First some info - Community School for Creative Education (CSCE) is a Waldorf inspired charter school. It is open to anyone, just like public school, and is tuition free. There are very few tuition free Waldorf schools in the country. Typically Waldorf education is private and quite expensive. Waldorf is a teaching method that developed in Germany for working families which emphasizes the role of the imagination in learning and its goal is to enable children to develop into free, morally responsible and socially integrated individuals, able to fulfill their unique destiny. And now my review - We've got a 1st grader and Kindergartener at CSCE and both my children are thriving and they LOVE school. They have wonderful, dedicated, loving teachers. I feel a real connection in my gut with the Waldorf inspired environment. They are learning about the world in a very active, wholesome and loving way. There is a focus on learning the academics, but not just through recitation and discussion, but also through activities like hand-craft work, bread-making, watercolor painting, songs and movement, gardening, and hiking. Additionally, the afterschool program (tuition free currently) run by Attitudinal Healing in Oakland has been really excellent. This school supports working families by having before care starting at 7:30 am (school starts at 8:30am) and after care until 5:30 pm. I really wish I'd been able to go to this type of school as a kid, as it would have nurtured my creative spirit much better than the public school I went to, which was more about conforming and sitting at a desk and listening to a teacher drone on all the time. I remember being so completely bored every day. My mind would always wander and I'd be getting in trouble for looking out the window too much. It's such a shame that public school has gotten rid of so many really engaging activities. There is a wonderful feeling of open-ness and warmth at CSCE. Early on, the administration was very clear that the parents were encouraged to get involved. They have shown a commitment to parent education, offering workshops and learning opportunities. In February, I am attending a 3 day Waldorf seminar and CSCE has sponsored me and 9 other parents. This is gold to me. I really appreciate the intent to enable parents with opportunities to learn about Waldorf and other key parenting and community issues. CSCE has gone through some difficulties as they work out differences in the administration, as roles and communication paths are being worked out, which seems very typical for a new school. There have also been some space issues, because of the shared arrangement with Howard Elementary. It's likely that next year, the school will move to another location in Oakland. The preferred destination has always been the San Antonio district/Fruitvale area in order to provide maximum access for all families. Overall our experience has been extremely positive and my husband and I are so grateful that this option exists for our family. I would definitely recommend CSCE to other families. read more

I've been a member of community school for 5 years. We've had our ups and downs - but frankly - you get that with any school. Personally I've been blessed with fantastic teachers for my kids. Teachers who are invested and go above and beyond. Is the school for everyone? Probably not, but then again - what school is? We are a Waldorf inspired school which means your kids are getting all the district regulated stuff (wooo common core) but they are also getting to move up and around. Our school does it's best to take care of the whole child. Are we full on Waldorf? Dude - we are a charter school in an urban area of Oakland. So if you see people complaining about it not being good enough, I'm thinking that those families may have had expectations based on schools not on International. And that's okay. Personally, all three of my kids have went to this school and excelled. Our experience here was much better than the public school my daughter started at. I'm also a dedicated mom who doesn't mind rolling up her sleeves and helping out - so maybe that's why my experience has been so good. You can make your own choice but when I saw all the bitter reviews I wanted to toss in my take. As a parent all you can do is do your best for your kids. For me, this school has been that best. read more

CSCE has been our solution to Oakland's growing issues with public schools. It's a public charter school, meaning no tuition, open to all in Alameda county, and brings in the rich teaching methods of Waldorf while meeting state standards. All teachers are required to be both Waldorf and State certified. My first grader is learning knitting to subversively gain math skills, songs, rhymes and steps to open up cognitive skills that can't be tapped by sitting at a desk and filling out worksheets. We love the fact that he'll be there until 8th grade also! The student body truly looks like Oakland, from every corner of our great and diverse city, with parents full of creative enthusiasm and resources. The only reason I give 4 stars is because as it was the school's first year they've had to work out some kinks of a first year charter school in terms of organizational issues, etc. I'm seeing signs of the administration, parents and the board working together to make the school stronger and I'm confident that as time goes on this school will be a model that proves that we can have great education in a diverse, urban community. I'll be enrolling my second child this year with full confidence. read more

Great school with a wonderful vision for the children of Oakland. The teachers at this school go above and beyond to make sure that the "whole child" is taken care of at this school. This is a public charter school in East Oakland on International blvd. The location does not get any more URBAN than this. There are prostitutes walking the streets outside and a huge homeless encampment less than a block away. However when the children of community school enter the doors they are able to find sanctuary. This school is a diamond in the rough. They offer far more than your average school in East Oakland. After care until 6 pm only cost families $90 a month! My child is learning Spanish and Mandarin. They engage the children in activities like yoga and Capoeira. When I pick my child up from after care she I will find her in a music class learning African drumming. Community school has a place for everyone and makes sure that all families feel welcomed. This school has an amazing principle who is available to all families ensuring you can reach her by providing her cell number! If you are looking for a cheap way to get you child into some sort of booshie school CSCE is not for you. We are a Waldorf inspired charter that has been able to manifest something so great for the kids of Oakland. We take care of self we take care of others and we take care of our space. Community School for Creative Education is absolutely beautiful and has found a very unique way to balance Waldorf and common core curriculum. read more

Last years principal was easy going, friendly and approachable. The present teacher not so much. My daughter was encouraged to be removed from TK due to tantrums. She was four. Tantrums are not ideal but are to be expected none the less. I was called from work to pick her up repeatedly for about two weeks. I was told that one tantrum during the aftercare program would equate to the permanent removal from the aftercare program. With the exception of Ms. Y, the office staff have major attitude problems. They're both condescending and rude. They would not excuse my required family law appointment which could not be rescheduled without missing an additional day of work. The staff does not return messages and is very discombobulated. They cannot be bothered! A member of the staff told my son to not wear shoes and laces when he was still a novice because she didn't want to occasionally assist. Last year my son's teacher didn't encourage him to remove his coat in the heat so often times he would come home with drenched hair and soaked clothes. It is not uncommon to see multiple prostitutes crossing the street or an intoxicated homeless man sleeping directly in front of the school in the AM. The school is always asking for snacks to be brought in by the parents/students. The TK class even had assigned days and assigned snacks. My son was told not to consume his pudding due to the sugar content (which I can understand) but they frequently have ice cream socials, juices and breakfast bars themselves. I had to teach my son the traditional method of addition, subtraction and carrying ones because the common core method of charting ones isn't going to get him into college! I initially loved the idea of artistic and free spirited Waldorf curriculum but I'll take traditional public schooling over this any day! Overall they're extremely unprofessional, disorganized and need to get it together! read more

The Community School for Creative Education has been a dream come true for us Here we have finally found a community which is dedicated to sharing the beauty and richness of Waldorf inspired teaching methods, but are placing those methods within a multicultural framework that is reflective of the amazing diversity of the city of Oakland, and indeed, of the world at large. It is truly a gift to experience a Waldorf inspired curriculum within a community that is culturally and economically diverse, and that values the precious and unique contribution that each child makes to the fabric of the learning experience. My daughter is in the second grade and I can say that her teacher, Delana Hill, is an extraordinarily dynamic, talented, consistently fair and even keeled teacher, who takes pleasure in the challenges and rewards of each of the children in the second grade class. We love her. My daughter is always happy to go to school, speaks about ALL of her classmates with love and appreciation, and is developing a true love of learning and desire to work hard and do her best that is amazing to behold. She knits in her free time, sings Mandarin songs with friends, is becoming passionate about reading, and loves math. Each day I see her stronger in her sense of self, and trying new things with pleasure and determination. Additionally, the school has an exceptionally involved parent group that thinks deeply about all of the decisions facing a new school, places the well being of the children at the heart of each decision and works with unflagging determination. I strongly recommend this school and am so grateful to the founders for all of the hard work that has made this vision a reality. read more

Our family moved to Oakland to go to CSCE, and we are glad we did! It's been a wonderful experience for my kindergartener. Each day brings new lessons, and nurtures the children's minds, hearts, and hands with songs, verses, painting, bread-making, teaching them confidence and self-love. I also appreciate the parent body, and it's been an empowering experience to be a part of building our community and school. For those who may have doubts about Waldorf, I have an eleven-year-old daughter at a different public Waldorf school who has been there since Kindergarten. She is a testament to these methods of education. read more

Unfortunately, our experience was not as steller as the others. I don't know if the support staff (afterschool and teacher's aides) are going through a transition, but I found they and the the general culture of the school to be quite punitive. Too much yelling at children and not enough positive discipline. It is supposed to be a Waldorf inspired school, but it is hard for an average parent to see that. Dr. Oberman is fantastic and so are many of the teachers, but the neighborhood and the negative culture in the school is challenging. I think the vision of what the founder wants is what is presented at the open house, but that is not the reality. We made it 9 weeks before we switched to a more traditional school. This one just didn't work for us. Do as much research as possible and make sure you visit more than Ms. Paredes-Brown's and Ms. Hill's classes. Also, check out the afterschool program. It needs a lot of work. Never OK to yell at children at school. Add to the fact that prostitutes walk the streets in front of the school and its too much. read more

We moved to the east bay for my job coming from a city with a wonderful Waldorf inspired charter that we loved and hated leaving. After a tour by the founding director I felt this was going to be just as wonderful. Unfortunately the tour was based on her vision, a wonderful one, but not reality. I wish one of the many Waldorf type parents who left last year had posted here so that I would not have wasted my time. I found out about them after I got there. As I told the director and principal, I was tremendously disappointed that CSCE, a Waldorf inspired school, did not adhere to what I consider the core Waldorf components. I completely understand that the school's scholastic component must be altered some to adhere to state school requirements, but I see no reason why the teaching, discipline approach and feel of the school needs to be so far removed from Waldorf that I don't recognize any Waldorf at all. Having come from a Waldorf inspired public school, I know it is possible and can be incredibly wonderful. The vision is admirable and I have seen it successfully implemented, however, it is not being executed at CSCE. Honestly, I feel we're the victims of false advertising but I don't think it's intentional. I believe the founder wants it to be so and I believe that she may even see it as so, but I'm terribly sorry to say it simply isn't so. Had I known, I would saved everyone the trouble and not enrolled my child. I think it's a disservice for those of us who want a Waldorf charter, which is why I am posting publically. Not to rail on the school but so the next family knows that at least in the Fall of 2013, this is not a Waldorf inspired school, in my opinion. The second grade teacher is delightful and is working so hard to implement Waldorf principals but is fighting an uphill battle, especially with 28 students. Her aid is always yelling at the kids, taking away recess, making them write 50 lines and even had a child put his nose in the corner during class. Another teacher has the children wash walls in the hallways as punishment during class. The PE, science and aftercare teacher threatens to take away recess and does so all the time and yells constantly. He put my child in a 45 minute time out for talking in line to go to aftercare. He engages in group punitive measures. When a student wrote on the blacktop with a piece of chaulk calling him a name, as punishment the whole aftercare had to pick up scrapes of trash while he yelled and lectured at them about how much trouble they were in. Frankly, he was disrespected by a student because he disrespects them daily. He has had no Waldorf training. Most of the teachers are not Waldorf trained having only taken the 2 week summer course for public teachers, he hasn't even had that. I witnessed a teacher put two students in a time out for the entire assembly and told them they lost the next recess out of pure rage. She was so angry and her tone was so vile because they kept putting the bean bags on their own heads. The yelling, the threats, the tone, the constant control over things that don't matter in a Waldorf settings, and the feel of the school is not Waldorf. I do hope that the school gets the leaderrship needed to rise to its potential. In the meantime, we have switched schools. I do appreciate the handiwork teacher. My child's knitting greatly improved and we will continue that. So if you're really hoping for Waldorf charter don't spend too much time listening to the speech, spend more time watching recess and after care where they can't edit themselves as easily as a teacher can while being observed. For those who like it, I'm very glad for you and in no way take away your opinion or appreciation of the school. I feel it's important my opinion be shared. read more

I just wanted to add my strong agreement with Heidi S.'s review below in 2013. I sadly, didn't read it before we tried out the school last year (2014/2015) school year. My son was in the first grade and my daughter in the kindergarten. I came with such excitement and high hopes for a wonderful Waldorf experience and like the previous reviewer....found very little Waldorf there. She is very correct, it is an extremely punitive environment...which maybe they think is necessary due to the challenges surrounding the diversity and urban environment....but it is just reinforcing to these children a very punitive sort of life. My son has some extra challenges, but my daughter is a very happy easy child who loves school and learns easily. She went from loving pre school to not liking Kindergarten. I was hearbroken to hear her be unhappy....have her tell me that the teachers were scary and yelled. And, in fact, I watched it on several occassions. Once when we were late to school....I walked her to the door of her class and was walking away when I heard the teacher berating my 5 year old for being late. We lived in Pleasant Hill (a 45 minute at least drive) and rush hour might put us ahead or behind on any given day. But, even if we didn't....if a 5 year old is late for school...it is not their fault. If a 13 year old is late, maybe. But, a five year old? I quickly went back in and explained why we were late (the teacher knew where we lived though...this was no surprise) and also explained that if she were to be late again, and the teacher was unhappy she was welcome to take it up with me, but that it was not my 5 year olds fault when I got her to school late. Later in the year, after I had pulled her from the school....we were at the school for my son (I pulled my daughter from the school before my son as we were int he middle of his IEP and I didn't want to disturb the process), my daughter went back after class to visit her teacher...and was not greeted....at all. She came back and said that the teacher was too busy to see her. This was my general experience with this teacher for the 5 months we were there. During the parent night, the teacher explained that she'd like to incorporate more Waldorf like things, but simply didn't have the time in her day. They also had quite a bit of homework (in kindergarten??). The first grade was similar. I think that the teacher was definitely trying and interested in Waldorf, but like the previous reviewer noted, the teachers are not trained in Waldorf as a general rule. There are only a few that are....thus the knowledge of truly what being a Waldorf School is, really isn't there. The teacher yelled ALL THE TIME. There was strong adherence to a behavior chart in the class which was a constant source of stress and embarassment for those students who could not succeed. I kept wanting to tell them, you really are not billing yourself in an honest way. You really need to say that you are a common core curriculum school who does handknitting in the afternoon. By the time we were there, there wasn't a science, outdoor teacher....the gardens were dry and my kids never set foot in their planter boxes (one per class out on the concrete playground) the entire 5 and 6 months that they were there. After finally pulling my son, we spent the rest of year at a school closer to home. Then, in the summer I was offered a job in Sweden and we moved. Now my children are in a Waldorf school here in Sweden. Every day I am reminded of the massive difference. They are truly in Waldorf schools now. They are respected and treated as humans....they are allowed to behave as human children do. There is no crazy rule that they may not speak in line and must stand in line for 10 minutes at a time to and from the playground. Like the previous reviewer....so many children were in trouble for not being able to transition from class to the playground in those impossible circumstances...and they were punished by having recess taken away, picking up trash on the playground etc. Sometimes, it would be 3 days of no recess for talking in line. I'm not making that up. Here in Sweden, that would never happen. It's all so different. The handiwork is wonderful and allowed throughout the day, making it much easier for the children to concentrate during lesson time etc. The school is in a rural forest environment, with ample room for climbing rocks and trees and plenty of outdoor time to engage in the important work out outdoor exploration. They ice skate or cross country ski or hike the forest for physical education and outdoor sciences. They are respected and never ever yelled at, but listened to. Conflicts are solved by listening and talking. My son has learned so much about how to interact with peers, how to forgive and how to be be forgiven. My daughter delights in school and all she is learning and doing. The difference in their experiences could not be greater. read more

Our daughter is in second grade at Community School for Creative Education (CSCE) a Waldorf inspired tuition free charter school in Oakland. She loves her teacher and her classmates. It is so wonderful that she gets up wanting to go to school. She struggles with PTSD from an abusive past in the foster care system and she is blossoming and beginning to feel safe in this supportive environment. As a two mom LGBT family of color we are happy at the openess and diversity of the school. The parents are extremely active in the working of the school. We are happy to find a multi cultural, multi class community with a genuine desire to welcome everyone. read more

This is a Waldorf inspired school with a conscience. This one of a kind school has grass-roots organizing roots (it was established with the help of OCO's small schools movement) and strives to serve the diverse children of color in Oakland who have been traditionally exempt from this child-centered, arts based education due to race and class. My daughter is thriving here! She is knitting, reciting poetry, playing the recorder, speaking and singing in Mandarin and Spanish, is gardening, hiking, painting and blossoming in ways that standard worksheets (offered in other public schools) would never allow. She is also reading at an advance grade level which they are meeting with developmentally appropriate individualized and creative work. If you want a creative non-conventional education for your child, come over for a tour! Free before and after care are a plus. And most importantly, it has a strong parent community that is working hard to fine tune the rough administrative edges common of all new schools. It is work, but worth it as I see the stunning results in my happy and blossoming child. read more

All three of my children have been in CSCE for two years now (Kindergarten, 3d, and 5th grade). We were in a private school previously and chose this school for its amazing concept, wonderful staff, and commitment to diversity. I've always been interested in Waldorf education, but the full-on Waldorf experience was not what I wanted for my children (nor would it have been affordable for us). CSCE is an amazing, pioneering project that is bringing the best of Waldorf education to a diverse, urban population while also providing kids with an education in keeping with California standards. The environment is creative, supportive, and stimulating; my children are learning, and perhaps equally important, are enjoying themselves and come home regularly talking about the exciting things they did in everything from math to handwork (knitting etc.) I can't recommend the school highly enough, and I encourage you to meet as many of the incredibly talented teachers and staff as you can. And feel free to ask to be put in touch with parents as well! My children are also in the afterschool program, and we are quite satisfied. read more