The best elementary school in Santa Cruz county. Their PTA raises six figures every year.read more

After my third child at Delta I have to down grade it a little. They can do more to prepare kids…read morefor college work. They tend to enable the kids who need to be pushed a little. In the real world your work is not always great and wonderful. I understand the need for being positive but the need to teach these kids how to improve and do better is important for the working and college bound student..

My son had always struggled in the mainstream school environment. The piece that is lacking in…read moreMainstream (Aptos High) is the lack of Social Emotional support to students. There are 3 academic counselors and no emotional support. Delta High was the best fit and experience for my son and his overall well being. It saved his life. Small environment and all staff knows each student well. Any issues that arise or marked change in behavior called for a meeting where teachers, principal and counselor on created a plan on how best to support the student(s). As a senior he integrated into Cabrillo College prior to graduation. This is NOT an alternative school where the "bad kids go". A special shout out to Jaime Cutter.

Great community elementary school. Staff truly cares for children. There's been a lot of new…read moreconstruction making updates to the school recently.

It's an amazing school and teachers are very supportive. Also the fact that they keep up with so…read moremany traditions from 1958 is amazing.

Now that I'm no longer attending here, I must say my time at this school left me feeling it is not…read morea safe environment, student health and safety do not seem to come first. I personally witnessed staff threaten a student who was trying to leave campus. The threat was later denied and the school took no accountability, on-campus police got involved, and the student was given an expulsion. Seeing how the situation was handled and misrepresented, along with other issues, has left my friends and me feeling alienated and without trust in the system, afraid a mis-step could have us treated as horribly as they treated him. Not a safe environment overall.

I Attend SLV High School, and unfortunately, my experience was not what I had hoped for. The campus…read morewas a trashy and a filthy setting. all the teachers where very bad (More specifically Ms. Doty). Firstly, communication between the administration, students, and parents often felt disorganized. Announcements about events or schedule changes were frequently last-minute, causing unnecessary confusion. They used to let me rot in the office for no reason while I did't even do anything. Lastly, there seemed to be a lack of accountability regarding issues like bullying or student behavior. Concerns raised by students or parents often felt brushed aside or inadequately addressed. A stronger emphasis on creating an inclusive, supportive environment would go a long way. I believe SLV High has potential, but there are several areas where improvement is urgently needed to ensure all students feel supported and prepared for their future.

Great school went there when I was a kid. I had such good teachers and learned a lot. It was my…read morefirst public school after Montessori.

Our daughter just finished 6th. grade at NBMS and It was a very positive experience for her…read more She loved all her teachers and excelled in academics as well as sports. I was able to witness how the principal Craig Broadhurst and the vice principal Andrew Weiss handled several conflicts that arose. They were professional and quick to act with wisdom. I personally saw how their love and compassion for students and their dedication to creating a safe learning environment was a major priority.

We moved from one of the top high schools in the country specifically for this school, and I'm so…read moreglad we did. I did my research beforehand, attended the open house, and had our son shadow for a day. We researched 5 different schools from Menlo Park to Aptos. The new leadership here is incredibly accessible, and the counselors have an open-door policy with parents, which is something I've never experienced before. The teachers are proactive, responsive, and genuinely care about the students--especially the math, biotech, and chemistry teachers, who have been the best we've encountered. The IEP team is organized. I've never had to chase down a teacher or administrator. Communication is excellent; we get updates from teachers, and the coaches truly care about the whole student, even looking out for things like sleep and nutrition. We really wish we had transferred here sooner! If you have a soccer or football player, check out Soquel's record. The football team has even brought home a state championship, beating much larger and wealthier private schools! If you haven't heard of this school yet, you will. The parents here are invested in each other's children, and there's a real sense of community. We carpool, share responsibilities, and support each other--it's truly a "it takes a village" mentality. My son says the kids here are friendlier than most. While the facilities could use some major upgrades to attract families from further out, this school has the passion and talent to turn it into something truly special. If the right investment and support are provided, Soquel could easily reverse the trend of declining enrollment due to population changes. My son is happier and healthier here, thanks to Soquel High. I've been recommending it to families from outside the area, and I'm confident they'll have the same great experience we've had.

Not a good school if you want your child to actually learn and be challenged. Overcrowded classes,…read morenot enough teachers, not enough staff, (councilors and principal) don't care about each student and their learning needs or a plan. PE equipment (tennis) broken. A lot of teachers are frustrated and some long over due for retirement. They are a few years behind a good school. If you can afford a private school, send your kids there, so they will be prepared for college. Or, look into alternative programs. Why wait til they go to college?

Tara is a unique and magical educational experience in the redwood forests near Land of Medicine…read moreBuddha. Our daughters attend and are thriving in the elementary and preschool programs. The preschool program is located in the heart of Soquel. The teachers are terrific and the children and community wonderful. While in Soquel proper, they do make weekly trips up to the redwoods to play and explore. It's an excellent program filled with creative activities, traditional Montessori education, and play. The elementary program is located within the Land of Medicine Buddha, nestled amongst the redwoods, where the children hike, play in the stream, and count banana slugs while on their way to the playground. The class sizes are small which allow our daughter to receive more attention and tailored education than in a traditional public school. Montessori-style teaching meets the student at their current level of development for each subject, providing flexibility and ensuring a child is challenged and not left behind or left waiting for their classmates to catch up. The elementary school teachers are wonderful, highly experienced, and a positive influence on our daughter. Lastly, the school ethos of compassion, mindfulness, inclusion, and kindness instill important values in our children and foster a culture of like-minded parents and teachers who share these same values. PS - Refreshingly, there are no screens at Tara. The children learn through their senses and through physical objects, not by the glow of pixels and hum of electricity.

My children have been at Tara since January of 2022 and every year we are grateful to be a part of…read moretheir community. We started at the Village campus and are now at the Redwood campus. Teachers Adela, Bev, and Regina at the Village Campus are so dedicated and passionate about their work. They show up happy to be there every single day. The daily trips to the Redwood campus to be surrounded by the forest, fun field trips, and Montessori teaching approach have been so valuable to my children. Teachers Namasya and Lisa at the Redwood campus have also been wonderful in continuing the Creating Compassionate Cultures curriculum, which at the heart is based on our body's own wisdom. I love the interconnectedness and values they teach at this school: why it's important to be kind and practice gratitude towards plants and animals, how to make a difference in other's lives, the natural elements and how they pertain to us, food sources & cooking in class, how to be a good friend and so SO much more-- these values feel like the true core of what it means to be a happy, healthy & balanced human in the world and I am just so grateful to have my children learn it at such an early age. Grateful to Tara for going on five years of a truly wonderful experience.

We really appreciate the MCS community and would definitely recommend it. Our son has been…read moreattending MCS for 2 years, starting in the Nido room when he was almost 1. He's since moved up through the toddler room and is now in the primary/ preschool community. Our new baby will be starting there this January. Our son is thriving and remains consistently challenged and nurtured. The leads in his classrooms have been wonderful, showing a genuine interest in his development. Our son had a few normal but difficult behavioral challenges in the last few months when our second son arrived and the leads and staff have responded with grace and care, working with us to support our son. The space and setting is also beautiful!

All three of my kids have attended and some still do. They started at their Nido program and have…read moregone through (or still are) Toddler and Primary. The guides and aides are and have been loving and caring towards my children. Furthermore, they have helped provide more than simply a nice place to play and have fun. My kids have learned lots of skills that have translated to home and academics. They have helped support our kids in aspects of life we may have been working on at home (i.e. napping, toileting, and the like). My kids enjoy going and I feel good about sending them there.