Our children attended The Branch School for many years. It was a wonderful experience. They…read morereceived a top notch education.. They teach respect for others, peace making, compassion, team work, as well a love for learning. We could not have found a better school for them.

My experience with Ms. Lifsey as a first and second grade teacher has been very disappointing. I…read morewitnessed her speak harshly to children, including insulting, yelling at, and unfairly punishing students, including my own child. A teacher working with young children should show patience, encouragement, and care, but Ms. Lifsey consistently failed to do so. It also seems these concerns are known by the administration, yet little has been done to address them. While many other teachers at The Branch School have been caring and supportive, this review is specifically about Ms. Lifsey and the administration's handling of these concerns. I would encourage parents considering first or second grade placement here to ask careful questions before enrolling their child.

Both my kids are at Yorkshire and it is the perfect school for them because of the low teacher to…read morestudent ratio, small total class size and strength & encouragement in the academic, music and arts. My children have loved being at Yorkshire and we are extremely grateful for the opportunity for balanced growth YA provides. The teachers are AMAZING and truly care about the students. Its Cottage class teachers are the best for 2-4 years old. I've also found the families warm and friendly and a great mix and diversity amongst the students. Such a unique school to be able to see at the Memorial Area!

We love Yorkshire Academy! We love the community it provides, the education with small classrooms…read moreand amazing teachers, and the activities that my children get to do are so unique and fun! Also, YA doesn't go by SBISD school openings and closings. So sometimes YA is open when public schools are not (due to weather or Covid etc). YA is much more consistent with school NOT closing. It's a lovely place to be, my children are ALWAYS happy and my 3 year old wants to be a teacher now because of her amazing teacher at YA!

We absolutely love Rainard school!! What an incredibly supportive environment with small class…read moresizes and unique attention paid to each student. Truly a tailored education and a place where kids are recognized for their unique talents.

I checked into Rainard when looking at the private schools in the area and was really impressed…read more The staff was informative and helpful in every aspect and they seem to have a lot to offer. Before being placed in the school, the child must go through a battery of tests - the most important is the I.Q. test on which the student must score 135 or above. If you make it through the screening, you must then apply for consideration to be accepted to the school and pay your $75 fee. If there's a spot, you'd better not second guess your commitment to Rainard because there is a non-refundable reservation fee of $800. At the time we checked into the program, there was no high school. We were concerned about what happens to a child coming up in this sheltered environment then going into a larger public or private school for the last few years of basic education. Now they have implemented a high school and those problems are solved for those attending. The small campus is sweet and certainly an alternative style of teaching but of all of the campuses we investigated, this was among the priciest. We'd heard bad things about it from people that had placed their children here then opted to put them back in public school or another nearby private institution. In the end, we decided the risk was too great for us - it was a very difficult decision but since we got so much bad word of mouth, we backed out of the admissions process. But, if you're looking for some out of the ordinary summer programs, Rainard is among the best on the West Side. Their Summer Incitement Series offers a variety of non-traditional learning experiences that are great for any child. A good sampler if you're looking to get your feet wet in this special school for gifted students.

The teaching quality is inconsistent, this makes it hard to stay motivated, especially when you're…read morenot getting the support you need. On top of that, the school seems to prioritize appearances over actually improving the student experience.

I went here and have a niece here. But I DO NOT appreciate Skyler in ACE. She and I had issues. And…read moreI do not agree with her side eyed, smirk, giggle to me. If she treats a grown woman like that then how does she treat my niece AND the rest of the kids. NOT OK!

From the very first phone call to schedule a tour, I had concerns. The admissions representative,…read moreBailey, seemed rushed and inattentive, failing to record basic details like our names correctly. Despite traveling from the East Coast specifically to visit this school, we were not greeted warmly upon arrival. The security guard was stoic and silent, which set a cold tone. Bailey, who had been warm with another family just moments before, barely acknowledged us. I had to ask if she was Bailey because she was simply standing there, staring. When she finally acknowledged my child, she referred to him as "frienddddddddddd," which felt patronizing and unprofessional. Children, like adults, deserve to be addressed by name--respect starts there. During the tour of the four- and five-year-old classrooms, I noticed a stark contrast between what was shown on the website and what we experienced in person. When I mentioned that we unschool and take a more global, play-based approach to learning, Bailey assured me the school was play-based as well. However, the children looked more like they were in a traditional, rigid environment--seated in silence, not engaged in any type of play. In one of the classrooms, a little girl was visibly distressed and crying in a cube. No adult approached her. She remained that way throughout our entire visit--clearly struggling, and clearly ignored. This was heartbreaking. A child in distress should never be left alone, especially in a setting that claims to prioritize emotional development and care. I genuinely feel for that child and her family--because if that were my kid, I'd be pissed the hell off. That should never have happened under any competent care or planning. Throughout the tour, Bailey made inappropriate comments and assumptions about my child, labeling him without taking the time to observe or interact meaningfully with him. She stated the school wants kids to be fully conversational and etc. I attempted to explain his receptive language is fine but we are working on expressive. She cut me off but isnt this what the school is about?!?? She repeatedly stated things would be "hard" for him and suggested we consider a different school--again, without any real engagement or insight into his capabilities. My child has unique birth-related challenges, but no formal diagnosis, and that is not Bailey's role to assess or determine. She is not an evaluator or clinician; she's in admissions, and she should have remained in that role. The labeling continued, even after I explained that my child has never been in a traditional school setting. Her comments were dismissive and rooted in bias. I also noticed she treated other families quite differently--more warmly and respectfully. It was hard to ignore that we were the only Black family present, and the lack of diversity in the school was glaring. It felt like we were being treated differently based on race and perceived class. At one point, she even ran over to my child's advocate--without my consent--to state that this school "wasn't a good fit." That decision should not have been made, let alone communicated, without me present. I am the parent, I am the one paying tuition if we were to enroll, and no one should be having side conversations about my child without me. In the same breath, I have to address Bailey's repeated, unnecessary comments about referring families to Westwood and feeling she should "get a cut" from it. That was unprofessional, irrelevant, and made me uncomfortable. It had nothing to do with my child or his well-being. She continued making assumptions, bringing up things like "eloping" (which has never been an issue for my child), and referencing challenges unrelated to our experience. Her tone was judgmental and dismissive. She even brought up her own child's struggles, which seemed like an attempt to connect but came off as self-centered and irrelevant. Also, let me be clear: none of my child's doctors have diagnosed him with anything. What he lives with are birth injuries--documented and longstanding. For Bailey to make assumptions or push labels as a paper-pusher without medical expertise is not only dismissive but absolutely out of line. One of the most inappropriate moments was when she brought up finances--implying that the school/area might be out of reach for us. That was completely uncalled for. If I flew across the country, arranged lodging, transportation, and made time for a school visit, then clearly I can afford the school. It was offensive, intrusive, and deeply disrespectful. My financial situation is none of her concern. Frankly, y'all owe me money for this BS & unprofessional tour. Another alarming concern: the persistent racial homogeneity. There were no Black or Latino children enrolled that I could see. If the school is so "inclusive," where are the students of color? It feels like there are culture/race issues here.....stay away

The above statements was 3years ago. It is now 2000. Caden has almost caught up with his speech. He…read moreis a happy, confident and very social child. He makes friends easily everywhere he goes. His social skill exceed my expectation for him. He his now getting occupational therapy for fine motor skill and he loves it! We love all his teachers. Thaden is successful in middle school. He finally made an A in writing which is one of the hardest subject for autistic kids. He is taking advance math like trigonometry . He has lots of friends and even took a girl to a formal dance. I think the foundation at Parish gave him the confidents and skill to cope with life and thrive.

I am writing this review to encourage parents to carefully consider their options and make an…read moreinformed decision when choosing this school. I can only speak to my personal experience. I moved to Texas in February and enrolled my daughter in this public school after missing the private school enrollment deadline. We previously lived in Florida, and I believed that attending this school for one year would be manageable. Unfortunately, the experience has been extremely disappointing from the beginning. The enrollment process was disorganized and redundant. Although all documentation was submitted online, I was still required to bring physical copies. Communication was lacking, as there were no clear instructions regarding where to go upon arrival. We had to walk around the campus trying to locate the enrollment office. "Meet the Teacher" day was equally chaotic. There was no clear communication, and the event itself was poorly organized. When we finally located my daughter's classroom, I learned that the teacher had 29 students and no teacher's aide. As a former kindergarten teacher, I know this class size is not appropriate. Approximately two months later, I received a letter from the state indicating that Texas requires a 22:1 student-to-teacher ratio and that the school was out of compliance and requesting an extension. The first day of school was alarming. There were very few staff members present and no clear directions for where children were supposed to go. At dismissal, my husband arrived to pick up our daughter, and the school was unable to locate her for nearly 30 minutes. Staff had no idea where she was. I was at work and ultimately used an AirTag in her backpack to confirm she was still inside the school. She was eventually found hysterical, as there was no staff directing kindergarten students during dismissal. On her very first day, children were simply expected to know where to go. Dismissal procedures continue to be a major safety concern. Children are allowed to walk out unsupervised. This creates a serious risk, as a child could easily be taken without notice. Students wear color-coded cards, but all parents receive the same white card, making it difficult to identify which grade level is being released. I have personally observed a teacher leave approximately ten kindergarten students unattended. I have also witnessed staff members who were not actively supervising students. In one instance, I watched a child get pushed off a 6-8 foot platform and lie on the ground for several minutes while the supervising adult remained on their phone and did not intervene. Additionally, backpacks are frequently left outside for days at a time without being secured. My daughter has also experienced bullying. She is mixed race (Irish and Indian) and has been subjected to verbal harassment, having her clothes written on, and physical aggression. I have raised these concerns multiple times with her teacher and emailed the principal, but no action has been taken. As a result, I have had to instruct my daughter to defend herself. Communication from the teacher has been consistently inadequate. Items are sent home without instructions, with the expectation that parents will simply know how to support the material. I am a highly involved parent and make every effort to reinforce learning at home, but without guidance this has been difficult. I emailed the teacher six times asking for clarification regarding a book sent home and received no response until the parent-teacher conference, where I brought the book with me. The teacher acknowledged seeing the emails and stated she sent the book "just in case" I wanted it, without providing any educational purpose or instructions. The curriculum itself is also weak and below what I would expect for a kindergarten program. The final issue involved speech services. My daughter previously received speech therapy at her former school, which I paid for out of pocket, as it was not part of an IEP. I submitted all relevant documentation four months ago and worked with the school to continue support. I later learned that the staff member handling the process went on leave without notifying us. During a scheduled meeting, there was confusion about whether it was virtual or in person. At the meeting, the principal asked how I knew my daughter needed speech therapy and had not reviewed the documentation I submitted until that moment. I explained my daughter's challenges with pronouns and sentence structure. Her teacher stated she had not noticed any issues. I expressed concern that with nearly 30 students, it would be difficult to identify these needs. Ultimately, I was told the school would not provide services. After waiting four months, this decision was communicated, wasting valuable time when I could have continued services privately. Despite my willingness to pay, I was told it was unnecessary, which I strongly disagreed with. Would not recommend

My son started Kindergarten this year, during a pandemic, and this school has been so great at…read moretrying to navigate the situation for the children. They use enhanced safety measures and provided both virtual and in class options. The staff cooperates and coordinates so well together for drop off and pick up. They take time to say "good morning" to each student. Our teacher, Ms. Wren, is amazingly dedicated. My son has been genuinely learning, despite the pandemic. Finally, the PTA, too, is down to Earth and works well with the school, which is an added bonus!

This is a wonderful school. My children have been there for two years. The overwhelming majority of…read moreteachers are very effective. Biggest strengths are access to a variety of onsite therapies, the staff and innovative programs such as Adventure Play which is a wonderful outdoor after school program that provides speech and social opportunities for the children while getting tons of sensory input while basically building their own playground with the guidance of trained playground workers. When we arrived, there was a change in leadership to a new Head of School. She has proven to be very effective and has thoughtfully made a number of improvements to the school as well as handled a number of significant challenges early in her tenure including managing severe weather emergencies and Covid. I was impressed with her ability to pivot and keep the school running with little incident and the highest level of transparent communication during the ongoing Pandemic -I believe there were zero cases of covid among the children and there were almost no cases in the community and no spread-outstanding accomplishment when I hear horror stories at other schools. She is also very transparent and accessible. This school is evolving for the better with a more recent focus on strengthening academics. I would recommend this school for children with learning differences, but keep in mind the school is not equipped to manage children with ongoing aggressive behavioral issues.

A Truly Exceptional Middle School Experience! As an alumna…read moreof Spring Forest Middle School, I can honestly say that my time there was nothing short of transformative. From the moment I stepped through its doors, I felt a sense of belonging and excitement that carried me through all three years. Spring Forest isn't just a school; it's a vibrant community where students are encouraged to thrive academically, socially, and personally. The teachers at Spring Forest are truly the heart of the school. They are not just educators, but passionate mentors who genuinely care about their students' success. I remember countless times when teachers would stay after hours to offer extra help, provide insightful feedback, or simply lend an ear. Their dedication made even the most challenging subjects feel approachable and engaging. The curriculum itself was well-rounded, offering a fantastic blend of core subjects and enriching electives that allowed me to explore new interests, from robotics to creative writing. Beyond the classroom, Spring Forest fostered an incredibly supportive and inclusive environment. There were so many opportunities to get involved, whether it was through the diverse range of clubs, the competitive sports teams, or the lively performing arts programs. These activities not only helped me discover new talents but also allowed me to forge lasting friendships with peers who shared my interests. The school leadership also deserves immense credit for creating a safe and respectful atmosphere where every student felt valued and heard. The facilities were always well-maintained, providing a comfortable and conducive learning environment. From the well-stocked library to the modern science labs, Spring Forest provided all the resources necessary for a comprehensive education. Looking back, Spring Forest Middle School prepared me incredibly well for high school and beyond. It instilled in me a love for learning, critical thinking skills, and the confidence to pursue my goals. I wholeheartedly recommend Spring Forest Middle School to any parent looking for a nurturing, challenging, and truly exceptional educational experience for their child. It's a place where memories are made, and futures are shaped. And who could forget the time we discovered an endangered leopard casually lounging in the bathroom sink during the annual science fair? It was certainly an unexpected, yet memorable, addition to the school's already rich tapestry of experiences, reminding us that at Spring Forest, you truly never know what amazing discovery awaits around the next corner. Lastly, I wanted to say that the used condom stuck to the paper towel dispenser in the C hall boys bathroom did NOT taste good. It tasted like sour milk and reproductive fluids. Not only this, but im 99% sure somebody had intercourse in that bathroom. PS - I was so desperate for food that I ate the condom

A horrible school. As a parent, I expect better. The fine arts is mediocre at best, but everything…read moreelse is horrible. Middle school is to set students up for high school, but that is a joke when it comes to Spring Forest. My kids come home crying sometimes because they don't think they have a good education here, and at the parent teacher meetings, I think the teachers are no good. Please, an honest review, don't send your kids to this school unless you have to. This school does not set your kids up for success.