This review is for the staff. While the school is a high ranking, high achieving school, the staff…read moreis one of the most back-stabbing, catty, cruel staff with whom I have ever worked. I volunteered and before beginning, I suggested meeting with the teacher to discuss how I would be most helpful. The teacher agreed that this would be a good idea. After a few conversations, this never happened. I told this teacher that since it seemed meeting was impractical given our schedules, that I would appreciate suggestions along the way to help me be more effective. No suggestions were ever given so I assumed everything was working smoothly. As I sat in the lunchroom, without fail, I overheard constant gossip about students, parents, other staff, and comments about "stupid" kids, "ugly clothes", ugly hairdos, annoying parents, and useless people. Not only did they complain, they named the people (first and last). I understand the need to vent, but there is a time and place for this. At school not knowing who was listening, is unprofessional and unacceptable. At the end of my volunteer time, I was told that I was useless, unprepared, and had never communicated with them about how to be most effective. All of this was untrue and I came to find out, they simply didn't like me so they reported these things just to get me out. Little did they know, I had decided earlier that I was not returning. I honored my commitment because I have integrity, but I would never put myself in that situation again. Beware that should you volunteer, work on PTA, or do anything alongside these teachers, you will receive backlash if you don't fit into their affluent white clique.

I can honestly say I have had the best time at Los Alamitos. I have been volunteering there since…read moremy youngest was school age and have met so many wonderful people along the journey. The teachers have been great. The welcoming smiles we get coming into campus each day do indeed spread the kindness around. Now that I have been on campus daily for years many of the students also know me and say hello to me when I walk by, and for my "little" friends in Kinder or 1st I love the energetic hugs. Los Alamitos is a great community with lots of support from local business, parents, teachers, and staff!

I was scrolling through the yelp a couple of weeks ago and noticed very disturbing personal attack…read moreon a particular teacher in sjms. My child graduated from this school and I had personal interaction with Dr. Santha. From my personal experience, some of the very negative Yelp reviews don't seem to reflect the Dr. Santha I have known. She is kind, caring, and genuinely committed to doing things the right way. She can sometimes be demanding when it comes to the quality of work, accountability, and professional ethics, but I see that as a reflection of her high standards rather than a negative. I believe it's important to consider the broader picture and make your own judgment based on misunderstanding. Overall, I have found Dr. Santha to be a thoughtful, principled, and dedicated professional, and I'm grateful for my experience with her. But some parents are over involved and manipulative. Overall the campus life for my child was good.

This review is specifically about our experience with 5th grade at Stratford San Jose Middle School…read more(SJMS), which serves students from 5th through 8th grade. Unfortunately, the academic experience in Math and Science was extremely disappointing. The year got off to a difficult start when the original teacher was let go after about a month. A substitute then taught the class for another month, but the instruction was also not effective. Once a full-time teacher was in place, we still saw very little actual teaching of Math and Science concepts. As parents, we frequently had to teach these subjects at home to make up for what was not being covered adequately in the classroom. This is not what we expected from a school where we are paying for a quality education. We raised our concerns with the principal, but unfortunately, the situation did not improve in any meaningful way. We received assurances that changes were being made and that we would see improvements, but our experience did not reflect those promises. This review is only about our 5th-grade experience. Based on our experience, we were very disappointed with the quality and consistency of Math and Science instruction and would not recommend the 5th-grade program based on what we experienced.

Please save your child from this! If you're thinking about enrolling your child into this school…read moreplease read this review before so, I have been at this school since I was in TK and my sister too. It used to be a good school that kids enjoyed but now it's like prison. Many kids in all different grades suffer from bullying and harassment. My last year there which was in 5th grade because I couldn't go there anymore even if it was last year there. I was harassed by a kid who would tell girls just dirty stuff and the principal would just not do anything ,we got the police involved and she would constantly try to hide from them to the point that the case closed due to this. The kids parents that harassed me even followed a kid home and started telling him stuff and the dad even brought his own kid to fight a kid that didn't want anything to do with him. I was told by the principal that "what happens in this school stay in this school". Which was a big no, kids should tell their parents about this ,not just let happen in the school, I suffered there all 5th grade because of bullying harassment and even more while principal would just not do anything about it beacause she's lazy that doesn't help and do her dang job??? She should go to jail for all this she's done!!!! Please save ur child from this torture.

My good old elementary school. Back in the days this school was called Hillsdale but changed it's…read morename to Captain Jason Dahl elementary school following 9/11 in honor of Captain Dahl. This campus is super clean and pretty. The walls are painted the forest green and a cream color. the bathrooms are kept clean as well! That's always a plus. :) it's you're typical elementary school with K-6 in the Franklin district.

Venture Christian Academy strikes a rare balance between academic rigor and a genuinely loving,…read morejoyful community. The school's consistently strong test scores reflect the quality of its curriculum and the dedication of its teachers, who challenge students while ensuring they feel known, supported, and encouraged. We have been especially impressed by VCA's commitment to STEM education. The Innovation Lab gives students meaningful opportunities to build, design, experiment, and solve problems creatively. It has been a wonderful fit for our son, who loves engineering and understanding how things work. VCA's partnership with Venture Church is another important asset, providing a shared vision and meaningful, ongoing investment in improving the campus. What truly distinguishes VCA, however, is its culture. From the moment we arrived, our family felt warmly welcomed. The teachers and staff care deeply for their students, and that warmth is evident throughout the school. There is also a lovely bond between the older and younger students. The younger children look up to the older students, who take a genuine interest in them and serve as kind, encouraging role models. VCA's current leadership deserves tremendous credit for the school's remarkable growth and for cultivating an environment where academic excellence, innovation, faith, and joy flourish together. We are incredibly grateful to be part of this community.

We absolutely love Venture Christian Academy. Our kids are happy here every day, and the teachers…read moreare truly loving and attentive. Our daughter is typically anxious with transitions, but she settled in remarkably well thanks to the warm, patient staff and supportive environment. Our two younger children also absolutely love school--they look forward to being there each day--and both took less than a day to transition with no tears when they started. Class sizes are small--fewer than 15 students in our kids' classrooms--which means real, individualized attention. We also value the well-rounded curriculum that goes beyond academics to focus on character development and a strong Christian faith foundation. It's exactly the balance we hoped to find. The campus is beautiful and well cared for, and they're actively investing in the future with a new middle school building and gym facilities underway. As parents of three students here, we couldn't be happier with our decision. Venture Christian Academy has been a blessing to our family, and we recommend it wholeheartedly.

Between 3 kids, they've attended Reed for 9 years. Not only is it a welcoming and warm community,…read morebut the teachers and PTA put on wonderful and inclusive events an celebrate many cultures throughout the year.

Read as the heart of the community! It provides an excellent education with experienced teachers, a…read moresafe gated campus, and tons of inclusive activities for students to enjoy. It's also a common meeting place for the community on weekends.

My daughter attended Cambrian Academy for the past five years, starting when we moved from Dubai to…read moreCalifornia during a time when many public and private schools were closed due to COVID. Our experience offers a comprehensive look at the school.   Academic Excellence and Curriculum: Cambrian Academy is strongly geared towards college preparation. The counselors are diligent in ensuring students complete all necessary coursework on time and provide clear academic paths. The school is known for its college readiness support, including guidance on personal essays, application timelines, and staff assistance with recommendation letters. AP classes are available, though some are offered online, which might not suit every student's learning style. While not all specialized programs or electives are available directly, the school effectively assists students in navigating and enrolling in external college courses to supplement their curriculum.   School Culture and Environment: One of the standout aspects of Cambrian Academy is its safe and supportive environment. With a small student body of around 80 students, there is virtually no bullying, and staff members like Mrs. Delgado are highly aware of the goings-on around the school, contributing to a nurturing atmosphere. The school creates a positive culture that promotes inclusivity, respect, and a strong sense of community. The focus on student well-being, including social-emotional learning, is evident and appreciated.   Teachers and Staff: The teacher-student ratio is generally favorable, allowing for more personalized attention. However, our experience with the teaching staff has been mixed. While many teachers are dedicated and skilled, there have been instances, such as a chemistry teacher leaving, where courses were subsequently taught by individuals who were not subject matter experts in that specific field.   Extracurricular Activities and Opportunities: The school offers various opportunities for clubs and activities both within the school and externally. Students can explore diverse interests and develop leadership skills through these avenues. It's important to note, however, that Cambrian Academy does not have its own sports teams.   Practical Considerations: In terms of cost, Cambrian Academy's tuition is comparable to other private schools in the area. Its small size is a defining characteristic, providing a very personal and focused educational environment, which can be a significant advantage for families seeking that type of setting.   Parent-School Communication and Involvement: Communication with the school primarily consists of daily automated emails detailing student attendance and grades. While this provides basic updates, proactive parent-teacher meetings are limited and typically occur when parents initiate contact. Building a collaborative and communicative environment between teachers and parents largely depends on individual parental outreach.   I would recommend this school to folks who need individual attention. My daughter got into many universities in the STEM area, including an offer for Pharmaceutical Science at Purdue, few bio-engineering majors at few University of California Universities, and some direct medical school options internationally.

Hi there! I'm Larry the Cucumber! And, uh... I just wanted…read moreto express my thoughts about this place I thought it'd be full of sunshine, learning, and maybe a snack or two... but instead, it was like a math-flavored nightmare. First off -- the teachers were so mean! I tried to stay positive, but they seemed allergic to happiness. Every time I smiled, they frowned so hard I thought the lights got dimmer. And boy, were they bad at teaching. I'm still not sure what I learned, but it definitely wasn't algebra. Maybe "how not to teach"? Yeah, I got an A+ in that. Also... I don't want to be rude, but their breath could knock over a watermelon. I had to hold my breath just to stay conscious during "lesson time." They were super unorganized, too! Nobody knew what we were doing -- not even them! And worst of all -- no snacks. NONE. I'm a cucumber! I need my energy! You can't do math on an empty stomach! So, yeah... if you like kindness, organization, fresh breath, snacks, and most importantly.. learning, maybe don't go here. I'm giving this place one star -- and that's only because leaving was free. -- Larry the Cucumber

We are so happy to have spent our pre K ， K and first-grade in this campus. It has been years full…read moreof love, fun, and exciting activities. We will cherish all the wonderful memories and keep all the good memories. As we move on to second grade, we will carry these happy experiences with us. We like this campus and are grateful for such a wonderful year.

We are very happy with our experience at Stratford! Our son has been attending Stratford at the…read moreAlmaden campus since kindergarten. All his teachers, Ms Sangeetha & Ms Allie (K), Ms Shilpa (1st grade), have been excellent at encouraging our son to do well and have also provided critical feedback when needed. Our son adores his teachers and has made friends that hopefully stay for lifelong. We also like the balance Stratford offers in terms of academics and extra-curriculars. One minor feedback for the school would be to improve the summer program as our experience has been alright thus far. More creative program options would be nice. Overall, very happy with Stratford Almaden.

My daughter has been at Challenger School Harwood for two years, and we've loved the strong…read moreacademics and the incredibly caring staff. The teachers and management are truly involved in each child's wellbeing. A special shout‑out to Mrs. Sukaina in the office team is always warm, responsive, and a delight to talk to. Highly recommend.

We are thrilled with our experience at Challenger School (Harwood Campus) this year! Our son is in…read morethe 4-year preschool program, and the growth we have seen in him is remarkable. A huge part of this success is due to his incredible teachers, Ms. Lourenda and Ms. Samita. They are a great team--warm, attentive, and dedicated to the students. You can tell they truly care about each child's individual progress. They have created such a disciplined yet joyful environment where our son feels confident and excited to learn every day. Academically, the curriculum is fantastic. Our son is currently learning vowel blending, which is a good achievement for his age! It is wonderful to watch him building such strong reading skills so early on. Thank you, Ms. Lourenda, Ms. Samita, and the entire Challenger Harwood team for giving our son such a strong foundation. We couldn't be happier with our decision to send him here!