Harborside Elementary School

This school places emphasis on values, such as kindness, gentleness, patience, goodness and self control (and the other fruits of the spirit as well). The curriculum used is Abeka which is a traditional approach to phonics, history and arithmetic. There’s grade inflation but I think this may be a deliberate choice since they try to build every kid up with loving kindness. It is a very close knit community and all of the teachers and administrators seem to know every kid’s name and temperament. There is accountability with an old school approach to rewards and consequences (removal of privileges and sent to the principals office for relatively minor transgressions). I have two kids here and there’s virtually no bullying or use of foul language by the students. Uniforms are flexible but promote an environment of equality and modesty conducive to focus on academic learning. Parents are highly involved (in a class of 20, 17 parents offered to volunteer during the latest field trip) which shows in the way the kids show up to school everyday. We’re very happy with this hidden gem, and having had a child attend the local charter public school in the past, the difference in engagement, academic challenge and growth is night and day. Would highly recommend to any parent.