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.

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.

I volunteered at King Middle School through the Be-A-Scientist program when I was a graduate…read morestudent (Ph.D.) in geophysics (volcanoes and planetary interiors) at the University of California, Berkeley. I participated in the program during autumn semester in 2015. As part of the program I was assigned a group of four 7th grade students to bring the scientific method to life through interactive and hands-on experiment design and execution. We, Be-A-Scientist volunteers, came in on a near weekly/bi-weekly basis to make progress in each student's project. The week's session was always in the theme of one of the steps of the scientific method. This way by the end of the semester the students had designed and performed their own scientific study/experiments according to the scientific method. Each session we went over each student's project discussing it as a small group so they could get feedback from others in the group and hone their communication skills. They also wrote up what they were doing, sometimes including drawing graphs/plots, and if it was a week dedicated to the 'experiment' step in the scientific method they performed experiment trials/experiments. I enjoyed that we were able to develop an experiment for each individual student and thoroughly enjoyed the experiments my students decided upon. One tested different substances on slices of bread to see which generated the most bacteria, one wiped different surfaces with Q-tips to see which yielded the most bacteria, one tested different potting mixtures to see which was best for growing plants, and one dried different fruits to see which one evaporated the most moisture. Some of the results from these projects, such as Q-tips wiped on the wall having less bacteria than Q-tips out of the container, were down right shocking. All of the students in my group were great, expressing mush enthusiasm for the task(s) at hand and each had their own distinct inquisitive style. I have only good memories of my time volunteering with these students and at King Middle School. If you are a visitor here, like I was, there is a main office where you need to sign-in when you arrive to the school and sign-out when you leave. This way the school can keep track of who you are, why you are here, when you are here, and what classroom(s)/teacher(s)'s classes you are visiting while you are here. We were allowed to use only the faculty/staff restrooms when were volunteering.

One night I got to see one of the most profound speakers and engaging personalities on this amazing…read moreplanet we live on. Im speaking of Richard Dawkins. He was out promoting his new book and I scored a ticket to go see him interviewed. The school hosted the event. Parking is limited and I had to park a few blocks away when I got here. The school itself if very pretty. The courtyard we walked through to get in line was like a beautiful spanish garden. The lobby area before you go into the auditorium is large and welcomed ticket holders to buy the book on site. You could buy the book unsigned or already pre signed. Pre signed was for me thank you. I don't like standing in lines. As to the auditorium it was very large. I don't know how many people it fit but the room was pretty full. The stage just had the interviewer and Richard Dawkins sitting at chairs with a table between them. Sound was great and I was mesmerized. I couldn't have asked for a better night. If you ever get a chance to see Richard Dawkins live go and listen. Hes funny, engaging and well just a plain old genius. I will say as to the school, there was one thing that I thought was very strange. I went to the bathroom at one point during the interview. I was trying to beat the crowd who may form when it was over. It didn't matter because there wasn't a square of toilet paper in the bathroom. Not in any of the multiple stalls they had. The bathroom was huge and great for crowds. What good is a bathroom without toilet paper? Especially a girl's bathroom? Do the students have to deal with these conditions? Here's the kicker, there was also not a single piece of paper to dry your hands. No hand dryers either. What the hell is going on here? You'd think if they knew events were going on at the school, paid events, they'd stock up at least one stall with tp? If Richard ever comes back, I'll be here. Bring your own tissues though.

My son attended this school for 4 years and my daughter now been there for 3 years. What a…read morewonderful community of students and families. The environment fostered at School of the Madeleine is incomparable to any school that I've ever visited before. Any kid will thrive anywhere if they are destined, but for a parent to thrive as well is a dream! There are many activities for students to make wonderful friends and build great memories. The teachers work from the heart and the principal and staff are welcoming and supportive. I highly recommend this school for families looking to give their child a well-rounded education!

We spent the better part of 2021 researching schools for our twin boys to begin Kindergarten and…read moreafter several recommendations from friends, we landed at The School of the Madeleine. Our boys are headed into 3rd grade and we could not be more grateful for the experience we've had at The Madeleine in our first three years. Beginning Kindergarten at a school where our children didn't know a single person was a bit scary for us, as parents. They were immediately comfortable and welcomed into the community by the faculty, staff, students and the families. The genuine warmth and inclusivity that was around us was so refreshing and it has only grown stronger since then. We have found the Madeleine to be an incredibly well balanced and enriching place for our children as well as us parents, too. The principles and values exhibited at the school extend well beyond the classroom. We are as happy with the culture at the school as we are with the education. Anyone who attends just one of the daily morning assemblies can feel the positive energy emanating from the administration, faculty, students and families. It's my favorite way to start my mornings . . . no joke. I cannot recommend the School of the Madeleine enough for those seeking a home for their child's K-8 education. We are deeply grateful for the wonderful experiences and relationships we've had in the relatively short time we've been here.

TBS provides a nurturing environment with comprehensive educational support that will not only…read moreshape your child's academic growth but also instill a sense of confidence and curiosity that will benefit them throughout their life. TBS takes an empathetic approach, and kids have gone to top bay area high schools with success because of the solid educational foundation. Parent of TBS alum

This school works to actively take down negative reviews. They kicked my 4 year out w 3 months to…read morego. The staff is highly proud of themselves, they are understaffed for active little boys. The school allows the children to play in the sandbox for majority of the day. My kids came home with wet sandy feet every day. Major construction projects on the edge of the school with particulate overflow. The principal is very ill mannered and not fit to oversee little boys. Step 2 is better in the Berkeley Hills.

The process of looking for a new school is overwhelming due to the sheer number of options. You…read morecome up with a comprehensive list of 10-15 schools you are considering and try to knock any of them out for even random reasons so that you can focus on touring and applying to a more manageable list of schools. Berkwood Hedge was on my long list - and when I read some of the negative reviews, I almost just crossed it off of our list. I am so thankful that I kept my mind open and saw Berkwood Hedge for myself. My son joined the 4th grade class this past Fall and it has been truly transformational for him and our family. After years of unhealthy social situations in his past schools and lack of attention to his learning needs, due to the care from Berkwood Hedge, he is now starting to come out from a haze of low confidence. His teachers, Olivia and Elisa, have been invaluable in helping him grow in confidence. Before you make any decisions about schooling for your child, I implore you to just attend one community meeting that happens in person every Wednesday morning at 8:45 on campus. It really does take a village and Berkwood Hedge has set up just that - a loving village around our children. When you hear the head of school, Love Weinstock, speak, you know that this care for the whole child is everywhere in the school's culture. You will definitely see the intentional approach in your child's classroom but you will also see it with restorative justice with Silver, music with Ajayi, learning with Edie, art with Laura, school operations with Kris, and the list goes on. We will be moving to Berkwod Hedge's upper campus next year and we are really looking forward to it. They have really been able to increase the diversity in the upper grades. Furthermore, Love leads with so much clarity that I look forward to seeing that come alive in middle school.

My child started at Berkwood Hedge this year after transferring from a much larger public…read moreelementary school. The difference in his enthusiasm for learning has been night & day. He is thriving -- academically, emotionally, and socially -- at Berkwood Hedge, and we are grateful! I can't say enough good things about this incredible school. The quality of teaching, arts programming, and true care demonstrated between adults and kids is phenomenal. Each time I think about our experience, I realize "but wait, there's more!" The list of wonderful things about Berkwood Hedge just goes on and on.

Our Journey with our son's learning issues began in elementary school. As time progressed he fell…read morefarther behind. In middle school we put him in a one on one school where he could be succesful as he could learn at his own pace.( Tilden prep). He had gained confidence in that time and was ready for high school, but we could not find a high school which combined working on how to deal with his learning disability and to provide the academic rigor necessary to get him into a college which is what he wanted. He came out of the school with confidence and with skills for self advocacy which has enabled him to be independent in college. His entire demeanor about learning changed in Bayhill as they showed him that he was able to learn and to enjoy it. The staff and director were extremely supportive and tailored to his needs

Bayhill is an amazing school! In my 13 years working at the school, I've witnessed so many success…read morestories, students who arrived with little confidence in their abilities become lifelong learners ready for college and so much more!

Not the best, but Mentoring Academy started to give me a lot of believe again. I wish I could do a…read morelot better but over time, I started to have hope once again.

Like other recent reviews, I am also a student that attended Mentoring Academy…read more I feel like I should address these reviews. I cannot speak to several of the things mentioned: teachers making inappropriate jokes, students making homophobic quotes masked as jokes, mental health being thrown out the window in Guatemala, and the school catering to male students are things that I simply have no knowledge about. (I will say that I am somewhat skeptical of them) Some of the other small complaints I do know to be true. Yes, the pizza in Italy was disappointing. Yes, the school wasn't very decisive about how to respond to the pandemic (the government wasn't either). However, these really aren't major problems to me. I do agree with some of the larger issues that the reviewers raised. 1. The cost. There isn't much to say here, the school is pretty expensive. 2. The atmosphere. The school does have a more laissez-faire culture, which does mean that things are more casual, sometimes even unprofessional. Sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes it is a bad thing. Parent-teacher meetings will take place next to science experiments, tests will be taken in the kitchen, and sometimes employees will be paid late. It's simply the culture. Generally the school is fairly relaxed on grading, and that combined with the casual atmosphere means many students don't give assignments their all. 3. The schedule. The school has very long hours, going from 9:00 to 5:30 four out of five days of the week. This comes with the caveat that work is done at school, not at home. This is only sometimes true. Teachers will often assign work that they expect to be done at home, which can make the long hours even more arduous. This long time commitment means that there aren't many opportunities for extracurricular opportunities, jobs, volunteering. 4. The size. This is once again both a positive and a negative. The small size means that the school is more intimate, and that classes have plenty of time for each student. However, it also means the school can't really include clubs, sports, or many classes. It also means that there just aren't that many people to meet. If you're an extroverted student, this can be a real problem, and is probably the most important thing to consider about going to the school. If you're an introverted student, I could see the small size being a pro, not a con. 5. The diversity. Mentoring is not very diverse. In particular there are very few female students. I wouldn't say that this is the fault of the school, but it's worth noting. Mentoring IS very welcoming of all people. Overall I agree with some of these points, but I don't really feel they warrant a 1/5 review, or the negativity that these other reviewers raise. Some other points: I have had negative experiences with some of the school's teachers, however they are all no longer members of the faculty. On the other hand, some of the teachers are quite excellent. In particular, the science teacher, Garret, is fantastic. He has a real joy for science and teaching. The school has a lot of "teacher cycling", but luckily most of them are pretty good. I personally went on two extraordinary adventures. One of them was a bit of a mixed bag, but the other was a fun experience. There are problems with them, but I certainly don't think they "straight up suck". The food options around the school are great, and are much better than cafeteria food. The headmaster, John, has a real passion for education, and a real love for every student. While sometimes he can be a bit unorganized, he truly does care about every student and wants them to succeed. I don't think that is true (at least not on the level it is with John) for most principals/headmasters at other schools. John's enthusiasm for teaching and young people (there's no way to type that sentence without it sounding weird) bleeds into the school's culture as well. It's a very welcoming, encouraging place. At the risk of sounding sappy: some of my fondest memories at Mentoring include the school-wide student presentations, lunches spent talking with teachers, and otherwise grueling layover flights. I suspect that most high school students can't say that! While Mentoring has its flaws, it's worth noting that every high school is too. I think for certain students Mentoring is an excellent fit, and for other ones it isn't. It simply depends.

This is my daughters school and so far we are loving it. She is finishing up second grade and was…read morenew to the school this year. The education is very solid and the music program is fantastic. They have small class sizes and two teachers per class. I feel that they really know my child here and that is worth every penny. Amelie's review: I really like my school,teachers,music and science. I love sitting near the class room at snack and hanging on the high bar.

Our daughter has completed two years at Black Pine Circle and every morning she is in a hurry to…read moreget to school. I'm writing this review because she has flourished at BPC, both academically and socially, and without a doubt the school can take a lot of credit for it. The headmaster John Carlstroem knows what he is doing, and runs a very happy ship. A school is a complex environment with many personalities and expectations that need to be managed. John works with a reservoir of deep intellect and excellent management skills and has managed to set a harmonious tone for the whole school. He thinks deeply about education and pedagogy, and he spends the school's money wisely. John's passion for the school is reflected in extraordinary commitment by the teachers, who are superb. In the lower school the kids learn english and math well, and the school's emphasis on music permeates lessons and activities and is wonderful to behold. In a review such as this it is not possible to describe the full extent of the curriculum, but I have been continually amazed by what my daughter is learning. Most importantly, her teachers have taught her self-respect, self-confidence, and have instilled in her a love of learning. I have spoken to many parents around the Bay Area, and I know there are many good schools. Still, I may be biased, but I feel that BPC is special, in a very good way. P.S. The math club is among the best in California.

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.