We have had such a great experience at MATES! The teachers work with the students both individually…read moreand as a group incredibly well. The faculty and staff are fantastic and the parents are very involved and excited about their children's education. The music program is extraordinary! If you are looking for a high quality, unique school for your kids, check it out!

From the owner: MATES is a FREE public charter school that welcomes innovation, honors the past, transforms the…read morefuture, commands achievement, and empowers all children through the Arts and Technology. Because a charter is independent of a larger district, it is able to make more targeted decisions about teaching strategies and curriculum in a swift and efficient manner. A committee comprised of staff, parents, and working professionals wrote the curriculum framework. Teachers rely heavily on resource-based materials (core literature selections, periodicals, electronic research, library selections/primary resources, teacher-created lessons, field trips/field study, resident artists/professionals, community resources, and electronic field trips) to deliver a high quality program to MATES students. The focus is on academic rigor in an arts and technology-infused environment.

Ascension has been an answer to our prayers. We lost our home in the Palisades fire. This community…read morewelcomed our daughters with open arms and hearts. To a degree that is unheard of. They made a spot for our TK daughter that didn't exist as they felt so strongly about welcoming our daughters into the community during this tough time. Our girls loved their school, home and community that all burned in the fire... They were really not wanting a new school, so they were VERY tough sells. I was very nervous about how this would all go. They were very resistant to starting a new school. They were the hardest won over demographic. But, within a couple of days they were completely won over. I am serious when I say it was only a few days. They were so skeptical and heartbroken. They didn't want to like the school. They didn't want to like their new teachers or friends. They wanted to go home. It was unreal how this school changed them. My TK daughter comes home every day and says "it was the best day EVER mom!" I completely get why she says it. Every day is something magical . I can't quite put into words how many amazing opportunities these kids have, their budgeting is insane. I can't believe how many things they do. I would go into all of it but it would take all night. Their teachers are truly the most incredible and gifted teachers. They meet the kids where they are at with all the patience and love in the world. My husband and I are constantly in amazement--- our kids have been through the worst of it and yet every day at this school brings a smile to their faces. I have NEVER heard a negative thing about the school. Every single family feels the same way we do... this school is incredible. The warmth, the love...is unbelievable. Besides the current families-- every time I tell someone where my daughters go to school it is unanimous across the board... It is something to the effect of "Oh my friend's kids go there and they love it!" or "My neighbors go there and I have heard incredible things!" People always go out of their way to express their extreme love of the school personally or things they have heard about it. I get the hype. Truly. Amazing. We went and toured so many schools.but this school is just on another level. Rich Gregory leads this school with incredible love and care and it shows at every level. In addition to Rich's amazing leadership-- our daughters hit the lottery with Ms. Arias and Ms. Harrington. I can't wait to see what is ahead for my girls here...We are so lucky.

Great school. Makes the kids well rounded and kind people. Great investment in your kid's…read moreformative years! We are planning on staying through th grade.

Great if youre an upper middle class normal kid. Terrible if you're anyone else. If youre hf…read morespecial needs its horrible. They just teach them first grade math forever. Very pretty campus.

We have had a great experience at this school! My kids are in 3rd and 5th grade and they are…read morethriving! The teachers are the best!! It is a steam based school so there are a lot of hands on science activities. There is flexible seating and many extra curricular activities that are included. The school Is a hidden gem in my opinion. Ms Wall really changed the school over the past years to make it what it is today.

As a parent, I enrolled my child in this Christian school with the hope of finding a true…read morepartnership--one that would nurture both spiritual and academic development. Sadly, that hope has turned into deep disappointment and frustration. From the beginning, the administration frequently spoke about "partnering with families" and "supporting every child," but our experience revealed these to be nothing more than well-rehearsed talking points. When real concerns arise--particularly when it comes to your child's individual needs--you quickly find that your voice as a parent is dismissed. The Head of School and Principal may smile and nod, but in practice, they act as though they know your child better than you do and are unwilling to make any meaningful changes that could actually help. There is also a serious lack of consistency at this school. Teacher turnover is high, and it's hard for students to build any real stability with constantly changing staff. In fact, most families tend to leave after preschool or first grade, and that speaks volumes about the experience many have here. Rather than address these retention issues, the school seems more focused on maintaining strong ties with families who are heavy donors--families who often seem to get preferential treatment and can pay their way into getting what they want. To make matters worse, the school appears more concerned with building a new gym than fixing the areas that truly need attention. Classrooms, curriculum, and student resources are outdated or lacking, yet fundraising efforts are aggressively geared toward facilities and image. It's hard to watch tuition dollars and donations go toward expansion projects while core needs are neglected. What made this situation even more infuriating was the transition to a new school. Once we left, we realized just how far behind our child was academically. After being assured for years that this school offered a higher standard of education, we were devastated to find out that was far from the truth. It felt like everything we had invested--financially and emotionally--was for nothing. Many and I mean many families when leaving Hillcrest will home school or go to another school and the first thing they say is I should've done it sooner!! This school promotes a beautiful mission on paper, but in practice, it falls far short. Unless you're part of the "inner circle" or a major donor, true partnership and support are unlikely.

Our daughter began attending Hillcrest in 9th grade. She has flourished with the love of Jesus…read moreChrist evident in the teachers, staff, and fellow students. The small class size and exceptional teachers help each child to thrive. Our family is grateful to be a part of Hillcrest Christian School.

What an amazing experience!! I had the opportunity to visit this school and have to say this school…read moreis doing all that it can to treat each student with care and attention. The Principal Mr. Carter, doesn't just sit behind a desk. He visits the classrooms and makes his presence known by walking the grounds picking up what little trash there is. All the students have a deep despiece for him and vice versa. He greets the students in the morning and welcomes them with a morning announcement that ends with a daily joke. Thank you for letting me see how wonderful your school is and thank you for putting the students first and making their learning a fun and respectful environment.

The teachers are fantastic! The younger grade teachers are extremely patient. The techniques are…read morehands-on and have the best practices in mind. For example, for a unit on insects the teachers brought in real insects! The students learn so much about science through experiments. The PTA is very supportive and have the best interest of the children in mind. Each grade level does a play and the teachers work tiredlessly to bring out the best of each child's performance. If you are looking for a positive school experience and memories to make, then you will probably feel at home.

Our family has been at Carden Conejo for the last 5 years with our two kids having attended grades…read morepreschool through 4th grade so far. It is academically rigorous in all subjects, being one of the best in our area. Our specialists are also excellent: our kids have been able to do PE almost daily, the specialist classes (art, science, music, French, computers) all at least once or twice a week. Starting in kindergarten, the kids move with their classmates from their homeroom to the different dedicated specialist classes multiple times a day, which I think is a very mature thing to be able to do in kindergarten. They do public speaking at their weekly school assemblies multiple times a month, which I think is very special about this school. Best of all, they emphasize manners and morals which encourage human virtues, but also things like looking an adult in the eyes when saying good morning or when being spoken to, and holding the door open for an adult so that he/she can pass through first. Things that I feel our kids in the recent digital world do not really learn anymore, but will help them be successful in their workplaces (and families) in the future. Compared to other private schools in the area, tuition is more affordable, and yet the teachers offer academic support after school for kids to need it for free (although I think they should be paid extra for it). Although academically rigorous, our kids also have so much fun at school. Holidays are so fun. They have a huge fall festival at Halloween with carnival games, food trucks, trunk or treat. They also have a big festive winter holiday show, egg hunts for Easter, class parties, and a big family picnic on campus at the end of the year. They have tons of after school enrichment classes and Funtastic Friday nights where the kids can come and play in the evenings while parents get a night out. Summer camps are also very thoughtful and engaging. A favorite week is themed after the book Roxaboxen where they create their own shops and barter goods with "gems" as currency. We have loved every teacher we have had through the years. Everyone knows your child's name and each teacher invests in their students. One of my children had a little embarrassing accident at school and her 1st grade teacher handled it with such respect and tact - she treated her like she would want her own daughter treated. I think it would be hard to find a school with teachers and staff who are this invested in their students.

I have two children who have attended Carden since preschool, and our family has had an exceptional…read moreexperience. The academic program is outstanding, but what I appreciate most is the school's emphasis on character, manners, and strong moral values. It has provided my kids with a well-rounded education. I love that students practice public speaking every Friday, learn cursive, and participate in community service. The school does a wonderful job of honoring time-tested traditions while also embracing science and technology. We couldn't be happier with our decision to send our children to Carden and look forward to sending them to the middle school.

School is great, front office isn't very friendly, they act condescending when you come in or talk…read moreover the phone.

Our daughter started at Bridges Charter School in fifth grade, and the difference from her previous…read morepublic school has been remarkable. The staff truly has the time and intention to pay attention to each child, addressing any concerns long before they become real issues. She's made friends, has fun, and comes home every day excited to go back--something we don't take for granted. The level of education is outstanding, and their test scores consistently surpass other local schools. We couldn't be more grateful for the supportive environment and the joy this school has brought to our family.

Poor learning environment in providing support into middle school, or high schools. Constant…read moreteacher swaps leaving kids confused and lost in learning.