Hickory Tree School

21720 Madrona Avenue

Torrance, CA 90503

17 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-5
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on October 19, 2023

I have had the greatest experience at Hickory Tree School. Both my boys attended the school starting in pre-k and my oldest finished as a 5th grader (my youngest will finish 5th grade this year). The teachers are wonderful and get to know the students and the family. They teach good manners and social skills and their educational program had my oldest son ahead of everyone (especially math) when he entered 6th grade. I am so grateful to the school and the staff. Your child will be in good hands at this school.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2016

I can't begin to express how much I love this school and the staff. My daughter was in a home daycare program run by a long time friend so I never had to worry about leaving her in the care of people I didn't know. As a first time mom I was so nervous until I walked in on the first day. I obviously knew it was the best place for her which is why we enrolled her but I received immediate confirmation of that when we arrived. My daughter is one of the "strong willed" and needed discipline and patience. She has been at Hickory Tree for only 5 months and has completely transformed. I teamed up with her teacher and staff and ensured she received consistency, it worked. She's well behaved, has learned so much and loves her school. It's true it takes a village, I was never defensive when I learned of her bad behavior, I took accountability and worked with her as well. They love their students, they hold them accountable, every staff member takes the time to enforce manners, encourage play and respect, it's an amazing school. Ms. Sandy, Ms. Cecelia, Ms. Jennifer, Ms. Andrea, Ms. Meredith...thank you for being such an amazing influence on my daughter. Thank you for caring for her and all the other students. Thank you for the thoughtful events you host, the fun field trips, the extra programs you offer for the kids...I'm go grateful for good people.
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2014

Our son has been in Hickory for Pre K and part of Kinder. We LOVE LOVE LOVE this school and will be sending my other son here when he is old enough for preschool. This is not just a school. It is a family. Each teacher knows the name of every child. The environment is light, colorful, clean and smiles everywhere. The teachers guide the kids with a firm but gentle hand. The standards for the kids are high academically, but the teachers prepare and teach them in a way that is not stressful. Summer is made to be fun and full of great field trips. Jackson is going to public school and we will great miss Hickory. As I plan to be a stay at home mother, this was a transition we had to sadly make. We will miss everyone! On a side note, the Director/ Pre K Teacher Ms Jennifer does an amazing job and running the school while giving the attention required to her Pre K class. Jennifer Lies
Submitted by parent on October 02, 2013

Hickory Tree is a great place for children both academically and creatively. Curriculum is well thought out, staff is personable and experienced. Summer programming available, offering extensive field trip and learning opportunities. My children enjoy the friendships they make and due to the small class size the feeling of close family is a welcome change from the masses of the public school experience.
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2013

Hickory Tree is a wonderful school! Both my children have been there since they were 2 years old. Now, as 1st and 5th graders, they are far ahead of other children from other private and public schools! My kids like winter, spring, and summer breaks because they can do a "little" review work and enjoy playing with their friends and going on field trips. The teachers not only teach, but also form lasting bonds with kids. Each day, my daughter goes and hugs her past and present teachers! When I go and pick up my kids, I always feel welcome and there is a family feel at the school. We talk about vacation outings, children's stories, and business networking, too. I guess that is the advantage to being at a smaller school. I don't understand the complaints I have read. I welcome the principles and academics of this school. I am thankful that my children are given the groundwork to becoming loving and productive adults. When I chat with parents during school events, everyone is always giving high praises to the school. No school is perfect. Parking in the morning can be an issue but I just arrived 5 min. earlier at 8:15 and it was a breeze. Thank you Hickory Tree!
Submitted by parent on July 25, 2013

My child just finished the preschool program and just entered the Kindergarten class. I am very pleased with my daughter's academic progress. She loves coming to school to learn and play with her friends. She also loves her current and past teachers. I feel confident leaving my child there because all the staff knows my child and my family well. I am saddened by the negative comments posted on this site. My child likes the food served at the school and never comes home saying she is hungry. Also, she looks forward to the summer program because of all the fun field trips! I'm glad that even though she is having fun, she is still doing some academic review work. I highly recommend this school. I have several friends who I have refered there and they are all very happy also! I just had a baby and I know that she will also be attending Hickory Tree!"
Submitted by parent on July 16, 2013

Academics is good. They should reduce TV time for kids and provide more interactive activities during summer. Also more healthy lunches. They are small portions and they provide chips or cheese cracker for snack !!! Schools should encourage kids to eat healthy and provide more fresh fruits(not one piece of apple for lunch!!!) and vegetables. One look into the school kitchen will tell you how much canned food is used on a daily basis. Please stop this. Healthy body provides a healthy mind.
Submitted by parent on June 07, 2013

This school is worst school! They give the children worst small lunch everyday and they give them a old dirty water. They didn't upgrade the system at all. It's really behind. Specially Summer program is worst. They didn't do anything! Just playing all day long! Watch Movies and play Wii game. That's all! What a waste money to send them during the summer!
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2013

I love this school. Before we decided to have our kids here we toured many schools in the surrounding areas. They are a more academic style school and you can really see the progress that the kids make specially as you see them move towards pre-K and K due to the preparation they get in preschool. Really amazing to hear that K kids do work of 3rd graders and that shows that if you teach it, they will learn it. Great caring teachers and it is specially great for full time working parents and they provide hot lunch for the little ones. For busy parents little things like that help a ton to save time. We love the staff and they are like family. All of their children also attended and some still attend the school and they are very smart and polite. It is also not overpriced. Schools in these areas specially redondo beach and manhattan beach can get quite pricey way over a thousand a month. We moved due to location now but miss them now and will miss them a ton! The kids that go there are getting a great education and great care by a loving staff.
Submitted by parent on October 02, 2012

I don't have an option to rate this school here...as I wanted to give ZERO rating....This is the worst school I have been through..WORST I can say....the teacher and the Director are not at all co-operative...the teacher tells lot of lies and how they are going to teach the kids good manners...which is the most important and essential thing which a kid should learn....So, I don't recommend this school to any parent....
Submitted by parent on October 02, 2012

This school is one of the worst I have experienced. Poor or non professional leadership, they don't give love, respect to either children or parents. Real poor communication between the teacher and the directors - the teacher says one thing and the director the other. I don't think they care about the kids or the parents, they just go by their own military style teaching. The good thing though is the academics which make the kids learn the material but I believe will lack main skill of love and respect. We had our kid in the school and they kept complaining which is ok but we realized after a while that some of the complains are actually lies and over exaggerating the problem. And after all that, they won't even try to resolve the problem but keep complaining. So they are not problem solvers but problem creators and complainers. I wouldn't recommend any kid to go through these as part of school.
Submitted by other on January 12, 2012

This school is behind in technology for a private school. No website for teachers or emails(?) and uses very poor means of communication! More punishment rather than reward for very young kids! Military style bootcamp style teaching. Large class size defeats the purpose of a private school. Yard is very small, kids do not get required age appropriate exrercise. Kids are not allowed to run at recess in the yard. Kids are not allowed to contact even during free play. Parking is a nightmare!! This school is very poor in emotional nurturing of kids. Taking pride in academics must go hand in hand with not using outdated text books and using computers for all elementary kids whose parents pay a lot to school for good education! Some teachers are outstanding but most look cranky, tired, overworked and unapproachable to kids.
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2012

My daughter attends Hickory Tree School and I can assure you that this school is excellent. It is a private school. They receive no funding from the state, therefore must charge tuition. They do not just "care about money."... however, in order for the school to continue to operate, they must make money. I am so thankful that I have an opportunity to send her to this wonderful school! Thank you SOOOO much HICKORY TREE! KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK!
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2011

The parking situation could be improved but after a while you get the hang of it and even manage to keep a routine that makes the parking thing a non-issue. The school itself is wonderful. The staff and teachers are all great. I couldn't be more satisfied with the choice we made in this school. My son just turned 4 and can write his full name and a few other words too.
Submitted by parent on June 16, 2011

Everything they care about is MONEY not the childrens!!! Just read the paper carefully before you sign.
Submitted by parent on February 11, 2011

My daughter has been at this school since pre-school and she's happy there. We as parents love the school because they care about the students academics but also about their social development which you won't get at just any school.
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2011

It saddens me to hear such negativity toward this school. People must remember that teachers are human too. I agree the parking lot is a little tight and but when I drop off my child at Torrance High, you come across the same kind of congested traffic. My child attended Hickory Tree and we couldn t have been more pleased with his academic progress that began here at this ACADEMIC school. Sounds like these negative parents are the ones who do not want to take responsibility for their child s incapability to develop with the rest of their peers. My husband and I both agree that the staff and the director are what made us feel like we had an extended family and didn t have to worry about our kids.