We love Oakwood Academy (preschool). Our son joined in October of 2025 as a 2.5 year old. The…read moreschool is very clean and organized with processes that support safety, stability and care for the kids. My son has already learned so much in less than 6 months. I love that they post the lesson plan so you can reinforce the learning at home. There is a lot of communication through the Class Dojo app and postings at school. He also was potty trained fully in 2 months which I was more than happy to pay the extra $25-30 a week for that guidance. They have fun activities like field trips, Christmas recitals, special guests like firemen, dentists, etc. He LOVES his teachers, Ms. Cynthia and Ms. Khalifa and we do too! They really understand each child and their personality nuances. I can share what is happening at home and they help guide and reinforce behavior changes at school. It takes a village to raise a child and I'm so thankful to have Oakwood Academy as part of mine!

We love Oakwood Academy and their staff. Our daughter has blossomed since she started attending…read moreOakwood. She is excited to go to school in the morning. The staff is so warm, loving and inviting. Academically they challenge my daughter and has her excelling in her schooling. Our daughter has meet a lot of new friends and love her OA family. There are so many great things about this school not enough space to type on this review. We also love the diversity of staff and students as well. So glad we found Oakwood

Our daughter has been attending St. Barnabas Catholic School since TK, and the difference has been…read moreincredible. After a difficult experience in public school, we were heartbroken seeing her not get the attention and support she needed. Everything changed when Mrs. Kellam invited us to have her try a day--and from that moment on, we never looked back. The teachers truly care and make every child feel seen and supported. The communication is strong, the environment is nurturing, and the focus on both academics and character really stands out. Our daughter is now confident, happy, and thriving--and we are so grateful we found this school.

St. Barnabas School (SBS) is a wonderful school. My son has attended K-5th so far. The faculty…read morecares about each student and makes school fun! Students can also participate in extracurricular activities. I chose SBS after attending an Open House. Two very excited graduates and one current student (at the time) told me about their experience and how fun the school was. We are very happy with our choice!

We are not year-round family at Westerly, but we consistently return for their summer camp…read more Our eleven-year-old son had attended all the local summer camps in Long Beach--JCC, 49'er camp, the city's parks and recs--over the past few years, and he ranks Westerly the highest among all camp experiences. The staff is accommodating, the hours are flexible (7:30 am to 5:30 pm), and he has a great time.

What can I say. Our family loves Westerly! Our eldest started at one of Long Beach's blue ribbon…read moreschools, but with the huge classes we decided to take a look at Westerly and we couldn't go back. Since then all our kids have thrived in their Westerly experience. It starts with a sizable campus with a beautiful grass field for sports and activities, newly constructed learning studios and the amazing arts village. What a great place to learn. Then the passionate teachers and staff deliver a whole child program, with a better than 10:1 student/teacher ratio. The Westerly program includes: Curriculum and instruction - Enthusiastic teachers with a well thought out curriculum and small class sizes enabling teachers to adapt the curriculum to the needs of your child. Technology/STEM - Westerly recently hired a full-time Director of Instructional Technology to enhance an already strong technology/STEM program throughout the curriculum. Think coding in class, 3D printing, science and engineering fairs, etc. Visual and performing arts - Incorporated in the curriculum is an annual school-wide play lead by the folks at TKTC. The visual arts program is second to none with the kids being exposed to public arts projects, ceramics in the new ceramics studio, mixed media, painting, photography, etc. I wish I could take the classes myself. Wildcat, the after school program is a blessing. Our kids beg to go to Wildcat to play with their friends, work on yearbook, take film, dance, music, robotics and other after school enrichment activities. Athletics - A legitimate, well-run PE program with enthusiastic instruction and basketball, volleyball, football teams throughout elementary and middle school. Music - Every child takes both general and instrumental music as part of their Westerly experience. Spanish - Kindergarten through 8th grade all the kids get introduced to the Spanish language through a dedicated Spanish instructor. Leadership - This is quite possibly one of the most amazing parts of the curriculum. Continuing on the theme of whole child education the Director of Student Affairs leads an amazing program that goes so beyond student council, creating leadership opportunities for so many children. Programs like student council, district representatives, green team, etc., start in Kindergarten and the kids grow in responsibility as the children grow themselves. Each child also gains leadership responsibilities as a student mentor, where each older student is paired with a younger student as a mentor. Service learning and field studies - As the kids grow in maturity so do the service learning and field studies. Our children have enjoyed trips to Catalina and other local camps, but the highlight of the program is a one week trip in 8th grade where the whole class travels to Nicaragua to conduct a service learning project, practice their spanish, and are exposed to a different culture and way of life that they are used to. Community - Westerly is a place where without question every family places a priority on securing a great, well-rounded education for their children. Being in an environment like this is so fantastic. Independent school is not cheap, but in our minds it's the best gift we can give to our children. Westerly also offers significant financial aid support, so if that is an issue be sure to discuss your situation with the school to see if they can make something work for your family. P.S. This may sound like a paid ad, but it's our true feelings about this place. It's really special.

My son is a Senior at Poly and a member of the Varsity Basketball team. He also is in the CIC…read moreprogram. If you have an outstanding student and want a free private school education, send them to Poly.. The PACE & CIC programs are outstanding. The teachers, the Administrators and Councelors in these programs really care, go the extra mile and are quality people. These programs are a feeder to the best schools in our country, including the Ivy League. If your child is a talented committed athlete send them to Poly. It is not easy to make the teams at Poly- including the girls teams. But this is an inner city school with a lot of talent. Poly is the number one feeder school to the NFL AND ESPN's High School of the Century. Music program - fantastic. There is a lot of pride among the students and parents. And it is amazing how successful this school is despite what's available to them. Gyms- old and need to be upgraded. Pool - terrible! Needs a remodel. The common area - needs work. I really wish Snoop Dog, Cameron Diaz or a wealthy alumnus would donate a lot of money to start a fundraising effort to upgrade the school. The basketball coaching staff is respected and loved by players and families. And they give so much time, so much effort VOLUNTARILY. These coaches care, are talented themselves and want to make a difference. My son transferred to a private school after attending Poly two years and realized he made a mistake and transferred back for his senior year. Go jack rabbits!

This school has been so very good for my daughter. She is thriving, excelling and being mentored…read moreby her teachers, counselors and staff. The classes are demanding and challenging as I think they should be. If there was a 6th star, I would mark it.

I was a student of this school class of 2025…read moreI loved it. funny moments and all. great teachers that cared about grades and homework!

Absolutely Great School, kids are academically challenged and it feels like a close-knit community.read more

As a tai chi instructor, I gave an introduction class to the wonderful of Maple Village, Waldorf…read moreschool who very thoughtful and appreciative of the art presented. It's great to see a teaching establishment provide the artistic world to students who have a thirst for all art forms. Dav-Ekon, the Art of Tai Chi

We are starting our sixth year at Maple Village Waldorf School, and with the first day of school…read moretoday, I am reminded of just how grateful we are for this community. Over the past five years, our children have been met with love, patience, and a true dedication to their growth. The teachers and staff are among the most devoted educators I have ever seen. They don't just teach--they nurture, guide, and partner with parents in the most thoughtful way. Their holistic approach meets kids exactly where they are, helping them not only to learn but to love learning. What I appreciate most is how much the school truly cares about the kids as whole human beings. It's more than academics--it's about building confidence, fostering creativity, and cultivating empathy. If you are looking for a school where your child will be seen, valued, and supported in every way, Maple Village Waldorf School is a rare gem. We feel incredibly lucky to be part of this community.

My son likes attending this school. It is a good alternative for the traditional school setting…read more Teachers and staff members there are caring and helpful. Students work at their own pace. My son was turned off with school until he started attending. His grades are up also. He feels safe there, and that is a great relief for me. There aren't many options fo socializing but they do have a few activities. If you have working student and is serious about completing school then this is a great choice for you. It is definitely worth checking it out.

ok school kinda sucks i reported a teacher giving me their number and i got dismissed for not…read morehaving enough evidence and the schools offer was to have me go to a different center while keeping the creep teacher around, didn't end up happening but as soon as i graduated they let the teacher come back. also the coach for the girls soccer team so if you want to send your kid to a school where teachers allow each other to be unprofessional and ask for your child number send them this way and ask for emilio!

It was a great school for our family, our children started in preschool and stayed through sixth…read moregrade!

We adore this school. The staff investment in the lives and well-being of the students is so…read moreapparent. As an alum I can say I am happy to have spent my formative years here and glad for my child to attend here

We love bethany! My son started here pre-k summer camp and now hes going to be in 2nd grade…read more Bethany has become our family/community.

Leaving Bethany School was the most rewarding decision for our family. Many parents are naturally…read moredriven to private schools given the perception of superiority, impression of additional resources as compared to public schools, and the idea that teachers are better trained/educated. However, this is far from the case at Bethany School. Fortunately, we didn't waste too much time there and have successfully moved on to better opportunities for our children. Our kids are now happy, thriving and actually being challenged. As a parent, it is in your best interest to strongly consider the public schools within the Long Beach system. The LBUSD has staff with bachelor's degrees at a minimum, many with master's degrees/other secondary level education and ALL are fully credentialed (not the case at Bethany). In addition, LBUSD focuses on emotional intelligence, empathy, diversity, equity, inclusion and welcomes/accepts kids that learn differently. Bethany School admittedly prefers "obedient," cookie cutter kids due to their "limited resources and staff training." Although, these repeated statements were concerning given the high cost of tuition and continuous (often daily) pleas for donations. Bethany School prides itself on being "Future Focused," however, the curriculum, operations and staff training do not support this statement. For example, the utilization of "Clip Charts" as a daily behavioral management tool is widely known to be outdated and the theorized benefits have been refuted by studies and research (perform a simple Google search on the "Clip Chart Method" for your own assessment). Also, the end of the week "prize boxes" (and other extrinsic motivators) at Bethany are outdated and actually cause more harm than good to children. Prize boxes decrease a child's long-term ability to develop intrinsic motivation, an organic love for learning and the natural desire to be kind and compassionate. I question how Bethany labels such deeply outdated tactics as "Future Focused." In addition, there was an over-emphasis on the recitation of Bible verses and other religious content that created a gap with what the kids should be learning. In fact, many parents needed other educational content to supplement the Bethany School curriculum to ensure that their students would remain on track. Overall, we were thoroughly disappointed by the pipe dream that was sold to us via their website and during many on-campus tours, especially given the amount of tuition that we were paying. This has been an eye-opening experience about the educational system in the city of Long Beach. Private schools in LB, whether religious/Montessori/other are not superior, do not challenge kids, do not welcome kids with learning differences and have an alarming lack of emphasis on emotional intelligence (which we all know should truly be the focus of the future). Choose your children's education wisely. Don't ignore the red flags. Pass on Bethany.

I absolutely love the staff and how much they genuinely care for their children. My children love…read morecoming here and are making many friends . They are accepting of our children and help them grow as great community members. There are many positive role models at this school. We are grateful that our children have had them as their teachers. They feel this daycare is a second home to them. Early drop off and late pick up is great. They walk our school age kids to school and they also pick them up. This has been so convenient for us because we arr such busy, working parents. Would definitely recommend.

Both of my children attend the Children's Center for before and afterschool supervision. The…read morefacility actually takes, and picks up my kids from school which is a big deal if you are a working parent. The staff is fantastic, and management really listens to parents. They are absolutely an extension of our family. I highly recommend this facility.