We had high hopes for North Creek Academy, but the TK assessment process was incredibly…read morefrustrating. Expecting 4-year-olds to already be writing and recognizing letters feels academically misplaced for a Transitional Kindergarten level. What's worse is the inconsistency--it's clear the "rules" don't apply to everyone, as kids who can't yet write their names are accepted while the process remains a "black box" for everyone else. It feels more like a biased "who you know" system than a transparent evaluation of a child's readiness. We also noticed during our tour that the school's diversity is very low. In today's world, we want our children to learn in an environment that reflects the broader community, and we didn't see that here. Definitely something to consider if transparency and inclusion are priorities for your family.

I would like to add a star and acknowledge all the wonderful members of the NorthCreek community…read morefor contacting me to let me know that Esther McClellan's appalling behavior does not reflect the community as a whole. Their kindness means a great deal as we had just moved to the area and Esther's gang really affected us negatively. Also, many have come forward with their own stories of their children being treated poorly by Esther. I'm collecting these stories anonymously and plan to file a complaint. If you have a story about Esther that you'd like to share anonymously, please contact me privately. Many thanks, Christine Patellaro

My son is now a junior. Northgate is a wonderfully supportive school. I went to Northgate myself…read moreand feel fortunate that my son was able to go there. They even have a pool and a football field that wasn't there when I was a student.

I have several friends with kids who play on different local teams, and nearly every game against…read morethis school is wrought with filth & what appears to be dirty reffing. ------------------------------------------------- When their basketball team hurls insults, including racial slurs, at another team... that says so much about the privileged, entitled attitudes. Pretty sad & embarrassing. Then add to it, the ref was locked arm-in-arm with this school's coach, haha, and literally had an arm around the waist at one point!! Suddenly it makes sense why there were sooooo many TERRIBLE calls. You know it's bad when you hear parents on the opposite team commenting about the bad ref calls IN THEIR FAVOR! This poor ref was so "proud" of himself that he refused to provide his name to the score keeper's table to put on record as having reffed the game, lol. Literally refused!! As if they wouldn't find out eventually, I mean, he would like to get paid, right?!... ------------------------------------------------- For football... if you're the opposing team & you're winning, KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE CLOCK!!! Whoever is in their scorekeeper's box/tower INTENTIONALLY starts the clock a few seconds after the snap in order to give their team more time to catch up, AND sometimes when the clock is supposed to keep running, they'll randomly stop the clock. It's insane! Then, when they're ahead, you watch the clock suddenly begin starting/stopping correctly. No joke! Also, same with other sports, be prepared for the refs to behave as if they're paid off... bogus calls & penalties for the opposition, while allowing dangerous hits (blindside, late hits, leading with helmets, undercover punching, aligator-twisting legs as they tackle, pass interference, & more) go "unnoticed." The refs fail to do their jobs so things get out of hand & injuries occur. Never fails at thos school's games. It's sad & disgusting.

EPMS is a wonderful school. My son has been attending, and he truly loves it. Prospective families…read moreshould keep in mind that this is a Montessori school, where some of the most important elements are mixed-age classrooms and student autonomy. Coming from a traditional school myself, I disliked sitting at a desk for hours listening to a teacher, with only short breaks between classes. At EPMS, children have much more freedom in the classroom, and I believe this helps them enjoy school rather than see it as an obligation. Student autonomy also builds a strong sense of responsibility--they're not just running around all day There is a clear structure and flow in the classroom, and everyone knows what to do and when to do it. What I love most about EPMS is the customized learning plan for each child, based on their individual level. Every child moves at their own pace, and their work during class is adjusted accordingly. The mixed-age classrooms really support this approach. If your child is more advanced in certain subjects, they can both receive help from peers and help others. The school offers a thoughtful balance of academic and emotional learning. If you are looking for a highly competitive, homework-heavy environment with constant academic pressure, EPMS may not be the right fit--and that is exactly why it works so well for our family. I have not heard of a single bullying incident in our class, and the school is very strict about this. The children are respectful toward one another and toward their teachers, and conflicts are handled in a healthy and constructive way. Dianne Adair is also fantastic and does an amazing job with the after-school activities. Compared to public schools, where 30 students are often crowded into one classroom with a single teacher, EPMS feels like a much better option. While private schools are another alternative, I appreciate that EPMS admits students through a lottery system, allowing children from diverse backgrounds to learn together.

YIKES RUN AS FAR AS YOU CAN! This was the weirdest tour of a school ever. A meeting you attend that…read moreliterally just lets you know how our kids will be place in a class together all different ages not with desk and they all are working on their own things. Teacher won't be up in class teaching. SOUNDS LIKE A COMPLETE CLUSTER TO ME. On top of that the stuff they decide to teach here no child needs to be taught. Kids need to learn how to invest in life, add, subtract, read. Not the non sense they want. Let a child decide at 18 those sorts of things. But, I am happy the principal did not waste my time and laid everything out in how they do things there. She kept stating this is a choice school and you have a choice to not come here. Well that's my exact choice to not come here, so thanks. The way they teach these kids is odd to me. I don't see how any kid can excel in this school sadly. Also sticking a bunch of 6-9 years olds in a classroom together is unacceptable. Each age has different stages of aging maturing and learning about things going on in the world and I def don't think certain young ages should be hearing things that a 9year old would be discussing with a 6 yo. That's just my opinion as a parent and want to give other parents heads up of the atmosphere. Sincerely, concerned parent.

We completed the full application process with Sonder Creek Academy, including paying the $100…read moreapplication fee. Because we applied a bit late, we were placed on the waitlist, which we completely understood. What was disappointing was the total lack of follow-up after that point. Despite reaching out directly to the admissions officer to inquire about our waitlist status, we never received a response -- not even a simple notification that a spot was no longer available. When a family pays a $100 application fee, there is a reasonable expectation of communication and transparency throughout the process. To add to the frustration, we continued to receive marketing emails about summer programs despite never hearing back about our child's application. The disconnect between their marketing outreach and their admissions communication was striking. We can't speak to the school itself, but based solely on the application experience, the lack of follow-through left a poor impression.

Sonder Creek has absolutely been the best school for my child. We were looking at a wide variety of…read moreschools (public, non religious private, and religious private) to see what would be the best fit and I can tell you from the moment we reached out with interest, to the tour, to our child having his first 1/2 day visit there, we knew this was his school.  Staff is knowledgeable and knows my child to a depth that truly sets him up for success. It also makes me feel comfortable that they are doing everything in their power to help my child succeed and thrive. I love that they allow him to excel academically (even past his grade level) as well as support him with challenging subjects (teachers stay current with where he's at and are skilled at providing support very quickly if the child needs it while also keeping parents in the loop so we can help when needed too) while allowing him to stay with his grade level of peers so he's not only being cultivated in the classroom, but also learning to be social amongst peers his age. A big concern of mine was coming out of covid, my child wanted to so desperately make friends, but I know sometimes kids show no mercy. At Sonder Creek, overall it's been way over my expectations. Very involved parents, attentive staff that keeps you in the loop, and students who are open to connecting to one another.  My child has loved the STEM programs at school (especially the after school robotics class) as well as learning both Mandrin and Spanish (coming from an English speaking household, it's been amazing seeing him now speak another language which we will continue to encourage moving forward). He also is asking to do the after school Art program and this is coming from a child who started off barely wanting to hold a pencil correctly.  The community here is so special and you get to see that when everyone comes together. This was our first year we participated in Trunk or Treat with his school and it was such a blast; we will be doing it again next year. The international potluck is a family favorite to attend (combo of incredible foods from all over as well as mini performances from the language programs with the students is so darn adorable) and the Christmas Concert is absolutely precious. Sonder Creek is our child's school and we cannot recommend it enough.

We've been part of this school for two years, and from the very beginning, we knew we had found…read moresomething special. We've been with our teacher for two years and feel incredibly lucky. The teachers here are experienced, dedicated, and deeply committed The director is always present, kind, and attentive. Nothing goes unnoticed, and the children are always cared for. As parents in the LGBTQ community, we didn't expect to be embraced so openly, but this school and its families welcomed us with warmth, respect, and authenticity. That has meant more to us than words can express. What makes this place even more meaningful is how much they invite families to be part of it. Whether it's story time or the incredible Cultural Fair, pride, you're not just a spectator--you belong. We feel incredibly lucky to be part of this community.

We paid a $135 waitlist fee and were told we'd be contacted when enrollment opened. We never…read morereceived any updates or an enrollment packet, and months were wasted waiting to enroll our son in a Montessori program. Meanwhile, the school began openly enrolling students while we were left on the waitlist with no communication. The only time we heard anything was when we reached out ourselves, and even then the responses were vague and provided no real information. After multiple calls and emails requesting an explanation and a refund, we've received no response. This lack of transparency and follow-through is unacceptable. The experience left our family feeling uncomfortable with how we were treated and questioning how families are selected from the waitlist. We are still requesting a refund for a process that was never honored. Unethical and a scam business. Reported to the CA Dept of Social Services.

It's unconscionable that a children's school would use a rodenticide on California ground squirrels…read moreduring the season when their babies are being nursed. Walking on to the field with my dog and finding 4 - 6 week old babies running up to me, emaciated, crow attacks, and dehydration because the parent is dead!!! This is cruel!

This is for the Spanish/English immersion program. I had my worries and doubts about this program,…read morebut finally my child is actually communicating in Spanish! It took a lot of effort outside the classroom with an hour a day of Spanish focused practice and more relaxed activities like singing and playing board games in Spanish, but it has worked after 1.5 years! I couldn't be more impressed with the teachers' genuine concern for the students. Also, she is above the grade level for reading in English as well, so I can see it is nicely balanced.

ACS has been part of our family since the pandemic when we were looking for the right place for our…read moreeldest daughter. She was more than prepared for TK while having a preschool focused on being outside, play and arts/crafts. I always recommend ACS and their amazing teachers. Teachers have been here for awhile - always a good sign!

My daughter used to have a really hard time separating from me, but since starting here, everything…read morehas changed. She absolutely loves it and has so much fun every day! The environment is incredibly creative, engaging, and full of positive energy. She's learning so many wonderful things. I truly love this place and highly recommend it!

This was my elementary school and it honestly was amazing. I never had a teacher who was mean, a…read moreproblem that wasn't unsolved, or anything go wrong. Sure the occasional fight with a friend, but all in all it was an amazing place to go as I grew up. I have the best memories there.

What a great school! Thanks to all the wonderful teachers and volunteers for everything you've done…read morefor my babies.