One of the biggest factors in choosing this school was thinking about the world my children are…read moregrowing up in. As technology continues to evolve and as information and technical skills become increasingly accessible, I found myself thinking less about education as simply what my children would learn and more about who they would become while learning it. I wanted an education that placed real value on the human qualities that I believe will matter throughout their lives: emotional intelligence, strong character, confidence, kindness, integrity, self-awareness, and the ability to build meaningful relationships with others. That is why it brings me such comfort knowing my children are surrounded each day by kind, present, and intentional teachers and leaders who don't simply teach these qualities, but model them. Children learn so much from the adults around them, and I deeply value knowing that the people helping educate my children are also demonstrating the behaviors and values we hope they carry into the world. For parents considering what education should prepare our children for in a rapidly changing world, this has been one of the most meaningful reasons behind our choice of this school.

We were told about Carden Hall by a family who had three generations graduate from the school and…read morewe were convinced it was going to be a fit for our family too. It turned out to be better than we could have imagined. While I place a high value on the level of academics, the amount of care and instruction to develop the character and emotional IQ of our children at school is invaluable. To be confident that our children will leave Carden Hall with all sides of their being educated and enhanced is a blessing beyond what I expected.

I can't say enough good things about this church. Everyone is very welcoming and there are tons of…read moregroups to join. The church is beautiful and they have adoration in the chapel from 3:00-5:00.

This would be a five star rating if not for the horrible problem of bullying at this school. OLQA…read morehas a strong academic program but the allowed bullying is truly horrific. Especially in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, the massive bullying has caused many smart kids to simply leave. The school's policy on bullying is that the school staff has to actually witness the bully attacking the student before anything can begin to be addressed. And of course the kids aren't stupid - they never bully in front of the staff. There are no anti-bullying programs and the bullies run the school. It particularly sad as it is antithetical to everything a Catholic school should be.

Vicki Gilmore the principals assistant refused to help my daughter who was taking the initiative to…read moreproactively plan a strategic move on her own wanted to schedule appointment. Wow this lady was incredibly rude. I cannot believe it. We left with no appointment made and my daughter FEELING that Vicki Gilmore will never HELP her. I will file a formal complaint against HER ABUSE OF POWER.

CdM is a great school with great amenities, courses, clubs, teachers, and amazing students. I have…read morebeen here since 7th grade for 3 years and the school has far exceeded my expectations, and I enjoy every day I'm here. There are some bad things about it, but it's overall a decent school. The problems have become much less significant over time, and are over-exaggerated and drummed up by the media to grab people's attention and get more views, but these stereotypes hold little actual ground. It's impulsive for us to just slap a label on a place or group of people, but it isn't as simple as black and white. It's important to recognize that stereotypes are often exploited by people who've had no experience in a place to just assume everyone's a certain way, without trying to understand and empathize. At CdM, there is little prejudice and is usually subtle and unintended. The academic environment can be stressful, but you have the choice of taking more advanced classes. If parents are forcing their kids to get really good grades and take challenging courses, that's a parental issue. If a teacher is unhelpful, others are always willing to help. Many of the negative reviews stem from misunderstanding, as parents are prone to just taking their kid's word when they have a complaint rather than assessing the full situation, and this lack of understanding leads to further escalation of the situations. For a new student, there will always be potential friends. Many kids at CdM were negatively influenced, but that's because they didn't choose good friends. While there are many entitled and troublesome kids, the overwhelming majority are kind, humble, and respectful; it's just about avoiding the minority of bad students. For most of my time at CdM, I was shy and never had much of a friend group; yet other kids have always made to effort to be kind to me when they could have stayed comfortable with their own friends. Most students have been quick to forgive me and move on after I changed for the better even if I had done something bad in the past. Most kids won't peer pressure you if you say no to something. Your school experience is what you make it and how you perceive things, and you can make good choices. The problem is that a lot of people get dissatisfied even because of minor things. THIS is the entitlement in CdM people complain about: the ones who can't take any shit and who have no gratitude. It's the ones who care about CdM and try to make it a better place that love CdM because the other students respect and appreciate them. If you come into CdM with an open mind, a kind personality, and a drive to succeed and make friends, the rest will already be taken care of. You know the negative reviews are due to entitlement because it's always the parents that are doing the dirty work for their kids when as students, they should take control of their academic experience. It doesn't make you look good as a parent to be the one bailing out your kid by contacting a teacher. It's the inconsiderate students that want to leave CdM. These people are troublemakers. They are surrounded by their ego and have no idea that they're pissing everyone off, and their parents who only see one side of the story assume that CdM is a horrible school after hearing their kid nonstop complain and they move their kid to another school to cause more trouble. I was once one of these obnoxious kids, but I recognized that my actions were unappreciated by others and have changed since then. Kids who I once annoyed now respect me, a testament to the forgiveness of CdM students. The school has issues with parent cliques, and the administration does have some issues with inefficiency and management, just like any other school, but as a student, the most important thing is to be able to go to school every day and just be yourself and to be surrounded by respectful students and teachers, not whether the school decides how often the bathrooms are cleaned. Your main interactions with the administration will be regarding attendance or course changes, which it's really efficient at. Why wouldn't you give CdM a chance? In the small chance you don't like it, there's little risk in transferring. People move from CdM to other local private schools or vice versa all the time, and they can still keep their friends because they live in the same area; but if you do like it, you'll save a ton on tuition, and that money can be better used on other things to further develop your child's interest and to ensure future success, or even just for enjoyment. I kept this review brief to address the general issues. If you want to know something more specific about CdM, you can email me at wynneyoung555@yahoo.com or text me at (949)375-0086, but don't call me because I don't take calls from unknown numbers.Here's why many of the points made in other reviews are wrong: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DxEqbhM7_oP2kjPJT8EhDTro5y5afy0m9LM7c4KwO-4/edit?usp=sharing

Fantastic aquatics center but certainly lacking in toilet facilities. 2 restrooms per 200 people…read moreis not OK.

As a parent I continue to be impressed with the amount of opportunity at Newport Harbor high…read moreschool. From STEM classes, to Culinary, Mentorship programs to every club imaginable, There's something for everyone here. I have to say the bathrooms could use more attention. And make sure your kids lock their bikes properly. All in all the teachers care and it was a positive experience.

When our family joined Harbor Day School four years ago, we hoped for a strong academic foundation…read morefor our children, but what we found has been so much more. Harbor Day has become an extension of our family, a place where our three children are not only challenged intellectually but also supported emotionally and socially in every way. The teachers here are extraordinary. They know each child deeply - their strengths, quirks, and potential, and they truly want every student to become their best self. What stands out most is how intentionally the school focuses on the whole child. Academic rigor is balanced with lessons in kindness, citizenship, and community. My sons have learned to think critically and act compassionately, skills that matter far beyond the classroom and that we see demonstrated when we travel and encounter different societies and cultures. The breadth of experiences offered continues to impress me. From science and technology to wood shop, Spanish/Latin/Mandarin, art, and beyond, the curriculum encourages curiosity and hands-on exploration. Every day, my children come home excited to share something new they've discovered or built. As a parent, I've also found a meaningful sense of belonging through volunteer opportunities and parent enrichment programs. Although we don't live in the immediate neighborhood, I've found that volunteering and participating in parent enrichment opportunities have made me feel deeply connected to the school. The families and faculty are warm, welcoming, and united by a shared commitment to helping children thrive both academically and personally. We are so happy with our decision to have our children at Harbor Day School. It's a place where children are seen, valued, and inspired, and where families feel truly at home.

Harbor day has been wonderful for my children 's growth both educationally and as people. The…read moreteachers care about the students both in classroom and outside the classroom. The Harbor day community has been very welcoming and nuturing . It's been wonderful for our family.

The front desk lady is very unhelpful and sarcastic for no reason. Even a normal question is…read moreanswered with a sharp tone and an unhelpful attitude. I've been at the school for 4 years and I havent and ONE good interaction with her. Even when in very polite and did everything correctly she's still rude and disrespectful. And it's even worse when you're wrong, she's just criticizing and berating you the whole time. Even worse, it's only to students and never teachers or parents. The faculty here doesn't respect students. I hope she gets fired.

I came here yesterday for a football game with the Seahawks league. Beautiful location, clean and…read morewell maintained. I was so impressed as it sat on a hill with trees everywhere surrounding the driveway path to the school. Gate guard. Impressive. Security was on top of everything, she was awesome with a warm, friendly smile. Truly a gorgeous school.

I have two children that have gone through preschool and lower elementary and I've had a wonderful…read moreexperience. There is new leadership and it shows. The teachers and staff truly care about the children's well being. My kids are happy and thriving. There is a sense of community here and we are so glad we chose the school for our children.

From preschool on up, St. Joachim teachers are dedicated and caring. The school invests in extras…read morelike a learning support specialist that provides personalized attention to those who need extra help. The emphasis on both education and character development is admirable. The extracurricular activities offered are diverse - competitive athletics program, art, technology, maker space, cooking, Ducks hockey program, choir, social events, and much more - encouraging well-rounded development. I appreciate the sense of community fostered by the school, making it feel like a second home for our family. Highly recommend this school for anyone seeking a quality education within a supportive and enriching environment.

For my daughter is this the third waldorf school, we moved because of my job. The waldorf education…read moreis always special, wherever you are. But I can say, we are happy to be part of WSOC now. My daughter is now in 3rd grade and loves her teachers, wenn she comes home, she often even plays, that she is a teacher and repeats with her puppets what she did and learned in the school. Although she had a hard time with divorce between me and her mother, the school gave her stability, joy and purpose. If you want to have a good experience and best results with any waldorf school, it's necessary to understand it's core principles and foundation and cooperate with that. It's hundert years approved pedagogy with great results in the whole world, but it needs cooperation. I am grateful and happy, that my daughter can be educated in WSOC!

We love Waldorf education and at Waldorf School of Orange County the College of Teachers, the Board…read moreand the Staff are dedicated to a good educational experience in the Waldorf pedagogy. Many of the teachers are amazing. My child was blessed to travel the grades with Brooke Natzke and that experience was amazing. I can't recommend a more qualified person. My are having a great experience with Mrs Schwarz in the grades now for our next child. Our daughter is attending Waldorf High School and has found many of the teachers to be very supportive and helpful. She found her passion because of the championing of her Earth Science Teacher.