Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Private K-8 Education in Sierra Madre, CA
Founded in 1975, Gooden & Brown Funeral Home has dedicated itself to fostering a nurturing, student-centered environment rooted in academic rigor and character development. Our mission combines intellectual curiosity with moral growth, guided by the principles of Respect for Self, Respect for Others, and Respect for the World. With a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, we prioritize individualized learning and holistic education, integrating arts, languages, and service learning into our curriculum. Our faculty, recognized for their expertise and dedication, cultivate resilience, creativity, and empathy in students from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade.As an Episcopal school, we maintain an inclusive community that values diversity and prepares students to become compassionate global citizens. Over decades, our graduates have consistently demonstrated leadership, academic excellence, and a commitment to community service, reflecting the enduring impact of our educational philosophy.
Services
Private K-8 Education
Arts Integration
Language Programs
Community Engagement
Student Support Services
Details
- Year established: 1975
Highlights and features
- We offer a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio for personalized learning.
- Our curriculum integrates arts, languages, and service learning.
- Faculty prioritize character development alongside academic excellence.
- Episcopal values guide an inclusive, diverse community environment.
- Graduates consistently demonstrate leadership and global citizenship.
Services
Private K-8 Education
Gooden & Brown Funeral Home provides a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum for transitional kindergarten through 8th grade. Our program emphasizes academic excellence, critical thinking, and character development. Students engage in core subjects while exploring arts, languages, and service learning to become well-rounded learners.
Arts Integration
Visual and performing arts are woven into daily learning experiences. Students explore 25+ musical instruments, drama productions, and visual arts to build confidence and creative expression. This approach fosters collaboration and innovation across all grade levels.
Language Programs
Spanish instruction begins in kindergarten, expanding to Latin in 4th grade. Our language curriculum develops cultural awareness and communication skills. Students gain proficiency through immersive classroom experiences and cross-curricular projects.
Community Engagement
Service projects are integrated into grade-level curricula. Students participate in initiatives like Friends In Deed partnerships, developing empathy and social responsibility. These experiences reinforce our commitment to global citizenship and community impact.
Student Support Services
We offer individualized learning plans and small class sizes to meet diverse needs. Our faculty provides personalized attention through differentiated instruction. Additional resources include counseling and enrichment programs for student well-being and academic success.
Questions
What grades does The Gooden School serve?
We serve students from transitional kindergarten through 8th grade.
Is The Gooden School religiously affiliated?
Yes, we are an Episcopal school with an inclusive, welcoming community.
What is the student-to-teacher ratio?
Our student-to-teacher ratio is 7:1 for personalized attention.
Do you offer arts and language programs?
Yes, we integrate visual/performing arts and offer Spanish and Latin.
What extracurricular activities are available?
We provide athletics, drama productions, and service-learning opportunities.
How does the school support character development?
Our 3Rs motto (Respect for Self, Others, World) guides social-emotional learning.
Reviews (7)
Your H.
Jan 11, 2021
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I can't say enough GOOD things about Gooden! This school has saved my daughters mental health during the pandemic. Not only did her incredible superhero kindergarten teacher Mrs Paz personally drop off supplies and welcome her to the school with her superstar counterpart Miss Isabella but they took the time to get to know us. She could have been lost in the shuffle starting Kinder in the middle of this crazy time but she got valuable in person time when other schools didn't open and I felt they did it all extremely safely. Forever grateful for this school during this time.
Madoka M.
Dec 27, 2019
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I wrote the review over 4 years ago when our daughter finished her first year(4th grade) at Gooden and now she is graduating next June, so I would like to offer my final review here upon her completion of 5 years at this school. Regardless of the changes they had in the leadership position they have had in the last few years, Gooden's core has not changed and actually they seem to be going stronger!! They are truly a gem-where else do you find the school like this in L.A.?? Our daughter still loves each day at Gooden as much as she did in her first year. During the years at this school
Michael B.
Aug 10, 2019
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A school is a dynamic thing to review, but I'll give my honest perspective. In substance my child attended Gooden for 1-5 years. I'm being unspecific on purpose for reasons of anonymity. Would I recommend that you pay the tuition of $16,000 for this learning institution? No, I would not. Over the years we encounter one teacher we truly liked and had an impact on our child. The others teachers were either relocated or just not that engaged. Did my child learn the curriculum? Yes. Was my child happy? Yes. On that same note I'm sure my child would be happy and would have learned
Sara M.
Aug 08, 2019
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The Gooden School offers exactly what we were seeking for our daughter, strong academics, a welcoming and supportive community, and most importantly, a safe and nurturing environment for our daughter. At Gooden, the school emphasizes supporting the development of "the whole child," something we knew we wanted, but didn't realize truly what a difference it makes. Last year in kindergarten, she not only learned to read, write short stories, and have fun with hands on projects in STEAM, art, music, drama and Spanish, she also found support in her emotional development, mentoring from
N. S.
Jul 17, 2019
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The community at The Gooden School is special. The faculty and families are great. My kids are having a great experience here. It is a hidden gem of a school. I currently have a child in the middle school and in the elementary school at The Gooden School. The science and STEAM programs are hands on and provide great experiences. They do some great projects like egg drop, making solar ovens, building and testing earthquake proof houses and different types of dissection. Every year the middle school students participate in a science fair where they present and are judged by experts from Cal
Taryn R.
Jul 14, 2019
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Community and Nurturing are two words that come to mind when I think about The Gooden School. Not really knowing what to expect from a private school, I was pleasantly surprised with the kindness that surrounds not only the kids but the parents too. The teachers are wonderful and care a great deal about each student. The size of the school and the classes really allow for a strong community that made us feel safe and welcome from day 1. The Gooden School offers so much more than just community. It's a place where I feel my son is turning into a well-rounded human. He's learning music
Anonymous Parent
Oct 03, 2018
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I cannot believe my ears every time my child comes home and tell me what has happened this time. The school claims they have great teachers but besides one or maybe two they are not good. They teach my kid not to be theirself and just to fit in. No leadership at all. One of my friends had a conference and the teacher told my friend your child wont get into any high schools that child was in 5th grade at the time. They have moved on and are much happier. Hopefully this is a wake up call for gooden because this cant go on.
