I had a very negative experience with the Director that does not seem to align with the website…read moregoals. I was looking for tutor and thought Fusion might be a good fit. After meeting with her, explaining how shy and anxious my kid is, she wrote him off within 5 mins for not being enthusiastic enough about going to a tutor and said Fusion could not help. (He succeeded no problem at another place last year, I just wanted a shorter drive and thought Fusion's website looked good). During the 2 tours she gave, she loudly proclaimed the silent area was no talking, completely disrupting the students that were there at the time. She demonstrated her agenda was more important than the students. She seems completely disingenuous about the school's stated goals and exceptionally rigid about how kids should be. I am really glad we will not be interacting with her regularly.

I love Fusion. I have a daughter that is academically advanced but socially challenged. (High…read morefunctioning autism/ 2E) She started kinder early at 4 and then skipped 5th grade. She simply loves learning and while in traditional private schools was bored and increasingly anxious about social interaction and group work. She's been at Fusion for two years. She works 1:1 with various teachers depending on the subject and while officially in 7th again this year (we decided to have her repeat as we are worried about her being closer in age to her peers when she graduates) she was able to take HS college prep biology last year, HS zoology and psychology this year in addition to her more typical classes (English, algebra 1, French 2, and medieval history) The teachers are wonderful with her. They have a collaborative style and really keep her focused, engaged, and enthusiastic. I receive academic summaries from each teacher everyday letting me know what they covered and how she did. Looking forward to her taking science in person at the Newton campus next year so she can do the labs in person rather than virtually.

My daughter and I did the Spanish language paint night and I had a great time! This is my first…read moretime doing a paint night so I was a little nervous about how my painting was going to come out. But I love my Picasso-esque painting. Ed did a great job teaching us and guiding us through the process. It was also great to have some Spanish language lessons incorporated into the night. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention his delicious tortilla Espanola and the live music!

Rola Languages is a great language school nestled between Porter and Harvard Squares in Cambridge,…read moreMA. Students have the opportunity to learn multiple romance languages that will help them achieve their personal and professional goals in a flexible and comfortable setting. Ed Rocha, in particular, uses evidence-based strategies to motivate his students towards success. 10/10 recommend him and Rola as a hub for language learning, community, and connection.

We chose GMS-Belmont as our son's first school at 16 months old (over a year ago) & have had such a…read morepositive experience. The teachers are so patient and loving as they help incoming children settle into a new routine. They work so hard to cultivate a deep love for learning/exploration, and a sense of confidence and independence in children. The Montessori method is put into effective practice each day through work-cycle & thoughtful, creative activities. The teachers have a lot of experience implementing healthy practices to help children with emotional regulation and social aspects of learning. During the academic year, the school has a rich curriculum spanning language, math, science, practical life, sensorial, and gross/fine motor - the teachers create this and share via monthly newsletters. Two major highlights of the year are the holiday & summer concerts where all children in the school perform together - this is a tremendous undertaking and months of preparation by the teachers for a most delightful family-oriented tradition! Director Ms. Sahar and co-director Ms. Jenn are fully present and so dedicated - they know each child by name, each family, and are always on the ground to ensure smooth daily functioning. There is little-to-no staff turnover and the teachers have a wealth of experience. Our family is super grateful for the strong foundation and core values that the teachers have given our son, and again, highly recommend GMS-Belmont!

We had a very positive experience at this school! Our son spent his first primary year of…read moreMontessori education at GMS and he so clearly thrived in the environment nurtured by his teachers and Miss Sahar/Tara. He joined at the age of 3.5 and within a few weeks made significant strides in terms of his learning & development, independence (such as dressing himself, cleaning up after play time, and helping out around the house), and overall curiosity on reading / writing / coloring. GMS still has that small community feel even as the classes continue to grow and the system becomes more mature over time. We are sad to have only learned of this school late in our time in the greater Boston area and wish we could've stayed for the full 3-year cycle.

I volunteered here as an English teacher last year and was impressed with this organization. They…read moreoffer very low-cost English classes to immigrants, as well as various youth programs, including an interpreter training program for bilingual kids that have often grown up interpreting for their parents. They provide monthly training for the volunteer teachers and regular community events, including an annual fundraiser called Yum! that highlights local immigrant-owned restaurants. The Welcome Project is a great community that I'd recommend for students and volunteers alike.

We switched our eldest to Fayerweather at the start of 3rd grade seeking a school where the…read morelearning would be significantly challenging, values-rooted, and joyful. We wanted a place where our inquisitive kid could really stretch her edges and feel comfortable taking academic risks (and sometimes making mistakes). Now 12, she has a deep sense of who she is and what matters to her - and this strong sense of self has allowed her to take risks (academically and socially) and push herself as a learner and community member. She understands that justice and community are the essential foundations for learning and social impact. Our younger child (now 7) started at FSS in kindergarten and we have found that, while quite different from his older sibling, he is just as seen, valued, and supported. He has gotten incredible guidance navigating his intensity and high energy, and he is academically challenged in just the right ways - he works on meaningful problems and his sense of accomplishment is significant. Fayerweather has helped him have a voice and language for his feelings, his challenges, and his successes. The loving support and developmentally appropriate and thoughtful curriculum have allowed him to discover his best self and build the skills and agency to choose his actions wisely. FSS is all we hoped, for both kids.

We just started school at Fayerweather this fall, and my 1st grader and 6th grader cannot get over…read morehow friendly the school community is. My son came home from school after his second week of being a new kid (a middle schooler, no less -- in the 6th grade) and said "mom I give it 5 stars!!! Everyone is SO nice, teachers and kids, and I love it!!!." Now that we are four months in, happily his review remains. He also says that his homeroom and math teacher is "literally THE best math teacher" he's ever had. I'm continually impressed with how in touch with my son's learning style the teachers are, and he's growing leaps and bounds. My 6 year old daughter, who is usually shy, is coming out of her shell socially and is really starting to take to reading (which she has avoided prior to Fayerweather). Her teachers are incredible and so in tune with her and helping her to grow where she is ready to, and there is such insight into the social emotional ecosystem of the classroom. Fayerweather has the academics *and* the community we'd hoped for -- the school has a joyful, healthy, connected vibe and is inclusive and diverse to boot. We couldn't be happier.

I began learning the piano with Inga in 6th grade after trying several other teachers. Her passion…read morefor music, focus on technique, and wide breadth of knowledge enabled me to learn really rapidly and play advanced pieces in only a few years; I can confidently say she is the best music teacher I have had. Another strength of Keys for Kids is that it is a one-stop shop. You can begin learning here during the summer programs when young, then join the group lessons, and finally progress to private lessons and reach a high level -- all under one program. I had a wonderful experience and would highly recommend private lessons at Keys for Kids, especially if you want to learn piano to a high level!

My girls have been going to Ms Inga for 2-3 years. She is a patient and effective teacher…read more She teaches music theory in a way that makes it understandable and fun for the kids and combines it well with playing the instrument. It's great to watch the older kids play very skillfully during the 'all class graduation' performances. Highly recommend Keys for Kids for those looking to learn and understand music.

My experience working with Njoki was amazing. My family purchased the Silver package during my…read morejunior year to help me prepare for college from start to finish. They helped me find scholarships and grants that covered more than half of my tuition. With the help of focus admissions I got into my first choice school.

I am extremely pleased with the services I received from focus admissions. The owner is very…read moreintelligent and passionate about her work, which is evident in her results! I got into my dream school and was able to get two scholarships to help fund my education. This program required a lot of commitment but with the guidance and great feedback I received from Njoki, the application process was very manageable. I will definitely be back when I am ready to apply to graduate programs.

I took one session of classes with Isabella, but would not take another class with her. Her style…read moredoesn't work for me. In our on-line classes, we took turns reading a simple story out loud. When we mis-pronounced something or made another mistake, Isabella pounced on us, instead of letting us finish and then correcting us. Since we were not taught the sounds of Italian and since we were beginners, it's to be expected that we'd make mistakes. I'm not objecting to being corrected--I want that--but it's very jarring when she interrupts and speaks over us. I got very little from the class.

I've been a student of Isabella's for about a year. Unfortunately, due to COVID the courses were…read morevia Zoom. Isabella's enthusiasm and creativity really shined through to make the courses still entertaining. I absolutely love having her as a teacher and strongly recommend taking courses with her. She is very good keeping students engaged, and you feel part of a family when you take courses with her. Grateful to have found such a lovely school!!!