Alverno Heights Academy

Reviews

• Submitted by parent on February 26, 2024
  Alverno Lower School seemed good until my child attended. After we broke from family tradition with another local private school we decided we made a mistake. We have decided not to re-enroll. The facilities are old and tired. It's lipstick on a pig. Teachers and especially the lunch proctor could use some socio-emotional training. So much pressure to give, give and then give some more money or time. Staff are friendly until you approach them with a concern or new idea. Very set in their ways and we kept hearing that's not how we did it at the old school they use to teach. Stuck and unwilling to be open we will be moving on.
• Submitted by parent on January 21, 2024
  We enrolled our children during the lockdown but it soon became apparent that we were in a lord of the flies situation. There was much competition between the lower school and high school. It wasn’t welcome and the kids were caught in the middle. We found the staff friendly- at first. The minute we asked pointed questions or wanted to know more about the school structure or made suggestions we were treated as pariahs. There was a constant hand held out for us to give money. We did not feel the education was commensurate with what we were asked to give beyond the tuition. Granted it was low but their constant requests quickly ran up the fees equal to other schools. After lockdown we found a better school, higher tuition up front but more student focused and less $ in tje end. Alverno wanted to do more field trips than actually teach. The onsite learning was subpar. Now our children are so much more excited to get to school. And no having to deal film crews or clearing out because a wedding was going to be happening. There was a racial incident that was swept under the rug which was a missed teaching moment. We were promised better facilities that to this day are still not built. an expansion. We came to realize Alverno has never finished the last expansion they started decades ago. One of our children came home complaining about headaches or shinsplints having to play in the parking lot which wasn’t level. Our other child started having a lot of stomachaches. I went to observe and heard way too much yelling by staff one female coach in particular was just nasty. I just don’t feel this school had/has their priorities straight. Our kids are thriving in a different Pasadena private school. No more stomachaches or other issues. The teachers are more collaborative and open to the individual learning of each of our children. I did not find this at Alverno. I felt more stress as they were trying to be something it wasn’t. We can’t give th Tk-8 many stars
• Submitted by parent on January 16, 2024
  My wife and i enrolled our daughter into TK, she’s now in 2nd grade. Most days she wakes up so excited to go to school and hang out and learn with her classmates who all seem to adore each other, the bond these kids have and to see how they all take care of each other is a testament to the teachers and staff taking the time to educate and champion them, and it shows.Our experience here has been great. So much so that we’ll be enrolling our son into TK this year.I’m proud of my kid, her education and the faculty thus far and I’m proud to say she’s a student at Alverno.Would recommend to anybody.
• Submitted by parent on January 16, 2024
  We have been a part of the Alverno community since 2020 when they opened the lower school, so my review is solely based on this experience. Our child has been enrolled since TK and has thrived in their classes and socially at Alverno. We have been open-minded and eager to support the growth in these early years developing the lower school, and it’s been a great experience to see the progression each year we’ve been here (state of the art learning technology center, expanding athletics space, enrichment programs, and family/parent events). We will be enrolling our younger child in the fall and look forward to growing with this community.
• Submitted by parent on January 16, 2024
  Alverno elementary and middle school is an excellent school that has nurturing and skilled educators. They care about children's learning and development, as well as fostering Christian values. It's located on a beautiful 13 acre campus where they utilize the outdoor space for learning and physical education. Parental involvement is encouraged and welcomed. Advanced classes are available for students who qualify. Enrichment programs, various sports, drama, student government, mock trial, and speech/debate clubs are a few of the many extracurricular activities that are offered. It's a safe environment with supportive families that share our education expectations and moral values.
• Submitted by other on July 07, 2023
  The fixation is on the adults rather than the children's education. Teacher gifts are priority and constant gossip amongst the parents and faculty. If the children were put first it would have potential. Unfortunately, that is an after thought. Rather parents running around bragging about how "wealthy" they are and obsessed with what others have. Faculty, fixated on what gifts they receive. Again, not educational rather a VH1 reality show. The gossip is rampant. SGV is saturated with private schools, go elsewhere if you are looking for an education for your child.
• Submitted by parent on April 30, 2023
  Do not send your children here. No integrity in the leadership. Such a disappointment.
• Submitted by parent on March 28, 2023
  What a disappointment! Parents sacrifice and save to send their kid(s) to a private school in hopes that this will help their child in their journey to grow, learn and find themselves. Alverno claims to be many things that they aren't. They are non-responsive when there are parent concerns. Leadership appears to care more about lining their own pockets than focusing on the financial health of the school. Parents are silenced and asked not to ask questions. They are an independent school who benefit from the perks associated with this...avoiding any and all accountability. Children are not their priority unfortunately. Keep your money and go elsewhere!
• Submitted by parent on March 24, 2023
  I can't say enough about how great the TK program is. My wife and I were hesitant to send our daughter to school for the first time. We weren't sure if she was ready, and we weren't ready either. We enrolled our daughter in October at Alverno. Ms. Penny and Ms. Lydia were simply amazing. They really are great with kids. They took great care of her and made her feel welcomed right away. She adapted to the school schedule quickly. She loves her teachers. She never wants to miss school and everyday is a new adventure for her at school. The education is great. The content is very strong even for TK and is always presented in a fun way. They do a lot of arts and crafts in class, introduce Spanish, and music. They have a great library that even TK gets to go to and use computers in the computer lab. We're excited to see our daughter move up to Kindergarten this coming fall!
• Submitted by parent on February 24, 2023
  Disappointing experience all around for my first year high schooler. The administration and board of trustees has no concern for the student experience, does not care how badly teachers treat the students, discourages parent involvement all together, stonewalls any and all parental concerns, and now they are shutting down the high school all together.On the other hand, the board of trustees and head of school are attempting to implement a multi-million dollar construction and remodeling plan that's been in the works since 2021 in order to re-make the campus for the K-8 lower school. It is clear the high school has been neglected in favor of the lower school, and now they claim the high school must be shut down because they can not increase enrollment to sustain it. (Saying they made their "best effort to attract more high school students" is a big stretch.) We were told the lower school would not affect the operation of the high school; they said the all-girls Catholic high school experience was there to stay. Shame on Alverno's administration and Board of Trustees for killing the high school in favor of this lower school. With millions to spend on new construction and consultants, surely there is plenty of money to go around. Which brings me to a very important point: transparency is non-existent here. Board meetings, Parent Association meetings, even student government meetings are all CLOSED. There are supposed to be one or two "Town Halls" each semester to compensate for this archaic system, but those meetings were never held this year. To anyone looking for a K-8 school, buyer beware. Who knows what they'll do next?
• Submitted by parent on February 23, 2023
  Do not send your child here. Terrible education. They don't care about your kids. We wasted our money.
• Submitted by parent on October 26, 2022
  Teacher and administrators play favorites with parents and students. Not everybody who pays full tuition is equal because some parents who supposedly donate large amounts of money to the lower school will get all the attention and their kids will be looked after more than the students who pay full tuition and whose parents are dutiful. Classroom teacher would only say hi or talk to the parents who are the “popular” ones but will neglect to even acknowledge your presence in your face when you drop off your kid. The fundraising is extreme, anything your kid does, even going to the library has a price tag. It is a popular contest to be given a spot as a volunteer for activities: it’s easier to pay the $50 an hour times 35 hours = $1750 annually extra than bother putting your name down in the volunteer signup sheets. The school playground is nice but I’m not sure how my kid does academically: teacher doesn’t provide feedback.
• Submitted by other on August 15, 2021
  Alverno was an all girls High School until covid hit and the the catholic school down the street, St. Rita's, didn't renew their head of school's contract. Alverno decided to take in that head of school, along with parent's and teacher's from St Rita's. It's never a good idea to get into someone else's mess esp during a pandemic. You have to ask what the goal of the outgoing head of school from St Rita's is? They opened "another" catholic elementary school less than a mile away. Alverno DOES NOT get money from the diocese nor do they have a church on campus. If your goal is a true catholic education with diocese oversight, this is not it. It's clear that the head of the lower school's goal is to shut down St Rita's, unfortunately, for her, St Rita's has a very rich history and I believe they will weather any storm. If you have a high school girl looking for an all girls environment, PLEASE look elsewhere! These are not the women you want your daughters' to look up to.
• Submitted by other on December 06, 2015
  I'm sorry but there needs to be a lot of changes at this school to consider it "good". There is little to no communication between the administration and students, and the dress code is unbelievably strict, even on FREE DRESS DAYS. Giving out detentions for the wrong socks (length, hue) won't solve anything. Furthermore, it is a pain in the neck to complete service hours, considering the load of homework and projects assigned by the teachers. I'm writing this because I had to experience my sister break down into tears because of unnecessary stress. Detention for socks? Really?Glad I made the decision to not attend here.
• Submitted by parent on May 12, 2015
  I am very happy with the direction that Alverno is headed in under the leadership of Ms. Fanara. I believe she has the right vision and ideas for the school and has already made some wonderful changes to the campus. I am hoping these changes will continue happening and the community starts to see the wonderful things that happen at Alverno!
• Submitted by parent on March 20, 2014
  There is a lot of concern for every student at Alverno! My daughter and my niece both attended and they were given opportunities I fear they would not have had in a different environment. I am confused as to the negative comments because our experience with this school has been truly amazing and a blessing.
• Submitted by parent on February 01, 2014
  Alverno is an excellent school. My daughter is a sophomore and she chose Alverno two years ago because the students were so welcoming to her. Now that she is an Alverno student herself, she considers campus is her second home. Academically she is excelling and socially she is thriving. She loves her teachers and has made good friends. I recommend Alverno to all of our friends with daughters!
• Submitted by parent on January 06, 2014
  Please do not waste your money. If you live in a good public school district, research the possibility of sending your child there. My daughter needed help with math and her math teacher was not available after school because she had children of her own and needed to get home right away. I do understand this and did not expect her to be there five days a week. However, two times a week would have been very helpful. If your child is a good student, she will do well anywhere. Alverno is so lacking. The principal is rude and shows no compassion for families that do not have money. The administration needs to be replaced with people that care. My sister went there for only a year and when it was time for my daughter to pick a school, my sister was so very disappointed we picked Alverno for our daughter. Save this money for college or invest it in an account for your child. You will be glad you did. Enrollment here is so low. Numbers don't lie.
• Submitted by other on November 14, 2013
  I attended Alverno in the 90s and I found myself prepared for college and I had the ability to stand up for myself and work hard for what I wanted. I feel like my high school experience gave me the courage to do that. The teachers and administration were supportive of me as a student and I feel that I received a top-notch education. I was fully prepared for college and made the Dean's list all through my four years. I went on to graduate school where I graduated with highest honors - 4.0 grade point average. Thank you Alverno... and mom and dad!
• Submitted by parent on August 13, 2013
  Alverno High School has been a homecoming for our family. Our daughter will graduate in 2016, 30 years after her mother and twenty years after her aunt. Alverno embraces, envelops, and encourages the girl who marches to the beat of her own drum. The education our daughter is earning is exemplary, but equally as important is the development of her own self. We knew that sending our daughter to Alverno would enhance the gifts she already has, but this was never truer than when we heard her sing a solo at the Harvest Concert during her Freshman year. Our seemingly shy, reserved girl stepped forward, held that microphone, and came alive. It was a beautiful moment as parents to witness. We will treasure it always because we knew she was home.

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