Do your due diligence before you bring your family to this school. Don't be swayed by the pretty campus and the catchy motto. For 26K you deserve to know what you're getting...and what you're not. read more

I just saw my review from 13 years ago, when my kids had been at Gooden for 3 years. Update: Both of my kids graduated from Gooden (2016 & 2018) and went on to competitive high schools & colleges. I still strongly feel that their time at Gooden gave them a phenomenal foundation. They've been confident to advocate for themselves, considerate and respectful throughout their education journeys. AND as I predicted years ago, they are still very close with the friends they made, as am I. It truly is a special school. read more

My granddaughters love this school and are excited to go every morning 3rd grade they get an instrument! read more

The Gooden School - Blessing of the animals - Elementary Schools Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

One of my grand nephews is going to school here. I have to say he is so happy and motivated. He loves coming over to my home after school before his parents get there to tell me all about his day. When we have a classmate over they are so well mannered and charming and creative in their play. The staff are always very kind and welcoming. Their pick up and drop off is very smooth unlike other schools he has attended. He is truly in a great academic environment. I can't believe the things he wants to talk about when he visits. I am impressed with their focus on not just spoon feeding what he should know but also encouraging him to seek beyond what in his books or on the. whiteboard Gooden School is night and day from Alverno where he was attending before. I think his parents work hard because the tuition is more but the education has been superior. Keep it up good Gooden. We are a long standing large family there are more of us coming your way. read more

This is not the same Gooden School of decades gone past. I have heard great stories of this place and in my personal experience I can tell you the administration is toxic and teachers (in general) are incompetent. The school has changed over the years from focusing on being the best in core class instruction and now focuses of providing students with a much more shallow education of a broader array of studies. Math, English, and Science are no longer the focal points and if you compare a Gooden student to most of the neighboring private school students, you will see the Gooden student is around 6-12 months behind (although you paid $5,000 to $11,000 more per year at Gooden). Gooden focuses on who you know; not what you know. Kids of the 'connected' (children of teachers, board of trustees, and other special families) are treated much differently and often presented and congratulated with awards and certificates for their excellence in mediocrity while other students who have achieved far greater are not recognized at all. Parents are forced into a toxic race of befriending 'special' members of the staff and school in order to ensure their child gets special treatment. This special treatment extends into post Gooden schools where handlers are willing to put in a good word for you if they like you. The problem with this is that at some point your child is going to have to perform. And when that time comes, they will not have the tools. This leads the into a path of frustration, depression and sometimes worse. It doesn't have to be this way though. I took my child out of Gooden and it was like a breath of fresh air. Every day is bright and happy now that we are far away from Gooden. I cannot recommend enough to all parents to stay clear away from this school. All they want is your money and to brainwash your child into a particular ideology that you may not agree with. If you think you will just try it out for a year, remember that they will have to give your child a recommendation to transfer to another private school later. And this is where the problems will begin for you, if they have not already. They will not let your child transfer out and if they do, they will make sure your child's file is muddied up with so much mess that no one would want them. Save your child and save yourself. Look elsewhere. read more

A school is a dynamic thing to review, but I'll give my honest perspective. In substance my child attended Gooden for 1-5 years. I'm being unspecific on purpose for reasons of anonymity. Would I recommend that you pay the tuition of $16,000 for this learning institution? No, I would not. Over the years we encounter one teacher we truly liked and had an impact on our child. The others teachers were either relocated or just not that engaged. Did my child learn the curriculum? Yes. Was my child happy? Yes. On that same note I'm sure my child would be happy and would have learned at any other public or private school. The administration is the weak link in my opinion. Over the years I saw several changes including at the head of school (principal) position. Recently I saw the head of school abruptly resign mid-school year. To me it showed instability and that trickles down to faculty. I could see the impact it was having on the staff/educators. As for the culture, we found it to be selective. I believe the more social you are the more you and your child will fit in. If you're less inclined to fraternize then you might feel alienated. I also didn't find the school to be diverse, but that could be reflective of Sierra Madre's demographics. I could expand or elaborate more but I won't. It's difficult to consolidate years into summary. I'll just end with that there are a lot of schools out there. I'd take other institutions into consideration before enrolling your child here. read more

Community and Nurturing are two words that come to mind when I think about The Gooden School. Not really knowing what to expect from a private school, I was pleasantly surprised with the kindness that surrounds not only the kids but the parents too. The teachers are wonderful and care a great deal about each student. The size of the school and the classes really allow for a strong community that made us feel safe and welcome from day 1. The Gooden School offers so much more than just community. It's a place where I feel my son is turning into a well-rounded human. He's learning music and math and plays golf in the after school program during the year. We are both working parents so The Gooden After School Program, also known as "GASP" is a fun place where he can run around and have free play. The GASP director and teachers are fun and attentive. I often find them playing monopoly, uno, or just free play out on the field. It's a cozy atmosphere that my son often times does not want to leave because he's having so much fun with kids of all ages. I heard a lot of wonderful things about The Gooden School before we applied and now that we are here, I have seen first hand that all of those nurturing and kind comments were true! read more

I can't say enough GOOD things about Gooden! This school has saved my daughters mental health during the pandemic. Not only did her incredible superhero kindergarten teacher Mrs Paz personally drop off supplies and welcome her to the school with her superstar counterpart Miss Isabella but they took the time to get to know us. She could have been lost in the shuffle starting Kinder in the middle of this crazy time but she got valuable in person time when other schools didn't open and I felt they did it all extremely safely. Forever grateful for this school during this time. read more

The children of Gooden School have something special. After four years here (so far), I can see a clear behavioral difference in the accepted social norms among Gooden students vs. students of other schools. I noticed it the first year, but there is a feeling in the atmosphere that remains constant. Gooden School students are the type that refill the ice cube tray after using the last one at a friends' house. They will pick up a friend's violin and play - not to practice, per se, but just for afterschool fun. They will approach a new kid on the play ground and invite them to play together. These are all actual examples I have witnessed multiple times. Gooden School students accept other children for who they are. They are inclusionary. They are kind. If you are considering The Gooden School, I invite you to spend an hour or two sitting at Starbucks or some place in downtown Sierra Madre on a Friday afternoon. There you will find children from all 4 Sierra Madre elementary schools blowing off steam after the week. They misbehave; they act as if you are not watching. Here, you can observe children in their natural habitat. You will recognise the schools that the various children attend by their uniforms (St. Rita's, Bethany, and Gooden children all wear shirts that tell you what school they attend, those not in uniform are from Sierra Madre Elementary). Come watch. read more

Our two kids have been at Gooden for many years. I'd say that it's a great private school and competitively priced. We are part of a larger community which is comprised of the faculty, staff, and fellow parents. Communication is good and we don't feel left out. Sometimes it's hard to differentiate between curriculum that is offered at our nearby public school and the homework we see. When you begin at private school you can believe that there is this magical custom-built offering, but in fact Gooden teaches from a lot of the same California text books that a local public would. The difference lies in small class sizes, better teachers, and a more well-rounded opportunity to learn. Our kids look forward to their days at Gooden and that's really the bottom line. The music and arts curriculum is important at Gooden and well run. There isn't an extraordinary amount of parental involvement required, but you'll want to participate because the people and environment are fun. I'd say Gooden is a top best bet for most any parent considering private school. read more

The community at The Gooden School is special. The faculty and families are great. My kids are having a great experience here. It is a hidden gem of a school. I currently have a child in the middle school and in the elementary school at The Gooden School. The science and STEAM programs are hands on and provide great experiences. They do some great projects like egg drop, making solar ovens, building and testing earthquake proof houses and different types of dissection. Every year the middle school students participate in a science fair where they present and are judged by experts from Cal Tech. So cool! Also, The Gooden school has small class sizes and that is wonderful! I know my kids get the attention and support they need. I had heard wonderful things about Gooden before we attended and we are so happy to be a part of the community. I am so happy my kids are having a great experience! read more

Our children attended the Gooden School from Kindergarten through eighth grade. Our son is now a sophomore in high school and our daughter is a freshman in high school. We absolutely loved the Gooden School. It is a caring, nurturing environment that allows children to be children. The academics are solid, the music and art program are great and the homework assigned was reasonable. When it comes time to apply for high schools the teachers were extremely helpful in placing the students in the schools that suited them best. The yearly Blessing of the Animals, the Gooden teas and the Garden of Hope are only a few of the events that make Gooden so unique. I know that our children will always have very fond memories of Gooden and know that they had some very special teachers who will remain among their favorites. read more

The Gooden School offers exactly what we were seeking for our daughter, strong academics, a welcoming and supportive community, and most importantly, a safe and nurturing environment for our daughter. At Gooden, the school emphasizes supporting the development of "the whole child," something we knew we wanted, but didn't realize truly what a difference it makes. Last year in kindergarten, she not only learned to read, write short stories, and have fun with hands on projects in STEAM, art, music, drama and Spanish, she also found support in her emotional development, mentoring from teachers and older students, and meaningful ways to connect to the importance of kindness and helping others. This approach creates a school atmosphere that extends beyond the classroom, the students are engaged, kind and talented, both at school and within the larger community. We feel lucky to have found Gooden, and our daughter is excited every day to go to school! read more

I wrote the review over 4 years ago when our daughter finished her first year(4th grade) at Gooden and now she is graduating next June, so I would like to offer my final review here upon her completion of 5 years at this school. Regardless of the changes they had in the leadership position they have had in the last few years, Gooden's core has not changed and actually they seem to be going stronger!! They are truly a gem-where else do you find the school like this in L.A.?? Our daughter still loves each day at Gooden as much as she did in her first year. During the years at this school, especially in middle school, she has learned how to "self -advocate", approaching the teachers if she did not understand something in class, or if she was not sure about the homework due etc( she is still work in progress but we really appreciate that the teachers are all on it and encourage the kids to self advocate to prep themselves for high school!!) and nicely transitioned from elementary to middle school. She is blessed with amazing group of teachers every day. Gooden also has been very understanding about our daughter's commitment to ballet training after school, allowing her to fully participate in performances and competitions. We truly appreciate Gooden for understanding each child with their unique talents(just as they say on their website about the whole person approach) not just looking at the test scores and offering them a lot of chances to challenge and demonstrate talents(music, drama, science, languages, arts, PE...you name it) in their every day school life. read more

We have been at the school for 5 years and couldn't be happier with the staff, teachers, academic & art program. It is a truly nurturing environment and my kids are thriving in every way. All of the students treat each other with repect and as if they were family members. I'm so happy we found this school. read more

We have been at Gooden for five years now with our fourth grade boy and his brother now in first grade. We couldn't be happier about the education they are receiving as part of this tight-knit community in Sierra Madre. The teachers and staff at Gooden are very dedicated in providing an education that prepares all students for the best high schools in Pasadena and the Los Angeles area. The small class sizes are a big plus since they allow for individualized guidance that is rare to find even at other private schools. Music, art, PE, technology, Spanish, and Latin (5-8) supplement the classroom experience and are exceptional and well-executed. Volunteering is low pressure but you'll want to contribute knowing that your kids love going to school every day and are surrounded by a community that values their growth as they mature in to young adults. read more

We relocated to Pasadena from the East coast about a year ago, and we are very pleased with our selection of The Gooden School for our son. The academics are on a par with what we saw in our school back East, but with far less stress. Our previous school was assigning an hour to an hour and a half of homework each night in first and second grade, and it was, in my humble opinion, developmentally inappropriate, burning the children (not to mention the parents) out. Gooden has a much more sensible homework policy, and I feel it is allowing my son to be a kid and to develop his own interests and curiosity. He is much happier. Meanwhile, academics are not at all sacrificed. Gooden also offers: a nurturing environment that finds value in each individual child; a wonderful service learning program; lots of mingling of age groups through the Buddy Program; Spanish beginning in kindergarten and Latin in middle school; a Roots and Shoots program at the Arboretum; and a fantastic strings program. The school has many different charming traditions, such as high tea several times a year, an Advent Lessons and Carols service, Blessing of the Animals for Saint Francis Day (everyone brings their pets), and much more. We love that it is an Episcopal school and the children attend chapel twice a week. Although the school is firmly Christian, they are welcoming to and respectful of all faith traditions. In fact, respect is at the center of the school motto: "Respect for Self, Respect for Others, Respect for the World." And the proof is in the pudding: the Gooden middle school-aged kids to whom I've been exposed are all impressively well spoken and respectful. There is an emphasis on public speaking from a young age, whether it is through doing readings or prayers for chapel, or, for example, in third grade, my son has to do a presentation on a historic figure and give a shortened version of it to the whole school and the full version to his class. I think this early emphasis on public speaking contributes to the composure the older kids have. The parent community is warm and welcoming as well. We are very happy with The Gooden School. read more

You won't find a nicer school than this- we have lived in a variety of states and communities, and this is nicest school we have been fortunate enough to attend. My daughter is extremely happy, and made friends right away. We couldn't be more pleased. read more

Due to recent change in leadership, you can easily tell the is school going downhill in academics, enrollment and overall quality of institution. Good luck to all those connected, my advice to you is get out now. read more

I can not say that I would recommend The Gooden School to anyone. This is very sad, because it used to be a great place. These days it is little more than a mediocre, overpriced public school. When the Towners were the heads of the school it was indeed a lovely place. With the new administration a variety of very sad changes have taken place. Academically, my children were not challenged enough and were even behind when we moved them to public school. Not they are in honors and being challenged and doing well. We also don't have the problems with bullying that we had at the Gooden school. Think twice before you send your child here and make sure you read the hand book before you pay them any money. Pay special attention to the page where you sign away your first amendment rights. Ask to know who is on the school board, see if they tell you. Ask lots of questions and see if you get real answers. Very secretive place lately, makes one think of "The Family". read more