As a parent whose daughter has attended preschool through 8th grade we are beyond grateful to Mr…read more Gay & the entire staff. HCS provides a Christ centered curriculum, small class sizes and an amazing athletes program. The school is like family and we highly recommend you take a tour! Love truly makes all the difference here.

It is strongly not recommended to go to the middle school department of this school. It is…read morecompletely open and dirty. The management is very chaotic. The admissions department replies very slowly and sometimes even does not reply, and there is a lack of communication with the front desk. The lunch was sent wrongly, and allergic food was sent to the students. Fortunately, the students found it in time. The school allows mobile phones to be brought, and many children secretly watch in class. There is bullying in the school against a Japanese boy.

It seems to me that if you aren't the same shade as this Karen then be mindful of how she operates…read more Kids will be kids but she's having a hard time understanding that. She's taking her little volunteer job too seriously if you ask me for a weekend. The security guard was dope though he understood the assignment. This lady is watching black people like a hawk.

Save your money! This school promises college counseling but fails to deliver. My daughter was a…read morestraight A Gate student when Covid hit. SM promised they would be better equipped to handle off campus teaching yet they failed to follow California Dept of Education and County of Orange's recommended guidelines of "Do No Harm". My daughter started 9th grade when the schools shut down and it was the first time in her life she received B's and C's. Like most teenagers, she was suffering from suicidal ideation and isolation. Her teachers decided to punish her with harsh grades. As if that weren't bad enough, she received an A and B for Spanish 1 and 2, however had not learned a word of Spanish and was not able to do Spanish 3. We were told that was fine because she could still apply to plenty of colleges. Her GPA went back to a 4.0 after Covid and when the school reopened. Unfortunately, her overall GPA has been affected by the poor grades she received during Covid despite the state recommending that teachers not issue grades less than what the child had received pre Covid. To think that I paid such enormous sums of money for this school to obliterate my daughter's GPA during Covid is unconscionable. We have been told that she won't be able to apply to UC schools because her GPA is not high enough because of the grades she received during Covid. I'd bet this school didn't judge their footballers with the severity my daughter was judged during Covid. A total waste of money!!

This is a great school with caring teachers. My son has been here only a few months but acclimated…read morewell. The afterschool program is great and the supervisor is amazing as well (I know this should be a separate review but it is on campus). I would love it if they allowed kids to play on the playground before school like the schools in Irvine but that is my only complaint.

My daughter graduated from this school in 2015. I later found out that most of her teachers (not…read moreall) were just awful to her and her classmates/friends. Up to this day she and her friends would talk about how awful some of these teachers treated them. The teachers absolutely showed favoritism to students whose parents practically did their job by volunteering everyday and will not let any parents do so. My son was attending at this school but their Special Education is less than satisfactory because they had nothing to offer him. I ended up transferring him to Foothill Ranch Elementary and it was best thing that ever happened to him. When my son strarted attending Foothill Ranch Elementary, they sent me a letter saying that they were opening up a class accommodating my son's needs and that Portola Hills is his home school. I told them that he will never return to this school. I saw my son get bullied by these kids in front of my eyes by purposely not including him to their reading groups during Dr. Seuss birthday celebration in their classroom because he read slow. He read slow because he's autistic. My daughter is forever scarred by this school but fortunately, she overcame it with my constant re-assurance because this school destroyed her confidence. By the way, Cookie the office woman was just awful to my son. She would get upset if he comes in to the office to ask for help. If you are a brown nosing parent you will thrive in this school but if you are working mom who cannot always be there. I wish you the best but keep an eye on your children or you can transfer them to Foothill Ranch Elementary. For what it's worth, Mrs. Shanton, Mrs Morrow, Mrs Lindenhoffen (my daughter's teachers) are wonderful teachers. Mrs Lau and Mrs Franco are wonderful as well, they were my son's teachers. The rest, well...Good-luck along with the principal Mr. Ledaux (if he's still there)

Trabuco Elementary is such a special little school! Tucked away in the peaceful canyon, it has the…read moremost amazing farm and garden where kids get to learn by doing--it's such a great way for them to connect with nature. The small class sizes are a huge plus because the teachers really get to know each child and give them so much individual attention. They also focus on social-emotional learning, which has been incredible for helping my kids build confidence and learn how to handle challenges. The community here is so close-knit--it feels like a big family--and the teachers are just phenomenal. If you're looking for a school where your kids will thrive, this is it!

This school is amazing! Small class sizes, excellent teaching staff, amenities galore! On-site farm…read morewhere students are able to visit during recess. Students participate weekly in outdoor assignments on the farm following next generation science standards and STEM. Brand new STEM lab-green screen, go-pros, microscopes-everything! Highest test scores in SVUSD. 87th percentile in English and 74th percentile in mathematics. The school has an active PTA which promotes tons of community activities. Hosts Trabuco Field Study program which students from all over Orange County visit to learn grade level curriculum hands-on. ALL Trabuco students participate in every field study program while they are enrolled. Many students end up being extremely high achieving in later academic life-honors, AP, and IB when they hit middle and high-school. Over 100 year old school with an amazing record of success.

So the word on the street is that Irvine schools are the best. Then my friend, you have not been to…read morethis school! Clean, up to date, well organized and professionally run. Mr. Morrow, the Vice Principal is always available and is beyond active in the school. He is a constant and reassuring presence on the playground in the morning, which is a definite comfort in this day and age. Mrs. Harp, a second grade teacher will take your breath away in how she teaches. It's obvious that there is a strong passion for teaching in her, and it shows daily. The curriculum is first rate, Apple computers in all the classrooms, well maintained property, highly motivated and dedicated staff. What more can one ask for in a school?

I am the parent of a high-school neurodivergent student…read more We spent several months prior to entering high-school dilligently researching several local online and in-person programs to find the very best environment for our daughter here in Orange County, CA. On paper, Crean Lutheran checked all the right boxes; (1) smaller class sizes, (2) a "learning success program" for kids with diagnosed learning disabilities, (3) good education, and (4) social opportunities. We met with the LSP team and they met with our daughter --- seemed like a good fit all the way around. Unfortunately, the program did not at all live up to our hopes and expectations. (1) Teachers were not proactive in addressing academic progress (or deficiency) -- in some cases seemed to hand out more packets than actually teach the subject, (2) the LSP team lacked specific experience and expertise with mental health and learning disabilities, (3) despite it being communicated on numerous occasions, the support staff did not engage in assisting our daughter with self-advocacy (rather putting the burden of something she clearly struggles with back onto her --- which severely impacted her social and emotional anxiety) --- lots of prayer but little action -- as a parent, just disappointed the adults in the room did not step up. Last but not least, the last message that was sent (crystal clear) to us and our daughter is that the graduation metrics meant more than helping a student in supporting her academic and mental health challenges --- seems to be out of alignment with their religious values. Our daughter and ourselves are devastated -- but she is smart, talented, and an overall amazing girl who is going to show the world what she is made of.

this school terrorizes to the neighboring communities that live adjacent to them. the school…read moredoesn't provide enough parking for their own students, so they park on the streets of neighboring communities - the students litter, drive too fast, park illegally in front of fire hydrants, and park in areas designated for residents only. the parents use our community as a drop-off zone and cause unsafe traffic conditions as a result. there is a group of boys who peel out in their cars and drive about 50mph in a residential street. multiple attempts to reach administration regarding this issue are ignored. it is clear that they do not follow the mission and values plastered all over their website.

Part 2 of previous review. During an IEP meeting, Irene…read morewhite being there the main person in the special Ed department from the district my sons kindergarten teacher Lorraine Winakur, Grace the school psychologist and a couple others, they even made a statement after I had been sent to see the other school (which was far in mission Viejo almost lake forest area) that it was more Orange County and they all started laughing (when they were referring to having other races attend) I have never felt so dehumanized I'm my life, one thing is when people do something to you, but when they do it to your innocent child it is truly excruciating, they screw you over with a smile, they are a bunch of hypocrites that had all over the school that they were anti bullying, when they bullied my family out, I reached out to her boss I believe he was a president or vp at the district and his Assistant with my complaints and even emailed them proof, but I was completely dismissed and got no call or response (till this day) For these BIGOTS certain minorities are allowed there but only to be employed at certain jobs and only provide them services they're (the racists) are comfortable with, but never as an equal parent with actual legitimate concerns. His teacher Lorraine Winokur who was a special Ed teacher and had 5-6 kids in her class, couldn't even give me an answer when I asked her if my son had someone who assisted him full time or part time or only at recess. I was always just dismissed bullied and made to feel completely dehumanized, they would schedule the IEP's just about every month to bully us out, I would leave those meetings completely heartbroken, belittled and with actual physical pain in my stomach. It's sickening that some people want to fill their mouths saying they help those with special needs, but it's only the ones that are white even ones that belong to aliso viejo school district not Laguna, but us who lived in South Laguna and paid Laguna beach prices (were bullied out) ,this was completely racially motivated as at first it was presented to me as an option to send him to the other school, then the moment they found out we spoke Spanish at home, which for some reason that became a 5 minute conversation and after that it was no longer an OPTION but it was made to be our only choice. Now I see that they want to claim that they anti racist. Which feels like the BIGGEST slap in the face. I really hope that this stops as NO human race deserves to be made felt this way.

This excellent school does a great job providing a quality education in a spectacular setting…read more Easily the prettiest elementary school in South County, the playgrounds provide ample room to burn off energy with views of Aliso, Laguna Niguel and beyond. This school limits class sizes and teaches to State core standards. Thanks to the generous support of the community, School Power and the PTA, TOW has wonderful programs that go beyond that found in typical schools. Clean, safe and secure, this school truly is at the top.

Teachers are wonderful! They really care about their students. Front office staff are knowledgeable…read moreand helpful! They go above and beyond

This review is strictly on Dr. T., music teacher at Glen Yermo Elementary. I am a huge supporter of…read moreart and music in schools, but I am extremely disappointed with this music teacher, hence the one star awarded (because yelp makes me pick at least one star). My daughter is in the music program (violin) and today they had a recital. I was so excited to see her perform, and so did many parents that attended. I could not believe how rude Dr. T. was towards the kids in the middle of the performance. If I have a smile on my face and decide to mutter insulting words...my smile does not make it okay to be rude and mean to others. This is the case with this teacher. The kids were not perfect (who is) and at times they were not in unison. Dr. T. stopped the kids every time, kept telling them that they are supposed to make him look good and muttered rude comments in a sarcastic tone. To the point that when they played the last song, he cut them off and did not allow them to finish (by the way...the kids only practiced that specific song twice -.-). We, parents, didn't even get a chance to applaud our kids for their efforts. He just ended it abruptly and started sending the kids back to class. I was so mad that I knew I could not share this at that moment...but I will be posting about this on facebook and tagging the school. Hopefully someone with authority at the school will make sure that this teacher gets counseled on how to properly support up and coming potential musicians instead of discouraging them and belittling middle school students.