We have a second grader at Black Pine Circle. When we were searching for the right school for our son, we stumbled onto this hidden gem of a school. We were looking for a school that offered "academics-plus", which in our minds was an emphasis on academics (whatever that is, but beyond just the ABCs and 123s) and more--a strong emphasis on art, or music or language. I suppose, the kind of thing you would expect in exchange for private school tuition. We had not heard of BPC until we went through the school tour process, and when we heard the head of school, John Carlstroem, articulate the philosophy of the school, we were sold. And now, years later we are very happy with how the the school has delivered on that promise. From the "standard schoolwork" to the weekly music instruction, Spanish classes, Computer classes, PE activities, drama performances from time to time at the weekly lower school assembly, and more, we find our son constantly engaged, intellectually curious and excited about learning. He eats it up. And as we observe the kids in the upper grades, we see the kind of smart, thoughtful and creative teenagers that we want our second grader to become. The school community, from the educators to the parents, is also a great plus. The families are a diverse group, with an interesting mix of cultures, ethnicities (we are an Asian family) and work backgrounds, which adds to the overall experience for the kids (and parents). And if parental involvement is important to you, there are so many ways to participate and have your say. One of our biggest concerns during the school selection process was the apparent lack of facilities--really the lack of that classic big, grassy field. And due to our job situations, our son spends a lot of time at the aftercare program. As it turns out, even the aftercare program has been a great experience for him. Given the cozy size of the school, it has allowed our son to become good friends with the older kids. And during good weather, they spend a lot of time climbing, running, playing basketball, soccer, baseball and more. And last Fall, the school added a climbing wall to add a new opportunity to for exercise, as well as a new way to learn skills for how to overcome life's obstacles (an ongoing theme at the school...). Bottom line, we (including our son) have been very happy with our experience. Check it out to see if it is for you. And good luck with finding the right school for your child. read more

Black Pine Circle is an extraordinary place and one of the very best schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. Two years ago, when we were looking at kindergartens for our now-first-grader, we checked out just about every private school in the East Bay and all of the public schools in our Berkeley district. When we stumbled upon BPC, we knew almost immediately that it was where we wanted to be. Some of the highlights: --Small intimate school where all of the teachers know my kids (including my preschooler who isn't even attending yet)--and we know them. --Two top-notch, inspired, respected teachers in every classroom of 17-20 kids on average. --Most importantly, we didn't want to have to choose between a school with strong academics and a progressive school attuned to the social and emotional development of every child. With BPC we got both. --About a third of every day is dedicated to the arts: music, visual art, dance, and drama, and the arts are integrated throughout the curriculum. I absolutely love that our son has been playing cello and performing since kindergarten. Educational research shows clear connections between the study of music and math/science, so it's no surprise that the upper school math team consistently ranks among the best in the entire state. No small feat from a small school. --The Socratic method isn't just talk. Kids are learning through rigorous questioning. --It's a diverse school and most families have two working parents--the common thread is that they're all committed to helping their children get the best possible education and to become actively engaged with the local and global communities of which we're all a part. --John Carlstroem, the head of school, is the real deal--an educational visionary and talented administrator with whom you'd also want to hang out over beers. He's dramatically increased the scholarship fund in the last few years and has made a very serious commitment to continuing to build diversity at all levels. Plus, he personally teaches a history of philosophy course to the eighth graders! How cool is that? I don't know of any other school like it in the East Bay. We couldn't be happier. read more

My two kids started at BPC last year in 2 and 3 grades. From the beginning, both the teachers and administrators were welcoming and supportive. The academics are solid and have become significantly more challenging, now that one child is in 4th grade. My son joined the math club (precursor to upper school math team) and although many concepts are over his head, he is totally jazzed to be exposed to the general concepts. Despite this, he was somewhat discouraged to continue with the club, but after I talked to Mr. G, I explained to my son that he is not expected to grasp everything now, but sticking with it would help him be prepared for more challenging math and the math team in years to come. Just yesterday he said, "Dad, if that is how Mr. G explained it to you, then I think I will continue." I was so proud of my son and so happy that Mr. G took more than 15 minutes (at the end of a long day) to talk to me and explain his thoughts about a 4th grader's trajectory in developing a deeper understanding of complex mathematical ideas. My 3rd grader is picking up Spanish and getting better now that it is her 2nd year studying it. My 4th grader started violin last year and enjoyed it but has now switched to piano, which he loves even more. The year of violin proved to be a good base to understand some music theory that could be applied to any instrument. Arts and sciences as well as computer lab have really rounded out their knowledge and peaked their curiosity to explore more about these subjects. Above all, the BPC community of parents, teachers, admins, specialists, and of course their peers, has made the last 1-1/2 years very enriching for the whole family. BPC simply ROCKS and we love this school. I may be posting the same comments on other sites, but I do not want anyone to think that this is a canned review. read more

Black Pine Circle has been a wonderful experience for my daughter, now in 2nd grade. The cozy, familial environment at the school created the perfect transition from her smaller preschool. Through the eyes of a child, I imagine BPC is comfortable in every way -the physical campus isn't too big or overwhelming (although there is ample room to run around), the classrooms are limited to 21 students (with two loving teachers in each), and highly conceptual academic skills are integrated into fun, hands-on projects. BPC does not have a "rich private school" feel. Parents are down to earth and value diversity within the school and staff. The community is very supportive and the parent body is active at all levels of school affairs. The school has increasingly prioritized financial aid, thus allowing for more and more socio-economic diversity in each classroom. There has also been a school-wide effort, through the diversity committee, to place more attention on LGBT and cultural inclusivity through after school events, parent education nights, and new curriculum in the classroom. I feel so lucky to be part of this community. read more

My daughter started at BPC in the 6th Grade this fall. The transition was surprisingly easy. The first day of school, she came out with thumbs up, and her enthusiasm has stayed strong to date. She has been academically challenged but not overwhelmed. I'd describe her as turned on. She is a very creative person. She loves the art and music classes. She's loving Spanish class as well. She took on a Nanowrimo Challenge at school to write a novel, and actually did it, writing over 10,000 words. She just joined the math club and has come home excited to stump us with logic riddles. The teachers have taken time to talk with me whenever I've felt inclined to set up an appointment to check in. I've learned that they really are getting to know my daughter and her specific strengths and challenges. I see them working with her with care and challenge and warmth, encouraging her growth. I am happy for my daughter to be having this experience at Black Pine Circle. And I am happy for myself that I feel we are in such good hands. read more

Schools! I visited them all staring at drawings on walls question the teachers & parents remembering my childhood's halls. it's a goldilocks story, looking for a "just right" place I wanted rigorous math, science and writing but not a mad race Great art, music and drama, all aspects of voice. There are a lot of good schools and I made a great choice. Now it's 4 years later My kids are 3rd and 1st graders, (one bold and one shy) I'm very pleased with our choice and I'll summarize why: Each week my kids will encounter +/- 14 teaching adults sharing their passion & professionalism, and yielding academic results. But what truly puts me at ease about the tuition we pay is that I know my kids are seen and loved each and every day. Oh yes, and what's more, parents don't put on airs (just be as you are!) There might even be some carpooling if you live rather far. The website (www.blackpinecircle.org) has details but make time for the tour Good luck with your search Be sure to open BPC's door! read more

Our family has been part of the wonderful BPC community for many years. My son is in 7th grade, and my daughter is a graduate. Both went through both the upper and lower school. We loved BPC so much that it was difficult to find a high school that compared! The best thing about BPC is the people! The faculty is great. They're all good teachers, and really pay attention to what's going on with your kid. The other kids and parents are terrific. It's a great learning environment. There's a wonderful music program, which is well known, but BPC also has excellent drama and art classes. The math program is top notch. The science program generates so much enthusiasm that my kid begs for more. The school turned daughter who struggled to read into a avid consumer of book after book and a really good writer. It is just want we wanted from a school. read more

Or daughter started 1st grade at Black Pine Circle this year. We are LOVING it. The academics are great- the subjects are very well integrated and overlapping, the teachers are fantastic, and the kids spend a ton of time outside. The music and art programs are fantastic as well. They treat the kids as individuals, and it's fun- my daughter doesn't want to leave, and doesn't like weekends because she misses school. We just moved here from out of state, and everyone at Black Pine Circle has been so helpful and welcoming. I think what really makes BPC great, is the staff. Everyone is so dedicated. The staff does a bunch of continuing education/training. Not to mention how fun they are, especially the head of school, John Carlstroem . I really feel like all different personalities will/do thrive at BPC. I highly recommend Black Pine Circle. read more

Though I would have been happy for my daughter to attend either of the two other private schools in the East Bay where I had been a faculty member, Black Pine Circle turned out to be the school for us. Finding the best match for your child and family is key, and for us the traits of intellectual rigor (this is about thinking, not to be confused with the more commonly used term "academic", which I find tracks more to the number of hours of homework), fun, and caring appealed to us. The school is defined by dedicated and smart faculty, school work that connects to family and community but still demands solid skills, and a supportive emotional environment . Check it out, you won't regret taking a look. read more

We came to Black Pine Circle for first grade after a year at one of the best Oakland Public Schools and have been even happier than we expected. The atmosphere of the school in general is exceptional. There are very good relationships between parents, teachers and students such that there is truly a sense of community. In addition to good academics, the staff genuinely seems to like the students, something we felt was lacking in the public school environment. We checked out a number of private elementary schools and believe there are few in the east bay as good as Black Pine Circle. read more

My 8th grader's at BPC for middle school and it's been a wonderful 2-plus years. My son has thrived intellectually, challenged -- but not overwhelmed -- by the stimulating curriculum and the truly outstanding faculty. While you hear -- and rightly so -- a lot of praise for the math program, we've been similarly impressed by the language, English, arts, and sciences programs. Socially, too, we've been happy. My son's class is peopled with kids who care about being kind, and about supporting one another -- not always the case at this age. We couldn't be more pleased. read more

We have been very happy with BPC. Our daughter is a 1st grader and has thrived with their Socratic learning environment. They do a wonderful job of integrating subjects, and encourage thought process and discovery. Mistakes are seen as opportunities to learn rather than failure (something we have really appreciated as our daughter's reading and writing skills emerge). Ten of the twenty families in our daughter's class, including us, are mixed race. We have found BPC to be very welcoming. read more

My husband and I are both teachers and we looked long and hard to find the right middle school. BPC successfully supports rigorous academics, serious arts education, and the essential social-emotional development. They do an exceptional job at making the daily experience for students meaningful, and they create a safe and supportive community at the middle school level - no small task. I highly recommend Black Pine Circle School. read more

I love BPC! My 3rd grade son and 1st grade daughter run to the gate every morning eager to start their day. The teachers, specialists, staff and administration all know both of my kids as individuals. I am impressed by the rigorous and engaging curriculum and by the dedicated professionals who deliver it. BPC is a magical place! read more

It is a great school! Our son has flourished. We have great teachers, fantastic and very involved head of school/director, and invested community. Saying "it's like a family" might sound cliche, but it it is really like that. read more

This is a very well-run school, with an excellent balance between core academics and outright fun. The homework load is reasonable and my eighth grader is fully engaged in his classes. read more