St. Marks School - Altadena

Like so many parents in the Pasadena area researching private schools, we did alllll the tours. We hadn't heard much about Saint Mark's and always assumed from the name that it would lean heavily religious, which wasn't something we were looking for. We also didn't like that it ended at 6th grade (something we later decided was actually a plus). Toward the end of the touring season we decided to stop in simply because it was close to our work. I am not exaggerating when I say we walked out of that little school under the shady pine trees like "this is The One".Coming from a strictly play-based non-academic preschool, we really wanted to continue letting our kids be kids, learning through play and curiosity. But we also knew we wanted them to be challenged academically. And not to sound boastful but we have nice kids; we wanted them surrounded by other nice kids. I didn't want my kids to lose their sense of just being nice, kind humans.What we found at Saint Mark's was a balance that really worked for us. Academics are strong, learning is hands-on and meaningful, and the kids are still excited. Their teachers clearly care about them. The kids are happy. And nice. Polite and well spoken. During the tour, they looked like they were having a good time being at school, laughing, joking with friends at lunch, singing on the way back from recess. Overall we've been really happy since enrolling. We are now in our third year here. Watching what they do, even in Kinder, has been impressive. They have Writer's Workshop and write diary entries about their Halloween class pumpkin decomposing in a tub for months. In another unit, they raised tomato hornworms we brought in from our garden and watched them transform into hawk moths, documenting the whole process. For Valentine's, I offered to drop off homemade pink play-dough to our worldly first graders (an homage to my pre-k co-op years), assuming they'd say the kids were too old. Instead, they embraced it with rolling pins and cookie cutters. The teachers are so special and genuinely know each kid as an individual, even across grade levels. Small groups in the classroom let kids learn together at the same level, wherever that may be. When my DK-er had a rough start to the school year, his teacher rearranged the daily schedule to help him feel comfortable/safe and wrote me daily emails of his progress. And speaking of progress, I never expected that it would be normal for a progress report from his teacher to include a personalized letter detailing his personality, strengths, leadership, character- It was just so unexpected and thoughtful. I'll admit that when we enrolled, I was focused entirely on academics, student/teacher ratio, kind teachers, diversity, outdoor space, and letting kids be kids. While Saint Mark's checked all those boxes, I didn't realize how special the community would be. They interviewed us as parents and not just our kids, which felt like they care about building a community of families with the same values. (I joke that I would vacation with almost any of these families, and we could definitely get through a zombie apocalypse together)Socially, there are grade-level parent parties in the Fall so you can get to know the other families, sans kids. There are events like the Fall Fest with petting zoos and bounce houses and bake sales and confetti eggs, there are potlucks and picnics, book fair, hikes. There is an annual gala fundraiser where parents can let loose for the night, as well as smaller socials that make it easy to build friendships. There are ways to be ON campus: classroom jobs and PA positions and many ways to give time/talent/donations. You can sign up to stuff red envelopes for Lunar New Year or hand out hot lunch on campus and spy on your kids while they eat. After the fires we did consider relocating. And while it may seem unusual to be temporarily housed on another campus, our kids do get to use the beautiful outdoor spaces, fields, gym and basketball court at EF. What I was initially worried about has become somewhere the kids love to be. We did still have moments of doubt about relocating or not. Ultimately Saint Marks was a big factor in our decision to stay. I know it's wild to think elementary school is what kept us from jumping ship, but we stayed in the Pasadena/Altadena area because of this school. Our kids love it and we love it for our kids. We plan to remain living locally through sixth grade because of the school, and probably longer after hearing where the 6th graders matriculate to.We're really looking forward to the rebuild. We feel incredibly lucky that we found this small, somewhat under-the-radar school almost by accident. It's hard to explain how great the culture is here until you walk through the classrooms and campus and talk to some of the students, parents, and faculty. Like any school it won't be the perfect fit for everyone but for our family our experience has been very very positive.

Dear school seekers, Ultimately we chose Saint Mark's for our children because it displays balance- we see both modern ideas surrounding whole-child social emotional culture with a more traditional classroom/academic load and structure. Saint Mark's has true authenticity when it comes to role-modeling what community means for our children. The Episcopal elements of school feel universally welcoming to all. As a multi-racial family, we feel very at home with Saint Mark's where DEI is not a department, an option, or a fad but a natural part of the school's identity. When we chose the school we were intentionally seeking academic rigor for our kids; and because the school embraces differentiated learning groups, we know our kids will get what they need in all subjects. The children have lots of movement throughout their day with a wide variety of subjects to explore. The school maintains boundaries with being responsible, respectful, and safe which allows all the students to take risks and lean-in knowing they have a foundation of structure and support behind them. I have noticed our children's imaginations have been flourishing due to their time at school. The teachers are joyful and friendly which invites a warmth. The parent-community is strong (and fun) which is deeper than a good time when we realize we are showing our student-body what it looks like to work-together and create something bigger that everyone can enjoy. The leadership prioritizes modern changes to education while keeping the jump-ropes and math text books in close reach. To open a new campus about six weeks after the Eaton Fire is a true symbol of how strong the community is. Come and tour!All the best,Melissa

We started our journey at St Marks in fall of 2020 with our eldest starting preschool. At an unprecedented time, the school did an unbelievable job of creating an incredible in person learning environment! We have now been at the school 5 years with two kids enrolled and are so happy with the choice we made to attend this gem of a school. My husband and I grew up in the area and had always heard unbelievable reviews of St Marks from our friends, family and coworkers. And now, we are in that grouping of people who speak so highly of our beloved school. The children gain a deep love for learning and learn how to learn. Their wellness is important as well but not in a way that overshadows academics. It's the perfect hybrid of strong academics, taught in age appropriate ways- with the child's wellbeing taken care of. And on top of this, everyone we know that has graduated and gone onto prestigious independent schools in the area say that St Marks prepared the students incredibly well. We are beyond happy with St Marks and what it's provided for our children.

We have been with Saint Marks for 8 years! My oldest first started in the 3s preschool and will be graduating from Saint Marks in 2 years. We couldn't be happier. Saint Marks has exceeded our expectations in every way. The teachers are dedicated and genuinely invested in each child's success. This really rings true for my youngest who has a learning difference and needs a little extra help. His kindergarten year his teacher went above and beyond and connected with his tutor to make sure they were aligned and working on the same thing to ensure he kept on track. She also started the morning out with math after she noticed he excelled at math, it built up his confidence at the beginning of the day to ensure the remainder of the day ran smoothly. This year his teacher connected him with a learning specialist on campus during group reading time to give him the extra attention he needs to build up the confidence to read in front of his peers. The teachers really know your child and will do whatever it takes to ensure they are all getting the exact attention and help they need. The administration is approachable and responsive, always putting students first. There's a real sense of community here. Both of my sons have gained confidence and a love of learning thanks to the nurturing and engaging atmosphere. We couldn't be happier with the quality of education and care provided here and couldn't recommend Saint Marks enough!!

We are endlessly grateful to Saint Mark's. Before our very eyes, we have watched our child grow into the very best version of who she is meant to be, supported every step of the way by devoted and expert educators who guide her to learn and flourish in ways we never would have imagined. We began there in the 3 year old program, and honestly didn't know much about the school beyond the preschool. When it came time for Kindergarten, your child automatically has a spot in the elementary program (a huge plus), but we still wanted to look around at all the competitor schools to make sure we were choosing the best possible place for our family. Our child was so well-prepared coming out of Saint Mark's preschool that she was accepted everywhere we applied. An amazing credit to the preschool! In the end, as we compared all the independent schools in the area, Saint Mark's was the place we found that equally prioritized strong academics, social emotional wellness, extracurricular opportunities, and just being a genuinely good person. We looked no further, and haven't looked back.Lots of these schools will help your child become the best version of their kind of student--Saint Mark's helps your child become the very best version of themself.

TL;DR: You'd be missing out if you didn't check out this hidden gem! I could go on and on about everything, but to save your time and mine I'll point out some highlights. - Low student-to-teacher ratio. Preschool is 15 kids/2 teachers per class. Elementary max of 20ish kids/2 teachers per class. Allows for differentiation in the curriculum so your kid is a lot of attention and being challenged at their level.- Focus on teacher retention: very good, nurturing teachers with lots of experience who are invested in the school long term.- Excellent 7th grade admissions stats.- Amazing school community: I do not know how I would raise these kids without this village and all its resources. People (administration, teachers, parents, etc) are truly authentic and caring. - Episcopalian school but actually very light on the religion. More focus on being a good person and social, emotional, and moral education. Very important in this modern world. Many diverse families here, not just Christian.

I have had the privilege to send multiple children to Saint Mark's School. While I still have a young one enrolled and thriving, my other children got into their first-choice schools and are both doing very well. While being academically prepared is obviously a concern for many parents, I was more worried about making sure they had a balanced upbringing. One of the school's main missions is to "Honor the Student's Childhood." That really resonated with me because, in this day in age, I feel like we are in a big rush to make our kids "grow up" so quickly. The community at Saint Mark's School is very tight-knit and you can really feel the love for each other. Of course, no school is perfect, but I think any of the adversities faced are perfectly normal and end up building character for the child and the parents alike. I feel so lucky to have my family be part of Saint Mark's School and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to any young family who values a good balance.

We have been a part of the Saint Mark`s Family for 3 years now, and our two children are thriving for so many reasons. The low teacher-student ratio really helps the faculty get to know each individual student and assist individual needs. Being a preschool-6th grade only, your child learns to become a leader at an early age. Our graduating 6th graders are well-spoken, confident, and compassionate leaders. Community is central to everything. The families come from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds and are warm and welcoming. We have made many close friendships here. The families are also very supportive of the faculty and staff. They truly want the staff to continue to grow in their education and other learning avenues. We feel very blessed that our children are able to receive a first-rate education in such a warm and positive environment.