I do NOT like this school. I went here a couple of years ago and let me start off with talking…read moreabout the primetime staff. The old supervisor sucked balls and was a very sh1tty person she would always yell at kids and not care about them. The supervisor would always make up lies about children and even talk sh1t about them when all of them left which is why I had to drop out because of how careless they were to kids. Let me also talk about the music teacher she was racist,disrespectful and judged kids about how they would play with certain instruments that she provided us the p.e teacher is also a very careless person and I don't not like her at all she was very very bratty and had a bad attitude towards kids?

I've had 2 children attend McKinley Elementary School. One just graduated from there and one is…read moreentering 3rd grade. This school has been phenomenal and has gone above and beyond. We have experienced different teachers year, and each one has been more than exceptional. They have been absolutely lovely, caring, thoughtful, smart, and have the best interest of our kids, their classmates, and even their community in mind. They have been taught not only the basic academics, but also how to be a good human in this crazy world, and how to lean on community and their peers to grow and become educated. I have felt like the teachers have always kept the individual student in mind, and advocated it on their behalf for all of their needs. The school, the teachers, the staff, down to the janitors....Absolutely lovely. The community that is involved at Mckinley Elementry school is the absolute best. There is a constant fundraising happening by the parents and community to support Mckinley's vast programs. The jog-a-thon, Sono Fest, the Gala, etc. Programs like music, theater dance for, art, and Spanish, our kids have been getting a very well rounded experiences in elementary school.

Help! Yelp support needed!…read more Yelpers: The other day the principal decided to do someone else's job and was very rude, disrespectful and entitled when doing safety patrol. There is a parking/double parking problem at Garfield Elementary. There is no where to park and very little usable spaces for passenger loading, on top of that the school decided to close the parking lot which made things worse. There are cars double parked all over the campus when school lets out, this causes traffic in the small surrounding blocks of the premises. I figured since the parking lot is closed for entry/exit then the lot entry way would be the best place to wait in my car for school to let out. While waiting the principal whom was doing "safety patrol" for absent staff approached and told me I had to move because the lot was closed to which I replied that it was fine because I'm not going in and I am just trying to avoid causing further traffic in the street, since I drive a big truck. The principal said ok well if you don't want to listen I am going to call the police and they can tell you to move, then she pulled out her phone and started taking pictures of my car. Her response and behavior caused me to lose respect for her, I attempted to explain the traffic situation but she ignored me and walked away with her phone to her ear saying "you just wait right there". Two minutes later she is back since the 911 emergency line told her to call the non emergency number for her problem. This time she was belligerent since I ignored her and sat there with my window up and music playing just loud enough to block her out. After 5 minutes of dealing with her harassment and knocking on my window, I told her that I was waiting for the Police to show up since she decided to call them on me after taking photos of my car and license plate. She got so triggered she didn't know what to do and started pacing back and forth around my car. Finally my wife finished volunteering for the school's boo grams at 3:15pm. I had to tell my child's teacher about what happened and told her we cannot be volunteering to help raise money for school curricular activities if we have to deal with created conflicts caused by the school staff and the parking problem. My child's teacher apologized on her behalf and asked us to disregard the altercation. But then I check my email and I see this email that was sent to the parents by the principal the same day, seems she had to vent to other parents. For the record, I instilled respect and kindness in the minds of my children, I also taught them that respect is a two way street and that you have to give respect to get respect, and there is always two sides of a story. And on that note I have to say that my child's teacher is excellent. It's just all the complications surrounding the school that's causing all the commotion. The fact that the principal would call the police on a parent in regards to a double parked car is ridiculous and embarrassing on her part. My family has done so.much for this school from PTO donations, catering PTO events, raising funds for the school and even working for the school as staff. The school doesn't care... and I'm not the one. If you are looking for a school that expects aid from parents without any appreciation or respect in return than you found it. This school is an embarrassment, we didn't know that after enrolling our child that this would turn into a part time teacher's aid job... stop asking the moms to help do a teachers job if you don't care about the "double parked" dads. Parents share time and energy with their children and taking time away from parents doesn't help the household especially when there is always homework...

Not a safe school once the kids get lend out. Nope!! To many close calls. Children and parents…read morecrossing the street and almost getting hit. Parents cursing at each other cause they are boxed in by cars double parked right behind them. Cars blocking the cross walks and parked in front of fire hydrants. Cars driving on to incoming traffic almost causing an accident. The school refuses to do anything and the Police seems to be ignoring the problem. No cross walk attendant and no traffic officer. There will be a accident if no one steps in to do something about this

CCPAA has been an absolute game changer for our military family. If you know anything about…read moremilitary life, you know the constant uprooting is a challenge--our children have experienced more school changes than we ever wanted, not by choice but by necessity. At this duty station, things were especially tough; we had to go through three different schools in our first year here. That all changed when my husband found this diamond in the rough. Before CCPAA, our kids attended a private school that felt cold, cliquish, and unwelcoming. Finding CCPAA was like finding a second family. From day one, we were welcomed warmly, and it has made all the difference. My children have been at CCPAA for a year and a half now, and they've loved every single moment. The teachers are passionate and truly engaged with the students, and the administration is always on top of everything. They create an environment that is not only academically enriching but also incredibly nurturing. What really stands out to us is the vibrant creative offerings--dance, music, jazz band, art, drama, and more. For our family, creativity is just as important as academics, and CCPAA allows our children to explore both. They're thriving, not just as students, but as artists, thinkers, and young individuals with diverse passions. The school's inclusive, diverse environment and sense of community have given our family stability, warmth, and a place to belong in the midst of the frequent changes that come with military life. We couldn't be more grateful for this incredible school.

Our son has been attending CCPAA for two years and has completely blossomed during his time there…read more(currently in sixth grade). Once a shy and somewhat insecure child, he has now grown into a tween that performs in front of an audience, has friends and pushes himself academically. It is a bit of an unconventional school due to the small size but some kids thrive in that type of environment where everyone knows your name and the students interact with all ages.

My kids attend this school. I love the teachers and leadership- they truly care about the kids as…read morehumans and help kids grow not just academically, but also emotionally.

The social and academic support my children have received here has been unparalleled. The writing,…read morephysical education and character development worked into the curriculum are critical to promote the skills and habits that children will carry into adulthood. Additionally, the faculty and staff genuinely care about the children. They are advocates and positive influences on them. I appreciate the community here. Every morning, I know my children are not just safe in school, but cared for.

It was okay, for the most part. I was a student here not too long ago, and overall had a fairly…read moreokay experience here for some of my middle school years. While some teachers and staff were nice or at least professional, some completely disregarded the students feelings. At the time I was going through a rough time and would often have issues with getting into trouble for 'skipping class' when I was crying in the bathrooms. When someone came into the bathrooms to get me, the office workers would tell I couldn't leave class or just not go, regardless of what was happening, unless it was some sort of 'real' emergency like medical. This part I'm not proud of. I got suspended multiple times for coming to school high, and there were a few times I had to leave because of hurting myself and getting caught with a blade to do so. Eventually of course I was told to leave, and while I know I could've prevented this, I also know I turned to these bad coping mechanisms because nobody was listening and trying to help me. When I was kicked out from the school the principal, Mr. Taylor, yelled at me and cussed, saying I was 'past the point of helping' and that I was hopeless. While I did do some things that I shouldn't have, students should be talked to properly and not yelled at for things they can't help like mental health issues. Many of my other friends experienced similar issues.

My 1st kid loved it all the way from K until she graduated 8th and moved to a high school. Now I…read morehave 2 other kids going here. I remind them they have choices and can go to any school yet they insist on staying at museum until they graduate. We have seen many staff changes over the years but the core values seem to carry on. Its a small tight-knit school with around 25 kids per grade. Miss Jaleh TK and Miss Diana K are the perfect teachers to kickoff your kids learning journey. The drive thru lane for drop offs and picks ups is top.

We are new to Franklin (we choiced in) and I feel like we have finally landed in a dream. We came…read morefrom a nightmarish charter). My daughter's teacher is incredibly supportive, the staff and principal are super engaged with the children, the curriculum (STEAM) is fabulous and the FAMILIES are involved and happy (that right there speaks VOLUMES). Just come to one of their awesome fundraisers and you will see. I am sad this school only goes until the 5th grade. Thanks for being so awesome, Franklin Elementary!

So happy that my kids get to go to this amazing school. The teachers, staff, and facilities are…read moreall top notch. Principal Bice is a gem. She cares for every kid and supports every family. We are lucky that this is our districted school but we would try to choice in if we ever moved.

I love this school my daughter went here for kinder and first and she loved it. She misses this…read moreschool so much and still till this day says she wants to go back. If we didn't have to move she would still be going here. The only thing that I didn't like was how small the school is and the parking but besides that it's wonderful elementary school. The teachers are really involved in the care of each and all their students. I also love that they had an afterschool program and a huge fair every year. We are planning on moving back closer just for this school and fair. My daughter loved her teacher "Mrs. Repaire" in the year of 2024 kindergarten English class. Thank God we never met the former teacher which we heard in 2023 was a nightmare, "Mr. Kruel" his name says it all and we heard he got fired also for being mean to the the kindergartners.

Our family had a deeply troubling experience at John Adams Elementary School during the 2023-2024…read moreschool year, specifically with my son's kindergarten teacher, Mr. Kuehl. From the very first weeks of school in August and September 2023, my son began expressing distress about his classroom environment. He often told me that his teacher yelled at him and his classmates. I tried speaking with Mr. Kuehl on many occasions, but he was often irritable and dismissive. I once arranged to quietly observe my son's class; the teacher appeared visibly upset that I was present, stating that my presence "messes up the classroom dynamic." The principal, Ms. Decy Piña, later insisted that I volunteer at lunchtime instead, rather than in the classroom. My son also reported telling Mr. Kuehl about another student hitting him, only to be told, "I don't care." The most upsetting incident occurred when my son came home crying, saying that Mr. Kuehl grabbed his lunch pail from his desk, threw it on the floor, and then yelled at him to pick it up. He described feeling both sad and scared. I contacted the principal immediately after this incident, and my son was excused from multiple days of school until a meeting could be arranged with both the teacher and the principal. At that meeting, Mr. Kuehl denied all the allegations. The environment was tense, and I found his demeanor to be defensive and hostile, further reinforcing my concerns about his ability to regulate his emotions around young children. Principal Piña sat through the meeting emotionless. This was my son's first year of kindergarten -- it should have been a positive learning experience, but instead, it was a nightmare. Not only were we navigating our first year of school, but I was also seven months pregnant, dealing with the stress the school brought on. We ultimately decided to transfer my son to another school because Mr. Kuehl was the only English teacher. If we stayed, he would have been placed back in his classroom or moved into a dual-language class, which was not the right fit for him. A few parents privately expressed concerns about this teacher to me, sharing that they knew of students who had been moved out of his class. After we left, another parent reached out to tell me that her son, still in that classroom, was experiencing the same, if not worse, treatment. I never received an apology. I contacted the district, but they simply forwarded my complaint back to Ms. Piña, who never followed up with me. Based on our experience, I cannot recommend this school without significant changes to staff training, communication, and accountability. Young children deserve a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment, unfortunately, that was not what we experienced here.

Happy parent of two Birney Bees and cannot say enough good things about the amazing community of…read moreparents and staff here. In this time of strife especially, this school really lives the IB idea of "other people, with their differences, may also be right." Some standouts are: 1. Free Lunch and Breakfast for all students 2. School orgs help raise money to pay for free art, music, garden and Spanish classes for all kids 3. Amazing principal, Ms. Amanda, is out greeting parents and kids every day - very on it and approachable 4. Excellent math and english scores, especially impressive given the wide diversity at the school and how low they were only 10 years ago 5. Diversity - these kids and families speak so many other languages, know so many other cultures, it's really a wonderful global perspective and kids are taught to respect and celebrate their differences It's a bit worn around the edges and there's no new shiny science lab or pool, but the community they have built and values they help teach far outweigh the downsides for me.

When we first started at Birney in 2022, the experience felt very different from what it is today…read more At that time, Birney had an open-campus environment where parents could walk their children to their classrooms in the morning and come inside for pickup. It created a strong sense of community. Parents knew one another, looked out for each other's children, and there was a genuine feeling of connection when you walked onto campus. One of the biggest reasons I originally chose Birney was that sense of community. Teachers, the principal, and the counselor were often at the entrance greeting families. If you had a quick question or concern, it was easy to find someone and have a conversation. The school felt welcoming and accessible. Unfortunately, my experience changed significantly after new leadership came in about two years ago. The campus became closed to parents, and some family-oriented traditions and opportunities for parent involvement were reduced, including monthly Family Fridays. Longstanding student incentives, such as the "Limo List" for students with excellent attendance, were also discontinued. Communication has also become a major concern for our family. I have found it increasingly difficult to get timely answers from administration. There have also been instances of emails containing grammatical errors or incorrect dates and times for events, which can create confusion for families. Overall, I feel communication and transparency have declined compared with our earlier experience. Another significant change has been the garden program. The teacher who built and maintained the garden for approximately 20 years was not offered a new contract, and the reasoning was not clearly communicated to families. Because of construction, the garden area is already much smaller than it once was. A replacement teacher was brought in fairly quickly, but from my perspective, the transition felt rushed and poorly planned. The ongoing construction is another challenge. The school is expected to remain under construction until 2029, and the current entrance and exit arrangements can be confusing. The TK/Kindergarten play area is currently essentially a dirt lot without a traditional play structure. That said, many of the teachers at Birney are wonderful. We have had truly amazing teachers who care deeply about their students, and that has been the biggest positive throughout our time there. If you are considering Birney, I strongly recommend taking a tour and seeing the campus for yourself. Many online reviews reflect what Birney was like several years ago, and based on our experience, the school has changed considerably. Visit, ask questions, and get a firsthand sense of the current environment before making your decision.

There are not enough good words to say about this school. Children's Growing Center is an amazing…read moreplace to send your kid for their 0-4 years. My daughter went there for the past three years, and the experience was great. Every class was fun, engaging, exploratory, and my child looked forward to going every day. The school was good with communication, they have cute performances for families throughout the year, and you can tell all the teachers are genuinely invested in the kids. What amazed me the most is that every single teacher at that school knew my kid's name. Every single one. It feels like such a safe and loving community. The director has been there for close to 30 years, and she's great. Straightforward, no nonsense, and kind, and loving to the kids. They spend a lot of time outdoors and have a very play-focused curriculum. The families are warm and friendly. We were genuinely sad to go. I picked this preschool in part because of the excellent reviews, and I wanted to contribute to that. These reviews are spot on--the school is as good as the reviews say it is. 10/10 preschool, absolutely recommend.

My daughter spent about two years at this school and went through three classrooms. The great thing…read moreabout schools like this is that children will move up to a new classroom about every 9 months and the curriculum targets the age group. All the teachers were very caring and the teacher the student ratio was good. They had a lot of volunteer opportunities and there were a few of parent led events each year so I thought that was really neat. This school would have been more fun if it weren't for COVID. During normal times, they had school performances in the spring and early December that they rehearse for. We moved to Santee and since I work from home, going to this school became a hardship. We were sad to leave but my daughter will always have great memories of this place.

I worked at this school as a PrimeTime staff back in Fall 2022 and I gotta say this is a really…read moregood school! The school has amazing staff that truly care about their students! This school is a great elementary school!