San Luis Rey

I may be biased, but NIchols Leadership Academy is one of the best schools around. I was one of the lucky teachers who got to open this school brand new back in 2002. It gets better every year. The staff is awesome and the families make it even better. Nichols feels like home!

My child has been attending this school since kindergarten and is now in 1st grade. Unfortunately, the experience has been incredibly disappointing due to the lack of leadership and communication from the principal.While my son was in kindergarten, he was physically assaulted by another student. I was never notified by the school. I only found out recently—from my child himself—that both students were sent to the principal’s office. The fact that no one thought to inform me is absolutely unacceptable.The principal has shown zero accountability and clearly does not prioritize student safety or parent communication. If you’re considering this school, please be aware: your child’s well-being and your right to be informed may not be taken seriously here.I would not recommend this school to any parent until there’s a change in leadership and accountability.

Great school. I have children that attend here and they love it. They are doing very well academically. Students that have graduated from here always say how well prepared they were when they attended high school. The overwhelming majority of our graduates go on to college. This is direct reflection of how well this school is preparing its students academically, socially, and spiritually. This school has a very loving environment and is very accepting of all students and parents no matter their background. You will never regret enrolling your child here at Old Mission Montessori School.

I would not recommend this school to families whose children require academic support or accommodations. While a remedial class was available in 2023, it was unfortunately discontinued by the end of 2024. The school has experienced frequent turnover among teachers, after-school staff, and office personnel & principals, which has impacted consistency and student support.There are currently no dedicated resources or programs in place for students with special needs or challenges. If your child faces any academic or developmental challenges, I strongly advise exploring other educational options. The principal held meetings with parents in the past to point them to the "mall" and library to get help with curriculum! In my experience, efforts to pursue an Individualized Education Program (IEP) were met with resistance, delays, and dismissive attitudes. Concerns were often minimized or invalidated, making it extremely difficult to advocate effectively for my child’s needs. Families deserve transparency, collaboration, and genuine support when addressing academic concerns—and unfortunately, that has not been my experience with this school.BULLYING is a recurring problem, and the it's handled with minimal accountability like offering a pacifier instead of real intervention!