As someone who moved to the Bay Area about a decade ago, I've often missed the sense of Persian community I grew up with, attending "mehmoonis" (parties), hearing Iranian music fill our home, and being surrounded by our rich, beautiful culture. When it came time to find a preschool for my son, I dreamed of a place that could offer him that same warmth and connection, and Golestan has given us exactly that and more. The first time I stepped into Golestan's "hayaat" (yard), I was instantly transported to my grandpa's garden in Iran. The laughter, the trees, the care woven into every detail. It's such a lively, loving, and vibrant space where my son learns, plays, makes friends, and creates lasting memories. The teachers are absolute angels, deeply nurturing, creative, and so attuned to each child. From the thoughtfully designed classrooms to the fresh, nourishing food (with ingredients straight from their learning garden!), every aspect of Golestan reflects an intentional, heartful approach to education and community. I feel truly honored for my son to spend his days in such a magical and enriching environment, surrounded by love, culture, and curiosity, and I'm already dreaming of the day my daughter can join. Regardless of your background or heritage, Golestan is a place worth experiencing. I'm sure they'll woo you at "Salaam" :) read more

It is an AMAZING school. They have created magic at the school and it has become an extension of our home. The teachers love being there and always have a smile. The happy environment is very accepting of kids and loving towards them. The environment is very conducive to learning and building self confidence for the kids. The Director is probably the most passionate person I have met about education and every detail in the school show it. read more

My son started kindergarten is past fall and has been THRIVING. He in the past has struggled with transitions and he adapted to his new school and environment so quickly. He has really blossomed at Golestan and become a confident and excited learner. In just 3 months he has quickly picked up on phonics, can spell out some words and identify others. The teachers here make the learning so intentional and rigorous while also making it joyful. I love that little to no screens are used in the school and they really teach students (and families) how to be great humans all around. We feel so lucky to be a part of this school. It's the kind of learning environment that all children deserve. read more

This is an absolute gem of a school. It's what every child in the world deserves; a beautiful community of teachers, staff and families, lots of outdoor play, academically engaging, space for creativity, beautiful campus and amazing food by the chef and her team! We have a preschooler who just started this year. He is thriving, learning so much, making friends and loves going to school everyday. One of the most amazing things about Golestan is the teachers. His teachers are so loving, kind, smart and true magicians. He is 2 years old and learning about solar systems, different countries and cultures, cooking pizza and pretzels, colors, numbers and so much more! As a non-Farsi speaking family we were unsure how him not understanding Farsi would be but he seems to be loving it. He comes homes singing and speaking Farsi! read more

Golestan is a marvelous school for your child(ren) if you want: + phenomenal, caring teachers + a community built around kindness + individualized learning for each child + A world conscious, IB (International Baccalaureate) akin program + to support a nonprofit that helps other schools for free + nature, gardening, appreciation of beauty + treating others with respect taught Kids build their own environment on the playground. The 'graduation' day is called Flying Forward. The children beautifully run across the playground, flying, jumping off enormous rocks, into the arms of their teachers, then off through a tunnel made by the raised arms of the children who have gone before. I wish my older child could have gone there. I wish *I* could have gone there. So Worth It. read more

Golestan School - The view from the front gate. - Preschools Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Golestan School is amazing. The communication, care, love, and knowledge Golestan provides is beyond words. My daughter loves going to school. She already talks about how she will miss Golestan when she goes to middle school. The communication from the staff and her teachers is exceptional. The guidance they have provided me since she started attending Golestan last year has been so helpful in my parenting journey. Golestan is providing academic and emotional support that my daughter needs. My daughters self confidence has sky rocketed since she started attending Golestan. The teachers have been so dedicated and I can't say enough about their commitment. Kerry, Dan, Luz, and Aeryn! :) read more

There is nothing we would change about Golestan, even if we could! Our daughter has attended preschool through K so far. The administration is highly communicative, thoughtful, caring for their staff, and innovative. Yalda, their ED, is always available if needed though her team is highly capable as well. We feel we are in the best hands in an increasingly challenging school landscape of Covid risks and fire seasons. Rather than a transactional feel, Golestan fosters a strong sense of community and belonging among the staff, students and their families. We couldn't think of any better teachers to entrust our daughter with and for her to look up to as role models. The teachers are so flexible and creative, providing individualized care to each student's needs. We know they are nurturing our daughter's love of learning, critical thinking and curiosity which are essential for leading a life of meaning, connection and resiliency. The highest recommendation comes from our daughter who says "I like my school so much it makes me want to stay there forever and ever and ever. And I love my teachers so much!" Oh! How could I forget the amazing food, the language/cultural learning, outdoor classrooms, field trips, soccer, garden and music classes! How truly lucky we are to be at this gem of a school read more

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Golestan is an amazing place. They strive to make our daughter and her classmates into changemakers through kindness, thoughtfulness, and courageousness. The staff and teachers are some of the nicest people you'll meet, are super smart, badass, and foster a sincerely warm community/family vibe. Our daughter has drastically improved her emotional regulation and is rocking at reading and math. Multiple times in a year, the curriculum ties together a variety of complex themes into a singular events known as "celebration of learning" that embeds multi-faceted project work as presentation for parents. For example, most recently the kids learned how difficult it is to have consistent access to education around the world for a variety of reasons. To expound on this concept they 1) drafted, edited, and finalized a story of characters seeking education 2) presented it to an audience of parents in a showcase 3) made a paper-stream movie of it 4) assembled and wore costumes of key characters in their stories. This requires reflection, creativity, application of math and writing, public speaking, and a bunch of other things that I want my daughter to learn. We extremely lucky that our daughter has been able to spend the foundational years of her education in such a comprehensive learning environment. read more

There is no way I can explain how amazing this school is! If I had to start with cost, knowing what I know now and seeing the progress my daughter has made. I would pay double if my pockets would allowed it. My wife and I looked at schools all over the Bay Area for our 3 year old daughter. We started in Danville and checked out almost every school, monitory etc and ended up 1 hour away at Golestan! Yes, we drive two hours a day to bring our child to this school and I don't mind it at all because I know this is what is best for her! The teachers are amazing, caring, loving and more importantly informed on what is best for a child's development. I would recommend anyone and everyone to Golestan! I would also like to mention and give credit to the amazing work Yalda has done! I'm beyond grateful and appreciative. Thank you all for all you have done for our community and children! read more

This review is for Golestan elementary school at Kensington/Berkeley.  I have a 6-year-old boy in the first grade.  We joined Golestan in 9/2020 after having gone through 6 months of kindergarten distance-learning at a local public school during the COVID pandemic.  I am a physician (cardiology fellow still in training).  Trying to facilitate distance learning/homeschooling after I return home from a 12-hour workday was near insanity.  My son was resistant to worksheets assignments, zoom lessons, and developed an aversion to learning when he previously loved learning.  I was crying every day with the feeling of failure of not able to teach my son properly, care for patients, and continue my medical training in Cardiology simultaneously.  Then we enrolled at Golestan Primary School at Berkeley through a family friend's wonderful recommendations in 9/2020, and the school essentially SAVED MY FAMILY. The school's principal Yalda Modabber is an immunologist as well as an exceptional educator.  Under her astute and visionary leadership, the school was able to put together a 100% in-person learning environment with hybrid indoor/outdoor classrooms, HEPA air filters, weekly COVID testing for the entire staff and parents, and a strict small pod system of 9-12 kids per class.  Life became normal again for my family.  I was able to go to work every day focused and continue my cardiology fellowship.  My son started loving school, laughing every day, and making friends.  My husband and I started to meet cool parents from our classroom pod and became great friends to support each other during the Pandemic.  We cannot be more grateful and happy with our decision to join Golestan primary school in 9/2020.  I now serve on their Parent-Teacher Association as Co-Chair to give back.  I feel compelled to spread the word about this amazing school as I believe it can really help many struggling families right now and bring back some peace/normalcy to the crazy world we live in currently. read more

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Golestan is an oasis of kindness, beauty, expansion, and friendship. We have long had deep respect for Golestan's science-based best practices, International baccalaureate program, and their commitment to global cultures and environment stewardship--reflected in their leadership as an Ashoka Changemaker school, and as part of green schoolyards America. In these particularly challenging times, we feel beyond lucky to be part of the incredible community Yalda and her team have built--and the extensive resources they have put in place to keep our families and teachers safe during the pandemic. Little did we know when we started at Golestan, that we would have the good fortune to be able to send our child to school started by someone who is deeply committed to education and child enrichment, but who also has a medical degree in immunology! If there's anyone you want at the helm of your child's school during a pandemic, Yalda--and the COVID task-force she has assembled--is it. Not only do we breathe easy knowing that the absolute best scientific practices are in place to keep our children safe, but we are moved by the school's ongoing pro-bono consulting across the globe through the Golestan Colab, to help public and private schools also reopen safely. That is the precise generosity of spirit and commitment to global wellbeing that underscores everything at Golestan. We can't think of a more nurturing, dynamic, gorgeous, and magical place to be able to offer children. read more

This is my dream school in every regard honestly. Setting aside having the opportunity to meet more Iranians in the community, celebrating Persian food, the culture, the language (in the preschool program), this is everything I would have ever wanted in a school for my kids. Like, if I had the opportunity to make a school for my kids, I would design Golestan. Visually, aesthetically, it's #1. No other school in the Bay Area can compete. The flowers! The colors! It's so clean and orderly, I get a sense of calmness and a heavenly feeling the moment I enter the grounds. And you know what the best part is? The KIDS ARE OUTSIDE most of the time, enjoying this beautiful campus. The quality of the food, the kitchen! These kids eat better than adults. The teachers - I love these teachers. I feel like they are my family honestly. They ask how I am doing when I drop off. They ask about my family. They ask to see pictures of my kid's birthday parties. This isn't just a job for them. The curriculum is amazing - it's an IB curriculum that encourages questions and risk taking. Every week is a theme, and everything relating to the day relates back to this theme. The teachers update us regularly with what the theme is, what questions are being addressed, what songs they are singing and what the free play activities are (and it's always rotated! So the kids never get bored). The Google Photos! It allows me as a parent to see what my kid is doing everyday. There are hundreds of photos showing all the kids exploring and playing. I used these photos and make an album, like a yearbook for my son. The garden outside, the activities these kids do. I'm jealous they are outdoors ALL the time. And finally, the community. Yalda, the Director, is always there to help with any questions I had as a first time parent. She gives the best advice, recommends the best books (which typically aren't the mainstream books). I'm a better mother because of this school, because of Yalda. Being a part of this school is like being a member of a really large big extended family. If you could dream up a school for your kids, this is what you would create. No doubt about it. read more

Golestan is a warm and loving environment where children are respected and celebrated for their unique qualities. The academics focus on experiential and integrative learning with lots of group work. There is a strong social emotional learning component that teaches children how to effectively communicate and build community. My son has thrived in this beautiful school! read more

Beautiful indoor-outdoor space and curriculum. Best if you are concerned about viruses. Kind and peaceful ambiance.

Amazing school! Our daughter has attended since PreK. The teachers + staff are wonderful. The campus is beautiful. This school is unlike any other. An oasis of kindness committed to inclusion, community, cultural diversity and global competency. Our family loves Golestan! read more

I've been a longtime admirer of Golestan, and this past fall, had the opportunity to enroll my daughter in their primary school program as a kindergartner. We couldn't be happier. Our little girl is thriving at Golestan and keeps informing us that she wants to stay there forever. Not only is she making her way through the kindergarten curriculum, she's doing it in a truly unique, loving setting, with regular exposure to the Persian, Hebrew, and Arabic languages and associated cultures. Beyond that, she's building a greater connection to food, gardening and nature since it's so embedded in the experience of all the Golestan kids. I honestly could go on and on. We are so lucky to be part of this incredible school community. read more

An amazing school. Caring attentive staff and teachers. Lovely parents & children that we come across day to day. Our daughter went for first grade and she just loves it. We'll continue with Golestan because our daughter has learned so much from her two teachers & the style of learning is incredible. She had gone from Zoom kindergarten & not learning much, to full speed ahead with all the information she's handed, & she's handled it great. They offer music, gardening, lots of other creative outlets. Smaller class sizes are a luxury to say the least. A natural playground. They have a fantastic website to check out if people want all the many details, which is extremely helpful when considering a school. read more

This review is for Golestan Kindergarten :) I'll post a separate one for Preschool. We toured and experienced many schools and nothing, I mean no school matches up to Golestan's quality and care. They have a set of standards that surpass mine at home. The Golestan teachers and staff teach through modeling. They are the most kind and loving group I've met. The head and founder of the school, Yalda, puts her heart and soul into making sure both the progressive vision and details of the school are taken care of. She considers all of the kids and parents her own family and I can sense it every time I see her. She also opens up her network to everyone and is amazing at connecting people. The staff are so kind and welcoming that you feel like hanging around campus all day. I just wish they would expand to other locations so more people could have a safe and loving, yet academically rigorous environment for their kids :) (but I understand it's hard to create such perfection at large scale). Truly an outstanding model school. My kindergartener has already bonded closely with with all her classmates and comes home exhausted but happy. The teachers are top notch (hand picked from a large pool of candidates) and the setup is warm and welcoming. The teachers do a home visit before school starts which is unheard of for primary school. There's a lot of focus on social and emotional development as well as a perfect balance of academic rigor through the IB curriculum. The garden and classes which are absolutely beautiful are simply designed to physically challenge children of all ages. Kids climb the natural structures and get to play along vegetables, herbs, flowers and natural hills. They get exposure to two languages in addition to English and their chosen track. This is all integrated in their day to day activities which makes it so natural. Organic, five star quality snacks and lunch are provided every day...no need to pack a lunch and it's included in the tuition!! Kids get to eat family style alongside their teachers and staff. This is set up nicer than our home. Did I mention that the ratio of kids to teachers is 6 to 1??? In addition to being a part of the school, you receive so much support from the community. I can go on and on about Golestan so feel free to contact me if you have questions. Happy parent of a Kindergartener and Preschooler at Golestan. read more

When I asked my kindergartener about her first day of school, she told me "I was kind today." That's what I love about Golestan, they are focused on creating compassionate humans and life long learners. Last year my older daughter's class did a semester long deep dive into oceans, where all the subjects like art, theater, math, and writing were integrated. It was such a joy to see her curiosity and knowledge grow. I think it's such a more holistic way of learning. We also appreciate that there isn't homework, makes time at home in the afternoon much less stressful and I don't feel like my kids are behind or missing anything, the opposite actually since they can pursue other activities with the free time. The community, green school yard, and garden are all also amazing. We also appreciate the healthy food (and not having to pack lunches or snacks). It's a pretty magical school and we feel lucky to have found it! read more

Golestan is the most amazing school! My daughter started there as a preschooler at age 2 and is now in the 3rd grade. She has experienced all the teachers and we love every one of them. The campus is gorgeous, the administration is excellent, and the quality of education is unparalleled. They also have a farm-to-table chef! Most importantly, my child is thriving. She is kind, curious, generous, confident, and community-minded. Golestan is in large part responsible for that. read more

My daughter is 1/2 Persian, 1/2 Chinese. She has been attending for 2 years now in their pre-school program. I cannot tell you how pleased I was with this schools evolution over the past 4 years. With a very commited Director, board members, parents, and teaching staff, the curriculum this school offers is superior to many Pre-K schools. Being able to offer Instruction by a qualified teacher is certainly one aspect of how a child can learn, but more importantly, you have to look at the personalities of the teaching staff, as this is EQUALLY as important for a Child's growth. Patience, understanding, and kindness are all attributes a Child can certainly benefit from, but not all Teachers/Staff possess in a school. Our daughter has benefitted not only from learning basic skills, but has done so under a very nuturing and understanding environment the Staff offers at GolestanKids. There is something to be said about having a child be comfortable in his/her teaching environment, and certainly the teaching staff at Golestan Kids does allow the kids to go thru many "doors" and really explore what they can do. When a child is not comfortable, a child will not be willing to explore those doors of growth. A Teacher can be certified, be a PhD, be a great Intellectual, but without a great personality, a child really cannot reach their full potential as quickly. You can compare this to a medical Doctor who might be brilliant, but without great "bedside manners," you might not feel comfortable in the same room with him/her. A good Teacher must have both attributes (knowledge to teach, AND a warm and loving personality to help the child grow and feel comforatble) , which currently Golestan excels tremendously. The school is well laid out, in a great neighborhood, and will surely expand thru its hard work and its great foundation they have established. read more

As my daughter's 3rd year comes to a close at Golestan, we are incredibly thankful for the journey thus far. In the fall my daughter will go off to kindergarten, and then be a part of the after school program. I feel that she is adequately prepared for kindergarten, and she has been taught other very important things like kindness, & altruism. We have had such a postive experience at Golestan we will be enrolling our 2 year old son in the pre-school as well. My son already runs up to the teachers & hugs them. They are intelligent, nurturing, and great educators! Yalda joon, the director of this non-profit, is truly a visionary. We are very lucky to have her, the teachers, & this beautiful place to send our kids. We are excited and comforted to be a part of this school and the Golestan community. read more

Appalled, disappointed, and heart broken are all understatements of the way we felt when we tried to visit the school last week... When I discovered this preschool, I was ecstatic- an Iranian/American preschool so close to home, yay! So I called and spoke with the director/owner- a lady named Yalda. Our initial conversation went well. I expressed my interest in enrolling my daughter and she seemed excited to have her attend also because she spoke fluent Farsi and was 4 yrs old. She said it would work out great because that's what they needed- an older kid who spoke Farsi fluently. I was so happy and thought this was the beginning of a wonderful experience for my daughter. So then I asked when a good time was for us to visit the school and she explained that she was very busy and had no time to make an official appointment bust said that if I was to drop by in any morning at around 9:30 she would have a few minutes to show me around and accept my application. She said she was letting me in on a "secret" as to when to come and I thought- wow I feel so privileged! What a nice lady, right? Well that all held true until we went to visit. Taking my daughter with me to the school was very important because I, like many other moms, like to see how the teacher's interact with your kid and how your kid likes the place. So I waited til her school was out for summer break, which was just a few days after I had spoke with Yalda. So the very first day of my daughter's break, we planned to visit Golestan Preschool. We were so excited; my husband took time off from work and my daughter got up early and eagerly got dressed putting on her favorite dress! We got to the school at 9:25a.m and Yalda opened the door but not with a warm welcome at all. She greeted us like we were bum's begging for shelter, or a bunch stray dogs on the loose. She didn't even acknowledge my daughter, barely glanced at her but gave her no hi or hello, nothing! That right there gave me the worst feeling ever. How could a preschool teacher, owner, whatever be so cold towards a kid? Does she even like kids? This was all the more shocking being that she's Iranian and we are usually warm, loving people- especially to kids! So I went on to introduce myself and she just gave us a cold stare and an unfriendly hello. She said she thought I was coming to see the school last week. I said "but you never made me an appointment, you just told me to stop by one morning at 9:30" She said she automatically assumed I would come the very next morning we spoke (why she made this assumption, I don't know) but she was obviously very upset about it. She didn't even offer to reschedule. Basically, in a nutshell she said- since you didn't come right away then tough luck! There was no "lets reschedule" or "try me next week"... nothing! All we got was the cold shoulder, a bad attitude, rejection, and the door shut in our face. I thought oh my god, is this really happening? I looked down to my daughter and she had this sad and confused look on her face. She then looked up at me and asked "why doesn't the lady want me to go to her school?".... I knew she was heart broken because just by looking at her little sad face, I felt my own heart break. We didn't deserve that treatment, especially not my daughter, who is just 4 and doesn't understand adult issues and how weird they could be. In a way, I'm glad this happened right from the start because this lady showed her true self and it wasn't pleasant at all. She's definitely not the one for my baby. My daughter is extremely affectionate and full of love. We would want her to be in an environment where she is loved back and feels safe. I didn't feel that here, not one bit. Ms. Yalda needs to know that first impression is everything. And next time there's a kid standing at your door, for god sake acknowledge them (even if you don't like their parents). Don't take things so personal- misunderstandings happen all the time! My daughter was there to see you and I told her that you were also excited to meet with her (as you showed to be over the phone) but you treated us horribly. But you know what; my daughter not attending your school is your loss completely. read more

I have known about this school since the beginning when Yalda, the director used to come to the Persian Center to meet with a few other Iranian mothers. After all these years, I've had the opportunity to visit the school several times. I'm always impressed by the improvements Yalda is making. I also hear about the school all the time since a few of my Farsi students have enrolled their kids at Golestan. Their biggest motivation for learning Farsi is to be able to speak with their child who is making progress so fast at Golestan. One of my students who just found out she is expecting, is already reserving a space for her daughter at Golestan! I wished we had a school like Golestan when my own kids were young. I look forward to my next visit to Golestan. read more

I have two daughters (3 and 6 years old) who have been attending this amazing school in Berkeley since they were two. I never imagined that I would find a school that has all the elements I would hope for in a preschool (nurturing and loving teachers, teaching philosophy that fosters a love of learning, exposure to arts, sciences, music, dance, gardening, etc) AND is taught in Farsi, my native language. As a result of the incredibly talented and devoted director, board, teachers and families, Golestan has grown from a small coop to an idyllic preschool & after-school program in just four years. I feel so lucky that my family is a part of this community, and that my children are learning both Farsi and learning about Iranian culture and traditions. My husband is American, and though I was born in Iran, I left as a child and would never have been able to teach them my language on my own. Golestan has made me a firm believer that you can teach any child multiple languages at a young age through immersion. I have seen kids with no Persian language skills become fluent after just a few months. It also doesn't hurt that the school is located in a beautiful building, has a phenomenal backyard where our kids are growing great food, and is aesthetically very tasteful. I can't speak enough great things about this school. If you are any part Iranian and live in the Bay Area, this is a no-brainer. I happen to live in Berkeley but would commute from far away to give my kids this experience. If you're not Iranian but value teaching your child a second language, I would also recommend Golestan. read more

This is our daughters' 5th year with Golestan. We have been with the school since it's start at the Persian Center, to its present location in the beautiful 2 story building in Berkeley on 5th street. We so admire the efforts of Yalda, who is the Director of the school. Without her drive and vision, GolestanKids would not be what it is today. I am not sure why the "1 star" reviewer does not give more specific examples; rather than make broad accusations. That is not fair nor creates a valid argument. Sounds more like a frustrated parent trying to portray her young child as a victim. I cannot imagine a 4 year old being able to conclude on her own "why doesn't the lady want me go to this school?"..... and in her next paragraph her same 4 year old doesn't understand Adult issues... For those of you considering GolestanKids, go see for yourself and make your own determination whether the school is a good fit. Not every child will "fit" into GolestanKids, and that can be said for ANY school. Use the comments and reviews of Yelp as a guide, not a determining factor. There is a reason that GolestanKids gets high praise and has a waiting list. We feel fortunate that our daughter has the opportunity to continue to learn Persian culture, the Farsi language, and the Love that she receives from the staff at GolestanKids. read more

Golestan has been an amazing experience and, indeed, a life saver. The community spirit at Golestan is unlike anything I have seen at any other school. It is that spirit which allowed Golestan to keep everyone safe even while giving kids in-person schooling in the COVID era. As a former ex-pat, the opportunity to expose my child to cultures beyond her own was key to our choosing Golestan. I cannot recommend this school highly enough. read more

My 2-year-old daughter has been attending Golestan's toddler program for 6 months now. She is super happy and loves going there, and her parents are overjoyed to have found such a great place for her! The teachers are warm and great at what they do, the environment is incredibly welcoming, and the community of parents is supportive and collaborative. We're so lucky to have a Persian-language immersion school here in Berkeley, but even if it weren't for the language, I would send my daughter there -- it's that good. The organic, creative meals, the copious outdoor time in their spacious backyard, the emphasis on natural toys, paints, etc...combined with the director's and the teachers' love of learning and fun -- all this makes it the perfect place for us. Our daughter will continue at Golestan through preschool and most likely will attend the afterschool program into elementary school, as well. read more

I was so enamored with Golestan that I began becoming part of the community long before my son started attending the school. It is Persian-immersion meets Berkeley. The teachers are truly loving and amazing and only speak Persian. The kids listen to 'gole gandom', water their godgeh sabz tree and sing Persian songs. The building, Heywood house, is an old heritage site in the city of Berkeley with tall ceilings and wooden carved doors with knockers. Golestan is an amazing school for any child, Iranian or otherwise. The school is Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio influenced and a community/cultural center as well. The student teacher ratio is very low, never more than 3 or 4 to 1. The food is partially grown in the yard and all organic. The toys are exquisite and all wood. It feels like a heavenly home. I feel so blessed that I live so close and can bike my son and nephew to the school, near the 4th street shopping area of Berkeley. Schedule a tour to see for yourself. read more

My daughter has gone to Golestan as a preschooler and now as an after-schooler for over 2 years and we love it!! The school is a nurturing place with a unique program which offers Farsi language immersion. One of the things that makes this program truly unique is its healthy organic food program. The children are feed professionally prepared foods that are organic, seasonal and even local whenever possible. Some of the food even come from Golestan's organic garden where children learn to grow and harvest their own vegetables. They learn to eat all types of food from Kale chips and broccoli to dahl and curries. Thanks to Golestan I never have to tell me daughter to eat her vegetable. That is her favorite part of any meal. My son will be starting in the Toddler program as soon as he is old enough. We can't wait. read more

Golestan is a treasure, a home away from home, full of joy, positive energy, and love. I used to be a volunteer and staff member at Golestan and now my almost 3 year old daughter attends the school. I get so happy when I see that my daughter loves the school and her enthusiasm to go to school grows every day. I am deeply grateful to the amazing people who make Golestan such an incredible space to nurture our children... read more

Golestan Kids is a home away from home for my three year-old - that is how much I trust and appreciate the school. All members of the staff, starting with the director, are extremely professional, well trained and committed to the well being and education of the students. This is a very special community of people who are dedicated to nurturing and installing a strong sense of values in children. The most important indicator of a school's success at this age is whether or not your child is happy to be there, and without a doubt, my daughter loves going to school at Golestan! read more

First, I would like to note that due to my essentially preset high standards, I am someone who can be very difficult to get impressed. However, this is not the case with Golestan school (only, please, do not refer to it as a day care, even though its a Pre-K). You will discover it's uniqueness in everything: unparalleled program, highly educated and ethical administrators, teaching staff, and of course, provided to kids on a daily basis, without any exceptions!!!, nurturing and loving environment. All children there become fluent in Persian language with absolute understanding of Persian culture and cuisine (have their own chef and organic garden). My 3-year-old son who has been in this program for 9-full months is a great proof to it. Came to Golestan with just a few words in Persian but now is able to communicate with his father's relatives in Iran without any difficulty. The only unfortunate thing is that this school has its limitations: K-12 is not being offered. Golestan's concept is the best developmental and educational "foundation" which any parent can desire to have his children to be exposed to. read more

I was surprised to hear anyone writing a good review of the school. I am a resident of Berkeley and had enrolled my child in that school. My child was totally unhappy in the school, the program is totally inferior with poorly educated teachers and the manager/owner is basically in it for the money. Save your child from a nasty experience that she/he may not forget for the rest of her life and do not go near that school. read more

Up to now, I had refrained from writing a review because I felt too close to the school having been involved in it from it's conception when it was only just an idea amongst five Iranian-American Moms hoping for a place to instill the Persian language and culture in our then two year old children! Well my two year old is now 9 and has two younger siblings. If it was not for Golestan Kids my kids wouldn't understand let alone speak Persian as well as they do! Once the older kids start kindergarten, naturally their Persian becomes less strong but with the after school program at Golestan my kids have been able to retain a lot of their language skills. I was so pleasantly surprised when my 9-year-old son came home yesterday from Golestan with a paper that had a little story (three sentences) in Persian and he was able to read it! Golestan is more than a school; it is a community that has brought many families together, for the common goal of nurturing and teaching our kids the warmth and love of the Persian culture and language. Golestan kids has also been the model and base for many other schools that have opened up with the guidance of Golestan's wonderful director, Yalda. I truly feel so lucky to be part of this amazing community! read more