Sylvan Learning Reviews

Sylvan's reps have been helpful. There was a misunderstanding of rescheduling versus excusing classes we had already paid for, which is understanding how the program works better. They've been helpful in the progress in reaching milestones. And my daughter loves it, which is the key part. However, the location is only open on certain days. They're not open on Fridays and Sundays. And they have a limited availability Monday through Thursday and Saturday. Having to start it on the hour or on the half-hour, the scheduling availability and the days open, those are the only limitations that we've run into with Sylvan in working with our schedule and getting our child in there as much, if not more than what we'd like.

We did all year last year, twice a week, two hours per session for a full year for my daughter. She asked to be re-enrolled one day a week, one hour per session this year to help make sure she didn't lose progress over the summer. That says to me not only did it engage her, but she made the choice to have additional learning through Sylvan over the summer that was not required or expected of her. I'll bring my other daughter there late this summer to help her get ready for her fourth-grade prep.

The experience has been very positive for my child as well, who enjoys the sessions, especially because of the rewards program where they earn points to spend on little prizes. As for my interactions, the communication with tutors and customer service has been great. They're kind, communicative, and patient, especially with my many questions.

The only downside might be the cost, which as a single parent, I do find a bit steep. However, Sylvan offers flexible payment plans, which has been helpful. I have a supportive network assisting with the payments, which makes it more manageable. Ultimately, I've found that the educational support my child receives is worth the price.

If anyone is considering investing in their child's education, I'd recommend Sylvan Learning, even though it comes with a higher price tag. It's been a smooth experience, and they definitely deliver on the quality of their services. For keeping track of progress, I stay in touch with Sylvan directly, either in person or by communicating with a director over email.

Overall, I'm very pleased with Sylvan Learning and would choose them again for the educational improvement they provide to my child.

Initially, only one of my sons attended, and he wasn't pleased because his siblings weren't there. Once all three children joined, they complained initially but adjusted quickly. Two of them appreciate the extra help because it gives them an edge in class. My inattentive son has shown impressive improvements, particularly in mental Math and cognitive skills, and his confidence has significantly increased.

I would rate Sylvan as a 4.85 out of 5. The main reason it isn’t a perfect score is due to the turnover in directors. The previous director was instrumental in our decision to invest significantly in the program, and her absence has been an adjustment for the children. To friends with children struggling academically, I recommend Sylvan. At my age, I lack the energy to keep up with modern educational methods, so having Sylvan, with its favorable tutor-to-student ratio and engaging incentives for kids, has been invaluable. While it can be pricey, especially outside of sales like the Black Friday discount, it’s worth the investment given the updates and additional online resources they offer.

Since starting with Sylvan Learning, we've seen tangible improvements in our daughter's academic performance. When we first took her there, she had taken the Star test at another school and only scored a 35 in both reading and math. Recently, she retook the reading test at a school she is applying to for the next year, and her score increased to 59. We are still waiting on her math results but are optimistic that she’ll show significant improvement there as well.

Everyone at Sylvan Learning has been so nice as well as transparent and communicative about our daughter's progress, keeping us informed about her learning milestones. The staff is very accommodating and aligns with our expectations and goals for our daughter. They've said it very clearly from the very beginning. We told them what we were looking for and they've definitely followed through with showing us different information as far as when she's completed a test or a level. So, it's definitely been very good and we have been so satisfied that we've recommended Sylvan Learning to our friends for their tutoring needs.

Overall, I would rate Sylvan Learning 5 stars for their excellent service and have no immediate suggestions for improvement. Their structured approach and professional tutors have made a significant difference in our daughter's education.

Although I haven't met the current tutor, my child always leaves the sessions happy and motivated, particularly enjoying their reward system. He earns points for completing assignments, which he can use to get rewards from their toy store. This system really incentivizes him to perform well.

Additionally, I appreciate how flexible and supportive Sylvan has been, particularly when there was a miscommunication regarding payments. They allowed me to make up for missed payments through smaller installments, demonstrating a willingness to accommodate our financial circumstances. We went from two sessions to one session a week until today. I finally got it caught up and my son's gonna start his normal schedule again. This flexibility exemplifies their commitment to both the students and their families.

In summary, Sylvan Learning has proven to be a remarkable choice. They have a dedicated staff who work to meet the needs of both students and their families, ensuring an enriching educational experience. I would definitely recommend Sylvan to other parents, as they are committed to their students' success.

Afrah told them that they could, but that it was the policy of Sylvan to place a 30 day hold on the transfer or refund "in case they came back" and "to call after 30 days." My daughter thought this was strange since they were moving out of state, but she complied. After the 30 days, my son-in-law called the center to see about a refund. Afrah got on the phone and said there was approximately $250.00 coming back to us. We felt like there should have been more since we had only been there two months, so we asked if there was a list we could see of the hours she'd been tutored. Afrah said she was in a meeting but would get back to us about that. When my son-in-law got off the phone with her we all discussed how many hours she'd been tutored and decided Afrah was probably right. I told both my daughter and son-in-law that I trusted her. Well....that came back to bite me in the rear!

We never had a chance to tell her we were fine with the $250.00 refund because we've never had the chance to talk to her since. At one point Afrah did leave a message on my son-in-law's phone saying she was calling about Rylah's account. The message was from the number 214-342-3305, but when my son-in-law tried to call her back, he got more than any kind of run-around I've ever witnessed! The first time he called, someone hung up on the other end without saying a word; he immediately called back and the person on the other end said "wrong number!" without him saying anything but hello; and the THIRD time he called the number, the person on the other line (clearly Afrah) told him he had called "Bob **'s office." We were absolutely STUNNED by the unprofessionalism and disrespect of this woman! Since then, we have tried to call the office again with no return call.

I personally have tried to call Sylvan customer service to speak to a representative, but it is an automated system that asks for your zip code and then takes you to the nearest Sylvan Learning Center. I have tried writing an email on the corporate website in which a representative was supposed to get back to me and which hasn't happened at the time of this review; and I've called the Dallas-Highland center one more time (this time speaking with Sunny who seemed flabbergasted by our experience) and who told me to "write an email on the corporate website." Last but not least, I tried calling the Sylvan center here in our town to see if they would be able to help us get in touch with ANYONE at corporate, but again it appears to be a dead end. I had every intention of getting my granddaughter back into a Sylvan Center for further tutoring, but after all of this it is needless to say that it will will never happen.

If we weren't able to get our money back, couldn't Afrah have just have told us that in the beginning? Why the runaround? Why the avoidance? It could have saved us a lot of frustration. In closing, I have to wonder how this place has so many 5 star reviews. We can't be the only people to have experienced such a clown show. If I could leave 0 stars I would. Please, please be leery of Sylvan. Update on my review. As of today's date - 9/2/25 - I have never heard back from Corporate and never heard back from the Dallas Sylvan office. I have been completely ignored....

We attended the first session, though we accidentally arrived a day early. I showed the office staff my daughter’s state test results, which clearly highlighted her strengths and contradicted their assessment. Despite this, he insisted on following their curriculum and said only if no progress was seen would they consider my perspective. That should have been a red flag.

The first session started late. Afterward, my daughter told me the math was “very easy.” Based on that, I decided not to continue. On the day of the next appointment, I called to let them know my decision and that I would not be bringing my daughter back. No mention of a refund policy was made at that time. I called back minutes later and was then informed there was no refund policy and that the associate had reviewed it with me. I told them he absolutely had not.

I went to the office in person. The original associate was “unavailable,” so another staff member assisted me. She pulled up a copy of the refund policy I had signed electronically. I explained that the policy was never reviewed with me but noted that, since it exists, I wanted to initiate a refund request. She told me she would have to speak with corporate and follow up.

After waiting three business days with no response, I sent an email. Only then—at the end of the business day—did I receive a call from the original associate. He repeated that there is no refund policy and told me I would not be getting my money back. In the end, I lost $3,000 to this company. Their practices were unprofessional, misleading, and deceptive. I informed them that I would be taking further steps by contacting their corporate office directly.