Avery Ranch

Looking back as a former student, I can confidently say that Patsy Sommer Elementary gave me an absolutely incredible foundation for the rest of my education. What really makes this school special is the unmatched expertise of the staff; so many of the teachers have 20+ years of experience, and it truly shows in the patient, highly skilled way they guide their classrooms. I am especially grateful for the school's phenomenal support in advanced academics. Participating in the TAG math program was a major highlight of my time there, as it kept me engaged, challenged me to think critically, and perfectly prepared me for accelerated tracks in middle and high school. Sommer is an amazing community filled with veteran educators who know exactly how to bring out the best in every kid, and I’ll always be proud to be a former Stallion.

I have two kids at Holy Family and this will be our 9th year in the community. Our family has adored the school from the beginning, and each year we have watched it transform into something bigger and better. Post-Covid, many teachers left and the school was in transition with a new principal. That school year was honestly the only not-so-great one for our family for a variety of reasons. However, it also feels like during that year, the administration identified the key issues at the school and have since then taken clear, visible steps to address them and improve on them. Over our time here, they’ve added (among other things) a new Middle School building, main office building, event pavilion, assistant principal role, new elective and after school options, expanded library, and they are continuing to make improvements each year. The teachers at every grade level have been wonderful, in our experience. Some have left, most have stayed, and the new hires that replaced those that left have been lovely. The Dominican Sisters on campus are beautiful examples to all of us on how to be loving, respectful, kind disciples, and they get my kids (and myself) excited about our faith. My kids are challenged throughout the school year without feeling overwhelmed.It’s clear from reading the reviews that each family has a unique experience here at Holy Family, with differing priorities and expectations. I’ve read reviews of not enough communication or community events, and other reviews about too much communication and too many events to keep up with. I’ve read reviews of lax expectations and discipline for Middle Schoolers, and other reviews about too much homework and demands on Middle Schoolers. One reviewer wrote that there is not enough sports equipment… but that the school prioritizes athletics over other things. Sounds like everyone won’t be happy here, and that’s ok, but wanted to share how positive our experience has been, and that there are so many families that feel the same way we do that don’t take the time to write a review. Overall, our personal experience has been 8+ years in which each year has only gotten better and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone interested in a Catholic education for their child(ren). I hope there are not families reading the negative reviews and determining that this school isn’t right for them, because my family literally thanks God for this school, the teachers, and our Holy Family community every single day.

Elsa England Elementary has been an incredible experience for our family. Our first year had a few hiccups so I waited for the 3rd year to finish to give a fair review. The environment is warm, welcoming, and—most importantly—safe. Principal Williams ensures there is a visible police presence during drop-off and pick-up, and she keeps families informed through timely email updates about any safety-related incidents—whether it's a suspicious person spotted nearby or something as routine as a water leak. Principal Williams is phenomenal. She’s approachable, communicative, and clearly respected by both staff and families. There was an incident at school that frightened our daughter, and Principal Williams responded immediately, even arranging counseling support to help her feel safe and heard. As a parent, it’s a huge relief to know your child is being cared for not just academically, but emotionally and socially as well. Her passion is evident as she leads with both heart and integrity, creating a school culture rooted in care and excellence.The teachers are equally outstanding—nurturing, creative, and deeply committed to their students’ growth, particularly Ms. Brooks and Ms. Cho! They go above and beyond to build strong relationships and create engaging, meaningful learning experiences.Due to some ongoing medical issues, I haven’t been able to volunteer as much as I would have liked. That said, one of the things I deeply appreciate about Elsa England is its incredibly engaged parent community. Families here are actively involved, and there are always parents volunteering, supporting events, and partnering with staff to create a vibrant school experience. It truly feels like a collaborative village. The campus itself is beautiful and well-maintained, with clean, modern facilities that reflect the pride the community takes in the school.If I had one suggestion for improvement, it would be the school website. At times, it can be difficult to navigate or find up-to-date information, which often leads me to reach out to staff for clarification. A clearer, more user-friendly website would make things easier for parents and reduce the number of inquiries staff receive.We feel incredibly fortunate to be part of Elsa England. 

My two daughters attended Challenger School from pre-K to 5th grade. We would have stayed longer if there was a high school. We left when the girls got into a "good" public charter school that went up to 12th grade. Having experienced this private school and a good public school I can confidently say Challenger is worth the investment. My girls are ahead of their classmates in every subject. They have more experience with writing and public speaking. Challenger had short answer and essay questions on tests and our charter school tends to be multiple choice. I did not appreciate that at the time. At Challenger there is a fair amount of homework especially in math. Because of all the practice, my girls excel in math facts and are math movers at their new school. It can be difficult for some parents to work with the administration since they keep the parents away from the teachers i. e. You can't email the teachers directly, only the management. This helps the teachers focus on the kids and lesson planning. They train their teachers well and have an excellent circuulum inching coding. There are no kids with special learning needs or behavior problems. This allows them to teach kids who are in the top 20 prevent if a typical class. I would highly recommend this school of you want your kids to have a great education and work hard. If you're a helicopter parent, it might not be a good fit.