Vista Ridge High School

Besides one I didn't care for last year, all the teachers have been wonderful. The staff clearly care about the kids and I see that every day in the hallways during pick up and drop off. They greet the kids by name often and keep it positive. Public school can be a nightmare, but this one clearly is not - I'm staying in this neighborhood just to keep sending my child here. I don't relate to some of the other recent reviews posted here. I think they go above and beyond for the kids.

Such a disappointment in an elementary school. Very crowded, and the kids are rude, and not friendly. The teachers are not inclusive (at least the few we had encounters with), and do not take any feedback from concerned parents. The communication is terrible. The teaching is terrible. The demographic is very very one sided. Do not recommend this school, at all, or ever.

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.

Thoughts from a CPM graduate:I attended CPM from 1st grade through 5th, I will graduate high school in 2026. To say I am grateful I went to Cedar Park Montessori would not be enough, this school impacted me in so many ways, it allowed me to embrace my creativity, ask questions, learn to share and pay attention and ultimately blossom into who I am now! I read once in a book, something along the lines of “If you're taught wrong in elementary school, you'll be trying to catch that train for the rest of your life." Through my experiences at other schools, they teach you very uniform, everyone is learning at the same speed and you are taught that raising your hand just makes the lesson longer, nobody likes a teachers pet or a goody two shoes. Whatever you do… Don’t challenge popular beliefs, you are taught to follow the system. CPM is quite literally the opposite, you are encouraged to look at things differently and ask “why?“ I used to question “why does this math problem even work?” And at CPM, I was greeted with an actual teacher who wanted me to understand not just pass. It’s a smaller more personal learning environment where instead of memorizing you actually learn!!! And its at YOUR pace, not the kids next to you, when you first grasp something it’s beautiful and at CPM that feeling was honored by teachers and staff, at CPM the reward isn't it in the candy it’s in the understanding. I learned how to love learning at CPM. This is my greatest strong suit; being able to find joy in seeking knowledge. Thats my favorite takeaway. After CPM I went to a public middle school, it was a bit rocky adjusting, not only to the education system but because Montessori kids are so much more emotionally aware. But by having good roots and being taught morals young, I was able to choose my path, I didn't fall into the wrong group, and to this day I've never given into peer pressure, (I know very few teenagers can say that!) and not to toot my own horn, but, im aware that my maturity level is higher than many of my peers because of my early education. I can’t thank my parents enough for choosing CPM, truly, one day, I wish to give my child the education and opportunities my parents gave me by enrolling me at Cedar Park Montessori.

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.