Columbus Tustin Middle School

Our family has had a wonderful experience at St. Jeanne de Lestonnac. My son started in 1st grade after attending public school for TK and Montessori for preschool, and the transition was incredibly smooth. The teachers are kind, supportive, and truly invested in their students’ growth, both academically and personally. With their support, my son is now performing above grade level and feels confident in the classroom.My daughter began preschool at St. Jeanne after attending Montessori at ages 2 to 3, and she has absolutely thrived. She is happy, engaged, and clearly well prepared for kindergarten next year. Beyond academics, the sense of community really stands out. Families are welcoming, and there is a strong partnership between teachers and parents. Having had positive experiences in Catholic school myself, it is meaningful to see my children receiving the same strong foundation in faith, character, and learning. We feel very grateful to be part of the St. Jeanne community.

Our family had a bad experience last year, and this year’s rosters reinforced our concerns. In our experience, there appeared to be preferential treatment for staff families in both teacher assignments and front-row seating—even though my son was the only student wearing glasses in his class and needed a closer seat. As the new year began, there was still no assigned 3rd-grade teacher. When we chose to withdraw before school started, the school declined to refund two months of tuition (the registration fee is explicitly non-refundable per policy). Throughout our correspondence, the tone from leadership was unnecessarily harsh and not what we expected from a Christian school. We also noticed teacher departures during our time there, which added to the instability. Based on our experience, we cannot recommend this school.

My second child is currently enrolled in this school. My first came out of Foothill and entered kindergarten at a third grade reading level. He is currently reading at the 5th-7th grade level or and he's only in 1st grade. This school is true to the Montessori principles. Mr. Jarnail Mudan is a true educator, committed to the fundamental values of education. There is extremely high retention at this school, with Mrs. Allison serving as a bedrock of the preschool group. I can't say enough great things about this school. They are truly committed to the children and their emotional, physical, and educational growth.