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Valley Prep School is an amazing learning environment. We have two children who have the privilege of attending this fine school--the headmaster is a superb, caring educator and leader, the teachers love the children, and the recent addition of 2 technology/science labs and publishing center are wonderful!! By far, the finest school in the local area. Also, the headmaster 'gets it' and does what is best for the school. (In the past, self-serving parents ran the show. Not anymore!)
We had sent two of our children through Redlands public schools, Mariposa, Cope RHS, but decided that we wanted smaller classes and more rigorous curriculum. We preferred a secular education but we visited and evaluated all the area private schools. After fours years at Valley Prep, we could not be more please with the results. Our child, and all his classmates, could read by they time they left kindergarten. Two years later our tests two grades higher on standardized tests. The learning environment is rich with foreign language courses, Chinese, French and Spanish, art, music and technology courses. The school has recently installed a computer media lab and science lab. All this and and class of 15 students! I only wish I had sent my other two students through Valley Prep.
Some of the elementary classes are fine and we have had a good year here and there, but the middle school has deteriorated so much that I think public school might be a better option. Unfortunately, the area doesn't have any other private, non religious options (other than Montessori). The math and English have been shockingly poor. Although, after several bad years,English might finally be on more solid ground now. Because of the small size, the school does not have any of the advantages of a larger school (like a true music or art program, although they claim to), but has many disadvantages. The elimination of computer technology was the biggest disappointment this year. Our children know how to use instant message and do the basics at home, we would like them to learn new technology at school.
While there are many wonderful teachers at Valley Preparatory School, it continues to suffer from poor leadership. Sadly, it is unlikely, in this poor economy, to attract a qualified candidate that they can afford. Instead, they lurch from one substandard headmaster to another. This is causing a huge toll on an otherwise good school and I fear for its future.
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