It has been over 1.5 years since my last review, and we love the school as much as we did when our…read morechild started school 2+ years ago! Everyone on staff has been incredibly easy and pleasant to collaborate with, and responsive to my questions. The school expanded over the summer to add 2 more classrooms, so that Burkard now has 6 classrooms: K/1, 2/3, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7/8th. Having experienced a few private schools and a public school between my 2 kids, I am confident this is the best environment for my child, for both academic differentiation and SEL support. It's often lamented that parents have to choose the least bad educational option for their 2e kids, but I truly believe this is a great option. We were fortunate enough to be with his amazing 2/3 teachers for 2 years, and have a new set of teachers we love this year, too. Speaking with parents across grades, they also think highly of their teaching teams. My son continues to thrive academically (measured by his overall engagement, as well as MAP testing), and we are very happy with the math differentiation he receives. Each year, I have been pleased with the attention and care the staff takes to make sure he's challenged at the right level. They take great care to plan engaging lessons across ELA, science, social studies and SEL, and incorporate hands on projects regularly to extend their learning. My son regularly shares interesting facts he learned in class! Math is a subject he continues to be passionate about, so I reach out to the school annually for math acceleration. He is given math assessments at the start of each year to determine the appropriate placement, and is given the option of joining a higher level class, or doing independent study in his classroom. We opted this year to have him join the higher level math class on a modified schedule, and we are grateful for the ability to choose the right option for him. The daily SEL teaching is also very well done. Many schools don't have the ability to go in-depth with SEL, but our BT has devised fun games and exercises for the kids to put their SEL knowledge into practice. It was so sweet to hear that my son's 4th grade class taught new recess games to the K/1 class! The BT's keep a close watch throughout the day, so the students are able to learn and play in a physically and emotionally safe environment. When conflicts arise, the staff is there to help the students resolve the issue in an appropriate way. We get daily reports, and twice monthly newsletters sharing what he's learning, so I know he's receiving a high quality education. If your child is at a school that is not meeting their needs, I encourage you to tour the Burkard School. It is truly a gem of a school!

We found TBS about three years ago and it is quite surprising that there aren't more schools for…read morebright kids who have significant social & emotional challenges, including mood disorders. We unfortunately found very little real understanding and expertise along the way, moving from program to program, from school to school, in every case deeply involved with the IEP process. Then we decided to try TBS. The results have been nothing short of amazing. Our student's self-esteem and emotional intelligence started to grow from the start and has continued to grow ever since. No more calls asking us to come quickly, the benefits to our entire household have been pretty incredible, across parents, siblings, and friends alike. When your student talks to you about how the kids at school are 'just like me', when they express a sense of belonging and common purpose to thrive in the face of big emotions, you can only smile and reflect on the journey. ...and imagine what it's like for other parents to understand you, understand your child, and understand so much of the details of the journey. The TBS community, made up of students, teachers, and parents is one that sees your child as deserving, powerful, and good.

This is a fantastic private school for childen with mild to moderate challenges…read more My little 9 year has been in this special needs school for over 3 years. Partial Scholarships can be requesed but, you must qualify. This excellent school is great for children on the Spectrum; includes social, speech, behavorial, occupational, academics. call 650-631-9999 for my info. a satisfied parent

Not only did my brother grow up through the ALLS and Arbor Bay programs but he thrived. It really…read morefelt like a second home. The therapists and teachers know their stuff and care so deeply for each child. You really get the sense that Arbor Bay is a school founded on passion. It has been a staple in the Bay Area community years and I could not recommend a place for your child more highly. Their Teachers, OT's, BT's and SLP's are top of the line. Their classes are honestly amazing for all young children. With the curriculum Arbor Bay provides, your child will develop a STRONG basis for language and intellect in a way THEY can learn, and retain the teachings.

Tina Truong was my son's first grade teacher. At that time, he was not a strong reader. Tina…read morerecognized that he needed some help and tried a different approach with him, and his reading picked right up. I believe 100% that without Tina's guiding hand, he would not be where he is today -- reading above grade level. Tina was an amazing teacher and I would readily trust her as a tutor and/or consultant for him. Your child will be in great hands with Tina.

Ms. Tina Truong was my sons first grade teacher. Ms. Truong was very caring, affectionate and…read morecommitted to our son's growth. She was always proactive and sincere. Our son loved working with Ms. Truong and still remembers his time in her class vividly. Our son used to love learning and talking about the weather. Ms. Truong identified that early, and gave him multiple opportunities in class to be a "weatherman" and talk about the weather for that day. Those small but important set of opportunities helped to boost my son's confidence to speak in front of other students. That's just one of the several examples that demonstrate how amazing Ms. Truong really is. Ms. Truong has won my trust, and without any reservations I give her my best recommendation.

My adult son goes to Mark to address ADHD challenges It's only the first session and so far so…read moregood. Mark was able to explain how the ADHD brain works hence the challenges. We will keep going to see if it helps my son.

Mark & Olga are wonderful- Mark really connected with my…read moreson. He uses his interest to really engage him in the process. I saw improvement in my son's motor skills, mind body awareness & connection, balance and regulation. We have going through multiple rounds of sessions and will continue to go.

I was in need of a speech therapist with some urgency. Not only was Jackie responsive, she did…read morethorough assessments within a three-week turnaround including observation at my child's school. She was also great at educating us parents on strategies we could implement right away and gave us a framework for understanding the recommendations of other speech therapists. Months later, her recommendations still match our hospital's high standards and her techniques have more depth than even the premier hospital-provided speech sessions we've learned from. Her bedside manner was great with both us as adults and our child, and I'm impressed at her ability to adapt to build trust with our child.

Jackie was our daughter's speech therapist until she turned three. We loved having her come over…read morewith her positivity and encouragement! She made such a big impact in our lives and we are so grateful to her! We highly recommend her services and professionality.

IHM has been more than a school for our daughter -- it has provided strong academics, meaningful…read morevalues, and a close-knit community that truly feels like family. My daughter joined IHM four years ago. She was a true "COVID kid," and this was her first school experience. From the beginning, IHM felt less like a school and more like an extended family. As an only child with busy working parents and no siblings nearby, she didn't have much daily social interaction outside school. At IHM, she gained more than academics -- she learned independence, social skills, manners, values, and strong ethics. Her Preschool, Kindergarten, and TK teachers truly invested in her personally, and that care made all the difference. We tried district school for one year in first grade, but it wasn't the right fit. She regressed socially, picked up negative language, and became more anxious. When we returned to IHM, the change was clear. She improved academically, but more importantly, her social and emotional well-being grew tremendously. She became calmer and more confident again. Friday Mass, school events, and community functions have helped shape her character and sense of belonging. I also value that the school participates in state-level evaluations, so we're always aware of academic standards. Is IHM a perfect school? No. There are always areas that can improve -- just like anywhere else. But is there really such a thing as a perfect school? What IHM provides is something more important to us: a strong educational foundation, a structured social environment, and a close-knit community. For our daughter, it has truly been a family away from family. As parents constantly juggling work, we are deeply grateful for the role IHM has played in raising and shaping her. We are thankful to be part of this community.

I attended years ago from 2005 to 2009 and I was bullied every day by my fellow classmates. They…read moreeven bullied me in front of teachers and the teachers never stopped it or did anything to discipline them. The bullying was so bad that I dropped out in the beginning of 8th grade and went to Ralston. The 8th grade teacher mrs kruetzmann was cruel towards me as well. I was hoping that it's better now. but based on some of the other reviews, it looks like it might not be any better. I found the teachers to be A LOT more kind, caring, helpful at Ralston.

This HS is a joke. If you are AP or average then you'll do fine. If you are even 15% off the…read moreaverage they kick you to the curb. Especially Patner is the worst. He made my kiddo cry, I had to stop him. They didn't want to address anything for either of my kiddos and we had to hire an outside advocate. If you are considering moving to this area for the HS, don't.

If your child has any special needs please RUN away from this school. They do not know what they…read moreare doing with special needs kids. They did not teach my child anything.

The team at The Right Approach provided amazing support to our kids including tutoring, test prep…read moreand college application support. They created a wonderfully supportive and encouraging environment for our kids that reduced anxiety and stress and enabled our kids to take full advantage of the support they were being given. The support for college application process support was top notch and both of our kids got into their top choices. We can't say enough about Jamie and the team at The Right Approach and strongly recommend them to anyone seeking tutoring or help with the college application process.

I am VERY happy with The Right Approach To Education and so grateful for all their services! My…read moreson just finished up 1:1 homeschool tutoring for Physics & Chemistry, which eased up my teaching load considerably. Charlie was a wonderful fit for my son - very engaging and encouraging. My son even said that class was FUN (which he hasn't said about any subject for quite awhile, ha ha!) I highly recommend TRA & their high-quality teachers!

Our child had a nosebleed at school, and the school director Colleen immediately called us to pick…read morehim up. Since we work 40 minutes away, I asked if this was part of the school's sick policy. It wasn't--the reason given was simply that a teacher couldn't manage 12 kids at once. On top of that, the preschool principal Laurie required us to provide a doctor's note confirming that nosebleeds were "okay" to let kid back to school. Even our pediatrician found this request ridiculous, but kindly wrote the note word-for-word as they asked. Despite the school's popularity due to its affiliation with a local private elementary, this has been our worst preschool experience compared to others. The teacher-student ratio is inadequate, tuition is extremely high, and communication with parents is minimal. Although it's promoted as a play-based program, most of the time children just play independently while teachers supervise rather than engage. Also they introduce screen time (TV, iPads) as early as age two. I initially chose Serendipity Preschool for my child because of its strong reputation. However, I eventually realized it operates more like a business and not care much about the kids as they claimed. After moving and enrolling my kids in other schools, the differences became very clear, in all aspects--and much greater than I could imaged. In response to Laurie's reply below: When a school director exaggerates facts by claiming "daily nosebleeds" and deliberately misleads the public while carefully managing reviews to maintain a 5-star image, it really makes me question their priorities. When I answered the call, I clearly heard the words: "One teacher cannot take care of 12 kids. Please pick him up as soon as possible." That completely shocked me.

We have one kid in his third year, a second kid starting out in the 2s ("Monkeys") class, and a…read morethird enrolled starting in 2025! If we had three more kids we would probably send them to Serendipity, too! Excellent preschool with teachers that clearly care about the kids and the school. Even coming out of the pandemic we have witnessed virtually no teacher turnover which has led to seamless continuity as the kids cycle through classes. Each class has a bit of its own feel to it depending on the focus of the teacher(s), however what is consistent is that there is a clear curriculum and excellent parent-teacher communication. As the older one has hit his stride, it is apparent that he feels a part of the community as we do as parents. It will be sad once graduation finally comes, but luckily we have two more kids to go!

Our child was a late talker, so we did our research and found East Bay Child Development Center…read more(formerly PLTA). From intake to our final class, the staff made sure that the scheduling process was a breeze, and that visits did not fall short of expectations. They have an excellent staff dedicated to your child's development, and the office is pristine. Not just clean; very well kept. I noticed that there wasn't one tear on a book or broken toys. They put lots of effort into upkeep, knowing well that toys and books can take a beating with younger kids. East Bay Child Development Center has terrific speech therapists and therapists specialized in helping in all other types of child development, including but not limited to physical therapy, etc. We went through 2 different speech therapists and 1 or 2 therapy students which was a little harder for our son to grow accustomed to because it would take him awhile to warm up (which I've learned isn't unusual for any development therapy center), but each therapist tried their absolute best to ensure they were giving him the utmost care and attention.

They failed my son after 3 session. Excuses that he doesn't listen, he runs fast that worried about…read moreyounger children there. That speech is not a good fit for him, that his sister runs around the hallways exploring toys and opened doors of offices, about me get a phone call so they discharged him from services. This is racism and discrimination by the way ladies I want to give you suggestions, your office needs a new administration, organisation and functionality. Everybody there seems to go everywhere, I don't know if these people work here are they clients. The back door to the outside was open, this is called dysfunctional. The office receptionist was like his first day to work, confused and looked around like a lost boy. There four people by office were speaking loud and chatting. They failed my son years ago when he was younger because they said he was not ready for speech when I just changed my insurance to get accepted to come here. Now he's 12 years old saying he's not a good fit. Shame on you to say that to me. You can't discharge him that's illegal. My son is trying with his speech and he has rights in California to receive speech therapy any age. Discrimination by the ability, then age, what's next because his sister running around the office and also I was on the phone? For that lady who spoke with me today over the phone couldn't wait on me. And making me feel like I was being fired from the job, she sounded rude and said my daughter was running around the room and I was speaking loud on the phone so the excuse to fail my son. Then changed her words saying he's not a good fit and he runs fast and wants to push the kids. She needs to find more excuses for her to dismiss him. You don't know how hard and challenging to be a mother of autistic kid. I finally thought I have him his speech going and then you locked me up like shutting my mouth. Go see if your speech therapist is the one who has the problem. She too lazy to give speech therapy or has a lack of skills. This is Shameless and discrimination.