Carden Conservatory School

We have been at this school for 7 years now and absolutely love it. My child is learning much more than his peers at other schools and enjoying himself. The new computer boards in the classrooms are great and I love the new film, golf and paddleboarding classes for the older kids! This is a great school!
—Submitted by a parent

What can I possibly say about Carden! My child attended pre-school and pre-k, then I made the horrible decision to try public and stayed for a couple of years. It ended up being the worst mistake ever. I came back to Carden last year and my child is back on track in Academics. If any parent is considering Carden I can't urge you enough to try this little hidden gem of a school. Small class sized allow your child to actually learn something. The teachers are phenomenal as well as the rest of the staff. I only wish that they would offer High School in the future as I think it will be a great asset to their already great Academic program.
—Submitted by a parent

Fantastic school, fantastic teachers! My two children have attended Carden for seven years. We started in the preschool and continued forward. I am so appreciative for the teachers and staff at Carden. They take great care and dedication to bring the very best education to my children. It's amazing how supportive and caring the teachers and staff are at Carden Conservatory - truly a family atmosphere. The balance between academics and electives is more than they would obtain from other schools. My children have had Spanish, art and music since preschool. From kindergarten on every grade has computer education. The peer to peer support is excellent. I prefer to have my children attend a school with a class size of 10-15 than 30-40. Carden Conservatory is a top-notch education and I cannot say enough good things about it.
—Submitted by a parent

Carden Conservatory is an exceptional school. I have been so impressed with my son's academic, social, and physical development in this school environment. Some parents have mentioned in previous reviews that the Carden curriculum is no better than the public school curriculum. In some cases, this may be true however, there is absolutley no comparison when it comes to an overall educational experience for a child. The following are just a few of the reasons this school stands out. Carden has small class sizes which enables the teachers to tailor their teaching to the individual needs of the child - as they do this they are able to nurture and celebrate the creative minds of these children which can be difficult to find in a school. Art/theater/computer/foreign language/PE & music are not electives but an important part of the overall development of each child. The school environment is a safe place that has a consistent value system that all students adhere to. No bullying would ever occur in this school - they learn respect & peace. They learn civilty and tolerance. My young son is not only excelling academically - he is learning how to be a good citizen.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has been a total blessing to our son and our family. The teachers are amazing; we communicate nearly every day with the teacher about how our son is doing and ways in which we can help him. The children there are very sweet-- their is an innocence that is cannot be found in public school. The parents are very involved and are also great people. We looked at MANY options before choosing Carden, and we feel as though we have hit a complete home run. Our son is in 1st grade and learning Spanish! Our friends whose kids are in other schools (both public and private) are amazed at the curriculum and how our son has progressed. It is a great feeling to be able to drop our son off at school in the morning and not only know that he is in a safe and loving environment, but also that he is getting a level of personal attention that cannot be found anywhere else. I love this school and recommend it to anyone who wants the best for their child.
—Submitted by a parent

I have reported the 3/14 post as it is filled with false information. This is an excellent school, with small class sizes and a rigorous program that covers all aspects of the Carden curriculum. In fact Carden uses several of this campus s classrooms as examples in their local area visits for how to teach using the Carden method. Hopefully Great Schools will pull that post. Until they do I would like to dispel some of the misinformation in the post. Foreign Language, Music, Art and Drama are ALL part of the school's regular curriculum. Physical Education IS also a part of the regular curriculum and IS NOT an added cost, like many other schools everywhere AYSO operates after school hours as their own program. Choir is also NOT an added cost, it is a part of the Music program which is a part of the regular curriculum. Principal leadership at this school is also excellent; the current Director took over and began to reverse the damaged caused by years of mismanagement. I am recommending this school under its current management and teaching staff whenever I have the opportunity, hopefully other parents are as well. All of my children will be attending Carden Conservatory.
—Submitted by a parent

A small school so the staff treat my child like family member (I have 1 child still at Carden, and another in High school). I believe that a young child needs to be raised in an environment that have plenty of support, care and plenty of discipline. Regarding the curriculum I believe that the caliber of teaching at Carden is comparable to other school. Academically my children performed very well in Carden and in outside HS. I feels safe when my child is at Carden and to me that secure feeling is worth every penny of tuition.
—Submitted by a parent

Carden Conservatory is more than just a school. It's a family. Each teacher genuinely cares about every student - and it's evident in the way the students act towards each other as well as their academic performance. I have two children in Carden, and I couldn't wish for a better school for them. Academically, because of the small class sizes, the teachers are able to customize their curriculum to fit the needs of each student. My boys are the "young ones" in their respective classes. Other schools didn't care about their abilities - they just cared about their ages. Carden Conservatory took the time to evaluate my boys based on their abilities, and placed them in the appropriate classes. My boys amaze me on a daily basis with what they learn in school. They never complain about being bored, and they are always excited to learn more. I wish I was as lucky.
—Submitted by a parent

I could not invent a better school for my daughter. She attends music and art class every day (unheard of in a public school). My child would have "skated" in a bigger class because she's bright and social. Instead, she gets individualized instruction in attending and discipline- those learn to learn skills- which ensure her success in all parts of her life. To learn more of the curriculum, I encourage you to research the tenets of the Carden philosophy to see how it emphasizes the cognitive thought process over rote memorization. The children are well adjusted and conscientious. We came from the Midwest and I am impressed by the down to earth, appropriately concerned and invested parents. However a previous parent review mentions "safety" concerns. That seems wholly unfounded, however for reassurance you should check it out for yourself. The principal leadership, I hear is improved from a couple years ago, which helps explain some of the older reviews. The community of rigorous curriculum delivered with consistent individualized instruction make Carden Conservatory an unparalleled choice.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children at Carden Conservatory and I can't be happier with the quality of education they have received the last two years. The teachers and staff keep an open communication with the parents and the academics have gone above and beyond what I have seen in the public school system.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been fortunate enough to have my children attend this unique, lttle school. With the small class sizes, I know that my child's individual needs are being addressed which, in turn, has made a very successful learning environment. If you are looking for a structured, highly academic learning institution for your child, this is definitely the place you want to come.
—Submitted by a parent

I pulled my child from this school. The last 3 years have been getting worse and worse each year. This past year was the worst managed year yet. The school has decreased yet again in size. The actual classrooms are so small they are stifling! They pride themselves on a small school setting however I feel it is unhealthly for the children to be so crammed in such a small classroom. For your childs safety really check the school out before you commit.
—Submitted by a parent

This is by far the best school in Huntington Beach. Because the school is so small, your child receives one on one attention. Having a child that excelled academically in public school, I must admit Carden Conservatory has expedited and expanded her growth. As a public school teacher, Carden provides an excellent social environment that can not be duplicated in the public school setting.
—Submitted by a parent

Carden Conservatory is not for everyone. It lacks many of the things you would get at a larger public school. For me however, this is a good thing. It has an environment that you will never find at any public school. Carden provides a very structured environment. Discipline (almost military) and respect are key attributes of kids at Carden. Carden is small. It had some problems for the last couple of years with ownership but many of those issues have been resolved. The major advantage of small class sizes should be obvious. My children gets one-on-one instruction and tailored curriculum when needed. They excel in this environment and are scoring very well academically. Carden is expensive but to me well worth every penny. The parents and kids there are wonderful and I couldn't be happier with it.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have been at this school for 4 years and I could not be more pleased with their schooling and class environment. Top notch.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent we dedcided to give Carden a chance...however as of yet we have really not seen any improvement with the leadership of the school nor the teachers. After much careful thought and converstation with friends and family. We have decided to make this our last year at Carden. I have kept in contact with the families who left to go to public schools and they are very pleased. Which led me to check the schools. They too have small classrooms (15 kids on avg)with homework help club run by a credentialed teacher and 2 aides. Upon further investigation I have found that Carden academic scores are really not that impressive when compared to the surrounding public and private schools. Sure it states above the nat. average however for California schools in the area Carden scores are just average. Carden does not really have the accountability that O.C.D.E. does.
—Submitted by a parent

Have two children attending Carden Conservatory since Preschool. The school's recent changes are positive, forward steps. The new owner, Mr. Hunt, is professional and forthright. The new teachers joining the staff since last years, Ms. Vasquez, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Chapman..., are energetic, capable, and very caring. The small class sizes provide students with plenty attention and one-on-one interaction with teachers. We ve been very pleased to see our kids and other students master the subjects of reading, mathematics, language arts, science... In standard tests, such as Stanford Achievement Test Series, the Carden Conservatory average students consistently score in upper quartile and achieve 2 or more grade levels above national peers. Like any parents, we all want a school environment where our kids can excel academically and socially. We are keeping close tap on Carden Conservatory, but are more than willing to give it a chance to be a great school.
—Submitted by a parent

My grand daughter has been at Carden since Kindergarten. With few exceptions, she has had wonderful, caring teachers who got to know her and how best to teach her. My interactions with staff have been positive and supportive. While Carden may lack the fancy high-tech stuff that local public schools can afford, the small class size and the close working relationship between students and teachers is far more valuable. I am a retired public school teacher. 35 students in a class and an electronic white board do not result in better education; 8 students in a class and plenty of one-to-one time with a teacher do result in better education. The new teachers hired last year and this year have brought a new spirit and a greater commitment to academics. The director is dynamic and professional. Carden is once again a great place for students.

We are so glad we left Carden! First of all I am very pleased with the public school we are going to! To the previous person who wrote we will be back you could not be further from the truth! This is what Carden Lacks and what the public schools offer! Public school: has a professional musician for their music teacher (whom has a doctorate!) Whom has credential too! Carden no! Public School: Art teacher has a Masters in Art, not to mention the kids really do artwork! They will be doing clay pottery on a wheel, they will be doing the acclaimed 'Meet the Masters' program. Carden no! (1/2 hr of drawing or coloring is not suffice!) Public Schools have SMARTBOARDS in every classroom, Carden no! Carden lacks, in technology & academics, especially for gifted students. At Carden there is no accountability, in Public School there is and its publicized.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have been at Carden for five years. We have been very happy. We love the close net community at the school. The education standards at Carden a well above that at the public schools. Carden has hired several highly degreed and young teachers with great enthusiasm. Carden has a fantastic art, music, theater and academic program. Both my children are above average and the public school is not able to provide their educational needs. I look forward to the 2009-2010 school year at Carden and I know that after people see what the public schools are providing this year, they will be back.
—Submitted by a parent