Oxford Preparatory Academy - South Orange County in Aliso Viejo

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	10/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) data from California Department of Education, and using 2025 California Science Test data from California Department of Education.
Student Growth	9/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from California Department of Education.

Posted: August 16, 2026

My student has been at OPA SOC now for three years. He loves it there and I understand why. The teachers are warm and friendly, knowledgeable and competent. The school community is close knit and family like. The curriculum is challenging and the approach of teaching to multi intelligences and discovering what makes each of our students unique and gifted works for us. There is a special approach to learning here that focuses on our children individually. Youre not going to find small 1:10 classes here but you will find some of the most dedicated and hardworking teachers and kids who love attending. Its a public charter school just like any other public school in our neighborhoods and fave the same limitations each may, like lack of funding and facilities upkeep. If private and charged a tuition things might look a little different. But they accept all students and dont choose their student base on whether you can afford to pay them tens of thousands a year for tuition. They work with what they have.
The administration works hard and is receptive and responsive and the families are kind and supportive.

Posted: August 16, 2026

Posted: May 6, 2026

In general great school. My daughter transferred from nearby public elementary school (over 1K+ students ) to here a few years ago. Her school test score and CAASPP test results are great. Way less bullies than big public schools for sure as it has smaller number of students in there. I won't say the school has zero bullies but at least the school handled it quickly and efficiently.

I'm not that happy with homework that my daughter brings from the school ( she's 5th now ), because she usually finish school assignments less than 30 minutes, especially math, unless it's project that requires multiple days/weeks of efforts to finish. I know my daughter is not math genius, so the level and amount of homework isn't enough to even make her to sit down on her chair for 30 minutes but hey she' only 5th grade and she's going to go through a lot of class / lecture / assignment through her mid/high and college. Let them to play with friends and do what they love after school is over.

I gave 5 stars for "Special Education" but I actually don't know who good this school is for that specific category so give it 5 based on other categories being 5. At least school entrance and pickup/drop is easy to access with wheelchair and vehicle, and so does inside of the school, almost no stairs. All thes school buildings are 1 story buildings.

Posted: May 6, 2026

Posted: January 13, 2026

We're in our third year at OPA SOC and could not be happier. The academics are rigorous, the admin and staff are experienced and extremely caring, the school body is diverse, the school offers lots of clubs and extras outside of school, the PTA organization is extremely active and student-focused, and the full-time school counselor is such a gift. The school outperforms neighboring schools academically and has also made many safety and campus improvements in recent years. If you receive a lottery spot for your child at this school, you are literally winning the school lottery. Highly recommend!

Posted: January 13, 2026

Posted: May 24, 2025

Overall, this charter school is well-managed and operates efficiently, with some standout teachers, particularly in middle school math. However, there are several critical issues that parents should be aware of before enrolling their children.

Pros:

The administration runs the school smoothly.

The middle school math teachers are excellent.

Major Cons:

Lack of Academic Record Integration: Because it is a charter school, student performance data is not linked to the Capo Unified School Districts system. This means that when students transition to high school, there is no official record of their elementary or middle school academic history within the district.

Missing Geometry Curriculum (as of 2023): The school does not offer Geometry, which creates significant challenges for students when they enter high school math courses.

Conclusion:
While the school has some strengths, the lack of curriculum alignment, record-keeping issues, Parents considering this school should weigh these factors carefully before making a decision.

Posted: December 7, 2023

This is such a fantastic elementary school. The Chancellor is absolutely wonderful, and in general, the teachers are experienced, supportive, and have high expectations for all students. The level of education the kids are receiving is top-notch. The school also focuses heavily on character development and positive behavior, and offers lots of fun clubs for kids after school. Highly recommend it for kids at all levels!

Posted: December 7, 2023

Posted: September 28, 2022

The only thing worse than the children's appalling behavior is the staff's. Yes, it was shocking to hear about lack of yard supervision, backpacks in toilets, young children's obscene language, violence, and the rate at which they occurred, but when we observed staff condoning the language and vandalism, and YELLING AT PARENTS, it became a game of survival with a focus on getting out of there. Administration showed no remorse. It seems to be a culture that starts at the top.

Posted: September 28, 2022

Posted: August 27, 2022

Racist, sexist, homophobic entitled culture. administration looked the other way when multiple students were being bullied. Victim-blaming, food thrown at students, slurs, racist language in classes, student had his personal novels ripped up, books were deliberately knocked off tables. School had a problem with "don't be homophobic" messages but students using the n word in classroom was allowed. Be warned that this school gives lip service to kindness, but allows the worst kind of bullying. When I complained about bullying, there was absolutely NO follow-up with me as one of the parents whose kids reported the bullying. The bathrooms were disgusting and the language elective class (Spanish) was overcrowded (60 kids crammed into one classroom, not enough seats. etc.} This charter school is a MESS. The only point of view the administration wants to hear about is the parents who want a private school without paying for it. The parents park in residents' driveways, make u-turns in the middle of the street during the busy pick-up/drop-off times, pick their kids up in the middle of the road, walk down the middle of the road during busy times. They don't slow down for pedestrians, are rude to residents, jay-walk, and generally, do whatever they want, regardless of safety and traffic laws.

They did have a good response to COVID and the distance learning and most of the teachers are not the problem. It's the senior administration.

Posted: August 27, 2022

Posted: August 25, 2021

I began working at this school as an SLP via tele-therapy late last school year but was not impressed with the leadership especially the special education leadership. I was supervised by a school psychologist who was not familiar with most speech and language testing procedures and explained to me that they can place a child in special ed if the team thinks the student needs it even though the student does not qualify as special ed on formal assessments. This is contrary to American Speech and Hearing Association Ethics and special education law.I was brought in to provide missed IEP speech and language service minutes for students. There was another SLP working tele-therapy who was case-managing and supervising two slpa's on two campuses for 115 students. She was working up to 60 hours per week. I offered to help out with her case management load but leadership did not back her up with additional help from me. I had several students on my caseload who did not qualify for speech and language services on standardized assessment but the IEP team determined they needed intervention for social skills like having a conversation, so labeled them as students with speech and language disorders. Some of these students had mild emotional / behavioral issues, while others did not demonstrate any issues. This school bragged about having 30 students per classroom including special needs students. Teachers were great to work with collaboratively but the teacher and leadership turnover at this school is significantly high and I did not want to return. I was not impressed with this Charter School.

Posted: May 21, 2021

Staff is extremely unhelpful and condescending. Wouldnt feel comfortable having my child going to them for any help. Teachers are always competing and they do not stay long.

Posted: May 21, 2021

Posted: May 11, 2021

My 3 daughters are in this school and it is extraordinary. The teachers are unique and very qualified and this shows in the output. Hats off to the Admin team, Principal, Teachers and all those are part of OPA -SOC.
My daughters are so occupied and especially during Covid there was no complaints about Boredom. The teachers did a wonderful job teaching, coaching and giving projects that the kids are so interested and sit after school to complete them. All I need to do is support my daughters and help them. The result is so beautiful and students shine the best.

Posted: May 11, 2021

Posted: June 20, 2018

Our experience has been nothing but wonderful at OPA. Despite the fact that the Chancellor seat has yet to be filled, the leadership team, teachers, students and parents continue to strive towards success.

Posted: June 20, 2018

Posted: March 24, 2018

Parents are involved. Students who are not meeting the requirements are given extra help. Mandarin, Taekwondo, science lab and other programs are standard.

Posted: March 24, 2018

Posted: February 28, 2018

4 different principals in 5 years. That tells you a lot.

Posted: February 28, 2018

multi-intelligence is a false advertisement. They get no differentiated education. No GATE program at all.

Posted: February 28, 2018

Good teachers do not stay. Look at the rate of teachers with more than 3 years of experiences. It's way lower than the average.

Posted: February 28, 2018

4-5 pages of homework a day and a lot of stress to the child

Posted: February 28, 2018

It was good until 2015 and started to go down the hill. Any negative post gets erased, so I hope this one stays. I tried to keep it short.

Posted: February 16, 2017

I would go no higher than 2 out of 5.

One of the things I didn't understand was why each year the foreign language offered to my son was different from the previous years? Just when he's learned the basics of foreign language #1, the next year it's do it all over again with foreign language #2, and again the following year. One year the German teacher left, and my son stopped practicing his German at home. When I asked him why, he said they had no German teacher any longer and that time allotted for German was now a "free period" where they played ping pong or foosball or anything but German...but I never received an official notice from OPA that there was no German teacher anymore.

We were one of the families who eventually left OPA and moved to a traditional middle school setting, and our son is doing great in high school. My opinion is OPA can be a really good K-4 school, where you have a credentialed teacher in a classroom. Once you get to the later grades, a single teacher cannot be the master of math, science, English, social studies, etc., and truly help a student find focus in advancing in one or more of those subjects, if provided a teacher specialized in one subject.

Unfortunately OPA seemed more focus on rallying the population to champion another location to pop up and be approved. The "LONG waiting list" of "interested families" discussed at various meetings was a result of "you'll get a homework pass if you can get x names and addresses on this sheet of interested families."

Posted: February 16, 2017

After a few years I noticed a pattern where my son's teachers who challenged their students to excel were actually the teachers forced out of OPA, while the teachers who flew under the radar and at times regarded as ineffective with their teaching style remained on staff. I know that a charter school follows a different method of teacher retention and removal, but this observation didn't set well with me.

Posted: February 16, 2017

Perhaps only during the school assemblies. On occasions while volunteering in and around the school office I would hear of bullying incidents and what was being done (not done) to address them. In my opinion, the perceived bullying of parents by some office staff doesn't help with the situation.

Posted: February 16, 2017

Having a new Chancellor (OPA's version of a Principal) every year seemed weird, as their was no continuity of a leadership style. We won't get into WHY the constant rotation of Chancellors in this survey as that will further distract from the purpose of this survey.

Posted: February 16, 2017

Perhaps only during the school assemblies. On occasions while volunteering in and around the school office I would hear of bullying incidents and what was being done (not done) to address them. In my opinion, the perceived bullying of parents by some office staff doesn't help with the situation.

Posted: August 4, 2016

Just like any other school some teachers are better than others. The school administrators will fire any teachers who in their opinion do not perform.

Posted: August 4, 2016

Students are misbehave are disrespectful and bully other children still get rewards, they only value attendance and no demerits on the playground. My son valued the rewards at first until he saw a very cruel boy get rewards after a number of parents complained about this boy's behavior.

Posted: August 4, 2016

My son went from a private school to OPA in second grade and I pulled him out after 5th. The academics at this school are excellent, they are especially good at bringing average and low performers up. They are average and challenging advanced kids. Where the school is really lacking is teaching compassion and respect. We left because my son was being bullied and I got excuses from the teacher and no response from administration - none. That was not the first time administration ignored my REPEATED requests to speak with them about concerns I had. I do think they care about the kids but they care more about the politics of charter schools and their reputation more and you only have so much time and energy to give.

Posted: June 23, 2016

My son just completed Kindergarten at this school and what an incredible year he had! His teacher was kind, caring, and most importantly, pushed him to succeed. He has always been advanced for his age and I was worried he would get bored with the lessons, but his teacher challenged him to do his best. Champ Camp, the before/after school care available, is also excellent. This is mostly due to the director of the program, who treats all the kids like family. My son loves his school, his teachers and friends. I'm thrilled he got in and look forward to my daughter attending there as well in a couple of years.

Posted: April 8, 2016

The good: Great education, the way of teaching and enthusiasm keeps kids motivated. I love how the majority, if not all, parents are invested in their children's education. The involvement creates an environment of support and enthusiasm. I like the uniforms, it just makes life easier. The teachers I have met are kind and caring. Opportunities for Improvement: Let the MV campus staff and teachers focus on MV, not on opening new schools. Be mindful of the staff's time so we don't lose those outstanding teachers. (which keeps happening) Get organized. It is improving but there is still much room for improvement. Ex. Figure out who is teaching what, what language you are going to teach etc. prior to the school year starting. Lastly, it is important to keep parents and teachers to have an effective organization, listen to constructive criticism don't have an attitude of "there is a waiting list 1000 students long, you don't like it you can leave". This is about creating the best school for our children not blindly following like sheep. Every person and organization can improve, this organization is no different.

Posted: April 8, 2016

Overall effective, my child has had wonderful teachers and very mediocre teachers, just like any other school.

Posted: April 8, 2016

My child's current teacher does not give much homework, it has been great. Other teachers give too much.

Posted: April 8, 2016

It does not develop integrity because they are not consistent in showing it to the students.

Posted: February 10, 2016

The office staff are rude, condescending, and not knowledgeable in educational state practice. Parents are treated in an infantile manner by arrogant staffers whose blatant disdain for parental input is insulting.

Posted: December 8, 2015

The school values all students and their contributions to the school and each university. I feel my child is treated fairly and is held to a high standard.

Posted: November 26, 2015

Best decision we ever made for our children. They were very smart kids and our home school was Wood Canyon Elementary. WCE was a terrible school with an even more awful principal. They did have some amazing teachers, and my kids did get good ones while they were there, but the politics were ridiculous. We pulled our kids out the first year OPA opened. We didn't make it in via the lottery so we went the independent study route to ensure their guaranteed placement the second year. Since then, the charter has been changed because parents complained that other students who entered the I.S. Program after them were placed before their child.
Needless to say, some prior have stated they focus on at grade level or slightly below and ignore the gifted. I'm here to tell you that's simply not the case. My child left OPA after the 6th grade year to go to an arts school. When my child got there, my child was tested in math. My child was then placed in advanced math because they scored 90% or higher on the year end 7th grade and 8th grade test respectively. What I'm trying to say is your child will be challenged. The projects they have kids do so they remember what they're studying is amazing. My kids can remember, facts such as dates etc. from history like they just learned it that day. I went to traditional school and I can't remember anything because we memorized facts and then moved on to something else.

We're truly blessed that OPA was formed. My children have thrived there.

Posted: November 23, 2015

After working in the Capistrano school district as a substitute teacher and as a parent of an elementary and middle school student, I can say that OPA is a refreshing alternative to the rest of the CAPO district schools. It is like a private school without the price of a private school education. Is OPA-SOC for everyone- no, but if your child is a round piece looking to fit in a square peg in the CAPO school district, OPA-SOC may be a good alternative. There is a huge waiting list just to get into this school and the reason is clear...they offer a clear alternative to the status quo. And that is what OPA-SOC is all about. Choice for your child. My child was bullied, and just pushed through the CAPO district with no regards to his educational needs. OPA has been so much more than a school It is a village, a community of staff, parents and students who want an alternative for their education. They believe in multiple inteliigences that every student learns differently. A refreshing change. If you want (or more honestly if your child wants ) the "traditional" Middle school experience then go to Newhart or Don Juan where they get "lockers" and get to go to different classrooms. But if you want your child to experience a unique environment where your child is challenged and where each student is believed to have value OPA-SOC is an excellent choice. Parents actually have a say in their child's education which is so much more than what they have in the other CAPO schools. I feel blessed that my child has attended this school and for the individuals who work at the school who provide a learining environment that promotes excellence. My only regret is that this school is not a K-12 school.

Posted: August 6, 2015

Posted: May 17, 2015

A big disappointment. An over-hyped school that uses their parent information meeting to sell their school to families. High teacher turnover which for my student was very unsettling. Lots of worksheets. Lots of extra fun activities. But, at times we parents felt like, can we drop some of this unnecessary activities and stick to the basics. Particularly in the upper grades. Glad we left, and can see the school still struggles with its identity. Save yourself the frustration don't go here.........

Posted: May 17, 2015

I will give you a down to earth honest review of this school. Leaving OPA was the best thing we did! Experiences are highly individualistic. Some absolutely love it others, others were highly disappointed.. It should be an amazing school, I wanted it to be amazing , but it isn't amazing for every child. If your child is content and doing well where they are, don't feel like you "have" to get your child into OPA or their "future" is destroyed. If your child's current educational situation has serious problems, give it a try, you don't have anything to lose. You can leave if it doesn't work out. OPA especially caters to and tries to help kids that are barely at or below grade level proficiency. Highly gifted kids are left high and dry. Admin thinks they are seeing to this populations needs, but they aren't. I'd love to give details regarding the administration, programs, or teacher qualification, but the post will be deleted so I will avoid that. Last note, if your child is highly advanced in a musical instrument, they will be much happier at a school with a highly developed music program. OPA has a mandatory "Band" (drums/horns) requirement.

Posted: May 11, 2015

I love Oxford Preparatory Academy's modern approach to learning!!! After hearing great reviews about the programs and curriculum, I enrolled my son in school at OPA-SOC. This was the best decision that I have made. OPA-SOC has exceeded all of my expectations! My son LOVES OPA-SOC. He has made a lot of new friends, and he can not stop talking about how great the teachers and other faculty members are. OPA-SOC is like an extension of my family. Parents are very active in the school, and the faculty members go above and beyond to ensure the success of the students. What I love most about OPA-SOC are the extremely high educational standards, the Champion Village activities, and the children's "MAJORS" classes. MAJORS classes give the students an opportunity to develop a new skill or talent. I am ALWAYS surprised by what my son learns during these classes. This year, my son learned how to loom knit and he came home talking about how he knitted a cap that was donated to help fund COPD research....WOW!!! OPA-SOC is amazing, and I can't imagine having my child attend a school anywhere else.

Posted: February 7, 2015

We love OPA! While attending traditional public school, my daughter a 4th grader, was in tears everyday before school. Mondays were the worst. I was desperate to find an alternative. My friends who have children at OPA raved about what a great school it is and how happy their kids are. So we transitioned into their independent study program. It is one of the best decisions I ever made. My daughter is now happy to attend school. She loves her teacher and the best part about OPA is that I am able to be on campus with her as much or as little as she needs me to be. I now have 2 daughters in the independent study program at OPA and they are both learning so much and are so excited about the more modern style of learning that OPA offers. They are no longer stressed or bored. It's great. As a mom I love the uniforms. It's so easy in the morning. I also love the way the campus is set up. It's set up to reflect a modern style of teaching and preperation for college. We are so happy to be an OPA family!

Posted: January 17, 2015

My teen attended OPA for most of the middle school years. Pro's: uniform, easy school curriculum, small school atmosphere . Many teachers were excited and positive in teaching at OPA. Lots of extra days off. Cons: my teen experienced a lot of bullying. When brought to admin atten., little was done. The teachers our last few months of attending, lacked experience in handling the classroom. Boring electives.

Posted: November 29, 2014

Oxford Preparatory Academy is an answer to prayer. I have 4 children who have attended the traditional public education system and I was about to give up on public education. My children are so excited to learn everyday. When my kids come home they want to tell me what they learned in school. They can't wait to read, practice Math on Jiji and complete their homework. The teachers go the extra to help my kids succeed with excellence academy. I am so happy and thankful for OPA for my children s education.

Posted: November 20, 2014

Love this school. It is academic and rigorous and my kids have had many opportunities for learning outside of their core classes. The teachers work really hard and parents are encouraged to volunteer. My son is a middle schooler and I feel his educations has been top notch. There isn't a subject my son's teacher hasn't thoroughly taught and, after having been at the regular public school last year, he said to me, "I am finally learning." My son also needs an IEP and the school was on top of that without delay. The chancellor, dean and teachers have always been very nice and completely accessible & the other staff members my son works with regularly are fabulous. We are extremely happy.

Posted: November 13, 2014

Thank to all of those parents for the reality check reviews. To those incoming parents, DO listen to what your guts are telling you. I did and boy, am I glad.

Posted: October 28, 2014

I love this school! It has made a dramatic impact on my family, especially for my daughter who is on the spectrum. Their special education program is named Scholar Academy, and what a great way to help the kids feel truly special and important! Despite comments about the school's junior high program, they completely outperform district schools, so I don't get what people are using as their justification for comments. I also have friends whose kids were in the moderate range at OPA, and now are honor roll students at well known high schools. This tell me they are well prepared!. As a parent who volunteers consistently at the school, I love their culture, both visually, in the classroom, and by administration. They have a great team, and I couldn't be happier.

Posted: September 22, 2014

A follow-up to the parent's post on Thursday, September 18, 2014, I enrolled my student at our local middle school instead. OPA-SOC dominated in its initial year and blew the socks off the doubters that "wanted" OPA-SOC to fail for some odd reason. I give credit to the families who fought against many obstacles, as my family was one the proud Champions since its inception. However, years pass and my middle-schooler needed a middle school experience. An earlier post said that "having lockers" doesn't make a middle school experience. I'd rather have my student manage from class to class in four minutes, and have specialized instructors for each subject, NOW, and have that experience before the shock sets in during the opening weeks of high school, since "my room mom" can no longer ensure I have everything squared away. (By the way, a HUGE thank you too all room moms who helped out tremendously in the OPA-SOC classrooms!) OPA-SOC will become more stable over the years, but not having PE locker rooms to change, or a lower-attrition in staff (among others) I expect the exodus of middle schoolers will continue each year. OPA-SOC currently is set to be an above-average elementary school.

Posted: August 17, 2014

I would say the school is 3 1/2 stars right now. The previous reviewer hit the nail on the head. There is much more hype than substance, take everything you hear at the information meetings with a grain of salt and realize you'll get about half of what they (OPA senior management) are promoting. There is a severe problem with organization and institutional knowledge, because there is a change in administration every year or more than once during the year. We have had outstanding professors and professors that just did the minimum. What you will get at OPA is a community of parents that is extremely dedicated to the education of their children. The parents, teachers and staff have high expectations of the children academically, and the children tend to rise to the expectations.

Posted: May 28, 2014

I disagree with the previous post about the school addressing bullying. My child transferred in a month after school started, and within a couple weeks, told me about another child that was saying things that I considered "bullying." I e-mailed the teacher, and detailed the issue. After the next couple weeks, a few comments were made, but each time, both children were brought to the dean's office. Each child was given guidelines on what to do/behave/consequences, etc. As of this date, the two are friends, and sometimes play at the park after school. My child's teacher was on top of everything with e-mails detailing incidents and progress. My child LOVES this school, and looks forward to every Monday morning! This did not happen in the previous school. Additionally, our teacher, has her finger directly on the pulse of what's happening. I've been impressed at each parent conference of how well she knows my child - every last strength and weakness clearly identified, and a plan to improve weaknesses laid out. While the older students don't switch classes, or have a locker like a trad'l middle school, is that really is what is important in preparing them for high school?

Posted: May 20, 2014

Very disappointed with the school's problems with bullying. It does not take action towards the situations and lets the incidents to carry on, allowing the students to be victimized. The education is not up to the standards that the school sets for itself. It does not prepare middle school students for high school. There is no switching classes, lockers, locker rooms, or anything that could allow the students to feel comfortable with graduating and moving forward with high school. Oxford is suited for elementary students and that's it. The school should reconsider having a middle school in the future years.

Posted: April 28, 2014

Sigh - As a current OPA parent, I can say OPA isn t that amazing . Don t buy the hype. Just like other schools, it has good & bad. This makes me so very, very sad because I expected more. I could give you specific examples of problems but my comment will then be deleted. So I ll answer your question, Should I send my child to OPA? My answer is an honest maybe . If your child gets good grades, is relatively socially/emotional happy (has friends) -PLEASE LEAVE YOUR CHILD WHERE THEY ARE! Just remember the grass is not always greener... If your current school is not good, your child learns differently, is just barely proficient academically or has social/emotional issues- give OPA a try it might work great for them. OPA s test scores are high because it focuses on avg. to low performing students. If you have a gifted student who is relatively happy in school, PLEASE LEAVE THEM WHERE THEY ARE! OPA s program for Adv. students is weak. Experiences at OPA are a hit or miss. Ours was a miss. Our children are quite frankly happy to be leaving OPA. Elem. school is best bet, avoid the mid. school. Remember test scores don t tell the whole story. My advice-BUYER BEWARE!

Posted: April 27, 2014

This is the most amazing school! Both my second grade son and kindergarten daughter attend and they love it!!! The theory behind the school that ALL children are special is incredible and in full practice. The professors are some of the most amazingly creative and dedicated people in the world. We love this school!!!!! GO OPA CHAMPIONS

Posted: April 26, 2014

Great news, Oxford Preparatory Academy in Mission Viejo was just renewed for 5 more years! This is a great school of choice, and the Capo School District deserves great praise for offering such a great school to our children. Keep up the Awesome work OPA!

Posted: April 20, 2014

My children's STAR test scores also rose dramatically, but then so did their stress levels. They had hours of homework each night, mandatory after school band twice a week and one of them had mandatory after school tutoring also. We were forced to quit some of our normal after school sports and music lessons in order to attend OPA's inferior and mandatory classes. It's all just window dressing the music, Tae Kwon Do and foreign language instruction. It makes parents feel like their kids are at an amazing school, but if they look closely they should be able to see there is no depth to the programs. They do have excellent science lab teachers who engage the kids. That program is the exception! I wish the staff would do what they say they will do instead of constantly changing plans. If you tell kids you are going to take them somewhere and then cancel it trust is broken. Staff needs to hold themselves to the same level of responsibility that they place on the students. It's obvious to most dissatisfied parents that most of the problems stem from poor leadership and a focus on rapid expansion to other locations rather than the betterment of the Mission Viejo location.

Posted: February 23, 2014

I find it shocking that parents are criticizing the school about it's junior high program, when their performance over the past two years is superior to district junior high programs. In my business, I use valid data to make important decisions, and I would think choosing my child's school is one of those. With that said, I did my research and found the following: last year, CUSD 8th graders scored 51% advanced in language arts, while Oxford 8th graders scored 78% advanced. Since math is such a hotbed by those with earlier posts, consider than no OPA students took general math last year...while nearly 44% of 8th graders in CUSD took that test. 22% of OPA 8th graders took geometry last year, while only 16% of Capo 8th graders took geometry. Now, while I agree that not everything is perfect, and the changing situation should be addressed, I'm curious how an 8th grade student knows that their education is not preparing them for the district high schools, while attending the top performing school in the district by a landslide. Hopefully the grass is greener for these people. Good luck.

Posted: February 22, 2014

CONGRATULATIONS to the students, parents, and staff. I wish all schools would celebrate their students in a manner such as this. The Cum Laude celebrations that were held this past week were an absolute success. I especially liked hearing the returning 8th graders (now in 9th grade at local High Schools) comment at the end of the award session about how successful they currently are in the High School programs. They felt prepared as they entered high school, confidant, and were extremely successful. They expressed their appreciation to OPA in very heartfelt praise. I wish the parents that are criticizing the school had the opportunity to hear these students speak. Thank you OPA! In spite of a few that the program apparently is not a fit for, it would appear that the overall program at OPA remains a huge success. Obviously this is why "School Choice" is such a necessary strategy for education today. Best wishes to all those who are continuing their education at OPA, as well to those who have parents who are searching for an alternative. I would only ask that parents base their opinions on their own individual experiences and not on the few who prefer to spread the negative.

Posted: February 18, 2014

We felt that this school lacked many things in the middle school program. We have had 10+ middle school student leave this month. The issues that the parents brought up, still has not been addressed. Our student felt that she was not getting ready for high school properly and asked to move schools. Our student hated having to undress in front of many other students in a bathroom stall while the younger students could walk in. Our student was bored, not inspired, and not challenged at this school. Our youngest whom we pulled as well, lacked basic core fundamentals, however could speak a little Chinese and karate kick.

Posted: February 7, 2014

After many weeks of observation and inquiring we have decided to pull both our children next week. 2/10. Why? What I have observed is a total breakdown in authorative administration. Thus leaving the implentation of educational foundations to a bare minimal. We have had 5 spelling test thus far this year. No foundational math support like math fact memorization, MI that is dry and boring and ineffective, and finally pull-outs that appears to be just fill ins. Good lunch to the rest of the students.

Posted: February 6, 2014

My two children are very happy with OPA and my husband and I are very happy with the academics. Advanced math offer to 7th grade to prepare them for HS. My children are challenged in a fun way which clearly helps them learn what CA deems important because their test scores both rose over 100 points. We have enjoyed 3 great years, 6 different teachers in all, and all have been wonderful. Teachers are all caring and committed and always go above and beyond with after school or lunch time help.

Posted: February 5, 2014

OPA promote itself as being an amazing school, and for people who come from a public school that's not rated very high, it's really a treat to go to OPA. But If you come from a private school then you see that OPA is not that amazing. Speaking with other parents I see that many sees things like I do. A lot of parties and waste of time activities, but not much academics instruction. Many extra curriculum activities that don't add much to the education. They promote all the foreign languages taught in school, but they don't take it seriously enough. School year started and for the first three months there was no language teacher. One thing about OPA is that most kids are happy there. The kids have a lot of freedom to play in different areas and meet different people. They can go in the computers, play xbox, play in the piano, in the white board, air hockey, ping pong or just play soccer, basket ball or other things outside. For that I give OPA a 10 out of 10, but they should incorporate more academics in the mornings instead of some of the other activities.

Posted: February 5, 2014

We love Oxford Preparatory School! I have four kids with four entirely different learning styles and needed a school that could meet their needs. The administration is professional, hard working and friendly. The teachers are wonderful! Their hard work, dedication and positive energy amaze us day after day. The staff members clearly want to be at OPA and want to make it an excellent school. There have been staffing changes as people move on or are promoted within, but the school is run in such an organized way that the transitions have gone very smoothly. One of my daughters attends Excellence Academy (free tutoring for kids who need extra help) two mornings a week and races through breakfast so she won't be late because she likes it so much. How great is that?! We are so grateful to be at this school!

Posted: February 4, 2014

You can't argue with success. As a father who has three boys in the school, I can say whole-heartedly that they love it! From great teachers who challenge them with academic rigor on a daily basis, to Tae Kwon Do for my eighth grader, to band for every student from 5th grade on, this experience has been tremendous! Has there been change? Yes, but OPA is not stuck in the mire of public education where people can get in and almost never get out. In my business, when someone can't cut it, we make a move. We are not relegated to keep them because of a union. As a charter school, OPA has the luxury of employment flexibility. Also, some admin and teaching staff have been PROMOTED, not fired or quit (as in last year's 8th grade teacher, last year's asst. principal, last year's principal, last year's 3rd grade teacher, etc.). Promoting from within is actually a GREAT way to maintain strong employees and organizational culture, and I applaud the Oxford Prep team. Here's to another five years!!!

Posted: February 4, 2014

I can't say enough about Oxford Prep!!! My child has been blessed to work with amazing teachers and support staff. As a parent, I did my research about all educational options for my child, from my private schools to charter schools. I CHOSE OPA for my child!!! We were lucky enough to get in and have been fortunate to experience everything OPA has to offer for the last 2 1/2 years! I CHOSE OPA and I still CHOOSE to support the school who has brought so many exciting and innovative programs to my child and others. I support the decisions those in leadership positions make because I know they will be what's best for the school. I choose not to overstep my role as a parent and get involved with administrative issues. Again, I CHOSE OPA! Following National School Choice week my passion for choice has been renewed and I am excited to share this passion with the other families at OPA and those who are thinking of making a great CHOICE for their children!

Posted: February 4, 2014

Oxford Preparatory Academy Charter School is an amazing option for parents in the Orange County area. The kids love to go to school, they are supported and nurtured by amazing professionals, and they are achieving tremendous academic success!!! It's a no brainer for parents! This is the school you want your child to go to!!!! The administrative team has fulfilled all promises for my child. I LOVE that they stand up and protect their mission to the core!!! They don't try to make people happy....they do what is right for kids! OPA is for CHAMPIONS!!!!

Posted: February 4, 2014

I am grateful that my children love Oxford. We have an 8th and a 5th grader that attend Oxford since it opened it's doors. My children have thrived at this school since day one and continue to. All of my kids teachers have gone way above the norm. A lot is asked of teachers at Oxford and they continue to rise to the occasion. Has the school had it's ups and down, well of course it has, that is normal because opening a school from scratch is not an easy task. I have to say that one of the things that attracted me to a charter school is that if a teacher or an administrator is not a good fit for our children they can be let go at any time. This is a plus in my eyes. I am proud to be an Oxford parent and I know my kids are proud to attend Oxford as well. Go Champions!!!!!

Posted: February 4, 2014

I have watched reviews being posted and I thought I should take a minute to put in my two cents. We did plenty of research in regards to our choice of schools before sending our son to OPA. In response to negative comments I have read, I have to point out that this school is new and like any start up will take a little work and time from all involved to run smoothly. I have no doubt in this school as I watch how well my son is learning more then I could have imagined and in the end isn't that what matters most. I know there is plenty of work that it must take to run a school and although I might not understand every aspect, I do believe the team at OPA are doing a great job for our son. I do believe that ALL our children are their main focus of this team. My wife & I have always received cooperation from the staff and they have been open with communication in our experience. I just have to ask that everyone take a step back and realize that these folks at OPA are making a difference for our children!

Posted: February 4, 2014

I thoroughly appreciate that Oxford takes the time to train their teachers with the most up to date curriculum, including Common Core. They actually gave the students an entire week of half days so that the teachers could receive the in-depth training for the transition from State Standards to Common Core Standards. The results were significant! The teachers came back to school the next week with an adjusted curriculum that directly reflects their training.That is one of the many benefits of being in a Charter school. They have the ability to be proactive whenever necessary and aren t afraid to do so. This school is not for everyone student, parent, or teachers alike. It demands the best from each of us with their leadership.I love that they move teachers around from grade to grade and campus to campus. The school really seems to be in touch with what their students need and adjusts staff accordingly. I realize this doesn t happen in standard schools but it really is an enrichment to the students. Oxford has a successful track record for focusing on the students and their needs while making sure that any child that struggles has all the the resources needed to personally succeed.

Posted: February 4, 2014

Oxford has been a wonderful school for all 4 of my children! When the school began 2 1/2 years ago we understood that it was new and that it wouldn't be perfect and there might be some bumps in the road. There no doubt have been bumps in the road and growing pains but in spite of all the understandable changes the school has continued to be successful and grow. The programs they offer you can not find at any other school and the education is excellent, I would not want my children anywhere else. I am looking forward to the CAPO school board voting yes to renew Oxford for another 5 years.

Posted: February 4, 2014

Oxford Prep outperforms all district and nearly every county school across the board in only its third year of existence. I have a child in the school and another who is now in high school, and I can tell you they were well prepared to excel. The last post is highly inaccurate in my view because I have sent numerous emails to administration and they have either been very responsive, or scheduled a meeting with me to address my questions. They work harder than any staff I have ever seen, and it is obvious why the school is successful. No school will ever be perfect. However, if you have an issue, hiding behind a public post is not the way to handle it in my view. Do what I did and contact admin, schedule a meeting, and follow their resolution process that is in the handbook, and was discussed in the numerous parent meetings they have held to clearly explain to parents the process. I'm hopeful for another five years of a top notch education for my remaining child.

Posted: February 4, 2014

I love this school, but more importantly my child LOVES this school. Gone are the mornings of telling me she does not want to go to school, now she is excited to go. OPA has opened my daughter up to the wonders of learning. My daughter has gained confidence in herself and her abilities to learn. My daughter has always been in special education programs and has always struggled. OPA's teaching style has changed this. Not only does the school have AMAZING teachers and staff, but the students there have been very supportive of my daughter. My child use to sit and watch other children during recess, now she is playing with them. I don't worry about my daughter when she is at school anymore because I know she is in safe, loving hands. Academically she is doing all the same things as the other students, with a little extra help. She received straight A's on her report card. In the past we get "Incompletes". She takes the same spelling test as every other 3rd grader and she has scored 100% all but twice! Her teacher challenges her, but does it in a way that is fun and creative!! I am so thankful that this school is an option for us. I honestly don't know where we would be without it

Posted: February 4, 2014

Our Oxford experience: "Above and Beyond!" Ridiculously AWESOME actually. Not perfect - nothing is, but awesome. Fabulous teachers, Fabulous curriculum, Fabulous parental support. It trickles down. Our kids are doing fabulousLY! I feel for anyone that does not share in these positive feelings but I urge those people to take it to the administration or to whomever the "issue" lays. If you feel ignored then remember "the squeaky wheel gets oiled." Be persistent and get your answer. I'm sure the administrative team is just super busy and not "ignoring." They work obscene hours and have to deal with obstacles that traditional schools don't. They manage to get it all done and still run this amazing school. The administrators are there for us. I know it firsthand. I'm speaking from experience. We are all entitled to our opinions and choices and lets be honest Oxford Preparatory is just that. A choice. A choice we made for our families and we are all blessed beyond belief to have this choice. Blessed is the feeling we wish for all; whether you choose your public school, private school, charter or otherwise. We all deserve to feel blessed with the school we choose to attend. 5 MORE!

Posted: January 21, 2014

After three years at OPA, our children have excelled beyond our expectations. We are confident that this is a direct result of OPA s impeccable staff selection, core beliefs, innovative teaching styles (MI) and the direct involvement of other highly engaged parents like ourselves. Programs such as Living Museum, Walk Through California, World Language and M.A.J.O.R.S. have proven an invaluable experience for our children. In addition, OPA exposes our children to different cultures through programs such as the Chinese New Year Festival and International Week. This is how education is done correctly. OPA is not perfect, but with a passionate staff, dedicated teachers partnered with highly engaging parents and the end result is nothing short of spectecular! We are proud to be OPA Champions!

Posted: January 21, 2014

These Teachers are the most hardworking, dedicated group of professionals in education. They are involved with the children from drop off to pick up.

Posted: January 21, 2014

My granddaughter transferred into OPA mid Kindergarten and is now in the 2nd grade. I am so thankful that she is in a school where the teachers care about each and every child in their class; where extra studies and homework can be tailored to their interests; where there is tremendous school spirit for each classroom and the school as a whole; where multiple enrichment programs are offered. I have watched my granddaughter thrive in this rich and varied environment. She loves her school and so do I.

Posted: January 21, 2014

The school is amazing .. School has so many awesome activities .. They make it every activity and academics fun and interesting for kids that kids automatically wants to learn. Handsom activity in science lab is lovely. Kids love to go to school .

Posted: January 21, 2014

I went to OPA SOC the very first year it opened. I was an 8th grader and only received one year of education there. But that one year literally changed my life. Since OPA is relatively smaller than a regular public school, my teacher was able to devote her full attention to my classmates and I. Under her instruction, I got straight As the entire year. We had several electives-- band, PE, science lab, computer lab, Tae Kwon Do, and French-- in addition to our core studies. Now that I think about it, OPA was trying to mold us into well-rounded students so we would be prepared for high school and beyond. I loved the way OPA taught us using the multiple intelligences. It was refreshing to learn and not even be aware that we were learning. I felt like I learned a lot by attending OPA and I'm incredibly thankful that I got to attend even if only for one year.

Posted: January 20, 2014

Oxford Prep-SOC has been such a blessing to my son. He was moved from the Independent Studies level 1 program up to Level 2. This means he gets to be part of a regular classroom 4 full days a week. It is helping him tremendously to develop good work habits, and he actually enjoys going! He loves the variety of extra classes and all the special programs. Great staff, great program! Thanks, OPA-SOC!

Posted: January 20, 2014

We are so incredibly blessed that our daughter has attended OPA for all 3 years! We are continually impressed w/ the ideals & philosophy of OPA, as well as the hardworking dedication of the staff & teachers. We love how the school is based on the Theory of Multiple Intelligences and how it relates to the students as individuals by tapping into their unique style of learning. The teachers work very hard to create innovative ways to engage students and encourage learning. They inspire the students to want to achieve their best, both academically and socially. There are also wonderful and creative learning strategies, and a variety of culturally rich experiences including an International Fair, The Living Museum, Band, Orchestra, Cheerleading, Tae Kwon Do, MI Master classes (electives that line up with their MI learning style), as well as being exposed to world language, and hands on science & computer labs. Also, Excellence Academy (a free before/after school tutoring program) brought my daughter up from not reading at grade level, to reading an entire grade level ahead of where she needed to be, in one trimester. We are so thankful for school choice, and thankful to be at OPA!

Posted: January 20, 2014

OPA -SOC may not be the right choice for everyone, but it has been a GREAT school for our family. My 5 children have each had the opportunity to attend this unique institution and have benefited greatly from the various programs, opportunities, and especially from learning using the Multiple Intelligence model. They have gained new skills, new perspectives, and a greater appreciation for their own strengths and the strengths of others. I appreciate a school environment that encourages and expects respect and good behavior. It would be naive to assume that a new school could open its doors without experiencing any problems. However, any issues we have experienced have been addressed in a respectful and timely manner. I am concerned about the constant change in administrative leadership. But each of my children's teachers have been superbly competent and enthusiastic. I give 4 stars because I think there is still room for improvement.

Posted: January 19, 2014

This is our third year at OPA. Our family loves the school. The teachers, the parent community and students could not be more committed! Is this school for all teachers? Certainly not. The workload for the teachers, parents and students are not for the faint of heart. When I read some of the reviews I think to myself that it just wasn't a good fit for their family. Parents and students should be flexible. New things will be tried and added along with proven methods. That is the nature of a charter school and exactly why I choose this school. Charter schools do try innovative cutting edge techniques. Some will fail and some will soar. I knew going into a charter school that there would be a high turn over rate of teachers and administration. OPA is an amazing school. I am grateful every day when my kids come home excited about their school, their teachers and friends that our administration and CUSD took a chance with this school.

Posted: January 16, 2014

This school is horrible for the grade school years. All of our friends from the school have since pulled their children out... except for those with jr. high aged students. Save yourselves the headache and the drive and go to another of the wonderful charters or local schools we have in the district. As you can see on here, there are a ton of positive reviews that seem fishy (from staff or higher ups). Seems like a lot of the negative reviews have been deleted.

Posted: January 12, 2014

This school is amazing! My child went from basic to advanced in just under a month of transfering

Posted: November 19, 2013

We love OPA! All my children on one schedule through 8th grade. Accessible teachers, happy people work here! Excellent school spirit, cute uniforms. Even better, my kids like it.

Posted: November 17, 2013

My child went from basic to advanced in Standardized Testing and Reading program due to their excellency academy which offered after school tutoring. Feeling blessed!

Posted: November 16, 2013

I am so lucky to have my children attend this school. Although there are some hick-ups from time-to-time, it is well worth the small bit of frustration.

Posted: November 13, 2013

This is my first time on Great Schools and I am sad to read some of the reviews. I am a parent of the school and my child has been here for 3 years. My youngest will start attending OPA next year as well. We could not be more pleased with the education. The teachers keep the students accountable with homework and behavior and I could not be more thankful for that. I love that my son gets a homework demerit because his handwriting is illegible. That is how it should be. The MI approach has been great for my son as well as he is very musical. The songs and chants that he learns have helped him with his multiplication facts and his english standards. His reading level has increased tremendously and he has a heart of books now! I also want to mention that I am a full time working parent and having Champion Village on site has been so incredible. It is more than just a child care center to our family. They help with homework, teach them real fun curriculum, exercise them, and give them time to just be kids. They also do family events which we love! My son never wants to leave when I show up for pick up. This is always a great indicator that something is going right!

Posted: November 12, 2013

My daughter is in her third year at this school. It has been a fabulous experience for her. The teachers are amazing and teach in a way that helps the kids retain and really learn the subjects. There are a lot of extras: weekly music, science lab, PE, foreign language (now 3 days a week), computer lab, and more. The specialist teachers are great too. My daughter never says she is bored and is really enjoying learning. The character traits and personal responsibility they teach them here really make a difference also. I do wish the class sizes were smaller but you can't have everything.

Posted: November 12, 2013

OPA-SOC prides itself on its high test scores when compared with its peer schools...and it should! In its inaugural year the OPA-SOC community of students, parents, and administration created an environment that blew the boots off any doubters and non-doubters alike. There are NO perfect schools as you read all the reviews here. There will always be pockets of students who band together to stir trouble. There should never be a lack of high parent involvement to educate students. This is our third year with OPA-SOC, and while there is evidence to support many of the pros and cons shared on this site, I would suggest first looking at it from the student's point of view: "Am I proud to say I attend OPA-SOC?" Next, "Am I a parent comfortable with my student attending OPA-SOC?" Finally, "Am I committed to the structure of the charter that OPA-SOC set forth ... as it is different from a traditional school or a private school?" My family would answer "yes" to these three questions, and, yes, I can list pros and cons with everyone else. Trust me ... I do not have my blinders on. Nevertheless, OPA-SOC gets kudos from my family.

Posted: October 19, 2013

Oxford Prep-SOC has been a phenomenal choice for our child. Now in his third year of elementary school at Oxford Prep-SOC, he has benefitted from the most dedicated teachers I could ever have imagined, and is performing at proficient/above grade level in all subjects, due to the standards-based curriculum, a homework policy that reinforces lessons daily, and a creative, varied, and FUN atmosphere that has children learning and LOVING it from the first bell in the morning until the afternoon dismissal bell, and beyond. The selfless dedication and energy of the staff and administration has created a culture that I don't believe exists anywhere else. Sue Roche has figured out how kids learn, and how to make it fun so that they love school, love learning, and truly absorb, retain, and BUILD upon what they learn. No school (public, private, charter, magnet, or home) is perfect. That is why school choice is so important. Oxford may not be the best fit for every child, but it's amazing for us and many others.

Posted: October 5, 2013

I wish my elementary school experience was like my children. The teacher and parents making it such a spirited and wonderful place to learn. My son and daughter are so excited to go to school everyday not only to see their friends but to learn. During the summer they kept asking me when school was going to start because they missed seeing their teachers and learning no fun stuff...who says that? I love OPA-SOC and feel so blessed to have my children attending such a great school.

Posted: September 30, 2013

We are new to this school this year and we love it so far. My son's teacher is excellent and the level of work he is doing is 2-3 times higher than what he was doing at his previous public school.

Posted: September 30, 2013

Oxford Preparatory Academy - SOC has a great opportunity for my children with their Independent Study program. The teachers make every effort to keep the communication portals open, with timely replies. The kids really like going to school at OPA and that is very important to our family. Parent

Posted: September 28, 2013

The teachers and staff are amazing, although this campus has had a different principal and vice principal each year and a high teacher turnover rate. The executive director should spend less time micro managing, let the principals do their job and limit her mandatory meetings to one hour. Parents, teachers and staff have a life outside of OPA! SOC has an amazing parent community that is very involved, but the communication has been shut down because we are considered to be high maintenance. My child is generally happy and is learning but my child questions why there are so many changes happening and would like things to go back to how things were the first year.

Posted: September 27, 2013

It is a privilege to work among such dedicated and caring educators. I have never worked in an environment so dedicated towards the children's success.