The Pegasus School

Any school that chooses to proclaim its excellence through high gloss color brochures highlighting the amazing "stand out" students they have "produced" and name dropping well off or famous parents does not put quality education at the top of the priority list. We looked into this school, and from the first tour it was obvious the school wants to find "stars" they can exploit and parents who want to think their children are "stars" and are willing to pay for that privilege.There is nothing exceptional about the curriculum here, in fact, it is dated. The teachers vary widely in quality. No school can make every kid a stand out star, so what you end up with are a bunch of parents all believing their child is a stand out and students struggling to be noticed, not learn. This combination of egos and money does not make for a quality educational experience. Many parents put their kids here because they want to believe they are the future leaders and a few big names have attended in the past. We are not disgruntled parents, for we chose not to pursue the school. We are conscientious parents who did lots of homework and found more outstanding schools in Orange County. Do your homework.
—Submitted by a parent

On the comment below that "This school does ask for money and most of it goes to financial aide to allow all opportunities for all children" from a "parent" (I use quotes because that reads like it was written by someone at the school and not a parent) - every nonprofit is required to publish their tax forms and they appear at a website called Guidestar dot org. The most recent filing for Pegasus is their 2010 Tax form and it lists the school as having receipts that year of $11,056,239. It also says the school had "savings and cash investments" of $3,593.072 and paid six employees a salary over 100K each. If the school wants to pay themselves fat salaries by catering to wealthy parents, that's fine. But don't pretend to be a school for Gifted Children.
—Submitted by a parent

For the benefit of parents and others who may be new to the site, I feel compelled to make a statement in response to the person who wrote the review (currently) dated May 1, 2013 that begins with the following: "I am wondering who write the positive reviews after multiple insightful but negative reviews..." Unless I'm mistaken -- and I seriously doubt it -- the review is simply a re-posting of an identical review that I saw on this sight a while ago. Re-posting certainly supports the theory that the negative comments come from an angry individual who just needs to let it go.
—Submitted by a parent

I am wondering who write the positive reviews after multiple insightful but negative reviews. Teachers: average to incompetent and mean. Curriculum: average for Language Arts, terrible for Math (Saxon Math!!), Science will teach you kid useless facts (forget concepts and critical thinking!). "exceptionally well prepared for high school" I seriously doubt...The school is very good at selling an image but could not care less about their students and the outdated curriculum the teachers implement.
—Submitted by a parent

How come all the negative reviews are so specific with lots of details while the positive ones seem to be written by the same person?
—Submitted by a parent

I have two kids at Pegasus who are in Middle school. They have both been at the school since Pre K. I am completely blown away by some of the negative one star reviews. It seems as if the same angry person is writing these reviews. I will admit there have been challenges at the school, with the passing of its founder Dr. Hathaway, but our experience has been nothing but amazing. The academics are superior. The teachers are caring and exceptional. And as far as everyone being wealthy or there being no diversity amongst the students this could not be farther from the truth. There are students from all walks of life and I have heard that 10 percent of the families are on some sort of financial aide. This school does ask for money and most of it goes to financial aide to allow all opportunities for all children. Why would a school reject a child because the parent marked the financial aide box, when the school highly encourages financial aide. This school is not for every child, that is for sure. However, if your child does not get in Move On. There are lots of great schools out there
—Submitted by a parent

You can't find better teachers anywhere. The curriculum is challenging; the teachers genuinely care about their students. We've been at the school for five years. There is no question that our child is exceptionally well prepared for high school.
—Submitted by a parent

Amazing. We could have written the same review below two years ago. Thankfully we saw the light and ran...fast...away from this so-called school for the bright and gifted. My child was not doing well in one subject and yes, she was ignored and it was suggested that she had a learning disorder. Numerous specialists were recommended (specific names, not areas of expertise, interesting) outside the school and of course, in addition to the already overpriced tuition. She is now attending a well respected private high school and is in honors class in the same subject...no thanks to Pegasus. We spend the last two years getting her caught up to the standards after losing many years at Pegasus. Don't wait until it is too late.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is no longer about bright, gifted kids. As long as you have money and your kids are failing public schools, they'll take them. There's absolutely no individuality. All kids are expected to fit their mould or the teachers and administrators will have no clue on how to nurture and educate them. Mindless worksheets are given daily, and the curriculum is below most of the private schools, as well as some of the public schools. Teaching techniques are outdated, and the parents with money have tremendous inputs to how the school should be run. We've wasted our money for 2 years, and couldn't be happier to leave this school. With their small class size, the teachers did not know the true ability of each child. If there's ever a problem, teachers are unwilling to identify the real issue and will ignore the child entirely. This can result in loss of confidence as well as a lot of hurt and frustrations from a child. Save your money and send your kids elsewhere. If your kid is failing public school and you're willing to pay their $18000/year tuition, they'll take the kid. Any parent with some knowledge in education wouldn't send their kids here.
—Submitted by a parent

I have 2 children at this school and I have been extremely happy with the level of attention from the teachers and the challenging curriculum offered. In fact, at times my expectations have been exceeded. Keep in mind my children are bright and thrive when challenged. This school is definitely geared for those who want and need an advanced and accelerated in -depth education. The staff and parents are very friendly. Pegasus is a family.
—Submitted by a parent

Our family has been at Pegasus for many years. It continues to be the highest quality education with the best teachers in all of Orange County. These students will be the great leaders of tomorrow.
—Submitted by a parent

This school should be ashamed. Back in 2000 it was on the rise. Today, it is a mess. Teachers are below average and administration (including principal) and inept and disorganized. Save your money. Public school is better. I also wonder who gives all of these 5 star reviews. My guess is 3/4 of them come from the school itself.
—Submitted by a parent

I find it disturbing that every time a negative review is given that almost immediately a 5 star review appears. It is my guess this site is being heavily monitored by the school in an attempt to save their name. It is unfortunate that this type of effort is not being channeled into fixing the problems that people are expressing on this site. The school needs to address the significant problems that are occurring to try and restore the reputation of this former wonderful school. By attempting to cover up these issues they are continuing to exacerbate the problems!!
—Submitted by a parent

Our child was at Pegasus for 2 years of Preschool (which they eliminated last year). We were extremely disappointed in the value for the money. I do not feel that the teaching methods in the preschool were that much better than most other preschools, and at twice the price, my expectation was MUCH higher. I feel like we taught our child more in one or two hours a night than was learned at school all day. We did not continue in the K program, although I have heard from other parents that the elementary classes are the school's strongest. I do agree with other reviewers that, while the school professes to teach one grade ahead, the kids tend to be a year older than their public school counterparts. We did not feel that it would be worth it, and also were concerned about the wealth at the school, it does seem that fundraising is the focus rather than improving the educational experience for the kids. The facilities at the school are very good, as they should be considering the amount that tuition was hiked last year. We simply did not find it to be worth it at the end of the day.
—Submitted by a parent

This school used to be an amazingly caring and great school. Now however, the founder and head of school passed away and the school has gone downhill. The new head is taking the school in a direction that it was not meant to go. While the founder was alive, she and the other staff were caring and nurturing. Now, the head is obnoxious and does not belong with such a caring staff. There are many other great schools out there, and I would recommend looking at those schools instead. Beware, because this school is not what it used to be.

The Pegasus School has exceeded our expectations. This is our first year at the school, and our children could not be happier. We appreciate the teachers who challenge our children and care for them, always addressing their needs whether it be academic or social. Our children have made wonderful friends with like values, as have we. The community is friendly, and we just get a good feeling every time we step on campus.
—Submitted by a parent

Beware - this is a school in major transition and the leadership of the new Principal has been a great disappointment. No longer does this school fulfill Dr. Hathway's vision of a place where "bright minds soar". Teachers have privately admitted the "caliber of the students is not what it once was", so the notion that this is a school for talented and gifted children is no longer valid. Discipline at this school is a joke, kids are bratty and indulged, and the focus is more on fund-raising than character and intellectual development. Assigning mindless worksheets should be the realm of unimaginative public schools, not a school that once aimed for a higher standard and still demands a much higher financial cost. And have parents been informed that two 1st Grade teachers are leaving? No. Have they been informed that the school motto is changing (which further indicates a shift from the school's original and inspired vision)? No. Have they been told about the plans for two new Lower School Directors (ever wonder where your tuition checks go)? No. Meanwhile, they've happily taken our non-refundable deposits and haven't said word one. Epic failure, parents should be livid.
—Submitted by a parent

My son has attended Pegasus since PK and he has received nothing but positive and nurturing feedback from the teachers and administrators. The teachers recognize the uniqueness in each child, accommodate the child, and provide a wonderful curriculum that engages all children. My son continues to excel to the best of his capabilities as a result of his teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

This is no longer the school our family signed up for. It was once a caring place where children could find and develop their individual strengths. Sadly the new administration has done away with all that was ever positive about Pegasus. The head is unapproachable and does not belong in an educational environment. Both the lower and middle school directors have resigned this year, as well as some of the better teachers. Sadly the head of school remains and is not proving to be an asset. Several good teachers also remain, but the atmosphere of nurturing and building is gone. We will not be sending our youngest child to this school and will be pulling our older child out after this year. It has become a school that is more interested in fund raising and publishing those amounts for all to see than a place focused on educating children.
—Submitted by a parent

The most engaging and thorough education I have ever seen in a grade school. Each grade level provides an advanced curriculum, but it is the programs and the pubic speaking emphasis that stand out the most. Kids learn through problem solving, presentations, creative thinking exercises... and so much more. It is an incredibly rich learning environment.
—Submitted by a parent