We've had a really wonderful experience at WLR and I can't recommend them highly enough. My TK…read moredaughter is enrolled in the Learning Is Fun and Creative Children's Yoga classes. I've watched her blossom from having a great deal of separation anxiety to being confident and excited about going each week. She's even picked up valuable tools for calming herself when she is hurt or upset. She'll get hurt and tell me, "I need to go meditate for a few minutes, mama." Big win! She's also developed some lovely bonds with the other children in class. From a parent point of view, I've really appreciated the teacher of these classes, who is nurturing and wonderful, and the director has been professional, helpful and supportive with any questions I've had. I've had the opportunity to stay on site and have lunch with my daughter, until she was more comfortable with me being gone for the duration, and I experienced all the teachers being respectful and caring with the students. Even when correction was necessary, I saw it delivered in a respectful manner to which the children responded positively. I intend upon enrolling my daughter in future classes and recommend WLR to the other homeschooling families we know.

We are so happy to have the Waldorf Learning Resource, to lean upon during this shift in education!…read moreThey offer so many classes that can be of great help in learning a new skill. We are taking advantage of the online classes this semester. They have created a bubble of classes that cover so many fun subjects and ideas. Painting, movement and song, Grammar, clay modeling, making fairy furniture, and many more! With the videos being offered it is so helpful to watch it before showing my little one as to teach it in a clear manner. Or I can choose to have her watch and follow along. It's great that you have them for a period of time to reference later.

The community at AM Winn is kind, welcoming, and open-minded. Every teacher is dedicated and…read morefantastic. This is the underdog of the area Waldorf schools - we are scrappy, diverse, and creative. We have been growing every year. I moved my children here from another Waldorf school, first feeling like it was a risk, but my children and I are so happy we made the move. The low reviews seem to be from people who don't understand what waldorf education is, and are upset their children aren't getting drilled and rigorously tested. Your children will get a good education here, not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. And the work may sometimes be disguised in song or helping the earth. Raising kind humans takes all those things.

This is a great school and a real community. It gets back to the heart of teaching and not just…read moretesting, and truly allows kids to be kids while reaching them where they are. Before switching my daughter from a college prep to AM WINN I scheduled a visit, did my research on the curriculum, and checked with some coworkers who grew up in a Waldorf education and found that there were so many beneficial aspects. The curriculum is based on what's appropriate for the age and fully submerges them in a subject. The kids learn actual life skills (think in the sense that most middle/high schools lost home economics, cooking, gardening, sewing, cursive, etc - these kids are learning it from K-8). All of the kids play an instrument each year. They transition through various handwork - finger knitting, knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc. And after meeting several kids in the neighborhood I noticed they have such amazing temperaments and spirits and are so welcoming and joyful. I am truly glad that we found AM Winn as my daughter is blossoming in the Waldorf community and education approach. At first glance I believed Waldorf was something only "white, hippie people put their kids in" as I read some reviews on Waldorf education, but I was so wrong for going along with that belief, even if only for a moment. Consider that as adults we all learn differently and receive information differently - so why do we expect our kids to learn one way in school? AM Winn and the Waldorf approach reaches kids by incorporating every learning style. It's a holistic approach with a concern for the mind body and spirit of the child. They will not only learn about a culture/era, but they will build shelters, take a field trip to an exhibit, sing about it, write about it, draw it out, etc. Math is taught in a way for the kids to think through it in various methods, not just regurgitate information. It's age appropriate not where the district says they should be for their funding purposes. And I love that the school is VERY culturally diverse. Had I gone based on some of the school rating websites or testing sites I might have steered from the school, But I toured the school and fell in love. Some of the reports show that it's not diverse, the kids are far behind in subject matter, and it received some negative reviews - that I will say from my experience here that info is false. My daughter is multiracial, and she has a diverse group of friends that don't see color, she is just as knowledgeable in subjects as my step kids who attend another public school, thinks on a deeper level than they do, has developed a strong sense of empathy and justice for others, and we love it here. I've watched my daughter recover from some of the damage that her previous school did to her She previously attended a college prep school that I won't name but literally broke her spirit, and I've known many people who reported the same thing. The kids were expected to "slant" and sit perfectly still while others finished their work, she would get in trouble for READING in class or drawing because she wasn't slanting, and wasn't actually taught to work through a math problem only to memorize answers for timed lessons. There wasn't much play involved with only a tiny jungle gym in the parking lot - she didn't even have the coordination to do the monkey bars. Math was drilled in and time tested, without the proper attention for those that didn't understand. I had to make a change because my daughter who once loved school cried every evening and had anxiety with math. The college prep/common core was not actually taught in a way to solve the problem but merely to memorize and test well for funding. After making the change to AM Winn it was a drastic change in her. It took a moment for her to adjust but she loved it. She gets to be creative. She gets to be free. And most importantly she gets to be a kid- something that many children are missing out on in today's society as we push them to grow up quickly and test well. My daughter has become quite the artist, loves playing the guitar and singing, she's a great story teller and writer, an avid reader and reads 3 grades above her level. I say all of that to say this - just as everyone has their own taste in food, so too our children will have their own taste in learning. As a parent you have to allow them to satisfy that taste and not just force the norm on them. AM Winn might not be the best school for everyone, but for many of these kids a traditional public school that drills in information but doesn't address the heart of the child isn't the best for them. AM Winn reaches for their heart when material is presented and these kids WANT to learn because of it. So if you've made it through reading all of this it's because you're interested in the school and wanted a real opinion on it. I would say your next step is to visit and see if it's right for you and your child.

My son is thriving since transferring to CI Academy. The teachers are so accessible, accommodating,…read moreand accepting of neurodivergent kids. The small class size and small school size has been pivotal for my son's ability to make friends and be a part of a community.

As a parent of two fantastic neurodiverse children it was heartbreaking to see them struggle in…read morehighly regarded mainstream high schools. But for a number of reasons we had to pull both kiddos out. In a minor panic we looked at nearly a dozen alternatives locally and out of the area. Then we ran into Capital Innovations Academy. Our oldest started at the end of her freshman year (she's a junior now) and our youngest started the following year. There are a few things we have done for our kiddos that have had amazing impacts over the years (California Learning Center, getting a IEP Advocate, etc...). Finding and enrolling them in CI Academy is absolutely one of them if not the very best. Our kids are wonderful but they are complicated and have their challenges. The teachers there are all fantastic, Sarah is incredible (I don't know how she does it) and the programs are so unique and refreshing. I have seen my kids go from struggling and falling behind to blossoming and thriving. They have found new interests (my youngest is in a play and playing the drums!) and have personal and academic growth. We couldn't be happier. There is no school that is going to perfect, it's not obtainable. Where there are humans there will be friction, but this is handled better at CI Academy then anywhere else I have every seen. It allows for a path to grow, I've seen it reflected in our kids. My kids still struggle with their challenges, they likely will all their lives, my oldest still has a hard time making friends. But there is no better place that they could be at for their high school journey. We no longer worry as much about high school, we now worry about them not having the amazing supporting teachers and staff when they graduate.

Delicious, farm fresh produce ( grown on site!), gluten free bread, (made fresh every day) savory…read moreand filling Chef Josh Porchetta Sammy was prepared and quickly delivered by attentive waitress Caroline. From the moment we entered the cafe on the grounds of Meristem, (a specialized independent living program dedicated to serving neurodiverse young adults ages 18-28 since 2014!) we felt the genuine warmth, caring and friendly welcome of all the staff as well as students which we interacted with as we roamed the luscious, vibrant campus. My friend enjoyed Chef Teresa's Street Taco with chips and salsa which was filling as well! We will be returning soon to enjoy the epicurean offerings as well as hopefully get to take one of the tours which are student led and give a detailed history as well as tour of the 13 acre site! Learn more on https://meristem.pro.

Very difficult to work with. No idea why it takes nearly a month for one guy to contact someone…read moreelse regarding setting up a meeting, but seeing as the gentleman I had a meeting with was so delightful(Mocking the way I answered questions, not even bothering to keep eye contact and eating cereal, getting my name wrong at least twice, getting basic info wrong, to lazy to contact people) I can kinda see why 3.8 Stars is "generous" enough of a score.

I highly recommend this preschool! Two out of my three kids attended River City Christian…read morePreschool; they both loved it and so did I. They kept saying, "I wish I could stay in preschool!" They have a great curriculum, amazing staff, and most of all a clean and a very safe environment. My kids always came home with cool and fun activities they did in school. They also got to do some interesting experiments. I also love the fact that they help bring children closer to Jesus/God by reading the Bible and helping them learn memory verses.

The school has been around for decades so staff, policies, protocols, and methods have changed over…read moretime. As better methods and supports come out in the field of autism, Odyssey always looks to adapt and evolve. The school is very small, classroom sizes are small, and this allows for the students to recieve the attention and individual support they deserve. Staff focus on safety and self regulation over anything else. Once those basic needs are met they work on educational and life skills. For such a small school there is an abundance of opportunities for the students onsite. Like a pool, laundromat, student kitchen, garden, and playground. Onsite occupational therapy, speech therapy and behavior therapy. Students also get to go out in the community to learn real world skills. Odyssey doesnt use food reinforcement but instead looks at more valuable rewards like prefferred items, activities and praise. They also focus on teaching students how to get they needs met in safe ways instead of using a punishment system. The staff and admin know every students name and build rapport and relationships because they truly care about the students they serve.

This review is about their school as I know nothing about their home facilities…read more This school is meant to cater to children in the Autism Spectrum or Autistic-like symptoms. This is their mission statement, "Odyssey Learning Center is committed to enhancing the lives of children with autism, using a collaborative approach to educate and nurture them in their journey towards independence with integrity and dignity." When you go visit to see if this is the school you want to bring your child to, things are always "perfect" as the classroom you will be checking out is informed prior to you getting there and even if a child is not behaving he/she is moved to a different classroom. If you are visiting and didn't go to the office, the minute any staff sees you they call the classroom your child is in to inform them that you have arrived. My son has a few behavioral issues as most if not all of the children at that school do. He acts the same way at home and I have NEVER had to resort to restraining and neither has anyone that worked with him before or after this school. While at Odyssey I would pick up my son some days exhausted to the point of falling asleep in the car, hungry and with bruises and nail marks embedded on his skin. Every time I expressed my concern to anyone there, they would brush me off and even lie about what had happened. Well as time went by and getting information from different sources whom I will not mention I started discovering disturbing things... If my son reached out and grabbed food from someone else's plate, his lunch was taken away from him so that he would not "steal". On numerous occasions staff would get upset at him and squeeze him by the arms leaving bruises or embedding nails til they opened skin. They rotate turns and the staff that worked with him in the AM was not the same as after lunch but I started noticing that every single time he worked with a specific girl, he was hurt. I even got into an argument with her in the class (all students were gone for the day) for which I was labeled as psycho for. She got fired recently... I know why and if Odyssey could respond honestly without getting into trouble they would now agree that the girl truly was sick in the head because what she got fired for could have even had her arrested. Once I picked my son up and he had what looked like a rug burn on his chin. Nobody knew what it was, how it happened. I was not taking that for an answer. They produced a false "incident report" having a new staff member sign it. I made a stink about that and had the teacher removed from that classroom also and my son continued at that school. Well eventually I found out that the children were being wrapped like burritos in giant yoga mats when they weren't behaving. I saw this a few times. They would call it "sensory". Let me explain something here... it is sensory if the child is in need of that pressure, done properly and for a specific amount of time. Oh and with sensory there aren't 2 women sitting on top of the child. I asked them if they were doing that only to find out that any time my son even looked like he was going to have a melt down he was wrapped. That kids were told "behave otherwise you are getting wrapped". That is not sensory, that is PUNISHMENT AND RESTRAINT! (I've enclosed pics of the mat bitten by restrained children all over the edges) Anyway I found out it was the wrapping that got my son hurt (rug burns on the chin). I can go on about this school, the NUTS that work there, their messed up doings, etc. but I'm surprised you have even read this far. If anyone wants any other information do not hesitate to contact me as I have NO problems telling you what they will not and I have PLENTY of witnesses that can back up anything I will tell you. Parents engaging in conversation is frowned upon and if any parents are talking to each other on campus, they are being monitored. In a meeting the principal lied to my face. She knew she was lying and I knew she was lying. That was very scary as she was bold enough to go ahead with her lie to cover her behind. The staff that works there (other than the teachers) does not need any prior experience working with special needs children. They are finger printed and a little background check is performed. PS when telling the San Juan Unified School District about Odyssey's practices their response was always that Odyssey was a private entity that they contracted with and that there was nothing they could do about anything. Well here... there should be no problems with me YELPING a private entity, A BUSINESS. And if anyone at Odyssey feels the need to address me, do it IN WRITING... choose your words wisely as I will make any and all responses public information. Your wrong doings have been kept quiet too long.

Excellent school for my daughter with dyslexia. She attended Read from summer school before ninth…read moregrade through tenth grade. They helped her get up to grade level in reading comprehension, writing and build her confidence back as a student. She was then able to make a smooth transition into a public charter high school. The small class sizes, supportive teachers and staff and teaching style and programs specifically designed for learning disabilities was a game changer for her. My daughter is now a full time college student and I have no doubt, her time at Read was a significant part of making that possible. I highly recommend Read Academy!

After years of advocating for my son and searching for a school that could meet his unique learning…read moreneeds, we had high hopes for READ. My son made meaningful progress in reading, and I am grateful for the school's evidence-based dyslexia instruction. However, our experience also revealed important limitations for students with co-occurring autism, ADHD, and executive functioning challenges. As both a parent and an LCSW specializing in autism, I approached READ as a partner. I expected early collaboration around my son's strengths, challenges, and the strategies that had helped him succeed elsewhere. Before significant behavioral concerns emerged, I requested simple accommodations such as movement breaks and fidget tools but was told they would be disruptive to other students. To my knowledge, my son never had a proactive support plan. My experience was that my son's behaviors were addressed primarily through discipline rather than understanding their function or teaching replacement skills. As behavior logs became increasingly detailed, it became harder to distinguish meaningful concerns from age-appropriate immaturity or autism-related social differences. It was difficult to watch my son become increasingly discouraged, isolated, and unsure of how to be successful at school. Despite repeated efforts to collaborate, I saw little emphasis on proactive intervention, positive reinforcement, or identifying the function of behavior. My concern was never that READ had limits to the support it could provide, but that those limits did not become clear until the end of our experience. During our final meeting, READ told me they could no longer support my son unless he first attended a behavior program. That recommendation differed from those of the public school district and the professionals involved in his care. I was also told READ does not have a behaviorist, therapist, or behavioral specialist on staff. The end of our time at READ was especially disappointing. The focus was almost entirely on my son's challenges, with little acknowledgment of his strengths or growth. He was also excluded from the school's end-of-year BBQ as his placement ended. For autistic children, thoughtful transitions matter, and I wish his departure had reflected that he was a valued member of the community. READ can be an excellent fit for many students with dyslexia. I share my experience so families of children with additional developmental or behavioral needs can ask informed questions before enrolling, including: * How are autism- and ADHD-related needs supported? * What proactive accommodations and interventions are available? * What behavioral or mental health expertise is available on campus? * At what point does the school determine that a student's needs exceed the supports it can provide?

Would not recommend this school some of the teachers are stingy and arrogant Just annoying…read more On the other hand I've had a teacher who made it worth going to school like the 2025-2026 8th grade teacher Sandra McCann props to her Also the dress code contradicts its self it says we let our students express themselves but draws the line at a cartoon on your shirt acting like it impacts learning so much the teachers do not get paid enough to care that much

We have three school age children and our family has been at Golden Valley Orchard school since…read more2018. We chose the Waldorf school to our own surprise, as two STEM professionals who attended schools in SJUSD. It's true that Waldorf education approaches learning with a different cadence, not seriously pushing academics until closer to second grade. However the academics are offered first thing in first grade, children pick them up at their own developmental pace, and interventions are offered where needed. GVOS Waldorf curriculum offers fine arts, handwork, a very low-technology learning environment, a small environment (~1 class per grade), the unique opportunity to stay with their own teacher for multiple years (called looping) and a emphasis on social-emotional collaborative learning. Children are taught cursive handwriting and record all their learning throughout the year writing, illustrating, and annotating their own main lesson books. GVOS has a high degree of parent participation. Virtues are taught daily, and whole child education and discipline are encouraged. High school and college students who graduated Golden Valley and have returned for panel interviews have reported confusion regarding the social and emotional culture of public schools they attend after Golden Valley Orchard school -- in my opinion this is more of a reflection on GVOS's success than a particular failure of other schools. We have seen changes and challenges, but nothing unique to or necessarily caused by the school or the Waldorf curriculum. There is a variety of charter schools in Orangevale, as well as several public offerings and one "high achievement" public offering which is enrolled on a testing basis. Looking at test scores from the 2024-2025 CAASPP & ELPAC, the trend for underperforming classes is a mirror of grades that were most profoundly affected by COVID pandemic classroom interruptions. https://www.caaspp-elpac.org/ GVOS's scores fall right between the local public school (Ottoman) and the local fundamental school (Green Oaks.) GVOS is a public school and held to the same standards of these two schools.