Private Schools

Our children are reaching their full potential at Rhoades!

I grew UP here. This place is a home, a family, an environment I'm proud to say I lived in. Love it man!

When I went there with my son, I found the director, owner of the school to be unwarm, judgemental and intolerant. She asked what current preschool my son went to and when I told her the name (Lutheran), she took me quietly outside and told me this is Not a Christian school nor does her school accept the intolerance of Christianity. She never introduced my son to the other children in the class during circle time, never making him feel welcome, and when he feel off her precarious outside stage that was very dangerous, she never comforted him or asked if he was ok. I was shocked, that the owner of holistic, organic school would be so cold and judgemental. I left feeling so judged for myself and my son.

This is our second year at the school and we feel fortunate that our children are able to attend ECDS. Most importantly, we have been very pleased with the education, but the community of people, events, and extracurricular activities are also exceptional. The campus and it’s location on the lagoon are also beautiful. I️ highly recommend the school.

I have attended The Grauer School for 7 years and have come to recognize the school as a learning environment that reaches beyond the classroom. The Grauer motto of "learn by discovery" is not just a saying, it is the means by which the school educates its students. In 7 years, I have traveled to world conferences in Australia, written and performed music in Idyllwild, and attended poetry slams in Manhattan. All of these were accomplished under the premise that a student learns more through experience than lectures or tests. But Grauer does not fall short on academics. We pride ourselves, and I take comfort in knowing, that our students are sought after by colleges. In fact the graduating class of 18 that preceded mine, received a whopping $4.8 million in merit-based scholarships to their choice colleges. I know that this school is one that has, and continues to, prepare me for college.

It is really tough for kids to start any year after kindergarten after the furiously tight mom cliques are formed. It has been difficult for my children, one of whom started in first grade. When they see classmates outside of school at various organized sports, it is always in prearranged twos with my children and myself being snubbed. Not very Christian or mature behavior on the part of the mothers, or even some fathers. One father cannot even muster a hello or a nod when I say Hi to his child, but disappears and expects me to babysit his rude pushy child who runs around the YMCA leaves a mess and refuses to clean up. Another first grade father bragged about his daughter's Friday "parties" with two other girls in my daughter's class when I asked why she wasn't at martial arts class (I later realized that the month pass must have expired) Now his daughter brags in front of our reading group every week about the playdates noone in the group were invited to. The teachers are really dedicated and will respond to emails. The curriculum is on par with EUSD. The staff and principal are responsive. But, the cliquishness of the moms and girls, is like something I have never seen in my life. It is downright nasty. They are ruining what could be a good school and probably would be much nicer people if they went back to work!

I've been with BASIS for 3 years, and here is my opinion: The curriculum is far more advanced or intensive than any other school I have seen or known. The teachers try their best to help out struggling students, and their specialization in their subjects allows them to easily ease any confusing areas. Especially recently, BASIS has started getting rid of some lower quality teachers and replacing them with higher qualities ones, something which just about all students can support. The only problems I really have with BASIS are non-curriculum/teaching based, i.e. the building... those are minor anyways. But we really only come to BASIS only for the curriculum. Note: There are so many people at BASIS who complain about “stress,” which I fail to see a reason to. The main source of homework problems is not that there is too much, but rather people just don’t do it until right before they sleep. As far as I know, the majority of people who complain about homework just stay up till 1 browsing Snapchat or watching TV. If people choose to put no effort into their work, they can leave. Everyone else is perfectly fine with that. But it gives them no justification to complain about homework loads. -Salty Minty

Best school

The best experience! This was a great program for me! Thank you Parkridge!

So far this school offers exactly what s advertised on the website. Small class Skilled educated teachers. Strong parent presence. My daughter is so happy to have joined this school after 4 years attending another private school close by, where the teachers were lacking teaching experience. The kids are happy friendly and the school principle has many years of experience. field trips and hands on learning. A lot to offer

My experience, with Basis as my new school for my daughter, has been very positive. My daughter comes home bursting with new information and new things she wants to learn. She has created a set of very nice friends there, who share similar values as my family. Her love for learning is alive and well and I really have Basis to thank for bringing that back into my daughter's school life. It isn't about memorization and test scores, it is about stimulating children's minds and making them so eager to learn that the test scores are high but very secondary to the purpose of the education. I am glad we made the shift. A few standout things: 1) They are not just a zero tolerance on bullying in words, but in action. They have bully experts as part of their staff. 2) Their teachers teach from just the subject matter in which the teacher loves and is passionate about and has in depth knowledge about. Long gone are the days of asking one single teacher to teach all topics. I love the method of a subject matter expert teaching. Those teachers teach from the heart and soul about what they love. 3) The administration is easy to reach. There is no barrier to reach them. Call and see. It is really that easy. 4) The 2nd report card: The school does an academic report card and a social report card that looks at the student's whole being, not just academically. This helps identify things like stress factors, behavioral norms, and gives the parent(s) an opportunity to see the child's emotional well being too. Every school has things that aren't what you want exactly, Basis has those but they are all so minor like busing schedule that it seems petty to even mention them. I am so glad to be a member of the Basis community.

My daughter started pre-kinder last year and we've had a great experience. Can't wait to start Kinder this year. Teachers are great, small class sizes, affordable and care until 6:30pm.

Talk about innovative creative learning. Those kids are the leaders of the future. Not the “text book structured” followers…

The music teacher Mrs. No is the best teacher I've ever had, she's amazing!

I think this school is the best. I was having trouble with GG. School District and didn't know what to ,we came across page by accident went in spoke with the director she was very helpful. I am a single mother on a fixed income she works with me but the most important I have seen such improvement in my son he now loves going to school and is enjoying reading he doesn't fight me on doing his homework