I was a little apprehensive to put my child in a San Leandro school because I always heard negative…read morethings about the area. I grew up in Orinda which has some of the highest school rankings in the state, in my head I thought that san Leandro would never compare. I will say that my fears/ doubts got put to rest when my son started attending James Madison. Right away my son felt included and like he was part of the community.. I will say the reason that my mind changed was because of Issac's teacher, ( Mr. Baird) and ( Principal Grotke)! Principal Grotke is the kindest man, he smiles at you and has conversations with you.. he really cares about his students and the families of his students. He would also look out for the school and ask parents if they could volunteer or help in any way. Principal Grotke is a very caring, loving person... he's a very peaceful guy. He radiates peace and good energy... I know his job is tough.. I see some parents who break rules and don't follow school procedures... He has always had an optimistic disposition though... Mr. Baird has also made me appreciate this school. He is really nice, mellow, and patient... my son has learned so much from him.. My son now cares more for the environment and animals... This school is so lucky to have Principal Grotke and Mr. Baird.. it is so important that children have supportive people who can help them foster their dreams and help them aim for the stars. My son is lucky that he has crossed paths with these two wonderful people... and that they have helped him build such solid foundations.

Hi I give James Madison 5 stars because its an amazing school teachers are great and passionate…read moreabout teaching

they don't keep very good records at all!! very unprofessional!! there are a handful of great…read moreteachers in this school but over all my children will not be attending this school again if I can help it! PLEASE DO NOT automatically side with the staff if your child gets in trouble investigate the situation yourself or things can get ugly for your child and your child will be labeled by all staff!! GOOD luck !!!

Mills College Children's School is an absolute gem and a truly transformative environment for…read morechildren and families alike. The teachers and staff are incredibly supportive, creating an inclusive and diverse community where every child and family feels welcomed and valued. Their ability to meet each child where they are--both in terms of needs and abilities--is unmatched. The educators here are first-rate, highly educated, and deeply dedicated to their craft. They foster an environment where children can blossom socially, emotionally, and academically. Every child is seen, supported, and celebrated, which allows them to build confidence and thrive in all aspects of their development. The care and thoughtfulness that go into every interaction and every element of the program are evident. I feel so privileged to have my child--and myself--be part of this extraordinary community. Mills College Children's School is a place where children and families grow together, and I cannot recommend it highly enough!

My son started in the kindergarten class and is now a 5th grader. My daughter started in the blue…read moreroom (if I remember the color correctly!). And so far our experience has great! We really couldn't think of a better school that would nurture them as individuals and build a strong academic foundation. Mills really focuses on building socio-emotional skills. My kids often came home talking about the brain and how they were in their "reptilian brain" and what they could do to get centered. As a parent who is in the education field, I can't tell you how important this is to building skills that will allow them to self-regulate and to understand what's going on internally with them. I'm a high school administrator in a public school and I can tell you that the biggest challenge I see with students that academically struggle is their inability to self-regulate and access the part of their brain where executive skills are at. I'm so glad that both my kids could come here. I know that they have a strong foundation to succeed in middle and high school and beyond! Did I also mention how beautiful the campus is! Teachers take full advantage of this.

It's been a few years since both my kids have been going to this school and they love it. All the…read moreteachers and staff have been excellent and we've gotten to know other families who all have a similar experience. All the students are here to learn and the families all have similar values. Our kids are always being pushed outside their comfort zones and growing as a result. The Odyssey of the Mind had many parents involved as coaches for the kids and the kids performed so well in competition. A few teams from CCS even made it to the international competitions. Overall an amazing school with a nice campus, great curriculum and dedicated teachers and students. After the pandemic though they've lost some extra curriculum activities and I hope they can bring more of those back soon.

My daughters have gone to CCS from Kindergarten to 8th grade, and my son is currently attending the…read moreschool as well. I really appreciate the teachers and their attentiveness to the students. The school offers a rigorous academic program that has well prepared my daughters for high school and showed them good study habits. The campus is clean, and the kids love the cafeteria food offered. The class sizes are smaller than public school, and the tuition is reasonable. I would highly recommend this school if you are looking for a safe place for your child to learn.

Hola mi nombre es Ana y soy mamá de 3 estudiantes de 5g 6g y 12g aquí en Lighthouse…read more Estoy muy orgullosa de pertenecer a esta comunidad, aquí mis hijos están seguros y an aprendido mucho, La ayuda de oficina es 10 de 10 y los Maestros excelentes!!

This is my kids first year at Lighthouse TK, 4th & 7th grade & I must say...Lighthouse has the most…read morewelcoming community on campus...with lots of great, supportive staffs & teachers...I have seen the growth in my kid's academic since they started Lighthouse...my kids love their new school & feels safe...what I love about Lighthouse is that they are BIG on partnership, collaboration with families coming together to support each other in our kids learning...we all want the best for our kids in helping them grow that will shape their future for success...Lighthouse is the perfect school for my kids!

I was at Woodland Elementary this morning to participate in theOur Oakland Eastside Stories…read morecommunity storytelling day. wow thats a mouthful. Woodland School is BRAND NEW! and looks like a school./community center/daycare/playground facility. I wanted to go to the tetherball station and have a round but forgot Im an old merekat and might twist or hurt some valuable piece of me....

My teacher is awesome and their chicken nuggets are so yummy they have movie nights and more…read moreawesome school 5 star.

The school had barely any security!!! I drove by the school one day and see teenagers climbing the…read morefence I and out just to play!!! They only had fences and they are so short that I'm almost as tall as it and I'm a pretty short person! I can almost say that there are no real gates around the school and most of them were "climbable" and the other ones I wouldn't consider it as a gate.the lunch lady are nice when they feel like it and if not...

Gee, go figure, the devastating principal who destroyed morale is now gone. Guess the "drama…read morequeens" (ie the majority of the community) had a legitimate complaint, after all. Revising my review now that the Wicked Witch is gone. With her out the door, I truly believe JM will thrive and the community will heal from the damage she caused. Well done drama queens! The rest could learn from their dedication to making JM a better place.

The school has so much going for it, and mainly was a great place when my kid attended more than…read moreten years ago. However, an excellent and beloved aftercare, Adventure Time, was forced out under false pretenses in 2014. Their contract was broken so another aftercare could slide right in. It made me wonder back then. Makes me wonder even more now.