We highly recommend Bentley Upper School. Our son just finished his senior year, and the growth…read morewe've seen in him is hard to overstate. A few things that stood out to us: - Teachers truly see their students. Not just academically, but as whole people. -Creativity and rigor live side by side. Kids are pushed and trusted at the same time. - The culture encourages kids to show up as themselves. Our son found his voice here. - He's felt held, seen, supported, challenged, and loved. He arrived still figuring out his relationship to learning. He's leaving curious, confident, proud of who he's become, and headed to Harvard in the fall. That outcome is a credit to the teachers and culture here, and to what this school does for kids when they're given the space to find themselves.

This review is based solely on the tennis courts…read more This is our 2nd tennis tournament at Bentley and I love the nice and clean lay out. It's conveniently located off the freeway and very easy to find. After all, it is only 3 exits away from our house. I love that there are lots of trees surrounding the area, with beautiful blossoms. Early morning air is nice and refreshing. Might even convince myself to come out and take a nice stroll someday, which I rarely do. So good luck to me on that thought... Parking lot can get a little crowded when there are a lot of parents here to watch their kids play, but there is also street parking available. The people in charge of the tennis tournaments are good and fair. Unfortunately, seating arrangements aren't as comfortable as one would like, but it's a kids' tournament...we're not expecting pro tennis treatment.

Nice school to enroll your children ! Teachers are friendly nice safe school! The food is good !…read moreThe kids get happy when they can smell lunch hot lunches an pizza is everyday plus more!!

Leadership is weak. Support staff is lazy and unreliable. On the surface it looks like they're…read moredoing their jobs, but they're not. Had to email the School Superintendent just to get them to act right. Lastly be careful where your address is actually assigned to school district wise. Parts of Martinez falls under Mt. Diablo, but Martinez has a history of accepting students into their schools only to bump them later. Unless you want your child settling in, making friends, and adoring their teachers - only to have to start over - I suggest you verify your address with Mt. Diablo. They're bigger and better with real leaders over there.

I'd suggest you pick a different school in Orinda to send your children to. Many families have had…read moredifficulties with the principal and even though there are some good teachers, the climate is terrible. It is pretty - but its not enough.

Growing up in Orinda was not always pleasant, but I have always had fond memories of attending…read moreWagner Ranch for my first 4 years of elementary school. I had serious hesitations about moving back to a place that so seriously lacks in diversity but the community at Wagner has been surprisingly wonderful and far more diverse than the other elementary schools in Orinda. The teaching staff is excellent and the principal, now in his second year, is not only an experienced educator but a great leader. I would highly recommend this school!

We love this school. Ever since we arrived, the staff has been incredibly warm and welcoming…read more They provide a loving and nurturing environment for children and my son is so happy here. Academically, it's accredited and offers so much. In kindergarten, my son had a full array of subjects: reading, social studies, science, mathematics, music, Spanish, library, and computers. There are 2 kindergarten classrooms and each has its own potty, which is really nice. We LOVED Mrs. Fustukjian! She was the biggest blessing of a kindergarten teacher we could have ever hoped for. She's super organized, firm, but ultra loving to each child. My son thrives in a structured environment and she really helped him to grow. The thing I liked the most was that whenever there was conflict between students, she always took the time to collect the facts and then addressed the issues accordingly. She made my son feel significant and important because he always felt heard and understood. She made our first year at WCCA great and put all our concerns at ease. The PTF (parent/teacher fellowship...their version of PTA) is very involved and supportive. There are a ton of events they put on throughout the year that gives parents an opportunity to volunteer to support the school. They're amazing and as my kids get older, I can't wait to get more involved. Needless to say, all my babies will attend. We've checked out Christian schools between Dublin/Pleasanton all the way up through to Walnut Creek, and we weren't able to find a comparable school that's both Christ centered and academically excellent. It's an awesome reflection of the church (First Baptist of Walnut Creek) and together, it's a great family oriented community to be a part of. I totally recommend checking them out for your littles if this is what you're looking for.

I am sharing our recent experience to help other families who value clear communication, accurate…read moreenrollment information, and active safety protocols: First, student safety is completely minimized. My child is being repeatedly bullied by the same boy, pushed from behind and had tan bark thrown at them. When I brought this to the director, she completely dismissed it, claiming the boy just "doesn't know how to express himself," and offered absolutely no solution to keep my child safe. Second, the management is incredibly dishonest and unorganized. They cut the fall schedule from 5 classes to 4 because a teacher is pregnant. They knew this when we enrolled in February, yet the director hid it from us and just copy pasted her weekly emails without mentioning the cut. We only found out two months later because we asked. When we brought up our concerns, the director simply offered to refund our last couple of weeks and send us on our way, showing they do not care about a child's stability. Furthermore, they gave us contradictory stories about enrollment, telling me in person that we were first on the waitlist, but telling my husband we were fifth. Every family deserves to feel completely safe, informed, and supported in their preschool community. I hope sharing these facts helps you find the right, transparent fit for your little one.

We've been a Seven Hills family for over five years, and I truly can't speak highly enough of this…read moreincredible school. Our daughter started in 4th grade and is now thriving in 8th; our son began in Kindergarten and is currently in 4th, and both of them have grown in such distinct, beautiful ways thanks to this school's Whole Child approach. What stands out most is how deeply seen and known my kids are. Teachers and faculty don't just know their names, they know their learning styles, personalities, quirks, and strengths. There's a genuine warmth and intentionality that permeates every interaction, from the classroom to the carline. Our daughter was always more cautious and slow to warm up (nothing wrong with that!), but over time, Seven Hills helped her find her voice. She's now confidently volunteering for public speaking opportunities and participating in leadership roles like the Student Ambassador program. The Middle School program has been phenomenal and it's given her a strong academic foundation and the confidence to advocate for herself. One of her favorite subjects has been science, thanks to their incredible Middle School lab and interactive curriculum. She'll often tell us about the experiments they're doing, and it's clear she's not just learning science, she's experiencing it. One of our favorite traditions is the Buddies Program, where older and younger students are paired up for the year (think: 4th graders with Kindergartners). Watching my kids grow into both the mentee and the mentor role has been incredibly touching. They read together, do projects, and genuinely form bonds that span grades and years. We also love the family-friendly events that bring everyone together, from community dinners to beginning-of-year teacher phone calls. These touch points make us, as parents, feel like we're part of something bigger, not just dropping our kids off, but truly participating in their educational journey. The curriculum is rich and thoughtfully designed. My daughter learned about World War II in history class -- and then walked through the beaches of Normandy during the school's immersive Europe trip. It's the kind of education that sticks for a lifetime. The arts are equally valued: my son is learning ukulele in 4th grade, and my daughter is playing guitar in 8th. The annual plays, music programs, and outdoor educational trips -- it's all there. My only complaint? I just wish Seven Hills went through 12th grade. The transition out is going to be tough, not because she isn't ready, but because the bar has been set so high. After five years of academic growth, rich leadership experiences, and meaningful social-emotional development, my daughter is heading into high school capable, and deeply grounded. Honestly, I'd keep my kids here forever if I could, but alas, even magical places like this have to end at 8th grade!

Paid three years to realize that they don't have any learning program for kids. Reading the review…read moreI can only agree with the bad one. Presentation very well. But it's like you pay to let your kids out of your home just for playing. There is not focus of learning for kids, not a follow up to what they should achieve and what can be done. Looks like there are teachers they're just nannies over there. Make sure to know what's the school year plan before you realize it's too late for you kiddo. I understand who was disgusted to be proposed to be a teacher that actually wasn't. That's a shame somebody has to regulate all the private schools. Federal government should do something. It's everyone right to have the chance to learn in a Proper way especially when you give to them your Moneys.

This school is an absolutely gem. My child transferred here from a public school at the beginning…read moreof this year. After having two extremely difficult years in a public school system, where my child went from happy and thirsty to learn, to nearly hating school, we knew we needed a change. From the first conversation with Mel, to watching their open house video and hearing their viewpoint on learning, we instantly felt this could be the environment that our child needed. As a Licensed Marriage, Family and Child Therapist, I am consistently reminded the importance of a safe and nurturing learning environment for the overall well-being of a child. The Saklan School understand the importance of children feeling safe and connected in order to learn and grow. Today's parent-teacher conference confirmed everything that we had thought this school would be. My child is absolutely thriving. His teacher doesn't just tolerate his "all in" nature, she encourages and celebrates it, while pushing him to be his best self. The small class sizes allow for each kiddo to feel seen and be known, and project-based learning gets them excited. We absolutely adore this school. Yes, it is a big financial investment, but we are already seeing the return in his growth and joy, and it is also having a huge impact on our entire family's quality of life. We're so thankful for The Saklan School.

We gave the Walnut Creek public school system a try then decided to send our 1st grader to Saklan…read more It's been two months and we've seen a huge change in his attitude towards learning. You cannot beat the small class size and the personalized attention your child will get. We've noticed a renewed love of learning, more confidence and comfort in his skin. My husband and I believe that investing early in his education, creative expression and social emotional development will give him a leg up in life and a strong sense of self. We also love Saklan's project based, hands on approach to learning. Focusing on the whole child is difficult to do when there are 23-30 kids in a classroom. In fact, studies show that learning outcomes diminish when there are more than 18 students in a classroom. When our son comes home excited about something he learned/experienced or tells us how much he loves to read, this warms our hearts because his teachers are getting through to him. We also love that he's learning a foreign language early (Spanish); you many not get that in public school. The public school system is a one size fits all mold. Everything is about meeting benchmarks/assessments and keeping the test scores high without looking at the whole child. At Saklan you have the luxury of knowing that your child's education is flexible enough to both challenge and support them where it's needed. We are thrilled with our decision to invest in our son's education at Saklan.

Del Rey School in Orinda cannot be beat! The teachers are on the top of their game and are super…read moreaware of what they are doing. I took care of 2 kids that went to school here and they loved it. It was always nice going to pick them up because you can just walk outside to all the classrooms and everyone is always in a good mood. The receptionist in the office is always helpful and the staff is great. Love Del Rey!

This school is amazing! My daughter has never had a bad teacher in her 5 years of going here. The…read morestaff really cares about the kids. It's tons of smiles and fun. I also feel really safe with them. The teachers keep a close eye on all of them. The classrooms are state of the art! Kids all have iPads, and laptop computers. Their whiteboard is even digital! Very glade I did my research and moved to the area so she could attend John Muir.