Pinecrest School-Thousand Oaks

We just signed our 2013/2014 contract, inspired by so many great new things going on at Pinecrest Thousand Oaks! Our kids were really excited about the implementation of Pint Size Sports for 1st-3rd graders. What a great way to get them interested in organized sports- great call, PTO! We also loved the Family Science Night and look forward to many more fun, family connection nights. Thanks for the hard work on behalf our your students and their families!
—Submitted by a parent

Great school. Advanced curriculum. New director is doing a great job. After and before school care always staffed well and included in tution. They have staff that helps you with morning drop off. Food prep is now outsourced and is healthier. They have quite a bit of extra curricular activities and a great art/music and foreign language program (standard.) As a bonus much of the tuition is tax deductible as childcare.
—Submitted by a parent

Loved this school - both of our kids were very happy there. Broke all of our hearts when we had to move out of state.
—Submitted by a parent

Downhill fast. We have been at Pinecrest TO for 4 years and each year the administration changes and service declines. Front office staff keeps getting reduced, the principal let go and the director who did an outstanding job, 'retired'. For the 2012-2013 school year, the early enrollment incentive for families, in the form of a monetary discount was done away with. The class size has nearly doubled in certain grades, the higher grades now have to pay for their own text books and the teacher credentials are no better than the public school teachers. After school care has been reduced as well. When you pick your child up from school you'll find teenagers or 'coaches' as they call them, watching your child instead of an experienced adult. Needless to say, we're looking elsewhere in the area since the perks of a private school are disappearing quickly here at Pinecrest Thousand Oaks and cross comparison this school is equivalent to a middle of the road public school. Frankly most parents pay for private education because they believe they are obtaining a better education for their child. In this case, it's not worth the money.
—Submitted by a parent

PC TO has a nice community feel. For the money I'm not sure it's worth it over the public schools in the area whose API scores are overall high. If the main difference between public vs. private school is a lot of homework then this school wins. Be prepared to spend 1-2 hours a night doing homework with your child as soon as they enter kindergarten. If both parents work full time, it's tough to do. Personally, I think grade K and 1st graders should not have so much homework as it can dampen their love of learning right from the start. Many of the teachers here do not have advanced degrees which, I would expect from a private school. If teacher to student ratio is important to you which it is for us and the reason we stay, then PC TO may be a good school for you.
—Submitted by a parent

The curriculum is advanced at this school, but the draw backs include teachers that have very limited exposure to professional development opportunities. Also, the Director of the school does not have a degree in Education. Students with learning disabilities or other difficulties are offered tutoring which the parents must pay for on top of tuition. There are no special education certificated teachers on staff to properly deal with learning issues. If your child is bright and you need before and after school child care, the school is a perfect fit for you. However, professionals at this school do not compare to professionals in the public school sector, due to lack of on going innovative training, appropriate degrees or credentials or both.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent school for children with 2 working parents. Outstanding teachers and coaches that care a lot about the children. My daughter had the best K experience anyone could ask for. Her teacher was excellent and I knew she was well taken care of for the day. It's definately not cheap, but well worth the money. My nephew went there K-6 and is currently in all honors classes in high school and still receives straight A's.
—Submitted by a parent

Superior for J-K and K grades. After that be very careful about what teacher your child is assigned to.
—Submitted by a parent

The emphasis of this school is on academics, although this being a private school they also offer after school care. Most of the children here are dropped off between 6am and 7am in the morning not to be picked up until close to 5pm. For as long as this school has these children the program is severly lacking in educational, active programs to account for close to 12 hours of a students day. The menu in unhealthy as well as the snacks available to the children and don't get me started on the sodas. The children view the administrators as their friends and not their respected elders.
—Submitted by a staff

My son attended this school from Kindergarten to sixth grade. He is a very quiet child who does not seek attention. The school worked well for him in a lot of ways-it is small and feels warm and family-like, the teachers are very devoted and care about their kids and they offer a lot of 'extras' to fill out your children's needs. It was for us... the perfect fit. I do feel if your child has any learning disabilities-this is the wrong school for them. The school demands a lot from the kids-homework is intense. The school work gets very hard starting in fourth grade. I also feel you better plan of getting very involved with your child's classroom because the school wants and needs your help.I was happy to see my son turn into the happy, involved, curious student.
—Submitted by Terrie, a parent

Great school with strong academics and discipline in a warm, insulated and protective environment. Parents need to be prepared to be hands on as the workload becomes heavy by 4th grade.
—Submitted by a parent

The academic programs are very good in general. They are one level higher than public schools. The parents get to choose the teacher by talking with the principle, which is great for parents. They have good variety of extracurricular activities during the afterschool time. For working parents, this is a good school because kids stay one place for school and their activities. Parents are encouraged to participate but not strongly forced. Since many of the parents work, they manage without having much of parent involvement.
—Submitted by a parent

Pinecrest School at Thousand Oaks is a great choice, if you don't consider the price, especially for those parents who both work. The quality of academic programs is acceptible, although I feel it's a little slow for my kid (in Kindergarten). They provide extracurricular activites, including music, art, PE, computer, Spanish and library for the Kindergrateners. Also, there are various afterschool programs to choose (you need to pay for that though). Parents can involve a lot in children's school life, if you like and have time. You can be room-parents, or help out in their events. The only thing bothers me is that my child brings home fund-raising flyers and advertisements very often. But maybe it's the same in other schools.
—Submitted by a parent

Academics at Pinecrest are stronger than in the local public schools. Subjects include a foreign language, Spanish, and emphasis on the 'old-fashioned' basics.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school, small classes, good teachers. The curriculim is traditional, music, art, language and PE every day. The academic standard is higher than most public schools so some children may struggle to keep up. Safety is a big issue, to pick up your child you must show an ID card also at recess/lunch children are watched over by their teachers. The tuition is excellent value for two working parents as you can drop your child off early in the morning (6am) if needed, and pick up late (6:30pm) all inclusive ( no extra child care fees or struggle to find someone to pick up your child if your running late). This flexability works well most times I would pick up my daughter an hour later so she has some playtime with friends or do homework before coming home. Highly recommened.
—Submitted by a parent