an office position and it was a horrible experience. Leadership really bad Ambassador for the organization. I could tell the other individuals interviewing with her was afraid of her, how sad. Don't waste your time, if they treat applicants this way. Can't just imagine how they really treat their employees and students. BIG TURN OFF. read more

I have several children who have been to the best public schools in Modesto ... this school has helped my divergent & strong willed child to express herself thoughtfully and with kindness for herself and others! She has been directed by some amazing teachers! The care and concern each one has put into going the extra mile is unlike anything I have ever seen! I am so grateful to have discovered them at the very beginning of her scholastic endeavor !! Forever indebted! read more

GVA is not a good school the books are outdated, The lunches are horrible. The teaching style the staff have is awful. They just just reheat the lunches and call it new and fresh food when it is obvious that there is mold growing off of it. The bathrooms are not clean at all. Everytime me and my family have been there the floor was just completely covered in defecation and urine, the ceiling is coming apart and in addition to that the door locks are broken. There are very little staff there that actually care for the students. Most of the staff just care about themselves and favor their own over any other kid learning there. The tutoring that the school offers isn't even real tutoring, The tutoring the students do is just them doing 1st grade work or playing on computers. I recommend you do not bring your child here and take them to a public school or have them privately tutored. The reason you should have the go to a public school or privately tutored is since they would have a higher chance of actually learning something from a public school or private tutor instead of this crappy school. This message is for the Modesto campus And I'm sure the Salida campus could possibly be doing any better read more

This School is a Scam they can raise 80,000 dollars and nothing changes their food is Disgusting. They use Math books from 2007 and not once updated, The Principal would say " I'll Think about " but he just doesn't care. I was disappointed they can't live up to expectations have a $100 dollar budget. And Staff will protect each other. Not only that their tutoring is awful they give the student's 1st-grade math and call it tutoring. They Never Accept Ideas to make the school better. The Kitchen Staff just Reheats food this place is worse than a bad public school. They don't think about you or your education. There are people who don't have enough money to afford uniforms but they don't care I really wish they would up their game but it is sadly a wish read more

I felt the need to offer a review to offset the current low star rating. My kids have been attending the Modesto campus for 3 years and we love GVA. The energy is on point, the staff are warm and friendly, and the office is always very helpful. The pricipal, Mr. Ruehle, is so friendly and welcoming, high fiving kids and pumping them up as they are coming onto campus. During drop off, the teachers dance in the parking lot and open car doors. Music is always playing between classes. GVA makes learning fun! read more

This is long overdue. The truth needs to be told. We loved GVA (Salida Campus)... until the bullying began last year. At first we approached the office staff, and to my surprise they treated my daughter like SHE was the one with the issue. Instead of the kids that were acting badly getting reprimanded, they referred my daughter to the school counselor to "learn how to deal with harsh personalities". And then, they put HER in another class, so she was forced to leave her comfort and friends. THEN because the issue was never dealt with, it got worse when the next year started to the point she was being harassed so severely she was spending her lunch in bathrooms hiding, had anxiety attack's so badly she went to the hospital and yet, the school did NOTHING. She finally confided in her therapist and it was suggested we pull her out and report them to the school board. Her therapist is preparing a statement. GVA was a wonderful school until it became more about enrollment, growth and image and less about core values. My daughter suffered 2 years of hell, and now has diagnosed PTSD. Her first day and the next school she was SHAKING, she is 13!! To date (its been 3 weeks) they still have not returned her items to me from her locker, her medications, nothing. read more

Great Valley Academy - Kindergarten wing - Elementary Schools Near Me - Modesto, California

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Best school for children hands down. Private school feeling with advanced method of teaching. Keeping children and teachers truly connected. The school really has a family presence. If all children were tai read more

Forward Thinking!! Be cautioned, this is not the just drop your kid off and roll school. It takes active participation from the parents. For the last few years I have wanted my daughter in this school. Her mother on the other hand wanted her to complete Grammer school with the kids she started with. I've had friends with children in there for the last 7 years. - Small Classes - Character Development ( Report Card) - Same Teacher 2 years - Encourage Kindness and Friendship - Excellent Communication with Staff It's a great school and thrilled to have my daughter attend. Thank you for all your efforts everyone. read more

My baby boy is starting K here in the fall. So far our experience with the staff and the school has been nothing but WONDERFUL! They are so friendly, and so helpful. I love that they have character education! I will update during the school year. :) read more

I am so disappointed in this school. As a grandparent who has been involved and volunteered at GVA Modesto, I have seen the quality of administration diminish over the last few years. They do not support students. Do not help them solve problems. And do not keep their promises. What kind of message does this send to our kids. This school needs to grow a serious back bone. read more

My nephew whom I highly and greatly admire, has chosen this school for his children. Each of them is an eager learner and I know that my nephew and his wife would never choose a school that did not allow those curious, bright minds enough stimulation . Because they come from a home where reading, learning and gaining knowledge are not only encouraged but modeled, they are able to fully benefit from the great program of education offered. I was very pleased to see recent school photos of these dear children in school uniforms! My own son and daughter wore uniforms throughout their pre-college years. School uniforms, utilized all over the world, are far more important in setting a learning atmosphere than many people in this country realize. My daughter's children, two in college, one heading off in August, went through Charter Schools for their pre-college years also. They were fully prepared for higher education ! The Charter School movement is proving that Americans CAN get solid starts for future learning, preparing children and teens to reach their true potentials! Hooray for Great Valley! read more

Extremely disappointed in this school. I bought into the lie that they really care about their students. All politics and money. The principal never returns emails, he's always too busy to deal with parents and sends the vice principal to take care of everything. They don't take into consideration the emotional well being of a struggling student. They're just like a regular public non charter schoolol only difference is they wear uniforms. I don't recommend going through the long process of getting in,to find yourself in the same place you were runing from, only to find this one is well covered up with a lot of fake smiles & false promises. I always wondered why people leave every year now I know. read more

We have been with this school going on 3 years! LOVE the mission of this school. Their focus is not only on the education but on the emotional well being of the children! They raise happy & interactive students. We definitely have a long future here at GVA! read more

I am not happy with this school anymore. I thought that this school is a good school for my sons. I have waited 3 years to get in. At first when I enrolled my sons the office people where so nice and friendly. But then they're not really. I felt the change when I see that people at the office are not that accommodating anymore. I felt intimidated by them. Even my sons are intimidated and not happy waiting or sitting there to wait for me. They are just ignoring student there. I also just been ignored by admin person. She never replied to my e-mails at all. Every time I see around the campus to drop my son she never smiles when I look at her. I know they are faking the smiles.Campus is dirty. My sons felt like a slave because they have to pick trash on the floor. One of my son's classroom is so dirty. They never vacuum. Her cabinet is so cluttered. She made students put their lunch pale their along with the trash bags and other cleaning stuff. I always park at the Woodrow side and the crossing lane their is not safe at all. There is no traffic aide in the morning and after school. My son and I almost got hit by a car. They seriously need a traffic aide there. They make student eat on the ground which is very unhealthy. No wonder why my sons always get sick. The teacher's lounge is so nice and clean! What the heck! The boys bathroom is so dirty and stinky. My son's refuse to use it. They never clean it! read more