Private school advice

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reyna26

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Hi we are a new family to Irvine and the USA this year from the UK and put our 2 kids into a local school in Irvine.
They are grade 2 & 3, and sadly we v are disappointed with the schooling on a whole. We had heard really good things about the school district but the 34 kids in a class is a loosing battle.
Many things are obviously down to budget cuts, no art, music pe
Or sports. My kids are bored to tears in class just doing sheets after sheets.
His teacher made no effort to Make classes interesting and then bullied the kids when they didn't listen.
We are looking at private schools, can anyone help us with any more info on st Jeannes in Tustin.
We went to visit and the school seemed lovely but they were v cagey and unwilling to discuss academics. There are limited recent reviews on the net.
It seemed like it has a good arts program and kids seemed v well mannered too, much smaller class sizes too. We are thinking if we sent them there then we could move out of Irvine too, as much as we love it, to some where you can get more house fr your money, as then we wouldn't be restricted.
Any comments on fairmont too, it's double the price of st Jeanne's though, yikes!!!

Any help is appreciated!
 
I also did a St. Jeanne tour and I can't say I was impressed. While I liked how the campus was secured, the curriculum and the facilities seemed a bit dated.

Unfortunately, I don't know anyone who attends there so I have about as much information as you.

I do know some people who attend St. Cecilia's and have been told it's very good. Like St. Jeanne's, it's not the shiniest and newest school... but the staff and parents are very involved. You can arrange a private tour and even have your kids do a "shadow tour", where they can follow around a student of the same age and see what a day would be like.

Welcome to TI, good luck and keep us updated.
 
Thankyou, yes I've heard of st Cecilia's, will give them a call.
Does anyone know if their curriculum is on the same level as the state curriculum or are they a year ahead like some other schools such as fairmont?
I did ask at st Jeanne's but they didn't give me an answer and said they were looking at changing the maths curriculum??
There are many advantages to just the fact they have smaller class sizes but Ivan trying to get a feel for how strong the academics are?
They didn't seem to want to discuss this?
Thanks!
 
You should look into Pegasus in Huntington Beach or St Margaret's Episcopal in San Juan Capistrano.  They are both top private schools and seem to be a little more "balanced" as compared to Fairmont which has a heavy focus on academics.  Most people commute to these schools and although it sounds insane, MANY drive from Irvine to Huntington Beach to attend Pegasus. 
 
we checked out leport yesterday and were thoroughly impressed.  they have programs up to 8th grade and it felt exactly like what education should be.  activity centers vs lecture rooms, emphasis on project based learning, no brute memorization and hours of homework.
 
rkp said:
we checked out leport yesterday and were thoroughly impressed.  they have programs up to 8th grade and it felt exactly like what education should be.  activity centers vs lecture rooms, emphasis on project based learning, no brute memorization and hours of homework.
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Is that the new one in the Spectrum?

The one con is they are very pricey.
 
we checked out san marino which only went to 3rd grade but they said they have other campuses that go to 8th grade
 
irvinehomeowner said:
rkp said:
we checked out leport yesterday and were thoroughly impressed.  they have programs up to 8th grade and it felt exactly like what education should be.  activity centers vs lecture rooms, emphasis on project based learning, no brute memorization and hours of homework.
Click to expand...
Is that the new one in the Spectrum?

The one con is they are very pricey.
Click to expand...
Is this a Montessori style school, I do not know too much about them as they aren't as common in the UK.
Would it be hard for kids to adapt to a normal high school?
 
yes montessori style and i asked the same question.  they told me majority of their kids go to public schools and have no problem adjusting.  obviously need to check with others and parents of kids who went through it

i know my nephew went to a montessori till 3rd grade and then switched to irvine public schools and is doing very well
 
From what I understand, Le Port is building a new facility near Irvine Spectrum (to be opened this Fall) and will be moving its existing Lake Forest campus to that location, which goes up to 8th grade.  They will also be closing the San Marino/Lake facility and eventually moving that into the new facility as well.  Le Port is Montessori from Pre-K - 3rd Grade and then convert to a traditional school setting after 4th grade. 
 
IrvineMommie2 said:
They will also be closing the San Marino/Lake facility and eventually moving that into the new facility as well.
Click to expand...

Are you sure they are closing the San Marino campus and the Lake campus?
 
does anyone have more insight about St Jeanne?  I visited the school and I was impressed with the kids' manner and the parents' involvement at school?  But the principle liked to brag about the facilities so much that bothered me.
 
Any one heard of St. Mary's School in Aliso Viejo. It's so called the only International Baccalaureate (IB) World School in OC.
 
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