Middle school can already be a challenging and stressful environment but attending a school like…read moreNewark Middle School (often referred to locally alongside its history as Newark Junior High) can sometimes amplify those frustrations for students trying to navigate their daily routines. Between strict administrative policies, heavily restricted campus rules, and a general lack of engaging student activities, many students often feel like the overall atmosphere is overly rigid rather than supportive. Instead of fostering an environment where young adolescents feel encouraged to grow, the everyday experience can frequently feel bogged down by disorganization and an inflexible system. Adding to student frustrations are specific leadership and athletic figures on campus, such as Coach Kelly, who often draw heavy criticism from participants and students alike. Athletic environments should ideally build confidence, teach teamwork, and serve as an outlet for positive development, but a poor coaching style can quickly turn sports into a source of anxiety. When leadership relies on poor communication, unfair treatment, or a lack of genuine support for the players, it alienates students who are just trying to enjoy their time and represent their school. Ultimately, when both the general school climate and specific authority figures fail to connect positively with students, the entire middle school experience suffers. Navigating classes, social pressures, and extracurriculars becomes much harder than it needs to be when students feel unsupported by the very people and systems meant to guide them through these formative years.

The schools alright, really. The real reason why people think it's bad is because of the people…read more(students mostly). The teachers on the other hand, either do too much, or too less. Only few teachers are just right though yk? This school is kinda ghetto, suggesting that there WERE fights and vaping, but if you stay long enough or just observe you can find the wholesome parts in it. If your a parent reading this, just trust the school but not too much, but if your a student then yk how things go on in this bumhaz school lol.

We've such a positive experience with the TK program at NH. Definitely the new management is…read moreputting much efforts. From the very first day, the teachers and staff have created a warm, welcoming, and nurturing environment. The curriculum is developmentally appropriate and balances academics with plenty of play-based learning, which has helped our child grow both socially and intellectually. We've seen huge progress and confidence when speaking in front of others. Looking forward to upcoming years.

The school has a new management this year and they have completely revived the curriculum, it was…read moregreat before but it's so much better now. I feel that my child (6th grade) is getting really good education at almost half of the tuition that some other private schools charge. And the tuition ($1450) covers staying there all day long, i.e. till 5:30pm. Some other private schools charge more but are open till 3:00 only. I personally think it's quite affordable especially considering the fact that even in public schools I was paying around $600 for after school day care and then to supplement the public school education, I was sending my kid to Kumon, another $300. But the quality of education here is so much better than Kumon, the kids are learning things above their normal grade level. All the teachers are really caring and hard-working. The English teacher Ms Sandya works tirelessly and creates custom lessons based on children's level and is really prepping them for future SATs/college essays, etc. The school also has no screen policy except for the computer class which has really been a blessing as doing that is bringing back children's focus in today's screen slaver world. The class sizes are really small right now (less than 5 kids in most classes) but even then my child is really happy going there. So overall we are very satisfied and love the new school.

This school district takes a punitive and bureaucratic approach to working with the public at the…read moreadministrative level. Lack of due diligence, compliance, follow through and attention to details is evident. Fundamental ethics are lacking, which fosters a lack of public trust. Workers employed by a public school district should not lie and perpetuate hostility through stubbornness and deceptive practices. Lack of accountability and high operating costs, including excessive effort dedicated to cursory tasks should be examined. Policies and procedures should be straightforward and provided in a timely manner. School districts should set a community gold standard in service and excellence. In the event of a lack of governance of such a district, state and/or federal oversight should be compulsory and not elective. From an employment perspective, it appears that jobs for this school district offer very nice pay structure and comprehensive benefits packages, with a lot of latitude for all types of job performance. I believe it must be very difficult to be disciplined or even removed from this type of a job, so for any staff member there are numerous perks to attaching yourself to a job at this District. Since these jobs are public-facing ones, the district, at an organizational level, should have some care for its public image, even if the individual employees are more focused on how the job benefits their own personal needs.

From the moment we joined in 2020, St. Edward School has been such a blessing for our family. The…read moreteachers are dedicated, caring, and truly invested in every child's growth. The sense of community here is so special; in my experience, families are welcoming, supportive, and the school creates many opportunities to come together. Academically, the program is strong and well balanced, with a focus on both academics and character. My two kids come home excited to share what they've learned, which says so much. The campus is safe, welcoming, and offers great extracurriculars, too. I couldn't recommend St. Edward more!

I'm writing this as a frustrated parent who transferred to St. Edward School after Our Lady of…read moreGuadalupe (OLG) closed. We were hopeful for a fresh start in a supportive Catholic community. What we got instead was an unwelcoming, cold, and often dismissive environment -- one that ultimately failed my child and our family. From Day One, We Were Treated Like Outsiders Right away, we were labeled "former OLG families" in group emails, constantly reminded that we weren't "really" part of the St. Edward community. We paid tuition just like everyone else, but it was clear we weren't seen the same. Leadership That Doesn't Listen The principal, Tina Cruz, was cold and condescending. As a single mother, I often felt judged and ignored. When I voiced concerns, I was met with copy-pasted quotes from the school handbook instead of actual dialogue. Trying to engage with the administration was like talking to a wall. There was never a sense that they cared about our concerns -- only that they wanted us to stop bringing them up. A Lack of Support for Kids with ADHD My child has ADHD, and it was clear the staff had very little understanding or training around it. Instead of working with us to meet my child's needs, the school treated them like a discipline problem. No empathy was shown. They expect all students to conform, regardless of how they learn or what challenges they face. Overuse of Petty Infractions The school hands out behavior infractions for the tiniest things. My child once received one just for making a classmate laugh. The kids are expected to act like silent robots -- there's no room for personality, joy, or normal child behavior. Favoritism and Bias There's a clear culture of favoritism at St. Edward. Certain families -- mostly those who are close with the principal -- are treated much better than others. Their kids seem to avoid consequences that other children receive for the same actions. It's demoralizing to see this kind of inequity, especially in a school that claims to value community and inclusion. We always felt like we were on the outside, being judged instead of welcomed. Overly Strict Spanish Teacher The Spanish teacher is infamously strict and borderline unreasonable. Parents even refer to her as the "tardy police." One-minute delays are treated like major offenses. My child was once scolded for returning late from the bathroom. This teacher seemed more concerned with enforcing rules than building a supportive classroom. Poor Handling of Bullying When my friend's child was bullied, the school had them fill out incident forms--but did nothing meaningful to stop it. The bullying continued, and the response from staff was minimal at best. Even worse, after speaking up, the child felt even more isolated and afraid of retaliation. It was heartbreaking to watch. The school's handling of the situation felt more focused on creating a paper trail than actually protecting the child or addressing the problem. Final Thoughts We came to St. Edward looking for community and care. Instead, we were met with exclusion, indifference, and rigid systems that do not support children who are different. We're no longer at this school -- and we're relieved. But I'm sharing our experience to warn other families: if your child needs compassion, support, or a fair environment, you will not find it here. This was our honest experience as a paying family who was never made to feel like we belonged. I wish someone had warned me before we enrolled. I hope this serves as that warning for you. EDIT: The response below contains a false version of events that try to reflect negatively on me. Unfortunately, I have not been given an opportunity to respond directly, so I am adding clarification here. I want to make it clear that I communicated to Tina Cruz that, as a full-time working single mother of 2, I do not have the flexibility to attend in person meetings. Using that reality as justification to shift blame or suggest I have been uncooperative is both unfair and misleading. I will not tolerate being mischaracterized or intimidated into silence.

We've had a wonderful experience with the preschool program at Stratford, especially in Room 3. Ms…read more Sipra and Ms. Vaishali are incredibly caring, patient, and attentive teachers who create such a warm and nurturing environment for the kids. Our child has grown so much socially, emotionally, and academically since joining their class. The teachers do a great job balancing learning with fun activities, and it's clear they genuinely care about each child's development and happiness. Room 3 has been such a positive and enriching experience for our family, and we're truly grateful to Ms. Sipra and Ms. Vaishali for all their dedication and hard work!

Ms. Gopa and Ms. Sehr are incredibly kind, caring, and dedicated to the children; they consistently…read morego above and beyond to ensure our young ones feel supported. The monthly activities are thoughtfully planned, introducing children to diverse topics that foster language development and fine motor skills in a fun, safe, and engaging environment. Furthermore, Ms. Gopa and Ms. Sehr are meticulous in organizing cultural celebrations throughout the year, helping to instill meaningful values in the children. They are always prompt in communicating with parents and diligent in following through on any requests or concerns. Overall, Stratford provides a truly safe, secure, and nurturing environment, and we highly recommend it to any family seeking exceptional care for their children.

Ever since my children began school, my husband and I have always had Fremont Christian in the back…read moreof our minds as we love that the school teaches the bible, which is very important to us. Additionally, we know how great of a school FCS is since my husband is a FCS Alumni and I was a substitute Teacher at the school for a year a while back. We thought that we would give public school a try, to save some money, and if we didn't like it or it didn't work out for our kids, we would re-evaluate our options.  This year when schools transitioned to distanced learning, due to COVID, our worlds were turned upside down, along with the rest of the world.  Our kids were struggling not being in the classroom and not being able to socialize with children their age, so when we heard that FCS was bringing back kids safely on campus we jumped on the opportunity to transfer them and have never once regretted that decision!  The Teachers, Principal and Staff at FCS have been AMAZING to say the least.  When we drove on campus to drop the kids off to school on their "first day" we immediately felt that our kids would be well taken care of, which was not a confident feeling for us at our previous school. The organization, care and seamless process to get the kids safely on and off of campus puts our minds at ease.  The Teachers do a wonderful job with communication and my kids immediately loved their new school and look forward to Chapel every week, which was also not an option at our previous school.  We appreciate and love our new FCS home and are so glad we transferred our kids to this school when we did. Thank you FCS!

I went to this school 35 years ago, and I still remember it! I remember the young boy who came into…read moreclass late every day after lunch/recess puffy faced and crying. And, I remember the shame, humiliation, and fear I felt as a sweet 5 year old who got sent to the principals office for a spanking because I pulled tiny leaves and twigs off a bush and lose on the floor to make a little nest for birdies. I still remember the girl who told on me for this "offense" and how I had to remain standing when the whole yard, maybe 100 kids sat down, after the yard duty blew her whistle to signal someone's (me) in trouble. Making me stand amongst all the sitting kids was to shame and humiliate me. I then remember a couple of teachers asking me how I would feel if someone plucked my limbs off as I did to the poor bushes. They then shuttled me to the principals office in which I had to stand in line of maybe 5 other kids who were before me to face the principal. Then, I saw the boy who showed up late puffy faced and teary eyed every day after lunch/recess, leave the principals office after obviously enduring some sort of physical punishment by the person in charge of this institution. Then it was my turn to enter into the principals office. I was alone with this person. I was shaking. This person pulled out the paddle that she must have used thousands of time before day after day after day. She told me if I ever break the limbs off another one of gods creation's again that I would be paddled, as she smacked it against her hand. I remember leaving the office and seeing my neighbor, also a teacher, who said hello to me. I avoided her for the rest of my time living in our home as I was worried she would share what I had done with my mom. Then every day since then, seeing the same boy who came late to class after lunch/recess every day hurt my heart so badly as I knew he was being beaten by a paddle every day. This is all I remember from my thankfully only one year at this place. I'm sure it's changed since then but wow what an awful mark it left on me and I'm sure so many others, especially that poor boy.

I hated this place. It is one of the worst schools I have ever been to in my life. The counselors…read moreare very unhelpful, and they won't even spend 5-10 minutes to help a student with the college application pathways, enrolling in CC classes, and what not. Their system has heavy restrictions on who can take what classes; the teachers there are incredibly tough, and some are to the core, rude. Horrible infrastructure there as well, and the school lunch is so trash. I went here for 9th and 10th grade, and I did not like a single bit of my time there. The assistant principal back then (Mrs. Pelayo and Mrs. Sharma are very tough and rude). Some of the students here are mean, and they clown you. If you are considering moving to Fremont, please avoid going to this high school. Please go to Washington, Irvington, or James Logan (Union City).

This place is the absolute worst. I graduated from here and I came to visit my teachers who were…read morevery kind to me and the obnoxious admins ANGIE and BELINDA did not let me enter the campus. I was told by the front office that I can visit school after it ended so that's exactly when I came. Not only did they not allow me to enter but they were extremely rude and said that my teachers don't wanna see me on a Friday evening. They also said I have no right to come back here. As alumni I have every right to do so. They also made my friend have a panic attack. This is unacceptable behaviour from high school staff who should be looking out for the children. For the sake of everyone's wellbeing they should be fired!

my rating is very good the students are good and the teachers are very kind. It's good to back to…read morepublic middle school in fusd for the first time since 3rd grade

Great Experience for children and no complaints. Admin/Teachers are good and helpful.read more

Thanks to Menlo School, people on the street give me that respect I deserve. When I was 14 years…read moreold, I straight up beat 25 Chinese girls in a Japanese speech competition. People fear that. And they should.

Good school. Good rep with an excellent summer music festival. LOTS of money. They have a…read moremind-blowing endowment so if you go here expect to pay and pay big. Rich kids on drugs? Definitely rich kids but dunno about the drugs.

My daughter is having a wonderful experience in kindergarten thanks to her teachers, Ms.Giri and…read moreMs.Vohra. They are incredibly kind and have a great sense of humor, which makes the classroom such a positive and welcoming place for the children. Together, they create an environment where every child feels seen and heard, and they build strong, meaningful connections with their students. Ms.Giri brings a nurturing and gentle approach, truly understanding that the children are still young kindergarteners. She pampers them with warmth and care, making them feel safe, comforted, and supported every day. Ms.Vohra, on the other hand, beautifully complements this by encouraging the children to become more responsible and independent. She ensures they learn to follow rules and classroom routines, helping them grow with confidence and structure. They are both attentive to the children's needs and address concerns promptly. We also have experienced their genuine care firsthand. On two occasions when my daughter misplaced her sweater, Ms.Giri went above and beyond to help--she even replaced it with a new one so my daughter wouldn't worry. Whenever my daughter has taken a sick day, she has always made it a point to personally call and check on her health, which means so much to us. They also ensured we receive the essential homework sheets on time so my daughter could keep up. These gestures truly touch our hearts and reflect the deep care and dedication they have for her students.

We feel incredibly lucky to have had Ms. Anjali Giri as our child's kindergarten teacher. She is…read moretruly one of those rare educators who goes above and beyond--not just academically, but emotionally as well. She has created such a warm, nurturing, and safe environment where my kid feel seen, bonded with, and encouraged. She has a natural ability to connect with children and parents individually, and it shows in how happy and supported our child feels. What stands out most is how genuinely caring and patient she is. We are so grateful for the love, dedication, and positivity she brings. Any child would be lucky to be in her class! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her to move to being a 1st grade teacher!