ACS has been part of our family since the pandemic when we were looking for the right place for our…read moreeldest daughter. She was more than prepared for TK while having a preschool focused on being outside, play and arts/crafts. I always recommend ACS and their amazing teachers. Teachers have been here for awhile - always a good sign!

My daughter used to have a really hard time separating from me, but since starting here, everything…read morehas changed. She absolutely loves it and has so much fun every day! The environment is incredibly creative, engaging, and full of positive energy. She's learning so many wonderful things. I truly love this place and highly recommend it!

So much ridiculous entitlement. We cannot get into our residental complex at the corner of El Cerro…read moreBlvd at times as the parents block the entry and speed up to cut us off when there is the slightest opening. Yes, they speed up to stop at the red light on El Cerro. Such blatant rudeness. Catholic hypocrisy to its fullest! We tap the horn and they either smugly smile or stare straight ahead and don't acknowledge at all. During their drop off and pickup times, look out as they clearly think their time is more important than anyone else's. Their kids play doorbell ditch throughout the neighborhood after school, disturbing residents. Are these the kind of people you want your kids going to school with? Entitlement, rudeness, lack of parenting at its finest!

St Isidore school teaches kids lessons each day with amazing teachers too! And, this community is…read morevery safe with great kids and a very clean campus.

The marching band is really good there Excellent programs…read moreThere was a Spanish teacher who got on my nerves but they were chill

One son graduated and i have a senior at MVHS. MVHS…read moreprepares students for college. They offer challenging classes and many options for students to choose from. Not just academically but a lot of extracurricular activities for students to get involved Dance, Theater, award winning music programs, competitive sports. the counseling team is amazing. They are there for the students. Always available to help and guide. The Principal, Dr. Ahern is constantly on campus and keeps us parents on the loop on what is happening at the school. He does monthly coffees and parents are always welcome, our ideas and input are heard. Parents have plenty of opportunities to volunteer, something we never got a change with middle school. The school is on top of bulling and any issues that arise, i am sure there are drugs like any other High School, it depends on the parents being aware and involved with their children. The school wants students to succeed. During Covid the school and the school district have been on top of testing and safety protocols. Parents and students are involved and opinions matter. Glad the students had the option to go back to school, i wish it was done sooner. Lastly, it is locate on the beautiful foothills of Mt Diablo! And it is a beautiful campus!

We've had the most wonderful experience at this preschool over the past two years. The teachers…read morehave been incredibly warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in our daughter's growth--both socially and emotionally. She has felt safe, loved, and excited to go every single day, which says everything. We've watched her confidence blossom, her friendships grow, and her curiosity thrive, all thanks to the thoughtful and nurturing environment they've created. As we prepare to move on to TK next school year, we're honestly so sad to be leaving. This school has been such a special part of our lives, and we're so grateful for the care and love they've given our daughter during these early years. We can't recommend this preschool enough--it truly feels like a second home. Insert tears!

CLC was an incredible school for our son. They well prepared him for entry into Quarry Lane…read morekindergarten (the test monitor said he exceeded their expectations for admission). This is due to the outstanding curriculum CLC offers. What really stands out is how Miss Linda taught our son to stand up for himself with classmates. I still vividly remember that day when Miss Linda celebrated that moment with me. We have never forgotten Miss Linda and the other teachers and head of CLC many years ago. Our son is graduating high school next month and I can't express enough what an important cog Miss Linda was in developing the foundation for my son's life. We are forever grateful for Miss Linda, teacher extraordinaire.

After years at The Athenian School, the pattern is hard to miss and it's not a positive one…read more Academically, there are visible coverage gaps. Teachers are reassigned across subjects in ways that feel reactive, not intentional, and it shows in uneven rigor and depth. Oversight appears inconsistent, with little indication of sustained evaluation or development to ensure instructional quality. Staffing stability is also a concern, midstream departures and changes have impacted continuity in the classroom or elective, which matters from a student and parent perspective. The rubric/grading shift, framed as "equity," ends up compressing outcomes. In practice, it reduces differentiation between students and lowers the ceiling rather than raising the floor. Strong students aren't pushed; weaker outcomes are normalized. It can also reward students who closely match what a given teacher is looking for, rather than those demonstrating deeper or more independent mastery, narrowing, rather than expanding, meaningful academic rigor. Communication is another friction point. Parents receive a high volume of emails from multiple sources, with information spread across messages and platforms. Important details can be difficult to track, especially for those already managing full schedules and inboxes. School climate is also worth examining. In our experience, our teen encountered peer interactions that raised concerns around inclusivity and respect for differences. We did not see clear communication or follow-through addressing those situations or, at best, limited transparency or parent dialogue when problems arise. More broadly, the student body and staff do not reflect a high level of diversity, which may matter to families. Programs like AWE are positioned as unique and distinguishing. There are committed people involved, but the program carries additional cost and execution issues (recurring when talking with previous parents). At the institutional level, the school feels adrift. We've learned of the loss of the boarding program this year, ongoing turnover, and shifting priorities all which suggest a lack of clear direction and raise a straightforward question: what, exactly, are you paying for? College counseling reinforced that concern. Guidance leaned heavily toward "safe" schools, with little appetite for thoughtful risk. We chose to override it and our teen was admitted to a school labeled "unlikely." Bottom line: our teen succeeded, but not because of the school's systems. It was largely in spite of, with limited added value from the institution. For families considering this school, go in with eyes open. Ask direct questions about staffing stability, grading philosophy, program execution, and how information is communicated to families. The answers matter, look for clear, concrete answers, not just polished or well-rehearsed responses.

The Athenian school is a special place. My son plays sports and I have travelled to many Bay Area…read moreprivate schools for matches. No schools have campuses as beautiful as Athenian, not College Prep, Bentley, or even Nueva. Athenian's 75-acre campus is at the foothill of Mt. Diablo, it is a bit remote but the beautiful campus rivals some small colleges. Campus aside, I feel the teachers really try to make learning fun, and the kids are all happy going to school there. The academics are pretty rigorous, but the kids don't feel stress out. In a small class of 12-15 students, my son can't hide or cruise. I see improvement in his communication skill and work ethnics in just a few months. Sports are a big deal in Athenian and get a lot of supports from parents. My son made a lot of friends from joining different teams. I have run into many talented Athenian kids in arts, musics and sports. Some get recruited into top universities in their junior years. The school puts out a lot of events for parents to participate, mingle with the kids, and get to know each other. There are parents bookclub, coffee / hikes, Student plays, Jazz night, culture nights, and homecoming night. Some of the performances are opened to the public, I encourage you to come and see for yourself. One review talked about director of admission. Chris has left Athenian a couple years ago. All the staffs I interacted with are nice and receptive to new ideas. Another reviewer highlighted guest speakers and domestic/international trips. I couldn't agree more. There are so many learning opportunities that made me jealous (I went to UC). Every semester, alumni would come back to share their college experience. One common theme is how well Athenian has prepared them and they are thriving in top 20 universities. If Athenian kids can survive 3 weeks camping in the Death Valley and the Sierra, other adversities will seem easy to them. If you want your kid to be well-rounded, resilient and have a diverse group of lifelong friends, Athenian is the perfect school. https://www.athenian.org/athenian-blog-and-news

This school dream come true less then a month already seeing results Great results With my…read morechild. I see a difference in her growing and she has the best teacher Ms faraday. Secure and safe environment, and a prime example for a great school.

My home school for my daughter. Love the office ladies. I also love being part of my daughters…read moreschool experience and being hands on. This is such a wonderful school and I'm super lucky to live in such a wonderful area and my daughter attend such an awesome school.

My daughter started school in the summer of 2024 and she could not be happier. All of the teachers…read morehere are caring, nurturing, and very happy to be working with kids. Her TK teacher, Ms. Swarnali, has really created an environment geared towards fostering a joy of learning. The kids do science experiments, arts, writing, reading and so much more. My daughter is leaps above other kids her age due to her TK with Ms. Swarnali!

I started my daughter in Preschool at Harper at 3.5. She had not been to school before, and I was…read moresuper nervous about this transition for her. She started with Ms Mamta, who was amazing with the transition. She was so patient and accommodating to all of her big feelings. She very quickly started loving school. She is currently in Ms Swarnali's class, and she has truly blossomed, she is truly exceptional! From the very beginning, Ms. Swarnali has created a warm, nurturing environment where she has felt safe, encouraged, and excited to learn. Ms. Swarnali consistently uses positive reinforcement to guide and motivate her students. Her approach has helped my daughter grow not only academically, but also emotionally. I've seen tremendous improvements in her confidence and the way she interacts with others -- changes that I credit directly to Ms. Swarnali's support and teaching style. It is clear that Ms. Swarnali is deeply committed to the well-being and development of her students. We feel incredibly fortunate to have had her as part of my daughters early learning journey.

I've had at least one child attending Indian Valley Elementary School since 2002. For a smaller…read moreschool in a chronically underfunded small school district, the teachers and staff here do an awesome job. It's a clean, safe school with experienced and caring staff, and a lot of parent involvement.

Indian Valley Elementary has surpassed any expectations I had coming here. My family has moved…read morehere from another state and the staff and teachers here have made sure that my children are feeling welcome, safe and adjusted to our move. Trude (office manager) has been the best! she has even called after a few weeks to see how we were all doing. Beautiful setting and great kids. I have been very pleased with our decision to go here.