I'm not going to get into my general experience, which was overall quite good but challenging-…read moreInstead I want to say something very specific. I received the letter I wrote to myself in my eight grade advisory (10 years ago) and I was moved to tears instantly. Thank you for blessing me with that gift

This is the middle/upper school campus, with a slightly smaller playground, but more centrally…read morelocated than the kiddie campus. Tennis courts are right across the street, and the community center (hooray for the pool and martial arts classes!) are about 2 blocks away.

I do not recommend the school. On my first day of school I had a male staff walk my daughter to the…read moreclassroom and later thanked the principal for having the staff member walk my daughter to school. She said oh was it Mrs------? I said no it was a man and her response was we don't have any men working at the school and then she goes. Oh well it must just be a staff member of the day. This was very concerning and I did not like this happening on the first day of school. Then the second day of school, my daughter was put into the afterschool program which she's not enrolled in by her teacher. I have been asking since day, one to volunteer in the classroom and have gotten fingerprinted and have gotten no response about it. I have been completely dismissed. She picks other people to volunteer in the classroom, even though I was the only one to sign up at open house. I've been persistent about wanting to volunteer and no response. My daughter has been through trauma, and I shared this with the teacher on the first day of school and I feel I've been discriminated against. It's been quite upsetting and it was a big mistake to have my daughter register at the school. Staff are not understanding and can be very under mining.

This is our second year at Fairmont Elementary. My daughter is in Ms Cook's 2nd grade class and we…read morelove her! I love the way she carries her voice and she has a way of calmness whether she is happy or upset with the kids. As a parent I would like to be more like her when I am especially upset with my kids! Parent participation is welcomed at the school and I can't encourage parents enough,to take advantage of volunteering. I love that my daughter sees me active with her school along with the other kids asking me if we are doing an art project? We had our 2nd Silent Fiesta Auction which was a huge success. When we walk on campus, all the teachers on yard duty always smile and say hello! The office staff and Principal Ms Murphy are wonderful and always ready to help! I am looking forward to another 4 years at Fairmont Elementary.

And you'll be wanting to know what happened to my review of El Cerrito High School. Yep, the…read morecleansing sweep of Yelp TOS'd this review too. But, I live within a block of the school and follow its progress every day. So...I think I'm in a position to tell you about the place. Here's the review: Yes, I went to ECHS a thousand years ago, and no, it wasn't my finest educational hour! But... It wasn't the school's fault. I was a teenager. Get it? So, lets start with a few corrections: Bronwen, I've been watching over the school now for sixty years.Literally. I don't think that at any time "the board got pushed by a couple of homeowners." There were a number of community-based meeting when the new campus was about to be built. Homeowners went to these meetings and were asked what they would like to see in a new school The result was a very nice school building, awesome auditorium, and appropriate "setbacks" so that the hillside wouldn't slide into the new school. We do live at the edge of the Blakemont slide... Wouldn't want our neighborhood kids to be buried in mud, you know. Speaking of which...DO NOT refer to the kids as "pretty ghetto." These are kids in school. Not out on the streets. Where the kids are from is irrelevant. Where they are going is to the university. Good jobs. Good places. They have hope in their hearts, these kids in school...and the future really does belong with them. Easy on the mudslinging.....it smacks of inappropriate racism. Lots of nifty programs at the school these days. FIne (local) principal. All very well managed by teachers, staff and students. Campus police available for those intruding moments, which are rare. Do stay hopeful. I think these kids are going to be able to support you in your old age. When Social Security comes knocking at your door. And it will. Trust me. Trust the future.....

I am an El Cerrito High graduate and my younger sister is a current student there…read more I was fortunate enough to spend a year in the old building, but spend the remainder of my years in portables. Despite the portables, ECHS was enjoyable. The block system has changed a bit since I attended but it still maintains the general 3 classes for half a year, and then another 3 classes. In my opinion this system is nice in the fact that we're not simply in a class for 50 minutes and then off to the next one. But on the other hand it's easier to not remember information learned in one class and having to carry it over to the next school year. The new school looks great. I've heard there are multiple gyms, a dance studio, and tons of brand new buildings. The teaching staff was nice and helped me get into the college I had wanted. Since then I'm sure some of the teachers have moved on, but I did see a few memorable faces when I go to pick up my sister. All together ECHS is like any high school. It has its ups and downs, depending on who you hang out with. But in terms of teaching and facilities, it's one of the better schools in the area.

I'm rating the track area only…read more Plenty of parking right now. I asked one of the school county workers to be sure, and he stated the gate for parking that is next to the entrance of the field doesn't close until the evening between 7-8pm. Currently it's open everyday because obvi, school isn't in session in person. Anyway, great track. I did 3 miles and (about 12 laps) and I feel good.

Facilities review:…read more The middle school houses a full-sized track/field and basketball courts that are open to the public during "off" hours (when school is not in session). The full-sized track is glorious and located just beyond the "black top", the cement area that the parking gates lead to. The track is orange rubber which leaves a distinct red coloring on your shoes. It's easier on the knees than dirt or cement tracks and has painted lanes. The field is great for soccer, ultimate frisbee, football, shotput, and long-jumping. The basketball courts and parking area is on the aforementioned "black top". There are 5 or 6 full-sized courts with painted lines. Some of the baskets are lopsided and the floor is not level; however, these are the best courts for the public in Albany. Lighting past dark is non-existent unless there's a game/event going on at the track, so if you plan to go jogging on the track after dinnertime, then you'll probably be running in the dark. Generally not an issue since the track is so perfectly shaped and there's a very low chance of tripping.

I wish I could say I'm completely happy with the school, but that's not entirely the case. I have…read moretwo children who attend St. John--one is already in high school, and my youngest is currently in fifth grade. Overall, many of the teachers have been very good. When my son was in middle school, he had a great experience. His 8th grade teacher, Ms. Katie, was truly outstanding. She was well-prepared, kind, and knew how to connect with her students. She exceeded all my expectations and made those years some of the best in my son's educational journey. She is very involved in the school community, always willing to help, and very reliable when it comes to communication with parents. My youngest son's 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Wilson, has also been amazing. She consistently encouraged my son to do his best and kept me informed about his progress. Her professionalism and dedication really stood out. I also want to recognize Ms. Cooke, who is part of the after-school program. She is incredibly caring, attentive, and someone I trust with my children. It's clear she genuinely looks out for all the kids. While I do have some concerns about the school overall, I want to highlight that many of the teachers who have worked with my children are dedicated professionals. My highest appreciation goes to the 8th and 4th grade teachers for their exceptional care and commitment to their students.

We've had such a wonderful experience at this school. The teachers genuinely care about the…read morestudents and create a warm, engaging environment where learning feels exciting. My daughter comes home eager to share what she's learned and the books they're reading, which says a lot about how much the staff inspires their students. My daughter actually looks forward to seeing her teacher (Mrs Keller) who she says makes learning fun. She loves her friends and a lot of her friends are in other grades. This shows me that they really prioritize community. When she goes to afterschool care I notice the older kids sometimes tutoring or reading to the younger ones. The afterschool care (Mrs cook) also has great snacks - my daughter prefers to not get picked up right away because she doesn't want to miss out on the daily menu. Mrs cook does so great with the kids I really applaud her for staying all day and keeping great energy with kids when they are full of steam after a long day. My family is not known to be athletic but coach Mike has pulled some special magic with my daughter who has runs faster than me! I used to hate dodgeball but it's my daughter's favorite game. I love that she has teachers that know how to get the kids engaged and having fun consistently. A special mention goes to Mrs. Trombettas, who brings incredible energy to the school. She greets everyone by name each morning--students and parents alike--and somehow remembers not just names, but grades and families too. That level of personal attention really reflects the benefits of a close-knit, community-focused school. Communication is another strong point. The teachers are approachable, responsive, and make it easy to stay involved. Whenever there's even a minor issue, the school is quick to reach out--and they always start by reassuring me that my child is okay, which I truly appreciate as a parent. The facilities are modern, clean, and well-maintained, adding to the overall positive experience. After four years here, we couldn't be happier with our choice and plan to continue. It truly feels like a special place, and I'm so grateful we found it.

First of all, my child said that a special Ed student tried to light a kids computer on fire. They…read moreshould have better watch on the special ed students and actually try to teach them. Second off they have also let me in on that their friend has been mentally abused and scarred by their third grade teacher. For privacy reasons, is called Ms B. In other events, I was also alerted that a suicide note was inside of the boy's lavatory and was most likely from this school and school caused it. The new change in authority was nice though because the old principal was pretty rude. As previously told, there is a janitor currently in charge in the cafeteria. What baffles me is that this janitor isn't even letting the new lunch monitor do her job because the janitor thinks she has more power than she already has. Don't really recommend, 1.5 stars.

I just have to do this school justice because the previous reviews really slander the image of the…read moreschool. Harding since four years ago has been a diverse, supportive, caring environment! With many dedicated teachers and staff. They will say hi to your kids even at the grocery store! I have nothing but positive feedbacks for this school and it takes the community/village to raise young people. This is a dedicated community of parents who are constantly volunteering and giving back to the school. This community keeps the students safe by prioritizing safety, and investing in teachers ongoing development!

I graduated from Saint Mary's in 2006. Wow how time flies. With each passing year, I realize how…read moremagnificently special that school was. I danced, played softball, tennis, basketball and volleyball. I loved AP US History and struggled mightily with Calculus (followed in my older brother's footsteps). I also went surf camping in San Diego, and skiing and snowboarding in Tahoe while staying in a cabin my teacher made by hand. There was so much opportunity and goodness all around. Saint Mary's is diverse, loving and inclusive in all the best possible ways. I treasure my time there. The teachers especially stood out to me; they cared so much for all of us. I'm grateful I had the opportunity to spread my wings amongst that true forward-thinking, open-minded, open-hearted community. This school epitomizes the magic of the Bay Area to me. It is so real and so aware. How very lucky I am to have called it my school.

Saint Mary's College High School came into being as part of St. Mary's College in Moraga, It was…read morefounded in 1863 by the Catholic Church, and put under the auspices of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in 1868. Saint Mary's is Albany's other High School, although the main entrance is on the other side of Codonices Creek in Berkeley. None of my kids went to school here, although I have been on their pretty, green, and 7 building campus several times. My most notable experience involved Leo, a now departed orange tabby cat that decided to run away from home, and take up residence at St. Mary's. In fact, when I found him, he was hanging out under a tree and holding court with a few students. After I took him back home, the school called to make sure that he was OK and to tell me that the kids really missed him! He was a great cat.

Tilden Prep has been transformative for our son, who's twice exceptional. It offers greater depth…read moreand breadth of curriculum and more highly educated staff than its competitors, like Fusion Academy. For example, Tilden offers Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra. While such courses are offered at a community college, having the option to learn 1:1 is critical in giving a student a more solid foundation before entering a 4-year college. At the same time, the rates make more sense than Fusion Academy, which is on a trimester system and 30% more. Tilden is run like a school rather than a corporation. It's more pure to its cause. Good job Tilden. Keep up the good work!

Our son had a great experience at Tilden. He is very bright but struggled to organize his thoughts…read moreand get them down on paper. We enrolled him in English 9 at Tilden and had him take the rest of his classes in his public high school. His Tilden teacher, Dave Locey, helped him learn the steps of writing and feel good about his progress and talents. He said Mr. Locey was the best teacher he'd had :). He wanted to get ahead in math (because the common core track forced him to take math slowly with a lot of boring repetition) so we enrolled him in Geometry through Tilden over the summer. Even though he could have taken Geometry online for less money, we felt the one-on-one instruction and monitored pacing and instruction helped him stay on track and thus made it more likely he'd succeed. He got through the course very quickly and is now starting Algebra 2 at his HS so he'll be able to take Calculus before he graduates. His Tilden math teacher was also very knowledgeable and positive.