Lemon Heights

We’ve had three kids graduate from La Purisima and one who is still an LP student, and I am so grateful to the friend who told us about this wonderful little school. The teachers are caring and positive and, with the small class sizes, they really know their students and individualize their education. Kids are challenged to do their best and are supported at every step— our kids graduated from LP ready to excel in high school. There are ample extracurricular activities, integration of faith into every aspect of school life, and a healthy balance between technology and hands-on learning. The faculty and administration emphasize living Catholic values every day, and with an emphasis on kindness and service, it’s truly a community. Sending our kids to La Purisima is one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.

We've been at Fairmont North Tustin campus for 3 years. I thought it had a health office and health staff (I'm not even asking for an RN, just a health staff member), just like other schools. All Irvine public schools have health rooms and health staff on campus. Stupid me -- I assumed that at the very least this so-called private school would have such a fundamental facility and staff. But no.Today I found out there's no health office and no sick room where a child can at least lie down for a while until a parent arrives. I'm in shock. What kind of risky, scammy school have I put my child into for the past 3 years?This campus just spent a lot of money on expansion and also raised tuition fees. It's ridiculous to find out that behind all those price increases and fancy upgrades, no one seems to care about students' health -- and none of that money appears to have gone toward improving health support for the kids.No health office.Not even one health staff member.Not even a sick room for students to rest.—The school replied to my previous message on Yelp, stating that there is actually a bed available for sick students.—In response to the reply:Three different staff members confirmed to me yesterday that there is no bed or designated resting area available for a sick student. If you happen to have the recorded phone calls, two of them confirmed this with me over the phone.Therefore, the only way I was able to learn that such an option supposedly exists was through a Yelp review.Reality is reality. Parents, please do your research before sending your child to a so-called private school: * Is there a health room or a designated sick resting area -- like in any Orange County public school? * Is there a school health clerk available on campus -- like in any Orange County public school? * Do teachers even know whether the so-called "bed for sick students" actually exists?Despite the amount of money families invest in a "private school," one that lacks even fundamental health support, it is worth considering whether the absence of proper health infrastructure could place students at greater risk in certain situations.