San Jacinto Valley Academy

Posted: October 16, 2025

I would strongly advise looking into this school more closely before enrolling your child or applying to work here. The environment seems very unorganized and unsupportive for both students and staff. There’s little to no real curriculum structure, and communication from administration appears inconsistent. Staff are often left without proper guidance or resources, and the leadership culture can feel unprofessional at times. Morale seems to be low, and turnover is high, which speaks for itself. I truly hope the school makes improvements, but as of now, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Posted: October 16, 2025

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Posted: May 23, 2024

The school is great. The teachers are always very attentive to their students and their work.

Posted: May 23, 2024

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Posted: November 20, 2022

This school is so nice. The school seems very secure in all places. My daughter is very happy to be attending this school. She really likes the soccer team. The president Mr. Huynh is wonderful with the students and families. He is so welcoming.

Posted: November 20, 2022

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Posted: August 7, 2022

This school is a very bad school. I was a former student and many people got bullied and treated bad at this school. I would never recommend this school to anybody. Glad I’m gone!!!

Posted: August 7, 2022

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Posted: June 3, 2021

Horrible school! Most of the teachers are blissfully unaware of the high level of bullying that is happening in this school. The kids are so mean and the ones who try to stand up for themselves against it are the ones who get in trouble. Plus some of the teachers are mean and yell at the kids! My daughter needed therapy after attending this school for only 2 years. She developed anxiety from this experience. Do not send you sweet children/child to this school. Also, the school days are really long and they start really early! Then we get home and she had hours of homework to do. It was exhausting for my young child. DON'T DO IT!

Posted: June 3, 2021

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Posted: July 22, 2020

Excellent my daughters have been there since kindergarten and they are now in 8th and 9th grade. I couldn’t imagine sending them anywhere else! The teachers and councilors are amazing!

Posted: July 22, 2020

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Posted: January 22, 2019

This school has honor program, Basketbal, piano , guitar!

Posted: January 22, 2019

My kids are half Japanese. Nobody bullied them.

Posted: January 22, 2019

Yes. Every day homework. I want more homework for my kids!

Posted: January 22, 2019

Has dress code, very good environment! This school has character. Very happy!

Posted: January 22, 2019

We just started, but I’m already feeling how is good this school!

Posted: January 22, 2019

I’m very happy with this school! We waited for 1 year to be accepted! My boys are gifted and need challenging program. This school has everything to make kids and parents happy! Highly recommend SHVA!!!

Posted: August 29, 2018

This school is a top notch school that offers many classes that are not offered at a public school, better teaching staff, more activities, hands on inquiry approach, and an overall better education than others in the area.

Posted: August 29, 2018

The teachers do a great job of not sending home busy work. If there is homework it is pertinent to what they are learning and their success.

Posted: August 29, 2018

The teachers at SJVA are very dedicated to their students and take time to work with the students at all levels not just the low performing students. They have effective teaching practices that they utilize to help students at all levels learn the material and skills.

Posted: August 29, 2018

SJVA does a great job of demonstrating strong character and holding students to higher expectations. The school utilizes ESLRs and part of being a responsible citizen is having a strong character.

Posted: August 29, 2018

The admin are constantly working to make the school better and reflect and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. This is a great sign that they are changing for the positive.

Posted: August 29, 2018

The school offers enrichment after school and even Saturday classes to help students that need a more hands on or one on one approach.

Posted: August 29, 2018

Bullying is a serious topic but SJVA does a great job. With more teachers and staff than other schools in the area they are better equipped to deal with bullying.

Posted: August 4, 2018

They give brush up homework of what they’ve learned in class.

Posted: August 4, 2018

Most of the teachers want the kids to be productive and involved, if your child dislikes school, more than likely, they will dislike all schools.

Posted: August 4, 2018

They instill respect for themselves and others.

Posted: August 4, 2018

They teach students to take responsibility for their actions or inactions.

Posted: August 4, 2018

Posted: August 4, 2018

I’ve personally seen immediate discipline when something has been brought to they’re attention. This school does not have the problems like most schools.

Posted: August 4, 2018

Parents put their children at this school because they want better for them. The problems at OTHER schools are immense compared to this school. This is a college prep school, keep that in mind. The courses are a step up from normal schools, so be prepared for your child to actually care and work had.

Posted: September 13, 2017

Posted: September 13, 2017

A kid of 9 years old it was strangle my son and no body do nothing about it and my son cry to go to that school every day!!! The Teacher it was pregnant and she always in bad mood and send him to detentions and I went to talk and talk and no body do nothing!

Posted: September 13, 2017

I have to take out my son from this school because he was bullying and no body do nothing about it!! The teacher it was pregnant and she always send my son to detention and I agree my son is not an Angel but when did something they do so make so big deal but one another kid it was strangle my son of 6 years no body do nothing and the kid 9 years old!!!

Posted: September 13, 2017

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Posted: June 4, 2017

Too much homework sent home for high schoolers. They shouldn't have to do 4+ hours of homework each night.

Posted: June 4, 2017

More bad teachers who play favorites and give detentions for stupid things than good teachers. The school has 50% new teachers hired each year.

Posted: June 4, 2017

Admin, office staff, security and teachers should learn to practice what they preach!

Posted: June 4, 2017

Administration is two-faced and likes to tell parents what they want to hear, but they never follow through on anything they promise you.

Posted: June 4, 2017

Definitely not!! Especially if it involves an admin's child, teacher's child or a security person's child!

Posted: June 4, 2017

Hate this school and after 5yrs of incapable admin/office staff/security and stupid detentions for things like my son swinging around a tetherball pole (pole dancing is how the school labeled it and I had to explain to my 2nd grader what that means!!), we are going back to Hemet Unified. Stayed only for the convenience of dropping all three kids at one school and at the same time!

Posted: June 8, 2015

Some of the teacher are great in all aspects like any other school but for the majority a lot of the highschool Teachers don't work out and are there for one year. The pick up is horrible and they water fountains are sometimes shut off during the hottest months of the school year. I think the charter school makes things too easy for students hindering their grow so they can survive on their own in college. You see this as many of the graduated seniors come back to work as supervisiors. The small amount of students doesn't allow for kids to be tolerant and grow in highschool and middle school. There's no cafeteria or gym. Also they don't offer as many various classes as other schools, it's a set course that is limited. It is simply a limited environment for your child in middle school or highschool that doesn't adequately do the job compared to other schools. Definitely consider other schools. Public schools aren't as bad as many say in fact many of the teacher do know students names and actively try to be in their lives. You constantly see the administration around! Just like sjva there is bullying but most of the time you can avoid that unlike sjva where no one listens and you're stuck with the same people all the time.

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Posted: February 21, 2015

I was a teacher at SJVA from 7/14 to 10/14. I agree with the comments about admin. They are very self-absorbed. They will do what it takes to pat themselves on the back. Students are miserable. At Back to School Night, the most common question for me was, " Are you staying?" I guess this should have been a clue. Nepotism is rampant. Lack of proper credentials for certain positions also. This school has so much potential, but unfortunately, ADA is king. All the negative reviews are spot on. The parents that are happy are the ones who enjoy the school's policy of grade modification.

Posted: January 26, 2015

This school is great for learning for kids but other then that working for as a staff member if you ain't a teacher is hell. I seen Penny Harrison and Paul Huynh bully a few staff members and allow people they have put in charge to do the same. I seen people walk out there offices in tears, it's a shame cause they have lost a lot good working people. Ps I no longer work here a load of stress of my shoulders.

Posted: May 4, 2014

We LOVE SJVA and we are VERY FORTUNATE to have our son attend this school. After bouncing my son around the Menifee/Romoland school district, and not even having a chance in the very elitist and overcrowded nearby charters; I was at a loss, and was about to home-school him. Thankfully this charter heard our pleas and gave us a chance, I am so extremely grateful. They made my son's transition into the school so smooth and the staff and teachers are so wonderful! And I don't even mind the 30 min. drive there and back home, because it is such a pleasure to get to the school and see how much they care about the kids and to know that my son is getting a great education. Don't listen to the negative reviews, this school is AWESOME!

Posted: August 9, 2013

We've been at SJVA for 3 years, it's a great school with smaller classroom sizes and teachers who are extremely dedicated to their students. We've seen a tremendous effort by the administration to stay involved with students, parents and teachers. Sometimes the office staff can seem a little frazzled and I don't like the long pick-up line. Other than that- SJVA is a wonderful school

Posted: July 31, 2013

Wonderful school! Their teaching methods are GREAT! My two children have been thriving ever since we enrolled them in 2011.

Posted: January 27, 2013

Fantastic school! One of the best in the valley. Their teaching style is spot on and my child has been thriving ever since we switched from a private school in Hemet. So happy we made the move.

Posted: June 22, 2012

This is School is excellent my kids have done realy good there my daughter just finished 8 th grade and begged me to keep her there my son loved it Kindergarden teacher Mrs Haun realy cares about her students she worked with my sons speech every day and made sure he got the most hours of speech he could . my Daughter Teachers Mrs Talbout is wonderfull she worked with my daughter had her in tuturing

Posted: June 19, 2012

This school was nothing they promised it was going to be. They say the students voices will be heard, yet they do not listen. The CEO, Penny Harrison does not even come out of her office unless there is an awards ceremony. There is no variety to pick from in any extra curricular activities, including sports and clubs. The academics were not challenging at all, except for when the teacher did not know how to teach their specific subject and all the students complained but nothing was done. In my opinion there were only a few good teachers and they went against the school rules and did things their way. In all honesty, any type of leadership was not shown at all. Yes, there was an ASB but they weren't involved much at all. There was only 1 Pep Rally the entire year and all the sports did poor except for softball. They had a form sent out this year for students and parents willing to buy student lunch and how many would be eligible for free or reduced lunch and they say it will be done by next year, when they wont even be starting to build it then. Their newest rule is, if a parent is 15 minutes late picking up their child. The student gets a tardy, that is not fair at all. BAD HS!

Posted: August 23, 2011

This school leaves a lot to be desired. I thought this would be a good place for my children where they could get a good education and make friends. I refuse to send my children back there. Both of my childrens test scores dropped significantly when they attended SJVA. Both of my students were bullied and nothing was done about it. My children were very unhappy at this school. If this is an indicator of education in America then our country is going downhill and we will be a third-world nation with millions of un-educated citizens.

Posted: August 23, 2011

This school is equvialent to a prison!!! Since Penny Harrison and Paul Huynh have taken over, the school has gone down hill very quickly. Penny Harrison is a control freak who puts people in certain positions who do not have the credentials to even have those positions. She also makes sure that certain staff members are family members or good friends of hers. Paul Huynh does anything and everything he can to humiliate the teachers. For example, he yells and screams at them in front of the students and he will also undermind their authority to show them his power. The school also has a no bully policy, however, kids are constantly being bullied over there. The students who are the bullys do not get disciplined and are allowed to reak havoc on the other studens. Not to mention Penny Harrison and Paul Huynh bully the staff and allow people they have put in charge to do the same. If you are planning on sending your child to SJVA I highly suggest you look else where.

Posted: August 8, 2011

Poor communitcation skills. If the administration is any indicator of what they are teaching the students, it is a sad state of affairs. If the school wants to be competetive with the other schools in the area it needs to figure things out. The charter school in the neighboring school district offers many more choices and the teachers and staff there are fantastic. Be sure to check there if you want the charter school experience. We are much happier with the classes, test scores, my students attitude, and the leadership there.

Posted: July 13, 2011

Been There Since Kinder, I'm Going into 11 th 2011-2012 school year. Academically its not all that grand, the classes they offer are little to none.for high school students you do not get to choose your own class which is beyond unsatisfactory, they don't have many clubs or e.c activities or even sports, and everything is unorganized. they have fired all of the high school teachers, which i have personally liked, they have enforced a dress code of a private school with out having everything that a private school offers? they say they stand for equality and making everything there own but yet they do not let you express personal style/opinion. the school doesn't have anything to offer, its just a terrible place. I completely do NOT suggest this place.

Posted: July 6, 2011

Sad situation for a school with so much potential :-(. Lack of proper administration, and political agendas, have taken away from the inquiry-based curriculum and made this a school ruled by nepotism. This school does not offer a multi-purpose room, cafeteria program, and doesn't have full services for students with any special needs. Strict dress code will be enforced next year requiring students to purchase uniforms from a specific vendor. Keep looking if you are looking for a school that can provide all your child's needs...this school is not it!

Posted: June 23, 2011

worst school EVER!!!!! they have this motto, " I think therefore IB" they think for us, we dont get to voice our opinion as students because they block us out. the priciple or "CEO" as she calls herself, is never around, she locks herself in meetings all day and nobody can talk to her about the issues at the school. this school was great until THEY came and changed everything!! i'm very into sports and they want nothing to do with our teams! they are slowly destroying our sports teams and very quickly destroying the school. heres some good advice, you want your kids to have a good school to attend, try any where else

Posted: June 18, 2011

I'm not really sure what is going on with this school any more, but we have been unhappy there for years. There have been so many empty promises made. We are finally pulling all of our kids out. We had such high expectations and we feel completely let down. In respondse to the last post....At last count, they let a total of 12 teachers go. 2-1st grade, 1-2nd grade, 1-6th grade, and I believe the entire HS teaching staff. I wish things would have been different!

Posted: June 11, 2011

CEO Penny Harrison strikes again. For her history, search "Penny Harrison charter" on Google. Facts: At least six SJVA teachers were fired (not renewed) last week, on the last day of school, with no advance warning or chance to change whatever they could possibly be doing wrong. None were given an explanation why. This was NOT a budget cut decision, as they will be replaced. Both first grade, one second grade, one fourth grade, one sixth grade, and at least one high school teacher have been terminated. These are all great teachers, as are the teachers who remain. Bless them for doing their job for $10K less than what the nearest districts pay, while in constant fear of being let go.

Posted: May 30, 2011

This school has the potential to become better...But, with current administration and teachers...it will not rise to the standard! It does not have a variety of subjects... No art, no music, limited sports...And, the P.E. teacher lacks motivation in teaching the kids various sports...he only wants to be a military drill sargeant. The advertised International Baccleraute program is null and void in operation! Everything is late,late, late...Teacher assignments, field trip scheduling notifications ,report cards, and anything that should be sent home to parents in advanced. if your child receives an award...you will get a notification 1 or two daays before ceremony. There is inadequate school crosswalk and guards Homework is nonexistant to minimal!!! if you send your kids to this school you will be wondering why???You will have to homeschool them and give supplemental lesson plans to keep them at their current aptitude!!.

Posted: March 22, 2011

The academics are very good & they have a variety of subjects & activities. The principal is excellent & kids love her. The biggest negative is the horrible parking/drop off/pick up situation. The subject comes up repeatedly but nothing is done. The surrounding area is questionable & there are no sidewalks for children to bike/walk to school. Dirt everywhere & ants. The new dress code is a good start but the policy needs to be rewritten with specifics & enforced for ALL students. There is no cafeteria/ food services. Children bring food from home. My dtr complains about sitting in the hot sun on the tables & having bees bother her. They are not able to move/sit under a tree. Overall my child loves the school. She hasn't been bullied/harrassed & loves her teachers & classes. The pking makes SJVA undesireable. Finding a babysitter that is willing to go there w/ the known parking problem is very hard. It's understandable as SJVA is far, the drop off/pick up is horrible & they have other kids to pick up on time. There's no afterschool care for elem kids, unless they have a older sibling to watch them in homewk club. How unfair! Books are lugged back & forth- too heavy for my 10 y.o.