Brookfield School

My 5-year old is in pre-first and she likes the school from the first day. The amount of homework is not too much. My daughter can easily manage it and also completes the extra homework. I check her homework every day and help her correct the mistakes. She has been making so much progress every day, beyond my expectation.
—Submitted by a parent

As the principal of this fine institution, I appreciate the high ratings I enjoy and those of my exceptionally talented faculty. However, a large part of what makes Brookfield such a great school is our wonderful parent community. Our school is dedicated to providing the best educational experience for gifted and highly motivated children. That means Brookfield is not the right school for every child, but it is the perfect school for children who would be bored and unchallenged in a conventional school setting. Our parents play a huge role in their child's progress; they support our teachers, provide fun enrichment opportunities through field trips and special class activities, and are committed to being engaged agents in their child's education. That means making sure that their child is not overstimulated or stressed by too many extracurricular activies, and providing a supportive, nuturing home environment where their child is loved unconditionally. Brookfield parents are a community of diverse individuals united in their committment to give their children the best foundation for intellectual, social, and emotional development. Our "Great School" has the best parents!
—Submitted by a teacher

Brookfield is a treasure! High schools love its graduates because they are so well prepared, academically and socially. The few negative comments are probably from those whose children could not rise to the academic challenges asked of the students or because they have their own agenda and cannot understand that this school succeeds because of its rigor. Parents are asked to be involved; but they are not asked to teach their kids or do the homework for them! Homework is given to reinforce and further the learning. That is simply what it takes to help students reach their personal best. The teachers are fabulous, and they care deeply about their students. The owners are sincere and dedicated to making the school the best it can be within its financial abilities; they rent from a church that is in charge of maintenance and clean-up, and as a private, independent school, tuition must cover all expenses. As for the facilities, if you are looking for shining new facilities, this is probably not the best place for you. But if you are looking for the best education, teachers, and a great parent community intent on helping students succeed, you have found the right place.
—Submitted by a teacher

Brookfield has been a great school for my child. The class sizes are small (18 max). This is a benefit in itself given that some public schools have 30-40 kids in a class. There are a lot of projects that require parent help but overall the learning journey will pay off when they reach the higher grades. No school is perfect but Brookfield is a safe environment with a strong academic focus.
—Submitted by a parent

Brookfield is a HORRIBLE school. The teachers and facilities have gotten so bad that half the sixth grade class has left. Dedicated parents whose children have gone to this school since preschool tried to tell the principal and owners that something was going wrong, however they were ignored. Some of the academics in this school are at an equal or lower level then public school academics. The teachers behave unethically and some just give worksheets and don t teach at all! They don t know how to handle a class. The 8th grade spent around two months on one chapter of algebra just because the teacher couldn t get the kids to behave. Many of the parents and students who asked for help were told to get tutors. The classrooms are small, there are no science facilities, no air conditioning in classrooms, and rats in the multipurpose room. NOT worth 10,000 a year!
—Submitted by a parent

Dr. Jo Gonsalves has made this school the best school in Sacramento again. Period. Her exemplary administrative skills and dedication to the student body, as well as her experience as a teacher for many years makes this school such a wonderful experience for the children. The teachers are extraordinary, all donning some advanced graduate degree and an attitude about learning that makes me want to be a better parent/teacher at home. This school is amazing and I am so thrilled to have my children there. I didn't quite realize how much better it was until I had had conversations with friends whose children were attending other private schools. The level of academic achievement is astounding in comparison and like someone said before, the students at Brookfield don't even realize it. It's all just part of their "norm," which is so unbelievable. They make it fun, interesting and yet get down to business. This school, hands down, is the BEST school in town.
—Submitted by a parent

Brookfield is not what it once was. My daughter started there before the change in ownership and we loved the school. She learned to read within the first month of school. 4 years later was completely different with my son. Myself and other familes had to pay for private tutoring on top of private tuition because the great teacher had been replaced so that the owners could save money. Very disappointing. There is no hot lunch, hardly any recess and the sports programs are sorely lacking. One can do a whole lot better.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a child who attends this school and as I know there is nothing that is perfect... but I have found the PERFECT school for my child. Which by the was was not an easy feat. She is finally challanged and what's scarey is she is so very happy and is actually saying she is having fun. I was sort of concerned that she wasn't retaining anything because of the vast amount of information she was learning. But when quizzed weeks later, not only was I given the answers but they were followed up with all sorts of examples. I am so happy I have finally found the type of education I've been searching for.
—Submitted by a parent

We have been extremely pleased with the education our children receive at Brookfield. They both love learning and are excited by new challenges. More importantly, they are developing excellent study and research skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. Our children also participate in several of the extracurricular activities, which really add to their experience and help develop a strong sense of school spirit. I would recommend Brookfield to any parent with a child who enjoys being challenged academically.
—Submitted by a parent

Each year we are amazed how much our son learns, and how much he loves it. Brookfield sets the bar high and the students work hard to meet the expectations. The kind, caring environment is wonderful. The older students are very caring toward the 'little kids'. All the teachers/staff know every student's name. A wonderful and involved group of parents. This student body is very diverse. I can't imagine sending my child to any other private elementary school in Sacramento.
—Submitted by a parent

Brookfield is a wonderful school. We have three children attending Brookfield and find it to have an excellent academic cirriculum, great teachers and a diverse group of children. The parents are involved and care about the children. The owners are committed to providing quality education for their students and helping them achieve their goals.
—Submitted by a parent

Brookfield is a refreshing breath of East Coast Prep School in the Northern California area. This school is similar to the schools I left in Connecticut. It is a simple, no nonsense school with a devoted group of parents and teachers who prefer a strong and steady approach to learning. It has a wonderful traditional quality matched with a challenging curriculum. The kids are gently led through an enormous amount of work and they hardly realize it! Great staff, great kids and a very nice group of parents.
—Submitted by a parent

Brookfield is still a decent academic school but it has lost much of what made it one of the best schools in the area. Teacher retention is a major problem. They have turned over several teachers each of the last three years which is significant when there is only one teacher per grade. Class sizes now exceed 20 students making them larger than public school classes for the early grades. It used to be limited to 18. Facilities remain subpar even compared to public schools. These problems are due to the new ownership from a few years ago and the three different principals over the same time. Whatever the cause, when you pay for private school, you should expect more than you get from public school.
—Submitted by a parent

We have been very pleased with Brookfield. It is amazing the pace at which our children learn. They also are acquiring strong study skills and a passion for learning. I love that they are continually challenged. Our children have had three of the new teachers and we have been thrilled with all of them.
—Submitted by a parent

I chose Brookfield because I wanted a top-notch education for my son, and I have not been disappointed. The program is tough, but I truly believe it is helping him reach his potential. The teachers are great, classes are small, and my son gets the attention and guidance I would expect from a private school. The school has taken some knocks over the last few years, mostly due to a change in ownership and the fallout from that. The current principal is terrific and has really improved the environment. She has brought in really superb teachers and she is very approachable. If you are looking for the best available education for your child and are willing to pay for it, this is it.
—Submitted by a parent

Brookfield is a mid-tier private school (K-8) with relatively low tuition (~$8k/year) and modest facilities. Under previous ownership it had one of the premier academic programs in the area. Recently, there has been significant turnover degrading the program s quality. The faculty has diminished as principals and teachers have moved on or retired. There have been three principals in three years. Good teachers have been lost including arguably the best kindergarten teacher in the Sacramento region. Some new teachers are good but they aren t the ones that build Brookfield s reputation. The student population has been similarly affected. One entire grade is down to only four students. Students are moving to schools offering the same level of academic excellence along with sports, band, and a more modern facility. Brookfield is still a good option for some, but it is no longer one of the top private schools in the area.
—Submitted by a parent

Do you have a bright child? Value a stimulating academic environment? Desire a small campus where older children model good behavior and young children are nurtured? Desire an environment where values such as kindness, safety, productivity, compassion and self discipline stressed? If the answer is yes, I strongly urge you to consider Brookfield. Our 2 children attend the lower grades. The academics are rigorous, which is why admission testing is taken seriously. We have experienced new teachers that are fabulous. The principal is exceptionally well qualified. Sacramento offers many choices, but in our opinion, the 'Brookfield Way' is indeed special.
—Submitted by a parent

Brookfield is the most elite learning center in the greater Sacramento area, a distinction confirmed every year via the students' results on standardized tests. Typically a grade or more ahead than their counterparts in the public schools, this accellerated and rigorous academic culture is nurtured by teachers with a passion of developing young minds. Very competitive to be accepted into and even harder to 'make the grade' while enrolled, beware that Brookfield moves at a much faster clip than other schools and may or may not be the best match. However, for us, we are exceedingly pleased with the instruction and love for learning our child is receiving at Brookfield.
—Submitted by a parent

Costly? yes; however, not a group of 'rich kids' not a group of 'nerds' but most definitely smart kids! Intelligence is respected among peers, not ridiculed. My daughter leaves home with a smile and returns with a smile (and straight A's).Accelerated academics not for everyone, but worth every cent so far!
—Submitted by a parent

Brookfield has always been known to be one of the best private schools in Sacramento. However, within the past 3 years, I have seen many changes. The teachers are forced to accelerate the curriculum faster than they kids are prepared to do. It is costly to attend. I have two kids attending, and can say that Kindergarten - 4th grade, is great.
—Submitted by a parent