We have been so happy with our child's experience at this school. Over the past year, he has grown tremendously -- both academically and socially. He is happy, has made wonderful friends, and comes home every day excited about what he learned. The teachers are truly kind and caring, and the small class sizes allow them to get to know each child's personality and individual needs. We especially appreciate the screen-free environment. In a world where so many schools rely on tablets and laptops to teach math and reading, it's refreshing to see children learning directly from passionate teachers in person. We are so grateful to have found this special school and highly recommend it to any family looking for a nurturing, high-quality education for their child. read more

Boomers & Gen X were the last American generation to have a schooling experience that resulted in a collective of successful adults.... until Seashore Academy was born. The staff & curriculum, coupled with core values to set a strong educational foundation, can be compared to what public school used to be in the 70s and 80s. There is no comparison to modern public or even private school these days, because Seashore would win by a landslide. My child has only attended Kindergarten so far but will continue until 8th grade, because I've witnessed first hand how the rest of the kids all operate on campus; for example, visiting a public school is like seeing little feral zombies running around, but the Seashore kids appear to possess critical thought naturally due to the customization for each child, paired with a screen free environment. It's unmatched and I wouldn't have my kids go anywhere else! (Not to mention, the Staff themselves and the parents and students are all like one big family because of the small class sizes!) 1000/10, would recommend to anyone who wishes to see their child grow into an intelligent, respectful, wise, and wonderful adult!! read more

Seashore is a fantastic place for kids to learn and develop. The teachers give the kind of personal attention and instruction to students that you just don't see anywhere else. The small class sizes and environment allows them to tailor instruction specific to each child. A+ for the environment and the academics/curriculum. The close-knit community, caring educators, and flexibility set Seashore apart. read more

Seashore Academy has been one of the best decisions we've made for our daughter. Before joining, we were worried about her struggling academically--but her love of learning is back, and when she puts her heart into it, she's actually ahead of grade level. She comes home excited to tell me what she's learned, and that feeling is priceless. Core classes are offered Tuesday through Thursday, with flexible options on Mondays and Fridays, so you can design a schedule that really works for your family. Each subject is taught by a different teacher, which keeps things fresh and lets kids experience a range of teaching styles. The curriculum is thoughtfully chosen--Singapore Math is used (which I love), and they also offer incredible programs like Toastmasters, entrepreneurship, and applied math. Sasha just participated in their Entrepreneurship Fair, and it was amazing to see her learning real-world skills with confidence. The school is screen-free and sugar-free, which aligns beautifully with our values. They've partnered with Choice Lunch, so I don't have to worry about packing lunch every day--Sasha gets to choose healthy meals and snacks through an app, and it's one less thing on my plate. Most of the learning takes place outdoors, which means she's soaking up sunshine and getting her wiggles out while learning. What I love most is how much the teachers genuinely care. Ken, the head of the school is on top of everything! He connects well with both kids and teachers. The love and care they put into this school is real. The founder, Marlene, has poured her heart and soul into creating something truly special. Even though the location changed, we happily followed locations--because the community, the values, and the experience are unlike anything else. They've even partnered with Best Academy Charter to offer credentialed oversight, math testing, and academic tracking at a much more affordable rate than most private schools. There's no fluff--it's just a place built on love, respect, kindness, and inclusivity. I'm beyond grateful that we found a school that fits our family so well. I'm even considering it for my older daughter, and honestly, I wish they would expand through high school. That's how much I trust and love what they're building. read more

We are so incredibly grateful to have found Seashore Academy--truly a hidden gem! From the moment our daughter started in TK to now preparing for fourth grade, this school has been such a gift to our family. What we love most is how Seashore values an educational approach that aligns so beautifully with our own. It's a small but mighty community that's always evolving in thoughtful ways, and we appreciate how adaptable and student-focused the environment is. The leadership and teachers genuinely care, and it shows in everything they do. Our daughter has thrived here both academically and emotionally, and we can't say enough good things about the love, support, and learning she's experienced. Thank you, Seashore, for being such a positive part of our journey! read more

Ms. Dandler is lying about repeatedly trying to resolve any issues and working with me. Her only response to my concern was to kick us out of her school without any discussion at all! Yes, she had one of her staff reiterate their policy but that was not addressing my concern. Other families have experienced her gas lighting before, I have since found out over the past month. There is no reason for me to refuse to work with a school 2 weeks into the school year with such a large financial commitment. I even referred her two of their new teachers she hired, so clearly I was supportive of her school! Her story makes no sense at all. Since posting on social media, it has allowed me to see how they have treated other families the same way, as people have reached out to me. One family even made appointments to come in to Seashore (as they require) to observe her child's class and was ignored. So forget being able to go on campus with or without an appointment, during or outside of school hours. at this school where they treat PARENTS like criminals, but claim it's for your child's safety. Big red flag. Also keep in mind they never refunded me a dime since I refused to sign a Non Disclosure agreement keeping this incident a secret from the public. Is that the kind of business you want to support? Our family is out over $2600 for 2 weeks of part time school. I would describe this as theft. I am posting the contract so people can see what they are getting into without paying them exorbitant fees. My lawyer's eyes budged out of her face when she saw it. I only wished I showed it to her before signing it and getting involved with them. Please pay careful attention to: The school rules paragraph (they have the right to expel your child based on their behavior, or the parents behavior - so basically for any reason they feel like) AND the Financial Section where you agree to them keeping your money if they kick you out. The way they make you initial every paragraph is intentionally written that way (according to my lawyer) to ensure they can keep your money NO MATTER WHAT. Really consider what you're potentially getting yourself into if you're thinking of sending your children here. read more

I don't know where to begin with how much I love Seashore, and how grateful I am to have found this wonderful school! Here are some of the reasons why I love Seashore. *Not a one size fits all school like most other. It is truly customized education and superior to the traditional models. They offer in person learning 5 days a week, with core education on 3 days and electives on others. You can choose to go down or all days, which is so helpful for some families! You can pick the electives that would suit your child the most ie. Ukulele, Entrepreneurship, and product design. They really try to foster an entrepreneurial mindset, which I love. * The teachers and staff are skilled, friendly, and passionate. We always get a very warm greeting and vibe at drop off and pick up. *Small class sizes , quality education, and uniforms. This is how Seashore is very similar to private schools, without the price tag and other aspects that I don't care for. * You don't have to worry about the liberal/progressive agenda being pushed into the curriculum at many schools, especially public. * The younger and older kids interact during breaks etc, which I find beneficial for both. * Quality academics! They are very academic and teach Singapore math, but don't impose a ton of HW on the kids. They respect the kids lives outside of school, as well as family time. They start to assign homework to the older kids when the time is appropriate, to help teach accountability. I love how they don't impose hours of HW, which cremates Unnecessary stress for students and parents. How are kids supposed to have time in a day for school, extracurricular activities, a civilized meal, family time, much needed down time AND homework?! I love how Seashore realizes and respects this. * Masks - They do not impose masks on students or teachers which is so important to me. If you don't agree, Seashore may not be a fit. Children need breath fresh air and learn without half of their faces and the teachers being covered all day. Seashore has been open since September, mask free and there have not been any issues with Covid. * The founder Marlene is amazing. She is a mother herself and implements the high standards she has for her own kids at Seashore. She is such a kind and intelligent person. She makes herself accessible and works hard to create the wonderful school and environment Seashore. She has connections at some of the top private schools in the area and works closely with them to implement their best practices. Her directors Lauren and Ashley are wonderful as well as all of the teachers and staff. I love Seashore and so grateful that a wonderful custom school like this exists! My son love it there, and is thriving! I can't wait to send my youngest one there as well! read more

We were told a lot of things that weren't true. They mis-represented their covid policies, verbally and in writing (by a lot), and then became defensive and rude when I asked about it. I think it's fine if the school wanted to have relaxed covid policies but that should have been communicated up front. The school was pretty covid-- teachers would actually encourage kids to take off their masks inside even if the parents wanted them wearing the mask. I'm sorry, we all have our thoughts on covid, but please do not encourage my kids to go against what I tell them to do and do not make them feel embarrassed for trying to follow the rules. They told us they had zoom classes as an option for 3rd graders. But, when we needed to take our daughter out of in-person school (she was basically ostracized for wearing a mask) and switch to zoom they actually did not have any core classes for her (the ones I was paying for). So that sucked. And we were told that our kids would learn at their own pace but that isn't true either, you go at the pace of the whole class. That's fine but again, we were told otherwise before we enrolled. I was underwhelmed by the on-campus teachers. Some were ok but some were bad. And there really is very little direct communication between teachers and parents. Even the parent-teacher conferences aren't with the teacher. The electives sound great but my kids didn't learn anything in them. Like seriously, they learned nothing. Frankly, the only reason they are getting any stars from me is because my son's zoom teachers for their core classes were amazing. read more

Seashore has been such a blessing through covid! It literally saved my sanity and my job because I could still work and not have to deal with zoom or a horrid block schedule at our local public school! I love that they don't force the children to wear masks and my kids have been able to have a somewhat normal life this past year. Their staff is so nice and caring and my kids look forward to going every day. They have a variety of classes to choose from and you can Taylor your schedule to what fits for you/your children. You can choose 1,2,3,4 or 5 day schedules. It's not "one size fits all". They allow your children to progress at their own pace which I think is very beneficial. I could go on and on about how great they are but I will leave it at that. Thanks so much seashore read more

Seashore is everything I knew I wanted for my kids education and everything I didn't know I wanted! The warm environment, the respect for parents and choices, and the teacher involvement are just a few amazing parts of seashore! We are so grateful to have found such a perfect place for our family! read more

We had moved to homeschooling from public school right as COVID hit. We knew we would be moving to homeschooling and our timeline was accelerated. We found Seashore online right away and loved it. Great teachers taking a positive approach to helping children learn. When we found out they were opening a campus closer to us in San Juan Capistrano, we immediately enrolled. Seashore has given my child opportunities to thrive both academically and emotionally at school and outside of school. With Seashore's flexible schedule options, we have been able to balance activities we never would have been able to do in a public or even a traditional private school setting. And the icing on the cake is how much my child LOVES school now - the teachers, the lessons, the environment. It's a best of both worlds for us and we love it! We are thrilled and thankful to be a part of the Seashore community and encourage others to consider Seashore! read more

I have 3 kids who attend Seashore this year (1st, 5th, & 6th graders). Its been such a blessing to have them there! They have such wonderful, kind, and engaging teachers. All three of my kids thrived. My kids are excited for elective classes, especially product design at all three grade levels. Its been fun watching them tap into their creative side while also learning. Marlene and her team have something special they've created! read more

Seashore Academy is an absolutely amazing school! My daughter had the best year of her life here. Classes are small, the campus is beautiful, and the staff is amazing, teachers and administrators really care about the kids and their families. They have a "No cell phone" policy which makes the learning environment focused and also safe. There is no tolerance for bullying or being unkind to others. The elective classes are also incredible! My daughter learned more at Seashore than any school prior. I would highly recommend this school!! read more

We have never seen our daughter so happy to go to school. She is thriving. We can't thank the teachers and staff enough for being so thoughtful, caring and attentive. We love the small class sizes and the detail to teaching and customized education! read more

My son attends the mandarin program and we love the program. He can speak, read and write Chinese now which I am so happy about. He also loves his teachers and friends at seashore. All the students are kind and supportive of each other and the teachers go to great lengths to ensure a healthy learning environment. read more

I was happy to start this place. Everything looked promising and they made it sound amazing at our first info meeting. It started to go downhill slowly. One teacher would just make a check on my daughters papers. No feedback and no correcting. One teacher yelled at the kids and told them that they'll be working fast food and going no where. The people in charge acted very fast when there were problems among classmates but were indifferent when there were legitimate concerns about assignments and teachers. Then came Covid 19. Zoom classes were a disaster and my kids fell behind in math because the teachers couldn't get there act together. It's a mess every way you look at it. So glad it's over. What a nightmare. Two stars for settling a complaint about a bully. read more

My children have attended Seashore Academy since October 2019 and we have all thoroughly loved our experience here. The teachers are so warm and welcoming and each of my three children have been academically challenged. The class sizes are small and yet not so tiny that they lack interaction with peers or the ability to make friends. We have loved the diversity of enrichment options and the interesting manner in which core subjects are explored and taught. The staff are so personal and friendly and if it's not a school day my youngest especially is so sad because he loves going to school. I love that I've been able to achieve a hybrid model of schooling for my family with three days in person at school and two at home - and Seashore has enabled us to do this easily. read more

I feel so grateful to have found Seashore Academy. My children attend twice a week for their core subjects and I have seen much more academic progress in only two days than they experienced in a 5 day public school program. More importantly, Seashore is a place that exudes positivity and kindness. The staff is so happy at drop off and pick up and it radiates through the entire student body. Thank you Seashore for all that you do. read more

I want to say Happy Teachers Day first. All our children learn in a kind organized environment. I also feel safe with the security. I always get a return call if I have an inquiry. I also like the fun activities the school involves parents in. Keep up the good work. read more

I'm a big fan of Seashore Academy because my daughter simply LOVES coming to school every day. She used to hate her old school and resisted going every day, so we transferred her mid-Spring semester and have never looked back. Best decision ever. Here's why: 1. Low student-teacher ratio. Because there are 2 teachers covering a maximum of 14 students at any one time (yes, you read that correctly), my daughter gets plenty of one-on-one instruction and support from her teachers. At her old private Mandarin immersion preschool, they charged a lot more for tuition and had a much higher student-teacher ratio (26 students to 1 head teacher and 2 floating assistants who babysat more than taught). This crowded situation resulted in my kid disengaging in school. At Seashore, she is so engaged because her teachers know her well and can personalize her lessons according to her skill level, needs and learning style. This is so important for kids because they all learn so differently and at different rates. 2. Personalized learning. Again, because Seashore doesn't teach to a test or need to approach education from a top down mass production perspective like most public schools, they are able to individualize lessons according to each child's abilities. So it's not uncommon for students to learn 2 grades ahead. But note: This is just a cherry on top! Seashore by no means pushes kids to learn beyond their abilities at an accelerated pace either (unlike other comparable schools we toured that embraced a more competitive culture that pushed kids to learn at a very high "Tiger Mom" velocity). Instead of striving for flashy test scores (to brag and advertise about), Seashore instead values nurturing kids to do their best and to learn at their own pace. With a secret sauce of high student-teacher engagement and personalized learning, students end up excelling anyway! 3. No homework!! I'm serious so thankful this is a value that Seashore holds dear. There seems to be an epidemic of massive homework starting in elementary school these days. It is not uncommon for young kids to come home with 3-4 hours of homework nowadays because 1) they don't get enough learning time in a classroom with a high student-teacher ratio and 2) there's just more to cram into children's little heads these days in order for them to test well. I LOVE the fact that at Seashore, students do all of their academic work during school hours so that they are free to enjoy the rest of their day playing and exploring other activities or hobbies they love! Yes, they get to enjoy being KIDS and have the advantage of enjoying time to discover and pursue their passions outside of academics. 4. Classroom culture is warm, inclusive and supportive. Because Seashore maintains a mixed age classroom environment, my 5 year old is learning how to socialize well with older kids. While the kids are segmented during some class time by age/skill level, they all mingle together during other parts of their day. And the teachers are very nurturing and friendly. My kid enjoys working with all of them, especially Tina, she's my daughter's fave! 5. Solid curriculum - Seashore is a trilingual program: 70% Mandarin, 20% English and 10% Spanish. I love this aspect of my child's education. However, it should be noted that while my child's Chinese development has grown tremendously, I think her English progression (esp. phonics / reading) is relatively slower than we'd like. This is understandable given that Seashore is primarily a Mandarin Chinese program! We just compensate by doing more phonics activities at home and reading more books together at home to keep her engaged in learning to read. They teach Singapore math, which has helped advance my daughter's math skills due to its more visual and concrete representation of math concepts. I believe Seashore also rotates through Science and Art lessons on different days of the week. 6. Leadership that values personal growth in students. Marlene Dandler, the founder and leader of Seashore, strives to give students the most opportunity to excel academically as well as to develop personal interests outside of school. She is also very thoughtful in terms of 1) setting up the school so that parents can easily take advantage of charter school funding and support and 2) providing next step options when students graduate from Seashore but would like to continue Mandarin immersion and personalized learning throughout middle and high school. Creating this school from ground up was not easy, but she's built a good foundation for the school to grow on. All in all, we are very happy at this school. Thank you Seashore for putting a spring back into my baby's steps when she goes to school each day. I look forward to seeing what she learns and how she grows in her upcoming Kindergarten school year. read more

My son has thrived at Seashore this year. He is engaged; learning through hands on science, acting out historical events, and creative English projects. His math program in fifth grade is rigorous. He is happy and loves his elective days, especially his product design and theater classes. All of his teachers are warm and communicative through multiple platforms. The staff has been helpful and nurturing during this unsettling year. We are so pleased with our son's experience this year, that he will be returning for 6th grade. read more

This private school is magic. They don't tolerate bad behavior because they don't have to. The teachers cultivate kindness and following the rules. The students are treated as important individuals giving them a high self esteem. I have sympathy for the troubled students who dissrupt the classroom and are unkind to other children. These students don't last. After a pattern of misbehavior the problem children are expelled but not before numerous warnings. Public schools have to deal with these troubled kids who take away from the majority wanting to learn. The children are lucky to order personal lunches that are delivered daily and are fresh healthy and delicious. The social events are such fun like junior high school socials encouraging healthy social skills. The staff is highly qualified with positive teaching methods. The smaller classroom count is such a plus. There has been a no mask requirement and no one has gotten the virus since September. It's a happy healthy environment. They offer Mandrin language class, art, leadership, ukulele and many other subjects to accommodate every child's interest. Can't say enough how impressed i am and how Seashore Academy is fantastic and amazing. read more

I have been a nanny for 12 years and two families I watch attend Seashore Academy. When I drop off the kids they go straight to their friend groups and feel so comfortable. When I pick them up I still see that same comfort and 100 watt smile upon their faces. I always ask how their day was and they have so much information, it's like they are teaching me! Not only is the school fun, safe and educational, their teachers are amazing! I definitely recommend this school. read more

We transferred to SJC Seashore from a Montessori school in Jan, 2021. The change in our daughter was immediate. While we were happy with the Montessori school our daughter never talked about her day and came home grumpy. Since day one she has discussed her day with us and often tells us how much she loves school. We are overjoyed with her transformation and excited to see how she grows in the years to come. We love Seashore Academy! read more

Seashore is doing an amazing job taking care of our future generations! When many were not in school~ in person Seashore was able to provide a wonderful learning option for families. The way they were able to grow and support our children during this unprecedented time was unbelievable. The staff is wonderful and they are excited to be teaching. They even offered "elective courses" to the children so they could be a part of the decision making process in their education. I am so grateful my son had the opportunity to attend this amazing school. Keep it going Seashore and thank you!!! read more

Seashore academy is truly outstanding. The teachers give warm welcomes and provide students with the best teaching strategies and practices possible. The atmosphere is gleeful and a perfect fit for any student. Thanks Seashore Academy keep doing what you're doing! read more

not a good school and a bad campus and only has 4 classes and only 3 days of school and they have no P.E class

If you have a child who struggles with attention or emotional regulation, run, do not walk from this place. I was considering homeschooling my son (going into 1st grade) who is intellectually gifted but struggles with emotional regulation and most likely has some degree of ADHD (we haven't done formal evaluation yet). I spoke with Marlene for over an hour and went over these challenges, and was reassured it most likely wouldn't be an issue, and told how it would challenge him and most likely work out well. I brought him for a free trial day of camp, and when I picked him up and asked how things went, Tina (the Newport director) told me how he "has a very short attention span," and was not sitting still for story time (he was bored with the story), and cried and threw a small tantrum because he wanted to play hide and seek at recess and they wouldn't let him (they said it was because they didn't want him to get taken by a stranger, but their campus is on a Jewish temple where everyone has to be fingerprinted and has top notch security so this didn't make sense to me). She coldly said she didn't think it was a good fit. My son heard everything she said and was visibly distressed; and I was so shocked I started to tear up myself. It made me feel like a terrible parent that they didn't want my child to enroll after just a few short hours with him - and I think it's unfair to make a snap judgment about a child in such a short period of time, during summer, when kids have spent 2 months out of school and not on a regular routine and possibly with more screen time than they usually have during the school year (which affects my son's behavior). After speaking with other parents who have sent their kids there in the past and had similar experiences, I feel like I dodged a bullet. It seems like they want children who are able to sit quietly at a desk and follow all the rules, and who are able to focus intensely on academics. They have a very narrow expectation for behavioral standards which many children (especially boys with any kind of behavioral or emotional challenges ) cannot meet. When Tina was telling me this, Marlene stood there almost mute, as though she was hiding behind her. It felt incredibly unprofessional and was extremely disappointing. I can not recommend Seashore to anyone based on this experience. read more

My son has been attending Seashore sine last January. It is SUCH a wonderful place to be! My son LOVES going to school! The curriculum in place is rigorous and the directors and teachers at the school are so wonderful! Everyday my son learns new things and I can't believe how far he has come in less than a year. This fall BOTH my sons will now attend. I love that there is a policy in place to encourage appropriate classroom behavior and a uniform policy as well. Seashore is the place to be! read more

I had been looking for a DROP OFF center, where my children could get: small group sizes, passionate teachers, a safe environment and other families who, like me, wanted a wonderful social experience mixed with strong academic support. I started them there last January and both of my children loved Seashore, the teachers and the friends they made during that time. They have met up with those friends all summer and now along with many new friends, will be attending Seashore starting in 2 weeks. One of my favorite things about Seashore Academy is that they have rules that they follow, one being, respect for their teachers, and fellow learners at this beautiful site. I have been to too many centers where the students are running the classrooms with 'teachers' afraid to set classroom management standards. If optimal learning is to take place, standards need to be set and implemented, so that learning can take place. At Seashore, learning takes place because its knowledgeable skilled teachers, insure that learning for all students is a notable priority. They actively work to help students to develop their inquiry skills to gain knowledge, by creating an optimal environment for learning. If you are a Homeschooling (Custom-Schooling) Family and want help with teaching some of the core subjects or electives, Seashore is a place where your child/children will learn and make lifelong friends, in a safe and engaging environment. Always ask for a trial day so you can see if the fit is right for you and your child. Not every site is necessarily the perfect fit, so always accept the trial day/days, so you get what you need for your family. read more

Seashore has been an amazing experience for our family. Our kids (twins) are learning and growing at a pace I didn't know was possible. Last week my 6 year old was talking in her sleep in Chinese! If you are looking for language immersion and individual attention for your child in a small classroom setting, Seashore is the only school in Orange County. read more