Cascades Academy
19860 Tumalo Reservoir Road
Bend, OR 97703
Bend, OR 97703
(541) 382-0699
Community Reviews
Cascades Academy has a beautiful campus and a warm community. Most teachers/staff are dedicated and kind, and the hands-on/project based philosophy seems appealing and gives the school strong potential. That said, some families experience frustration with leadership being closed off to those outside
Posted by a parent on 2/13/2026This school has completely altered the course of my daughter's life in the most amazing way. She is now passionate about learning, even though transitioning from public to private has been a bit of a game of catch up. Their forward thinking way of educating is profoundly effective and we are so than
Posted by a parent on 2/13/2026Truly one of the most disappointing educational environments I have encountered as a parent. I initially came here to share my own experience, only to see a review from September 2025 that mirrors ours almost exactly.The favoritism toward certain grades in the upper school is deeply troubling. While
Posted by a parent on 1/29/2026Finding Cascades Academy is what ultimately gave us the confidence to move to Bend. We liked the idea of relocating, but once we toured Cascades, it became the reason we took the leap right before the 2025–2026 school year.When we first visited, we were impressed not only by the philosophy and curri
Posted by a parent on 1/23/2026We have been extremely happy with our experience at Cascades Academy, specifically in the middle and upper school.What sets Cascades apart is its skills-based approach to learning. Students are not just focused on grades or test performance, but on developing real, transferable skills—critical think
Posted by a parent on 1/22/2026Nearby Schools
Browse other schools near Cascades Academy- Tumalo Community School
- K-5
- Public
- 265 Students
8/10GreatSchools RatingParent Rating AverageAmazing school with amazing people! So lucky to have found this gem! Recently moved to Tumalo from Santa Barbara and this school is exactly what we were looking for! We switched to Tumalo from a terrible private school in the same town and our kids (ages 5, 9, and 11, three girls) are thriving beyond belief!Thank you Tumalo!Parent Review6mo ago - Desert Sky Montessori
- K-6
- Charter
- 177 Students
3/10GreatSchools RatingParent Rating AverageWe just left this school after several years. We wanted this school because we liked the idea of a small school and did research on Montessori. But it was one thing after another in our time there that we finally decided to leave. 1.) Staff turnover was a significant problem and never got better. They said at the tour that students get the same teacher for 3 years so they really get to know your child, but every year there was a new teacher, or a new principal or others. It started to feel like a red flag when the school couldn’t retain its staff. 2.) Going to this school takes work! There is no bus, so we had to make arrangements everyday to pick up and drop off. Not the end of the world, but also a burden sometimes. There is no food or lunch available so we had to deal with packing lunches. Again, not the end of the world but this is a challenge we wouldn’t have to deal with at other schools. And the amount of fundraising felt excessive! We felt at one point like we were being asked to “donate” so much, we may as well have had to pay a tuition. It was optional technically but with the amount of asking they did, it felt like an obligation. Constantly selling something, hosting fundraising events or just asking for direct donations. Cost of living is hard enough right now, add having to commute to the school twice a day, buying lunch supplies and “dont forget to donate”, it was honestly a financial burden for our family to go to this school. 3.) Academically speaking, I don’t think they are preparing kids well at all. We didn’t have any concerns while there because we always got positive feedback from teachers and we trusted them, but now that we’ve left and are at a new school, we are finding out our child is really behind. I don’t know if it’s the method or the new teachers every year, either way, we are disappointed in the academics side of things. All in all, this school was a let down. The whole lottery thing makes you feel like you really “won the lottery” to get a spot. But after having experienced it, it’s not as great as it seems. I wouldn’t recommend this school.Parent Review1y ago - North Star Elementary
- K-5
- Public
- 291 Students
8/10GreatSchools RatingParent Rating Average
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Bend schools - Cascades Academy is located at 19860 Tumalo Reservoir Road, Bend OR 97703. Cascades Academy is a Private school that serves grade levels PK-12.
