Schools in Laguna Beach, CA

“My child has been at Manzanita two years and this is a review of the manzanita campus. This review is based on actual attendance (unlike a few negative reviews that seem to have only gone on a tour). We have loved every minute of her time at school there. Her teachers are amazing and she goes to school excited every day to learn. She has been there for pre-K and Kindergarten. Academically she has been reading above grade level and reads for fun at home. She loves math and is enthusiastic about counting by 5/10/20s, doing addition and subtraction. I had been hesitant initially because I heard through the grapevine that Annaliese students aren't as strong academically but she reads better than her older cousins and with more enthusiasm. She also sings and talks in multiple languages which has given her an enthusiasm and context for learning more about other countries and languages. She also comes home and loves to draw and create things. I love that they don't use electronics (she gets enough of that elsewhere) and the campus is MAGICAL. She spends her time surrounded by greenery which has been shown to lower stress and boost neurological development. On the emotional side, my previously perfectionist child now will say to me "we all make mistakes" and is more process oriented, focusing on working hard and achieving through effort. They learn a lot about working together and contributing to society and this has so many amazing downstream effects at home, including better sharing and improved delayed gratification. Finally the food. My child was a picky eater but has opened up her eating which I attribute so much the Anneliese. They all sit down together and eat, as opposed to having combined recess and lunch time (and not eating at all). She comes home asking for salad and potato leek soup and lots of things I'm not sure she would try otherwise. Plus I don't have to make lunch.Also a note about her teachers - some have been there long enough to have taught two generations we have been so lucky to have them. They are engaged and responsive to parental emails/calls. Mr. John who is the head administrator is a great teacher and incredibly organized and engaged. Would love it if manzanita went through grade 6!!”

“I had an incredible experience with this school. The teachers are passionate about their work and extremely knowledgeable. Their program included a business element unlike many of the other schools I researched as well as movement education, anatomy, bodywork and psychology! And to top it off the school is in gorgeous Laguna Beach. It was a no brainer for me once I received a session from a NewsSI graduate, met with the teachers and couldn't be happier with my education.”