Sequoyah School has been an indelible safe space for learning and growing for both of my daughters…read more(two years apart). It's practically impossible to list the pros of what this school has provided by way of positive experience, fruitful knowledge, and open/creative thinking. In so many ways it has prepared both of my children with the tools they need not just for a positive college experience, but for themselves in life, knowing who they each are and how to be the most truthful individuals they can be.

I have three kids at Sequoyah, and they have all been at the school since kindergarten (this is our…read moresixth year at the school). I cannot speak highly enough about this school. It's a place where teachers and administrators fiercely guard the experience of childhood and being a kid, while also challenging kids academically. Our kids deeply love school (they're disappointed when there's a three-day weekend!) - they are engaged in and excited about what they're learning. I've been so impressed with the level of the academics for all the kids - the teachers at Sequoyah expect a high level of achievement from the kids, proportionate to what they know each kid is capable of. Even more importantly, every teacher we've had has truly *seen* each of our kids for who they are - they see what motivates each kid, what their social experience is, and how much they should push versus encourage. The school community is, quite simply, what keeps our family in LA. The families at Sequoyah are diverse, kind, warm, and interesting - exactly the sorts of people I'm thrilled my kids get to grow up around, and I get to have as my friends. Sequoyah is the sort of special place that I truly think is making our corner of the world a better place.

Both of my daughters attend Westridge and are in Lower and Upper School. This school has been…read moreextremely intentional with meeting the needs of my Black daughters and helping them reach their goals. The education is top notch with experienced educators alongside administrators who put the girls first in all that they do. Westridge feels like a warm hug for girls who are independent thinkers, doers and have drive!

Our daughter just completed her first year (4th grade) at Westridge. We could not be happier with…read morethe experience! The administration goes to extraordinary lengths to build community and a sense of real belonging among the girls. The faculty are incredible - challenging, caring and supportive. Westridge is an environment where girls--and not just one kind of girl--can thrive. Everything about the experience is well thought-out and resourced. It offers students choices, different paths to explore on their journey of becoming.

Liked this school very much at first...location, nice. Has a great community/family feel. Most of…read morethe staff are helpful. Negatives...well, heres a personal story, my nephew was supposed to start 2nd grade here. He had attended Kinder and 1st at MHES. He attends with a permit. My sister is a faculty member (who just had twins) and was last min. in applying for permit. Got a release from San Gabriel School Dist. (in time) and because they didn't believe that she got it done (due to SGSD error) in time they LIED about there being openings available. I guess as punishment to her they denied her request. Meanwhile my nephew was in limbo missing valuable school days. To cut to the chase (too long already) my sister is still waiting for response from new principal. Who suffered here?? A 7 year old little boy. For what? My nephew now attends Park Elem. who actually care about kids education!

My kids have attended this school since kindergarten with my oldest now a senior in High School and…read moremy youngest an 8th Grader. I absolutely adore this school, the loving, caring teachers, parents, PTA, staff and community. You will NOT find another school in AUSD with this type of family or community setting. I would know since my husband and I did not grow up in this community and have no family in this area. My kids are also on permit to attend this school and we have received nothing but support from AUSD, the school/staff and community! I HIGHLY recommend Monterey Highlands! Love this school!!!

this is my old el school I am now in high school going to the 11 grade this school was so good in…read more2018 -2019 and 2017 peak days had so much fun teachers were nice and everyone I really enjoyed moment of that's school I have a year book form 2020 then I graduated , Dereon

Besides being set in such a gorgeous and safe location out of traffic areas, up in the wilderness,…read morenestled in the foothills-- this school has incredible teachers to the point where two of my three children that have attended throughout the past 11 years, now, want to be teachers. I must add that I have never seen a principal so protective of the school, and Mr. Maynard never ceases to amaze me on the great care taken in every avenue. Thank you, Don Benito!

I adore this school. We toured many schools but ultimately we've been happy here because the…read moreprincipal is superb, the teaching is excellent, and the students are wonderfully positive and engaged. The teachers love the kids. There are many ways to get involved which is important to me. My son is in 1st grade and absolutely thriving here. He loves coming to school and comes home just bubbling over about what he learned at school.

It's gotten far worse but it was a solid elementary school for a time. Now the staff seems to hate…read morekids.

I just graduated 5th grade here and it was great! I came to the school in second grade and as a new…read morestudent, I was treated pretty good. They have so many activities like carnivals and field trips and the staff are very nice. Overall I made tons of good friends and memories in this school, and I will be sad to leave it.

Coolidge Elementary is a great elementary school in the San Gabriel School District. The parents…read moreare heavily involved in helping their children. This includes PTA meetings, fundraisers, programs that raise money for the school and overall participation in the activities of their children. I went to this school back in the day for my elementary days. A lot has changed as the classes have become more modernized and more up to date. The school has a large multipurpose field, two playgrounds, black top area, computer lab, library, basketball courts, outdoor seating and a cafeteria. There is also a separate day care center for day care as well as after school care. The teachers I had all retired from this school but they were monumental for my middle school and high school endeavors. In order to go to this school you must live in a certain radius. You can petition to go to this school if you're not in the radius. There is a drop off area to drop your kids off in front of the cafeteria but it does get busy when it is near school time. There is a crossing guard that is always looking out for children and parents so you don't have to worry about getting run over by the busy Mission Road/ Roses Road intersection. Coolidge is a CA distinguished school with high test scores year round. If you want a great elementary school and want to keep life long friends, this is the school to go to.

The preschool director is on top of things and the staff is nurturing and caring of their little…read morestudents. There is potty training available for the littlest ones and actual curriculum for helping the older ones to be ready for learning. All done at appropriate levels for the children.

Bethany Christian School is amazing. The teachers, administration, and head of school work every…read moreday to make sure the kids are happy, loved, and learning and growing at their own pace and full-potential. The entire staff at Bethany are genuinely kind, loving, smart God-fearing and God-loving people. The kids are kind, smart and blessed. I can't say enough good things. If you're looking for a loving, Christ-centered school for your child/children, do give Bethany a chance. Their admissions director is wonderful. Call the school for a tour, I'm sure they'll be happy to accommodate!

Maranatha offers great academic opportunities for the students, the athletic programs are well run,…read moreand I feel welcome at the school with any of my needs. I would definitely recommend the school.

Our family's experience at this school was profoundly disappointing and deeply painful. Despite its…read morepublic messaging around Christian values, integrity, and community, what we experienced behind the scenes was harassment, emotional harm, favoritism, retaliation, and a complete lack of accountability. Early on, we had a disturbing interaction with a staff member who told us that if they had known our family was applying, they would have "made sure we didn't get in," allegedly based on third-party gossip from someone we had never met or heard of. This was alarming and unprofessional, particularly given that this person had access to our personal information and approached us as if they already knew us. It became clear that negative opinions about our family were being shared internally. Between 2022 and 2025, after we raised concerns about what appeared to be unethical practices within the athletics program -- including favoritism toward students connected to donors or board-affiliated families -- we experienced what felt like retaliation. Shortly afterward, both of our children were quarantined for over three weeks despite repeatedly testing negative for COVID and showing no symptoms. We were told it was "protocol," yet it was not enforced consistently for others. At a time when restrictions were easing everywhere else, it felt targeted toward our family. When we asked for clarity and support, administration collected extensive information from us but ultimately refused to take any corrective action. Instead, we were called into an urgent meeting and told our children might be removed. We were instructed to write a letter over a weekend and told leadership would "consider" allowing them to stay. This felt coercive rather than collaborative. Eventually, one child was allowed to remain while the other was removed -- without explanation, due process, or any cited violation. During this process, a conversation between us and senior leadership was secretly recorded by an administrator who is closely related to school leadership. This occurred without our consent, which is illegal under California's two-party consent law. Rather than addressing this serious issue, the school ignored it entirely. We later learned from multiple sources that external influence may have played a role in decisions affecting our child, including pressure from families connected to leadership whose relatives directly competed with our child athletically. Despite being a strong student-athlete, our child was pushed out. During attempts to transfer schools, negative statements about our family were shared. Athletic staff did not assist with recruitment, and we learned that outreach to other schools appeared focused on protecting institutional relationships rather than helping our child. A college recruiter confirmed a campus visit with us that staff later denied ever occurred, despite us witnessing it firsthand. We have documentation, emails, and written correspondence confirming unfair treatment. One administrator privately described our situation as "awful" and escalated it to HR. Despite this, no accountability followed. Instead, staff involved in these events have continued to receive public recognition and awards, reinforcing a culture where those in power are protected rather than corrected. Despite being told directly that our children had done nothing wrong, we waited seven months for formal communication. When it finally came, the reasoning kept changing. Our child's transcripts were withheld from universities that requested them, confirmed in writing by those institutions. After we spoke out, our child was also removed from the school's alumni list, despite having graduated and despite the thousands of dollars paid for his education. This felt like continued punishment for sharing our experience. After posting this review, we received no outreach, apology, or attempt at reconciliation -- only efforts to have our reviews reported and suppressed. Rather than addressing harm, the school appears focused on protecting its image and silencing families who speak up. Say anything to the leadership and there big egos-- they will gang up against you, brother in-laws, father, board member, baseball coach, football coach, staff members and they will each other public awards to faculty members, students and families that have taken part in this harm-- a cult like mafia. Not a true Christian lead School by the spirit and ALL of the bible, just the parts they pick out. They also have solicited these recent reviews, also staff member finance officer in June 2025 sent out a defamatory emails including our financial contracts to a stranger, making the financials look as though we hadn't paid and we owed money when we were paid in full. She offered to go line by line with a stranger when she had no firsthand information about our family at all. Just sick unethical behavior from our experience.