While bullying from other students is always a concern, Bentley School has the unique problem of…read morehaving one of its teachers bully her students. Over the course of the year (school events, play dates, birthday parties), without prompting, classmate after classmate informed us that our child's teacher constantly put down our child and those other students who were not favored by her. Weekly, often daily, she would demean and certain students in front of the class. And yet while fellow students saw the problem, and the matter was brought to the school's attention, the school administration did nothing. Enabling bad people is what bad schools do. This is a bad school.

Fabulous, well rounded school. High academic standards, great social emotional support, incredible…read moreteachers and administration. Lots of extracurriculars to get involved with. We are very happy and grateful to have 2 kids here (who joined from OUSD)

I have found this school to be full of staff that are very thoughtful, intentional, and loving of…read morethe larger community that they serve. The founder/head Michelle is a passionate leader who is in her purpose and it jumps right off of her when you meet her. I strongly recommend Pear Tree as they really do an exceptional job of wrapping around the youth. They promote and build a strong sense of community and ownership of the youth's educational advancement here. My plan is to bring others to this environment. Our son loves it here. Fred Tatum

Our daughter has been enrolled in Pear Tree as a preschooler and is now a 4th grader. We loved the…read morepreschool so much that we were ecstatic that director, Michele Hamilton, decided to grow the preschool into a separate elementary school. We've watched the school grow from just a handful of students to its current enrollment and its new location in Montclair. What we love: Montessori curriculum - we have had a rethinking of the state of education in the United States. It is not set up in any capacity to create critical thinkers and dynamic creators which is what the future economy will require. Montessori in the way that Pear Tree implements it allowed our daughter to consistently test 2 grades above her level, while allowing her the opportunity to become an awesome drummer with Pear Tree's musical enrichment. With a no homework policy, she has ample time to explore her love of reading and is an avid bibliophile. This love of reading usually starts to wane around the upper grades as kids struggle with the rigors of grades-based academic performance. Social Justice emphasis - the kids are being exposed to history and sociology from the context of social justice. Focus has been on pre-colonial history and ancient civilizations in the primary grades. Project based learning, group and individual research papers have allowed our daughter to put context in her history lessons. This year, climate resilience as the number one social justice cause, has given our daughter the ability to look at our current situation and actually come up with solutions with her class. This has been done through in-house video and audio content creation. Small class sizes - with no more than 16 students in a class along with a teacher and an aide, our daughter has always felt supported. She came into the preschool shy and timid and is now a vocal leader at school and outside. We don't think she would have found her voice in a class of 30 or more. When it comes to raising kids, no parent's decision-making is perfect. But our decision to be at Pear Tree was perfect for our daughter.

My kid's school. What a cute classic little school. Great teachers. Great kids. Great pizza. Great…read moremurals. Great playgrounds. Love it.

My son is currently in first grade at the Academy and we consider ourselves very lucky to have…read morefound this gem of a school. It is a place that nurtures his innate curiosity and encourages deep learning and a personal intellectual engagement with the world. This is balanced by a warm, diverse, and kind environment where children feel seen and are accepted for who they are. From our first visit, we were captivated by the cozy charm of the campus and its welcoming atmosphere. Walking through the halls, you can't help but notice the confident, composed, and articulate students. On any given day, they're engaged in meaningful conversations with peers and teachers or participating in lively, thoughtful classroom discussions. A Love for Learning What sets the Academy apart is its focus on deep, meaningful learning. In kindergarten, my son quickly grasped math concepts through Ms. Cherney's "double-decker bus" technique, a creative visual tool for numbers that add to ten. By year's end, he was proudly bringing home story pamphlets he had written, blending creativity with growing writing skills. He also adopted the SEL class mantra, "nothing is ever perfect," which inspires him to embrace a growth mindset daily. Now in first grade, Ms. Labarca builds on his foundation with hands-on, multi-sensory learning. Montessori cubes and open-ended questions challenge his critical thinking while teaching him to understand the "why" behind concepts, not just the "how." It's been great to see his curiosity deepen as he learns to think from first principles. The Academy fosters a culture where learning is both prioritized and celebrated, with academic rigor as the standard. This is beautifully balanced by a community that values students' well-being and sense of belonging and genuinely prioritizes diversity. A Thriving Community The Academy is a close-knit, supportive community where every child is valued and heard. The teachers are both kind and inspiring. Their passion for their subjects and for teaching shines through, making them exceptional role models. Many of the teachers have been part of the school for over 30 years, a testament to their dedication and the strength of the community. Our Head of School, Cecee Penney, has a remarkable talent for inspiring and connecting with the children. The parent community are warm and unpretentious. Many are intellectuals with ties to Cal/Berkeley and the surrounding research community and bring a rich diversity of perspective. Many volunteer their time and expertise to enhance the school experience. Some have given talks to the school, some recent topics include The Science of Climate Change, Cultural Lessons about Ethiopia, and Day in the Life of a Doctor. Why We Love the Academy The Academy is a place that sparks a love of learning while fostering a strong sense of community. From Yayoi Kusama-inspired art to Socratic discussions, it seamlessly blends an education that prioritizes creativity and critical thinking. It's a place where children explore, ask questions, and grow to be ambitious learners. For our family, the Academy feels like home--a place where our son is thriving, not just academically but as a thoughtful, curious, and confident individual. We're deeply grateful to be part of this community and happy to share more about our experience. If you are considering the school, feel free to reach out to me, Jaireh Tecarro, at tecarro@gmail.com.

We decided to withdraw our children from The Academy after ongoing concerns about bullying, lack of…read moreaccountability, and weak leadership. Our son faced repeated exclusion and inappropriate comments from classmates, including remarks that he was disliked "because he is Turkish." Despite our repeated reports and requests for support, the school minimized the situation and stated that "there was no bullying." Yet even during classroom assignments, our son expressed in writing and drawings his deepest wish for a world without bullying -- something no child should have to feel so strongly about in the first place. We tried for months to collaborate with the school, to have meaningful conversations, and to trust that the situation would improve. Unfortunately, it did not. Two students -- one acting as the leader and another following his lead -- consistently targeted him, and there were no real consequences. The administration's responses were consistently dismissive, suggesting a lack of understanding of the emotional impact such behavior can have on a child. Our son's sense of safety was completely eroded. Leadership at the school often acts in denial rather than taking responsibility. Communication is reactive and defensive. We also learned later that the administration offered us a $6,000 refund in exchange for signing a non-disparagement contract -- essentially asking us not to talk about our experience. We declined. Families deserve honesty, not silence. Academically, the school claims to be "one year ahead" and to follow a rigorous curriculum. After transferring to another school, we learned this was not true. Many concepts were skipped or taught superficially, creating learning gaps. Teachers are inconsistent -- some are good, while others frequently absent or disengaged. The third-grade environment in particular suffered from poor classroom management, inappropriate peer interactions, and a lack of supervision during recess and lunch. Conversations among students included inappropriate topics such as smoking and alcohol, even at this young age. This reflects serious gaps in oversight. The school also advertises a French program, but in reality, students only learn a few isolated words throughout the year -- far from the language exposure and learning that parents are led to expect. This is one example of how the school's marketing and actual classroom experience do not align. The only staff member who genuinely helped us and consistently supported our child was the inclusion and belonging teacher. She truly cared, followed up, and tried to make a difference when others didn't. To our shock, after leaving the school, we learned that she had been laid off. It's hard to understand how a school that claims to value inclusion could let go of one of the few people who actually embodied it. Adding to the concern, we later found that in the 2024-2025 school year, the administration encouraged families to post positive reviews online to boost enrollment numbers, as the kindergarten class had only six students enrolled. That context makes recent glowing reviews highly misleading. I would advise anyone considering this school not to rely on those reviews, as many were written under pressure to improve the school's public image. When The Academy was founded years ago, it had a strong reputation. Sadly, under the current leadership, it has lost its integrity, its sense of community, and its educational quality. For us, both the financial cost and the emotional toll were high. We are writing this review not out of bitterness, but out of responsibility -- so that other families can make informed decisions. Our new school has shown us how dramatically things can change when children feel truly safe, respected, and supported. Every child deserves that.

We live in Berkeley and both our daughters attend St. T. We are so grateful to St. T for helping…read moreour daughters be their best. We are especially impressed with the St. Theresa's teaching staff, their high academic standards, and the St. T community.

Our daughter attends TK at St. Theresa, and while we've been part of the school community for less…read morethan a full school year, I've been nothing but impressed by the teachers, staff, and fellow parents. I haven't met anyone who isn't nice, kind, considerate, and invested in the school and the children's education. Our TK teacher is wonderful and we can see our daughter developing academically as well as socially. The school is situated in the peaceful Oakland neighborhood of Upper Rockridge and pretty easy to get to (and close to the Terrace Cafe, another perk). I"ll add that while I'm not a Catholic (my wife and children are), that has never been an issue. There are other non-Catholics who send their children there because they know they will be in a safe and nuturing environment. Lastly, I'm impressed with the students themselves. They are polite and considerate when I've interacted with them as a parent volunteer. I remember my Jr. High experience as pretty excruciating. When I look at the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, I see well-adjusted and responsible young people by all outward appearances. I certainly don't see my Lord of the Flies experience. It's an special cadre of people and culture at St. Theresa.

My son is in 4th grade at Kaiser. He's attended since kindergarten. We continue to be impressed…read morewith the school. This year he started playing the trombone. The school provided him with a free trombone for the year and he has music twice a week.

As a parent of two young children, I'm wrestling with how best to prepare them for a world that's…read morechanging so rapidly. With AI coming, what skills will really matter? Two years into our journey at Escuela Bilingüe Internacional (EBI), I've come to appreciate the value of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, especially its focus on inquiry-based learning and bilingualism. A few reasons this feels more relevant than ever: Intellectual curiosity IB helps students develop a love of exploring ideas, formulating questions, and seeking deeper understanding--skills that will set them apart in a world of instant answers. Cross-disciplinary thinking IB encourages students to make connections across subjects and approach problems creatively. Bilingualism and cultural fluency Learning in two languages strengthens cognitive flexibility and helps students navigate a more connected, global society. Global and ethical perspective The program develops empathy, collaboration, and a strong sense of ethics, which our world needs now more than ever.

We initially chose EBI for its Spanish immersion program and were soon delighted to discover it's…read morealso an International Baccalaureate (IB) school. While raising bilingual children is important to us, the IB curriculum has become the most enriching part of our experience. Its inquiry-driven approach inspires curiosity, deep thinking, and a genuine love of learning that keeps our children engaged. Our top priority was to find a school where our kids would enjoy learning, ask big questions, and develop a global perspective--and EBI has exceeded our expectations. The teaching at EBI is high quality. The educators are thoughtful, skilled, and dedicated to helping each child succeed. They create a supportive learning environment that emphasizes both academic and social-emotional growth. Group work and collaboration are central to the school's approach, helping students build important interpersonal and problem-solving skills. EBI has been a great fit for our child with a learning difference, and also the one that doesn't have a learning difference because of their commitment to differentiated learning, which supports all learners! The inquiry-based model allows them to engage with the material without relying on memorization or worksheets. We appreciate the strong Learning Differences and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) support team as well! The EBI community--teachers and parents alike--have been fabulous!

We moved from the city to the east bay once we knew we would be in a a family way. We chose the…read morelower rockridge area in part because of the restaurants on college avenue, but also because of Peralta Elementary school. You know how a good dessert can make you feel great? We'll a step onto the campus at Peralta Elementary in Oakland does the same thing. it's not just parent involvement everyone loves the place and it shows ... --l (peraltaschool.org). http://www.peraltaschool.org

Kindergarten is a whole new beast. And it ends at 130? After being waitlisted at my son's school…read moreaftercare program, we ended up with Kids in Mo, as everyone so fondly calls it, a private option at John Muir. Funny how life works out the way it is supposed to, as we could not be happier. We even got off the waitlist at our son's school, and kept him at Kids in Mo, taking the school bus (which he loves!) to the John Muir campus. Was the first week stressful? Yep. Parents, everything is terrifying and new, we got this. There isn't a ton of structure, which at first made me so sad that my beautiful child who is used to the warm hug and schedule of pre-school is out in the big world with 5th graders. There is no schedule. There are no groups or nametags. There is go, have fun. 2 months in, I absolutely love this. My son has learned so much on how to socialize, how to explore, he's become such an independent little human. The John Muir campus is stunning - a playground, soccer field, a creek flowing near where they give out snacks, and a big lunch room for those kids wanting to play games inside. We call Kids in Mo 'after school camp', and if your kid is active, they will love it. I pick my 6 year old son up every day and he's playing soccer with 9 year olds, jumping in the creek, or playing board games. He literally never wants to leave. The director, Troy is my type of 'parenting'. He treats your child like a little adult: with respect and with accountability. My son loves the 'counselors' and all the staff are so nice. It's also a very diverse crew of leaders on the team. They coordinate the bus from his school to Kids in Mo. They have staff at the gate to account for each student. Wednesday is capture the flag and pizza... could it get any better? This is the few hours where your kid runs free having to figure life out, without a hovering parent or teacher, and I mean that in the best way possible. So grateful for Kids in Mo.

I SO wish I had known about this place when my older daughter was younger! Although Kids In Motion…read moreis an afterschool program during the school year, it also has a fantastic summer program. The location is at John Muir Elementary School and the Director, Troy Thompson, has been running the program for 20 years now and in fact one of his new teachers/caregivers, Tracy, was once in the program herself. Today my daughter learned how to ride a bicycle, climbed a tree, baked brownies. Thursdays they go swimming. They have weekly rates as well as daily drop in rate. But most importantly I know my daughter is in a safe environment with lots to do, new friends to meet and is in for a memorable summer. While I would never pick a child care for this reason alone, it is a huge bonus for us that this program is run by a man as there have been few opportunities (I am a single mom) for my daughter to see a man in a caregiving role, And it is particularly awesome to have someone like Troy who allows the children to be very active but doesn't miss a beat in his supervision of what are safe choices for active children.