Gooden School, The

192 North Baldwin Avenue

Sierra Madre, CA 91024

46 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 26, 2025

Exceptional school that nurtures kids and prepares them for high school. My kids have thrived and were very prepared for high school. Appreciate the differentiation at Gooden for kids that are in accelerated math and how teachers encourage kids to focus on their strengths and also try new things. While there is some challenges with parent cliques, my experience is that the teachers and staff are amazing and have a great balance of providing strong academics, building confidence, and encouraging acceptance and kindness.
Submitted by parent on July 20, 2024

I was a Gooden parent for multiple kids over 10 years. Most of what was good is now gone. Only a few competent teachers remain. About half of students are on IEPs. Admission cannot fill open seats. Parent association culture is toxic. Episcopal values have been replaced by fearful leadership and accommodations for bullies. If you want a teacher to ask your child, “How do you think your classmate felt when they shoved dirt in your mouth?,” then this is the school for you.
Submitted by parent on November 14, 2023

This is our first year at Gooden and we absolutely love it here. Our daughter is thriving and is excited to learn and go to school everyday. She especially loves the going to art and music classes where she brings home new art work and songs she’s learned throughout the week. What we really enjoy as parents of Gooden is the size of the school and ratio of students to teachers in the classrooms. Also we love how all of the teachers and staff know every student across all grades by name and make them all feel special and important. The parent community is small and involved and have personally felt welcomes from the beginning. We feel blessed to be going to Gooden and feel like this is the best place for our child.
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2023

Gooden is a a gem. It is a small and involved community with caring teachers, involved parents and a wonderful campus. The school is continually evolving and adapting to the needs of the students. They have fun and engaging curriculum with lots of hands on learning opportunities. The small class sizes allow every teacher to get to know all the students. I am so surprised when even the middle school teachers know my child's name. You can reach any teacher or the Head of school by email with any concerns. My child is so happy at Gooden, he enjoys all his classmates and has lots of opportunities to play with students in other grades, including his Middle School Buddy. By giving the students connections between the lower and upper school students it removes the perception of "scary older kids", they are all friendly helpful friends. There are a variety of religious backgrounds among the families and they make everyone feel welcome. From our 3 years at Gooden I am certain that my child will be challenged academically, supported when needed, and feel a deep connection to his school.
Submitted by parent on December 06, 2022

Our family joined the Gooden community last year, in the middle of my son's 5th grade year, and we could not have had a more seamless or positive experience. My son regularly thanks me for finding Gooden for him, calling it "the perfect school." When he started at Gooden, he was immediately welcomed by all the students in his class. His teachers helped him transition to his new school and supported all his efforts. In no time, he was thriving—socially and in his learning. Now in middle school, he's engaged, he's challenged, and he's maturing in a nurturing, intimate, safe, fair environment. And, to boot, he's becoming more respectful, responsible, and disciplined! He's said himself that Gooden has made him a better person. What more could a parent of a middle schooler ask for? Our entire family was welcomed by the warm and robust Gooden community, and we're grateful every day for finding this school. A friend of mine called Gooden "a gem." I couldn't agree more.
Submitted by parent on November 30, 2022

We have two children who attend Gooden. Our oldest started off in 2nd grade while our youngest started with the Kinder program during the first covid year. It has been amazing to see how quickly both children have been embraced by the school and community. The level of attention and personalized instruction is more than we could have hoped for when we started looking at different educational options. Our children have been supported and nurtured in so many ways. During covid the kindergarten teacher showed up to every students’ house with a crate of supplies and activities that she carefully planned out for each day of Zoom school. When our child had a minor surgery and had to miss school, the teacher showed up with a get well gift and lots of hugs. The third grade teacher noticed a knack for poetry writing and submitted our child’s work to several publications and writing contests. This helped develop a passion that continues to this day. When returning from the holiday break, the fourth grade teacher let us know within days that our child was not concentrating in class. We addressed the issue and got back on track quickly. Our children feel so seen at school and every teacher is in tune with their needs. My husband and I consistently note how fortunate we are to have a supportive educational environment that continues to adapt and change in response to our children's needs.
Submitted by student on November 17, 2022

First off all, let me start off- the academics at this school are definitely NOT rigorous. The workload may be much, but the material is definitely not hard. In fact, through 4 - 8, all the material is literally just repeating. The kids don't learn anything knew, and just repeat everything until 8th grade, where we have some variety. - If your child has awkwardness, or have some trouble connecting, DO NOT APPLY. I WARN AGAIN. DO NOT APPLY. There are DEFINITE social dynamics in the classes with popular kids are the kids who are left out, that they pretend are their "friends" but really leave them out on movie nights, text groupchats, and even to picking partners, all the popular kids stay together, and the rest are left to be partners with each other. It's honestly, DEMORALIZING. I should know, because I was a victim of that. - The psychologist is just homework help & test accomodations. That's it.- there are definite favorites in athletic teams, and everything is just so toxic. you have to fit the mold, to be accepted. I HATE IT. please do not send your children to this school, it will damage their emotional wellbeing & also make them feel inferior to their classmates.
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2022

We have been at the The Gooden School several years now, and every year, I am seeing more and more how toxic this school is for children. Parents don’t talk about the problems, because it is in their best interest for the school to have a good reputation. They pressure children to fit into molds that look good for the school, and if they don’t fit in, they are chastised and made to feel inferior. From my experience and hearing stories from other parents, I am shocked how rude and disrespectful the administrators are to some parents. Never responding to emails and calls. I get treated better by the manager at Target. Being such a small school, it is clear they prefer certain families over others. The young kids notice favoritism from teachers and staff. The school culture is a self esteem killer for children. I have heard stories from across grades, and a common theme is kids who are bullied leave the school, because the school protects the bully. They do not address it directly and just remind the kids to “be kind”. They say they teach respect, but they don’t show respect in their actions. We have had enough and are looking for other private school options for our child.
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2022

Overall, I am disappointed by Gooden. I was looking for small class size, individual attention, differentiated learning, social-emotional learning and a tight-knit community. My child started at Gooden in Kindergarten and through the years the class size has fluctuated, but never less than 15-17 students. That doesn't sound like a large class, but after kindergarten, I found that despite having a teacher and T.A., they were not able to deliver the individual attention one expects from a private school. If the class is over 15 students, you will not get value for your money. They do have differentiated reading groups, they have standard spelling words and "challenge" words, but beyond that, there is no differentiation. In math or other areas such as writing, you better hope that there are enough students at the level your student needs for the teacher to be willing to put in the extra work. Social-emotional learning at the school is sorely lacking. Beyond kindergarten, there has been no social-emotional learning integrated into the curriculum or daily school life. From chapel, my student mostly absorbed lessons about protecting the environment. Don't ask me why. The main problem I have, is that at a private school, I expect there to be adult supervision on the playground, and I expect those adults to have the emotional intelligence to help children navigate playground conflicts, and to resolve disputes fairly. In incidents involving my student, as well as other incidents I heard about, the teachers did not maintain objectivity, and were not able to regulate their own emotions. I also feel that for elementary school, the teachers and administrators lack empathy, kindness, and an understanding of child development or emotions. It was difficult for some students to return to school after the pandemic, for some more than others because of factors like having one parent only, or two parents working full time while trying to juggle home-schooling, having a sick parent, not having a "pod" or "covid bubble" during online learning, while other students had intensive tutoring, or a parent working from home, or a family member who could help out etc... There were disparities among students, and equity issues and the school was not sensitive to these or the needs of students when they returned to on-campus learning. Gooden failed to support students. Finally, because I'm out of characters to type, this is an everyone for themselves type of community. Not worth the $$
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2022

We feel so lucky we found Gooden. Our son started in sixth grade and just graduated in 8th this last year. He is now at a prep high school that we could not have imaged him attending before his time at Gooden. The teachers and staff prepared him both academically and socially to meet the challenges of high school and the next chapter of his life. They focussed on the development of critical thinking which is so key today. The rounded approach to guiding their students helped shape him into a better student and a better person. The size of the school is really tailored to developing individual learners. He visited the school for one day and came home saying "this is the school for me" and he was right.
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2022

I've had two kids go through Gooden and both started in Kinder. My oldest was well prepared for high school and took 5 AP classes. My younger child is still at Gooden. I've been around a very long time and have seen many changes and let me assure you they have all been positive! The Head of School has an open door policy. If you have an issue you can make an appointment and she will see you one and one. Trust me, I have had meetings with her regarding my child. Middle school is a beast onto itself. If you have never had a child in middle school, you should know it's three years of transition. The students are growing and trying their independence, forming friendships and sometimes ending them. These are all life skills learned at school. I do not condone bullying in any way, shape or form, however, the school addresses any issues that may arise. Have teachers moved on? Yes, every school does. The replacements are well vetted and are an asset to Gooden! Don't take my word for it, please come visit us. Heck, visit all the local schools and find the one that best fits your family and your values. Gooden has done a fantastic job with my children and I'm thrilled to be a part of this community.
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2022

I disagree with the negative reviews! My child attended Gooden for 8 years. The leadership is very effective. The head of school is approachable and accessible. She did a remarkable job during the pandemic with remote learning, as did all the teachers. She is clearly passionate about her work. The teachers are gifted, caring individuals. They care for every student regardless of the level. Gooden develops strong character in students. Integrity, compassion and respect to name a few characteristics. There is an emphasis on community service and the kids all learn to be part of a community. Our child has some learning differences and Gooden effectively supported these differences. The curriculum is rigorous compared schools, but there is plenty of support. Every child does not get the same treatment, but every child gets what they need in the differentiated classroom. They do not adopt a one-size-fits-all model when it comes to classroom instruction. They know their students and their individual needs and keep this in mind when preparing lessons, assignments, etc. These children are WELL prepared for high school. They approach homework effectively, too, and push the students to manage time, plan ahead and prioritize their work. There have been instances of bullying from time to time, but the school staff helps prevent bullying by establishing and enforcing rules and policies that clearly describe how students are expected to treat each other. I’m only sorry that Gooden is K-8 instead of K-12.
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2022

My son recently graduated from The Gooden School, going through from K-8, and it was a perfect fit for he and our family. Small class sizes and dedicated teachers who show true interest in our child's education were evident from the jump. The school is always looking for new ways to expand the experience of the students and have made a strong push in the STEAM/STEM and arts areas. The other thing that makes Gooden unique is how dedicated and engaged the families are and how approachable the administration and teachers make us all feel. This gem of a campus sits at the base of the San Gabriel mountains and the adorable little town of Sierra Madre is a great place to go following a school day. You owe it to your child to take a tour, talk to the administrators and teachers as well as the current families.
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2022

As an alumni I had great expectations for this school. I remember a lot of great things and how much I learned. Everything has changed about Gooden and not for the better. The leadership is the greatest problem of this school. Perhaps it begins with the spiritual guidance or maybe lack of. When I was in school here, we began each day with a prayer and pledge of allegiance to the flag. Today, the kids do not pray in the morning and they do not know the Pledge of Allegiance. They do not even know our national anthem and the words to it. Sermons are more symbolic of something in between Buddhism and Yoga. I have attended church services of many denominations and never seen anything like these. The school has also become noticeably racist. They prefer families consisting of one Hispanic parent and one Anglo parent. You will notice this with faculty, teachers, and board of trustees. If you are of this mixed race, your child will do much better than others. You will notice that kids are bullied at this school and it is because they implement 'restorative justice'. This is a process that has been adopted from the New Zealand prison system and has failed largely at schools in the USA, but Gooden embraces it. The victim child as a result is often times left in a very fragile place with psychological challenges that Gooden is unable to deal with since they only have a psychologist part time, one day a week.Although the school will not openly admit it, they practice Critical Race Theory. If you need proof of it, just look up their Director of Equity and Inclusion. Most all pro CRT schools have one and so does Gooden. If you do not know what CRT is, you should take same time to research it and see if that is something you want your child to learn. I do not feel it is helpful and I feel it actually causes racism and hate.Although there are some great teachers, there are many more who are new or moved around and not experienced at what they are doing. At the price Gooden charges, it simply is not worth it. Children from this school do not learn to love God or our country like children of other private schools. And although they offer a lot of different programs, the depth of them (specially the basics) is just not there. I feel bad for all the parents who are too busy to research schools and just send their child here, thinking this is the same school it used to be. It is very different and very sad.
Submitted by parent on July 11, 2022

We enrolled in Gooden for kindergarten and looked forward to seeing our child graduate from the school in 8th grade. We were attracted to the lovely campus and the 3 R’s of Respect that the school holds as their motto. Unfortunately, after kindergarten there is little focus on demonstrating respectful behavior in the classroom and on the playground. Attention to emotional and social well-being in young learners is sadly lacking. This became more apparent with return to school after distance learning and a pandemic. The last few years have seen a lot of teacher turnover as well. This is one of many areas of concern. Frequent incidents happen on the playground where supervision is lax. Bullying and bad behavior are a far too regular occurrence. The school psychologist is on campus once a week and is unable to facilitate any meaningful change with teachers’ attitudes or between students. Certain families are favored and protected by the Director of Admissions. The not-so-nice behavior exhibited by the students of those families is given a pass. The school acknowledged our child was a target of bullying and cruelty on the playground, by a recurring handful of students, and did nothing to correct it. These incidents were traumatic and damaging to our child’s self esteem and eventually eroded their ability to feel safe and secure in the classroom because it was allowed to continue. The school ultimately blamed our child and accused them of lying when they tried to inform adults as to what was going on. Our student had many tearful mornings before school—dreading what might happen and not knowing if adults would step in to help. Very little compassion was shown to us. Our child was expected to navigate being bullied and manage their feelings “appropriately” with minor support from teachers on how to do this in elementary school. By the end of the school year we were exhausted. The gaslighting by the school was unbelievable. To my relief, more than one family from our class reached out to us to share that their children had witnessed what was happening at school to our child. It was validation for what I had known all along: our child was telling the truth. We also learned these social dynamics are taking place in at least two other grades in elementary and middle school.This is not a school for kids who are quirky, sensitive, or free spirited. Our biggest regret is that we didn’t pull our child out before the damage was done.
Submitted by parent on June 01, 2022

Our son started kindergarten at Gooden and went all the way through. He was set up for success at the next level both academically and emotionally. The teachers are nurturing and the school community, while small, is engaged and our family has taken many of those friendships forward as has our son. The campus is beautiful and just down the street from downtown Sierra Madre. I would highly recommend the school for those who are looking for a place where everyone will know your child's name and care about their well-being.
Submitted by parent on June 01, 2022

Gooden is truly a blessing, our son is graduating this year and has gone to Gooden since Kinder. We are about to embark on a new chapter but wanted the world to know before we leave, what a pleasure it has been to go to this school. It stems from the moment you and your family begin, to the last day. The teachers and staff, have always been supportive, caring, and nurturing and you can see it in your child, it makes a difference when you have a school that cares. My son got accepted into every school he applied to, this school prepared him and so many others for their next journey, not only by incorporating the core curriculum but also with the great music programs they offer and the great bonding experiences of the many field trips they take while at Gooden. I have seen not only my son grow into the young man I knew he could be but the many other kids in his class who have also grown into respectful young people. The kids at Gooden leave with confidence, knowledge, and respect not only for one another but for the world as a whole. If you want your kid to go to a school where you are proud of and proud of your child's growth, then this school is for you, and you don't have to start in kinder to get this, we have more than half of our graduating class, that are kids that started in all grades, and I can honestly say that they are family to each other and that goes as well as the parents. Parents have many opportunities to connect with families at several of our events, volunteering or being on the sidelines as our kids play sports. Thank you Gooden for the past 9 years!
Submitted by parent on June 01, 2022

Nice-looking campus and will have a group of families good at giving school tours. High teacher turnover rate and can not keep good teachers. Bully is very much in every class and can lead to significant mental health impacts on young learners. Very clicky parents and PTA hold strong power over the school. You see parents of the students who are bullying volunteering at school and staying and being protected. Teachers and students are taught to look the other way.
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2022

Gooden is a truly fantastic school. It is our second year there and we are so grateful for how they have handled my daughter and their entire class during the pandemic. ZOOM kinder could have been horrendous but Mrs. Paz is a unicorn. She is one of the most loving, generous, accessible, and knowledgeable kindergarten teachers as well as the lower school Director. Mrs. Valle for 1st has also been incredibly patient, loving, fair, and understanding in meeting my daughter where she is. She has ADHD and they've made several helpful accommodations that have kept her motivated and excited. My daughter absolutely loves coming to school every day and has made so many special relationships. The bond of this small school is pretty incredible and I love knowing that she is so well known on campus by everyone. I feel safe there and even though we aren't religious, I don't feel that it has ever come into play as something forced or overbearing on her education. We hope to keep attracting the kind of families that are warm, kind and open-minded to diversify our already dedicated community.
Submitted by other on March 29, 2022

The school is extremely biased. My child got bullied and the middle school administrator and therapist just let my child stand there and get bullied. Recently, my child has been getting pressured and bullied by a teacher. Ever since my child got into middle school, a crazy child and parent has been harassing my child with the schools approval. After being harassed, my child has been crying non-stop and the school has done nothing. I wouldn’t suggest Gooden because of the teachers. When my child was in lower school, it was very peaceful. One moment they would be angry with each other, and another day they would be fine. Minor drama, stepping into middle school life was drama non-stop. The school blames my child non-stop and calls my child a liar. The school needs to stop, this is driving multiple kids emotionally.