Best Faith-Based School
Covenant Christian School — Orange
Covenant Christian School in Orange is no stranger to our Readers’ Choice list. This faith-based school, open since 1985, offers education for kids preschool aged through eighth grade. Some of its classes include foreign languages, coding, robotics, visual arts, music and more. Another great thing about this school is that the class sizes are a little smaller than the standard, so teachers have the time to really focus on each individual student.
covschool.org | Orange
Best Bilingual School
Orange County Educational Arts Academy — Santa Ana
What Orange County Educational Arts Academy is known for is its two-way bilingual immersion program that specializes in Spanish. Everything about this school centers around both English and Spanish right down to its website. In its immersion program, students have the opportunity to be both native speakers and second-language learners. The school ensures students will master fluency by the time they graduate.
oceaa.org | Santa Ana
Best Montessori School
Little Scholars Academy of California
Little Scholars Academy of California has a program for kids from 6 weeks old all the way up to 6 years old, and focuses on five major areas within the classroom including practical life, sensorial, language, mathematics and culture. Each child is encouraged to move and progress at their own pace while having fun in the process. There are also both full-time and part-time schedules available for your child.
lsaoc.com | Orange
Best Preschool
The Sunshine School
Whether you are looking for a two-, three- or five-day program, The Sunshine School has you covered. It additionally offers early drop-off, lunch programs and extended hours for children ages 3 to 5 years old. The goal at The Sunshine School is to commit to fostering a lifelong love of learning and to nurture a deep respect for every child that walks through its doors. It also focuses on play-based learning, which is critical for this age group.
sunshineschoolreadiness.com | Laguna Beach
Best Multiple-Campus Private School, K-6
Anneliese Schools, Inc.
Anneliese Schools, Inc. focuses its curriculum on nurturing all nine of the multi-faceted components of your child’s intelligence including logical, verbal, visual, musical, kinesthetic, interpersonal, intra-personal, naturalistic and existential. Another great thing about this school is that many of the teachers have been part of the school for over 20 years. It also offers multiple campuses with varying grade levels as well as an extensive curriculum including subjects such as world languages, math, nutrition, arts and culture, and social studies to name a few.
annelieseschools.com | Multiple Locations
Best Multi-Campus Private School, K-12
Fairmont Private Schools
Since 1953, Fairmont Schools has put its focus on one thing: its students. Fairmont students can be preschool aged all the way up to seniors in high school, and there is something for everyone offered at the school — be it a club, athletics, visual and performing arts or even summer programs. You can also choose between four different campuses throughout Orange County.
fairmontschools.com | Multiple Locations
Best Single-Campus Private School
Waldorf School of Orange County
This is a school that has stood the test of time. Since 1919, Waldorf education has become one of the largest nonprofit, private, non-denominational school with over 1,090 schools in 64 different countries. The Orange County campus started in 1987 and held its fist class in 1988. All children grades K–12 are welcome to attend the school. The community at this school is virtually unmatched as there are many festivities and class meetings that making learning a little extra special.
waldorfschool.com | Costa Mesa
Best Private School for Bright Minds
The Pegasus School
With a mission that states its goal is “to inspire bright, curious minds to become confident, compassionate leaders,” how could you go wrong with your intelligent child? In 1984, The Pegasus school was founded by Dr. Laura Hathaway with only 40 students, and today continues to grow with over 595 bright minds in grades pre-K through eighth grade. It even has a blog on its website helping you coach your child’s curiosity with learning.
thepegasusschool.org | Huntington Beach
Best Public High School
Mission Viejo High School
Mission Viejo High School has been open since 1966 and has a plethora of programs including many clubs, advanced placement classes and an array of nationally ranked athletic programs. Your kid isn’t an athlete? There are quite a few arts programs they can engage in. It even has an agricultural program.
svusd.org | Mission Viejo
Best Faith-Based High School
Servite High School — Anaheim
One thing you must know about this phenomenal school is that it only enrolls male students. Many of its sports programs have a high report including its offering of 13 CIF sports and two club sports. If your child isn’t an athlete and would rather focus on academics, it has an amazing college-prep program and a very large majority of students go on to big named universities.
servitehs.org | Anaheim
Best Private High School
Fairmont Preparatory Academy
Fairmont Preparatory Academy is specifically for students in ninth through 12th grade and excels in academics including its excellent math and science curriculum as well as athletics. Not to mention 95 percent of students are admitted to a top 100 college or university.
fairmontschools.com | Anaheim
Best Public Elementary School
Foothill Ranch Elementary School
This is a school that focuses on a positive experience for every student. One of the programs it stands behind is the PAWS program, which stands for positive, always kind, work hard and show respect. There is also an enriching music program, gifted and talented education program (GATE) and a TLC childcare program offered for expanded learning.
svusd.org | Foothill Ranch
Best North OC School District
Buena Park School District
With eight amazing schools to choose from in the surrounding area of Buena Park, the Buena Park School District has something for every student. Programs including dual-language immersion, college and career electives, readers and writers workshops, and independent study options create an environment that is positive and successful. The district encourages students to find their passion and dive in.
bpsd.us | Buena Park
Best South OC School District
Saddleback Valley Unified School District
With programs like the Dual Language Immersion program or the Career Technical Education, you can see why Saddleback Valley Unified School District really stands out. It also has won a fair share of prestigious awards. Students can enroll at any of its 34 school sites and see how this district really puts them first.
svusd.org | Mission Viejo
Best Special Needs School
New Vista School
Operating on the values of safety, respect, responsibility, initiative, problem-solving and resiliency, the New Vista School is a special-needs private school that serves grade six through 12. There is also a large array of school electives, social activities, media arts programs and the Phoenix Club, which revolves around the hobbies of children that are 13 years old and have completed eighth grade.
newvistaschool.org | Laguna Hills
Best Tutoring Service
Kumon Math and Reading Centers
If your child needs a little extra help with math or reading, Kumon has the solution for you. Schedule a free assessment and see what kind of help your child needs, then the center will help build their tutoring plan around that. Each child gets an individualized lesson because we all know every student is not the same, and the environment is always positive. There are even videos on its website so you can see what your child will be learning.
kumon.com | Multiple Locations
Best College Prep Program
Elite Educational Institute
SATs and ACTs can be tough, especially because not every student is a great test taker. Elite Educational Institute in Irvine will help your child succeed in these exams and prepares them for their college years. If your student needs extra tutoring, that service is also available. Additionally, if your student wants to get a jump on college credits, it offers courses to get them started such as honors coding and technology, AP Chinese and an AP Capstone Diploma Program.
eliteprep.com | Irvine
Best Charter School
Oxford Preparatory Academy
Oxford Preparatory Academy caters to kids from TK all the way up to eighth grade, and has a ton of programs for students to utilize. What’s nice is each student can pursue university-level academic studies that meet their individual intelligence needs. Whether it is world languages, STEM, music or even virtual education programs, there is a little something for everyone. There are also extracurricular activities available like marching band, athletics, summer programs and more.
opaschools.org | Multiple Locations
Best Virtual School
Irvine Unified School District Virtual Academy Elementary
Sometimes your child benefits the most from learning outside of the classroom, so a virtual school is your best option. Irvine Unified School District Virtual Academy is the best option if this is the case. This virtual school offers the same benefits as the Irvine Unified School District, which is a renowned district in Orange County, but from the comfort of your student’s home.
ivaelementary.iusd.org | Irvine
Best Alternative School
VanDamme Academy
This school has been around for over 25 years and continues to grow and expand. VanDamme Academy started with a family that wanted to homeschool their children and had a tutor come to their house. Today, VanDamme offers 14 teachers that are devoted to your child’s success. Subjects included in this school are history, literature, science, writing, math, grammar and art appreciation. The school also welcomes all students from kindergarten to eighth grade.
vandammeacademy.com | Aliso Viejo
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Best Faith-Based School
Red Hill Lutheran
Red Hill Lutheran School continues to be the top choice. The outreach ministry of Red Hill Lutheran Church has earned numerous awards throughout the years for its programs and teachers. Its mission is to equip students to impact the world in a positive way through Bible-based, balanced education, which begins with preschool and goes all the way through middle school.
redhillschool.org | Tustin
Best Montessori School
LePort
The teachers and staff at Le Port Montessori want their students to grow up to be confident and independent thinkers, and their teaching supports that philosophy. The classrooms are welcoming, simple and thoughtfully prepared to encourage the kids’ sense of wonder but also give them opportunities for playtime. They also have language immersion, parent-and-child, after-school and enrichment programs among other offerings. The teachers work closely with families to further support the children.
leportschools.com | Multiple Locations
Best Tutoring Service
Russian School of Mathematics
Russian School of Mathematics started more than 25 years ago as a partnership between a parent and a teacher. Now the program involves a continuous K-12 curriculum taught by expert teachers. It takes into account how a child’s mind works at every age to harness natural thinking patterns. Students can begin the program at any time since there are three levels for each grade to meet kids where they are.
mathschool.com | Irvine, Mission Viejo
Best Alternative School
Little Red Schoolhouse
Little Red Schoolhouse is back in the top spot. Founder Adriene Madden homeschooled her own children and decided to recreate the experience for other kids in pre-K through fifth grade. The approach is to make learning fun through hands-on, multi-sensory lessons. The students in the private program learn writing, language arts, gardening, baking and crafting. They even get to interact with animals.
adventuresintheschoolhouse.com | Orange
Best Multiple-Campus Private School
Stratford School
Stratford School opened in 1999 with a mission to transform students with their learning experience on campus. The programs for kids from preschool through high school strive to inspire students to be innovators, creative problem-solvers and leaders. The teachers infuse a liberal arts curriculum with STEAM-inspired learning.
stratfordschools.com | Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo
Best Bilingual School
Irvine International Academy
The public charter school serves students in transitional kindergarten through eighth grade as it prepares them to be lifelong learners and engaged citizens. The program includes Mandarin/English immersion and STEAM education with hands-on experiences as well as a music lab with a full-time teacher. The school also has an after-school program at the YMCA.
irvineia.org | Irvine
Best Charter School
Vibrant Minds Charter School
Vibrant Minds, previously known as GOALS Academy, opened 10 years ago and accommodates students in TK through sixth grade. The school has a rigorous curriculum and keeps enrollment limited to give students proper mentoring and help them develop interests and talents. The kids go on at least three field trips a year, and there are several after-school programs available.
vibrantminds.us | Anaheim
Best South OC School District
Capistrano Unified School District
The staff at Capistrano Unified School District oversees 64 campuses and more than 40,000 students and is committed to educational excellence. The district’s mission is to prepare students for the challenges of the changing world. Dr. Christopher Brown is leading the district as a superintendent and he’s building on CUSD’s reputation of high-level learning.
capousd.org | San Juan Capistrano
Best North OC School District
Garden Grove Unified School District
Garden Grove Unified School District is the third largest school district in Orange County and oversees almost 40,000 students. The district provides a supportive and rigorous academic experience and is a leader in college and career readiness while still nurturing the whole child. Their key to success is treating the kids as if they were their own children.
ggusd.org | Garden Grove
Best Single-Campus Private School
Heritage Oak
Heritage Oak is once again the winner in this category. Families appreciate the rigorous, well-rounded curriculum, which includes etiquette and character education alongside academics. The teachers are role models for the kids, showing kindness, teamwork and a love of learning. The students start learning cotillion in second grade and keep practicing until eighth grade.
heritageoak.org | Yorba Linda
Best Preschool
Hillsborough School — Anaheim Hills
Hillsborough Private Preschool is known for providing a trusted and nurturing environment for early education. The teachers foster exploration and spark creativity in kids through hands-on experiences. The individualized approach to learning emphasizes academic focus skills, character curriculum and the arts. The preschool guides kids to become independent, confident critical thinkers.
hillsboroughprivateschools.com | Anaheim
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