Sierra Elementary and High School

This is our 2nd year at Sierra. We were scrambling to find a school once we didn't have much success with open enrollment in the public school system. We stumbled across Sierra and couldn't be happier. The teachers are so hand on and teach to the ability of each child. There is always one teacher and an aide. At present we have 13 kids in our kindergarten/1st grade class. Not only do the kids get along from kindergarten to 5th grade but the parents all know each other. We are a small tight community here.
—Submitted by a parent

My children attend elementary school at Sierra School. We have been very pleased with the quality of the elementary program here. The model is to allow every child to move at their own pace and master the subject before moving on. They are able to accomodate children above and below their grade level because of the small class sizes and the low student to teacher ratio. There is a teacher and an aide in each of the three multi-grade classrooms. The "pros" of the school are the small class size, low ratios and differentiated model. The teachers work hard to give each child the work that is right for them - they are what really make the program succeed. The curriculum includes not only the traditional academic subjects, but also a music and peformance program, art, PE and Spanish. We find that the children are very respectful of one another. The "cons" of the school are related to the size . There are less than 40 children in grades K-5, so the social experiences for children can be somewhat limited. It is not a deluxe campus like you would see at more expensive schools. But for us, the positive experience in the classrooms far outweigh these concerns.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter absolutely loves it here. She adores her teachers & friends. It's an extremely small school with only 100+ students from K-12. You get lots of individual attention. Her class has 15 kids with 1 teacher + 2 aids. You get to know most of the parents and can have lots of play dates. They provide individual instructions/work time for math, phonics and reading according to your ability. Plus you get enrichment classes like Spanish, Choir, drama, computer, arts, PE, etc. They also provide additional fee-based after school classes like Lego, arts or karate. Overall it's a great little private school. The only 2 downsides I can think of is 1) lack of after school clubs, sports team or music band and 2) they use mostly standard teaching methods (which is no worse off than most public or private schools) but not enough hands-on or project-based as we would like.
—Submitted by a parent

We love Sierra School so far. Our child attends the elementary program there. Teachers are caring, and attentive. The academic curriculum is rigorous, and allows some room for individual tailoring.
—Submitted by a parent

We've been at Sierra School for 3 years. My child loves going to school each day. Instruction is tailored to bring out her best. Teachers are dedicated and caring. I received a report card each week and have easy access to the teachers. There are 12 students in the class a teacher and 2 assistants. With so much individual attention, my child shines. The students treat each other with respect. Misbehavior is dealt with appropriately. One student was asked to leave the school due to disruptive behavior. The classrooms provide an excellent learning environment. Spanish language, Art and Music are taught. There is after-school instruction as well. Teachers and Administrators are receptive and responsive to feedback. Weaknesses? This is not a school for kids who need sports teams/activities at school. Many kids join sport teams outside of school.
—Submitted by a parent

We found Sierra School to be just plain too small. room? Not even enough for decent games on the playground. Sometimes, kids do act out and need re-direction, not major negative consequences for minor infractions. The school pushed academics, but taught in such a way that the children reguritated lessons instead of truly comprehending them.
—Submitted by a parent

The academic performance provided is excellent. The school allows and encourages children to be excel in all the classes. The teachers provide 200% of their ability to assist that need that extra assistance without even thinking about it. They offer music, drama, dance, performing arts, and have basketball currently and are looking at the possibility of added more as the students request. There are quite a few parents in every class volunteering their time to assist the teachers. The principal also assists with the children and asks the children personally what they think of the school and the activities to see if they need to be modified or reviewed.
—Submitted by Joseph R, a parent

I found Sierra to be a very good school for children in kindergarten through third grade. The school went out of its way to orient kindergarten students. Classes were small with instruction individually tailored to each child. The academic program was accelerated but not onerous. The atmosphere among parents and staff was communal. After-school dance, art, karate and chess were offered by outside vendors. I found instruction in the upper grade levels was not as satisfactory.
—Submitted by a parent