The Willows Community School, PK-8 (Private)

My son eneterd the school in the first grade and stayed for one year. I would say the quality of education was good ,and similar to public charter schools that he has attended. The promise of continuity of teachers between first and second grade fell through as both first grade teachers resigned at the end of year. Like most previous reviewers, my biggest challenge was with the administration and specifcally the principal who lacked flexibility and understanding of how to deal with a student going through adjustment. So, if your kid is not a 100% comformist, save your self a year of aggrevation and $20K and look somewhere else,

The Willows is a good school, however, it is not a fit for everyone. My child entered the school in the middle of the elementary year sequence and had a bit of a time adjusting. Like the previous poster, the administration lacked sensitivity and focused on problems rather than uplifting and enhancing the strengths. I think this school is great for children who are relatively average and not into breaking the status quo. In addition, the location of the school is less than ideal, it's smack in the middle of an industrial area, no lawns and the parking horrendous/non-existent, making it a nightmare to attend school functions.

I, like the previous poster, am a student in the middle school at The Willows, and I too can say that the education has been stellar. I have had the time of my life as a student here. I started at Willows as a shy, tentative kindergardener, and I will graduate as a confident student fully prepared for high school. I am extremely thankful for my Willows experience.

My daughter attended the middle school and was fortunate to have exceptional teachers. Use of technology is excellent preparation for the future. Nice group of kids. The head of the middle school was phenomenal; unfortunately, he left after last year. As referenced in the comments below, administration is certainly not warm and fuzzy. If your child doesn't fit the mold, it can be a problem.

Great families and a sense of community ,but must agree with prior comment found adm. lacking the sensitivity needed to make children who might have learning differences not feel like they are a problem. All experiences are different and need to be honored.

Our child attended this school for several years. He was labeled a 'problem' student in kindergarten by both his teacher and the principal. It turned out the real problem was he was extremely smart. Though he had some very kind and good teachers at this school, in general the school's response to our child was to treat him as a problem, rather than to address his abilities and keep him engaged at his level. This is definitely not the school for children who are very bright. When we moved our child to a more traditional school, he was much happier and much more intellectually engaged-- he thrived. I'd add that Lisa Rosenstein sets a cool, distant and somewhat inflexible tone for much of the administration here. This is not a warm, fuzzy bunch of women.

We are very happy with the school. With respect to the prior comments about the admissions director: She runs hot and cold. Some days she's warm & fuzzy; other days she's all attitude. But it's just her. It doesn't reflect the overall positive atmosphere at the school.

Amazing. The school curriculum is deep and expansive. Children are encouraged to explore through various modalities. Art is critical in the early stages and has made an positive impact on my son's fine motor skills. The regular inclusion of phys ed and music as standards in the curriculum are a plus. Very friendly towards families of color...Apply!

We have two children at this school and we have had a wonderful experience.

This is a wonderful school. I searched for the school that was the best fit for my kindergartner and our family. This is it. The curriculum is rigerous and engaging, and my daughter loves her opportunities in art and music. She is a member of the elementary chorus and not only thrives in her art classes at school, but she has participated in after school art classes that have been challenging and fun. She is currently in a musical theatre production of 'The Little Mermaid,' Yoga, and a magic and math enrichment class. The Willows has provided us all with a level of involvement that we feel comfortable with. There is gardening and class photography which allow parents to be a part of class activities without us interfering with the regular happenings of the actual classroom. Evey school has something wonderful to offer its students and The Willows is perfect for us.

This is an excellent school - we have been very happy here. The administration and staff and very responsive and truly know each child so they can deal with their individual strengths and needs

This is a great school. The academics are great, the teachers are wonderful and the art is excellent! Teachers are wonderful, but just a bit expensive.

The Willows has been a wonderful experience for our family. My children have obtained a complete joy of learning that has made the investment totally worthwhile.

The Willows offers a fantastic education and a wonderful community for both child and parent. My son loves the Willows, his teachers, and his classmates. The teachers are top notch, caring, interactive, bright, and responsive to parental interaction. The administration is excellent! The admission's director is very helpful, understanding, and straightforward in explaining what the Willows is looking for. The head of school is dynamic and is constantly striving to improve both the school and the educational experience. Compared to other private schools on the westside this school is not snobby and has a great deal of diversity! One of the greatest strengths of the school is the sense of community. Both student and parent are encouraged to participate in both our community of learning as well as the larger society. When our daughter finishes pre-school we look forward to her joining her brother! It doesn't get much better than this.

My daughter has not yet started kindergarten, but we are enrolled for this fall. I am writing only to say I felt the complete opposite from the other parent who commented on the school's admissions director. In fact, one of the reasons I felt so welcome was the fact that I did get that 'warm and fuzzyzz' experience in my interview. I did not experience a snobbery from her at all. In fact, I was the one making judgements of all the schools and admissions directors I interviewed with, and this admissions director was one of the ones who made me feel most comfortable. So interesting that I had a completely different experience than this other parent. I will write again after our first year to update all but thought it important to write as I vehemently disagreed with the previous opinion.

My son is getting a good enough education at the Willows. But there is very little diversity at the school, economic or racial. The admission's director is off-putting to potential applicants. Her attitude is beg me to let you kid in; not we would love to have your child at our school. No warm and fuzzy interviews. I had to get past the snobbery and decide to enroll my child based on good reports about the school from friends.