A Guide to School Types
From private to online, we explore school options now available for families post-pandemic. Schools have no doubt changed since 2020 and its difficult to choose
Empowering Young Minds for Excellence
OC offers many different private schools that match your values- whether it's smaller class sizes, more rigorous academic standards, or a greater emphasis on extracurricular activities, such as sports and arts.
See our latest Private School Directory
Editor's Picks
A Growth Mindset
LiMai Montessori Academy is setting the bar for expansion of the famous method…
Teacher Inspired
OC teachers reflect on what the past year has been like and what they expect from this new school year…
Recent Articles
A Guide to School Types
From private to online, we explore school options now available for families post-pandemic. Schools have no doubt changed since 2020 and its difficult to choose
Maximizing Your Open House
(Photo Courtesy of Michael Merchan, Fairmont Schools) A guide for parents of young learners looking for a school to call home. Numerous studies have demonstrated that children who receive a solid education during their early elementary years are more likely to excel academically and to thrive personally as they advance through their education. As parents, you want to give your child every possible advantage, so the decision about which school your child attends is vitally important. Just as we encourage our young learners to do their homework, parents also need to do theirs in order to find the best school...
When You Inspire a Passion for Learning … the Extraordinary Happens
When You Inspire a Passion for Learning… the Extraordinary Happens. At Stratford School outstanding outcomes only occur through intentional balance.
A Growth Mindset
LiMai Montessori Academy is setting the bar for expansion of the famous method…
Where Are They Now?
(Phillip Chow and students at Beckman High School in Irvine) We sit down with past Top Teacher winners to find out what they’ve been up to since their big win. (Elizabeth Zoellner/Photo Courtesy of Ralph Palumbo) Elizabeth Zoellner Top Teacher 2022 Background: Zoellner is currently teaching a combination class with kindergarten and first grade. When winning the award, she was teaching first grade. She has spent her entire 27-year teaching career at Commonwealth Elementary School in Fullerton. Why She Won: Zoellner was known for really engaging her students and sparking excitement with the subject matter every day. She went above...
When You Inspire a Passion for Learning… The Extraordinary Happens
(Photo Courtesy of Stratford School) Stratford School — Outstanding Outcomes through Intentional Balance At Stratford School, high expectations yield extraordinary results. Their advanced yet intentionally balanced curriculum starts as early as preschool to inspire and nurture the minds and hearts of every student. From the outset, they simplify challenging concepts, then accelerate learning to enable students to study ahead of grade level, develop a love of learning and prepare them for the future. Stratford's curriculum is created in thoughtful and meaningful ways to ignite curiosity, nurture exploration and encourage inquiry. From preschool through grade eight, Stratford’s curriculum is infused with...
Private School Directory
List your school on our Fall 2023 list or update your school’s information for Spring 2024 with our easy form.
St. Paul’s Lutheran School
St. Paul’s Lutheran School exists to educate children, nurture their faith, and equip them to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are fully accredited by WASC, and NLSA, School of Distinction and National Blue Ribbon School! When you enroll at St. Paul’s, you become part of our family. Our loving and caring teachers and staff prepare our students to be future leaders, to think critically, show empathy, and to share Jesus’ love with others. 901 E. Heim Ave., Orange 714-921-3188 | www.splsorange.org
Red Hill Lutheran School
Red Hill Lutheran School is an outreach ministry of Red Hill Lutheran Church with a faculty and staff of well-qualified, professional, credentialed Christian teachers. RHLS has had six teachers selected as Top 25 Teachers in Orange County, and has been designated as a National Blue Ribbon School. As a WASC accredited school with small class sizes, students receive a well-rounded education including differentiated instruction and specialty classes. Preschool-8th Grade. Schedule a Tour Today: admissions@redhillschool.org | Visit Our Website
Harbor Day School
3443 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar949.640.1410 | www.harborday.org Founded in 1952, Harbor Day School provides an academically challenging, well-balanced education in a nurturing and inclusive family-centered environment. Our faculty inspires curiosity and a desire to learn, and cultivates in students the confidence, strong moral character, and perseverance to thrive. We celebrate diversity and traditions, value collaboration and innovation, and cherish our community and the lifelong relationships developed. Harbor Day students experience a strong foundation for learning, and graduates attend top colleges.
St. Angela Merici Parish School
WE INVITE ALL NEW AND PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES TO ATTEND OUR UPCOMING OPEN HOUSE. This in-person open house will provide you with an overview of our school as well as the application process and important dates for fall enrollment. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet our faculty, current school families, and students. We look forward to meeting you! www.StAngelaBrea.org
Westerly School
562.981.3151 / westerlyschool.org FB: @WesterlySchool / IG: @WesterlyWildcats Westerly School is the only independent, co-educational K-8th grade school in Long Beach. Westerly develops the whole child through a challenging and stimulating program in an inclusive and diverse community and ignites within each child a lifelong love of learning by encouraging them to discover their full and unique potential every single day. Westerly graduates are leaders, helpers, and creators today and in the future.
Teacher Inspired
OC teachers reflect on what the past year has been like and what they expect from this new school year…
Impact: What Transitioning to the “New” Normal Means in Education
(Photo Courtesy of Stratford School) Stratford School Unveils Its Plan for Fall 2021 At Stratford, we are excited to welcome students back for the upcoming school year with safety in mind and plans for a flexible learning environment — with robust educational excellence back on campus and Stratford’s Online Academy. As we reflect on what has been a monumental 2020/21 school year, we are pleased to have been able to offer options, both in-school and fully online, for our families. We have learned, adjusted and enhanced every aspect of our educational program to ensure students received the best possible learning...
Montessori: A Method for Our Time
How Maria Montessori’s system transitions well for current educational needs brought about by the pandemic. The Montessori method isn’t a new educational philosophy. It was developed by Italian physician Maria Montessori in the early 1900s. But that doesn’t make it any less relevant. “So far, Montessori has proven to be timeless,” said Ana Rivas, head of school at LePort Montessori Irvine Westpark. “Times may be changing but child development has been the same throughout human existence.” No academic year has seen more change than 2020. Many schools pivoted to distance learning at first and then moved into hybrid models as...
Educators Rising to the Challenge
[caption id="attachment_36189" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Courtesy of Heritage Oak Private School in Yorba Linda[/caption] The COVID-19 pandemic has created some big changes for the American education system. Here are how some OC private schools have adapted. The coronavirus pandemic has transformed California's classrooms in an unprecedented way. Kids are home. Parents are moving into a much more active role in education. Living rooms have become classrooms. Orange County’s private schools have had to adapt along with the rest of the education system. And while challenging, the community has risen to the challenge. “Our teachers have been nothing short of...
Introduction to Boarding Schools
[caption id="attachment_34538" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Making friends at St. Catherine’s Academy’s boarding school .Photo by Jessica Ruiz, courtesy of St. Catherine’s Academy[/caption] For many people, boarding schools are shrouded in mystery. Here, we lift the veil to explore this educational option. The concept of boarding school comes to most with some preconceived notions. Thanks to Hollywood, some imaginative types may picture boarding schools as places where children learn how to become wizards. While others think it’s where unruly children are sent as punishment. But boarding school isn’t about delinquency or wizardry. Boarding school is actually a modern option that many families...
Montessori in Action
[caption id="attachment_33812" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Montessori schools can help encourage a passion for learning.Photo courtesy of LePort Montessori[/caption] The Montessori Method has many potential benefits. Here are some real-life examples of these in action. Most parents have undoubtedly heard of the Montessori Method — a form of education that encourages hands-on learning and collaborative play. Most have also likely heard about the benefits of Montessori. We reached out to several Montessori schools in OC and asked for real-life examples of those benefits. Encouraging a Passion for Learning The enthusiasm was clear for one student at Montessori Children’s World in Westminster, which...
Irvine Hebrew Day School
The Santa Ana area has a brand-new school: the Irvine Hebrew Day School. Irvine Hebrew is a Jewish day school that has grown exponentially since its inception, and has made a permanent home in the area starting this coming fall 2019 semester. Founded five years ago by Karin Hepner, Ph.D, and Andy Elster as a kindergarten program, Irvine Hebrew began from what they saw as the need for a progressive, social-emotional-focused education committed to educational practices encouraging student growth. This focus on the personal development of children from childhood to young adult is what sets Irvine Hebrew apart. The curriculum...
Integrating STEM Education into Local Private Schools
The concept of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) has opened up the floodgates of practical and creative classroom learning.
The Advantages of Montessori Schools
One day, Giuliana De Frenza, director at Montessori Harbor-Mesa School, received a call from the mother of a child who used to attend the school, which De Frenza opened in 1970. She explained to De Frenza that her son graduated from college and that he was one of the top students in his class. “‘I owe it all to you and your school,’” she told De Frenza. Recently, a 21-year-old CEO, also one of De Frenza’s students, thanked her, saying, “‘I owe it all to you.’” In fact, many parents call De Frenza, thanking her for the education their children...
Private School Versus Public School
When it comes to choosing the right school for your child, there are a lot of aspects to consider that parents may find difficult to sort through. With so many choices within public and private sectors, however, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Having the option to choose what works best for your individual child’s needs allows you to feel comfortable with your decision and the chance for your child to soar. With a growing volume of magnet schools, charter schools, open enrollment policies and alternative schools, public schools offer a large selection of educational options. Private schools also...
Montessori: The Early Years
The littlest students can provide the biggest opportunities for learning. After all, the first three years of a child’s life are a time of tremendous brain growth. Studies show that a significant part of brain development occurs during this time. Infants, babies and toddlers spend those crucial first years learning about the new world around them through sensory play, exploration and literature. “The studies which have been made of early infancy leave no room for doubt,” Dr. Maria Montessori said during a 1949 lecture. “The first two years are important forever, because in that period, one passes from being nothing...
Guidepost Montessori
South Orange County is home to a new Montessori with the opening of Guidepost, which began welcoming students in early January. Though it’s been in business just a short while, the school is approaching capacity will full-time enrolment. Its sunny classrooms serve babies through students in Grade Six. Guidepost Montessori is a project of Higher Ground Education, which is dedicated to expanding the reach of Montessori education. “We offer authentic Montessori education at every level, drawing on the child’s natural, joyful exploration of the world to promote independence, concentration and logical thinking, leading ultimately to advanced academics,” says Rebecca Girn,...
Montessori Soaring
The Out of Box Education. The founder of Montessori education, Maria Montessori, brought her philosophy to the United States from Italy over a hundred years ago. It enjoys over fifty years of history within the Orange County community, where generations of children have benefitted from the unique way of learning. The Montessori educational philosophy provides children with the freedom to grow and experiment within a comfortable environment. Without endless directives, children are able to develop independently through sensorial work. By allowing students to take charge of their own education, they advance at their own pace and develop real world skills...