33661 Shackleton Isle
Dana Point, CA 92629

Going to this school was hell on Earth. Glad I survived the elitist attitudes, exclusion of anyone different, extreme classism, and white dominated culture. Bullying is a major issue and drug abuse was a massive problem as well when I went here. Test scores are not everything. Culture matters, and the culture of this school was disturbing to endure.

yes a very nice school l would say that kids should go there

RH Dana is a really special school, and the old reviews and descriptions of the school are not representative of the school today. Principal Nelson and Vice Principal Smith (new the 2023-2024 school year) are very involved with the students and know them by name. My son sees them and speaks to them every day during recess, moving between classrooms, and when he arrives at school. Parents are very welcome at this school. Parents are able to park near the school and walk their children to their classrooms (if they choose to, drop off is also an option) which allows us to get to know the teachers and other staff at the school, their classmates, other parents. Every Friday there is a school-wide assembly, which is another opportunity for parents to participate in school activities and learn about what is going on at the school, and there are also many other school activities that parents are invited to attend beyond back to school nights. Parents are also welcomed to volunteer in the classrooms and on the playground. The school has a counselor on site who the students know and love and she is very available to the students. There are many other staff members at the school who assist the children during recess and in the classroom who provide the children with one on one attention when they need it. The staff members that work in the cafeteria even know the children by name.Our child completed his Kindergarten year at RH Dana and is presently in 1st grade. Each of the Kindergarten teachers are phenomenal and the 1st grade teachers are excellent. Half the day is spent using English, the other half in Spanish, so the children move between two classes during the day. Our son entered Kindergarten not speaking any Spanish, and finished the year with surprising speaking and writing Spanish skills. He also met/exceeded grade level expectations in English. His teachers recognized some speech issues, and the school provided him with speech services on site during his Kindergarten year. The school is working hard to expand learning opportunities at the school with a new library, aquaponics lab, and improved marine science labs. This school celebrates the things that make children and people different, embraces different cultures and languages, and recently merged with the exceptional needs facility bringing all of the students together in the school. Our son is excited and happy to go to school every day.