This is my daughters school and so far we are loving it. She is finishing up second grade and was…read morenew to the school this year. The education is very solid and the music program is fantastic. They have small class sizes and two teachers per class. I feel that they really know my child here and that is worth every penny. Amelie's review: I really like my school,teachers,music and science. I love sitting near the class room at snack and hanging on the high bar.

Our daughter has completed two years at Black Pine Circle and every morning she is in a hurry to…read moreget to school. I'm writing this review because she has flourished at BPC, both academically and socially, and without a doubt the school can take a lot of credit for it. The headmaster John Carlstroem knows what he is doing, and runs a very happy ship. A school is a complex environment with many personalities and expectations that need to be managed. John works with a reservoir of deep intellect and excellent management skills and has managed to set a harmonious tone for the whole school. He thinks deeply about education and pedagogy, and he spends the school's money wisely. John's passion for the school is reflected in extraordinary commitment by the teachers, who are superb. In the lower school the kids learn english and math well, and the school's emphasis on music permeates lessons and activities and is wonderful to behold. In a review such as this it is not possible to describe the full extent of the curriculum, but I have been continually amazed by what my daughter is learning. Most importantly, her teachers have taught her self-respect, self-confidence, and have instilled in her a love of learning. I have spoken to many parents around the Bay Area, and I know there are many good schools. Still, I may be biased, but I feel that BPC is special, in a very good way. P.S. The math club is among the best in California.

My third grade granddaughter has been there since preschool. The outdoor/gardening/cooking…read morecomponent is a great balance to the strong academics. Peaceful atmosphere, lots of beauty.

As someone who moved to the Bay Area about a decade ago, I've often missed the sense of Persian…read morecommunity 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" :)

We completed the full application process with Sonder Creek Academy, including paying the $100…read moreapplication fee. Because we applied a bit late, we were placed on the waitlist, which we completely understood. What was disappointing was the total lack of follow-up after that point. Despite reaching out directly to the admissions officer to inquire about our waitlist status, we never received a response -- not even a simple notification that a spot was no longer available. When a family pays a $100 application fee, there is a reasonable expectation of communication and transparency throughout the process. To add to the frustration, we continued to receive marketing emails about summer programs despite never hearing back about our child's application. The disconnect between their marketing outreach and their admissions communication was striking. We can't speak to the school itself, but based solely on the application experience, the lack of follow-through left a poor impression.

Sonder Creek has absolutely been the best school for my child. We were looking at a wide variety of…read moreschools (public, non religious private, and religious private) to see what would be the best fit and I can tell you from the moment we reached out with interest, to the tour, to our child having his first 1/2 day visit there, we knew this was his school.  Staff is knowledgeable and knows my child to a depth that truly sets him up for success. It also makes me feel comfortable that they are doing everything in their power to help my child succeed and thrive. I love that they allow him to excel academically (even past his grade level) as well as support him with challenging subjects (teachers stay current with where he's at and are skilled at providing support very quickly if the child needs it while also keeping parents in the loop so we can help when needed too) while allowing him to stay with his grade level of peers so he's not only being cultivated in the classroom, but also learning to be social amongst peers his age. A big concern of mine was coming out of covid, my child wanted to so desperately make friends, but I know sometimes kids show no mercy. At Sonder Creek, overall it's been way over my expectations. Very involved parents, attentive staff that keeps you in the loop, and students who are open to connecting to one another.  My child has loved the STEM programs at school (especially the after school robotics class) as well as learning both Mandrin and Spanish (coming from an English speaking household, it's been amazing seeing him now speak another language which we will continue to encourage moving forward). He also is asking to do the after school Art program and this is coming from a child who started off barely wanting to hold a pencil correctly.  The community here is so special and you get to see that when everyone comes together. This was our first year we participated in Trunk or Treat with his school and it was such a blast; we will be doing it again next year. The international potluck is a family favorite to attend (combo of incredible foods from all over as well as mini performances from the language programs with the students is so darn adorable) and the Christmas Concert is absolutely precious. Sonder Creek is our child's school and we cannot recommend it enough.

Is a great school, recommended people should go to this school and is good. Is the best to prep for…read morehigh school

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.

LVA was once a good school, but my family's experience over time tells a different story. My son…read moreattended from 2020 to 2023, and unfortunately, he left underprepared for high school. There was little to no support or guidance from LVA to ensure a smooth transition to a traditional school environment. I was surprised to see a couple of highly positive reviews appear about a year after my son had left--reviews that appear to describe him directly. These accounts do not reflect our experience and seem inconsistent with the reality we observed. It raised concerns for me about how feedback and reviews might be represented or encouraged within the school community. It is more shocking given that the individuals concerned had nothing good to say about one another at the time. During our time at LVA, the quality of education and communication declined noticeably. What began with promise during the COVID period gradually shifted to disorganization, inconsistent teaching quality, and removal of key student resources, such as lunch and recess. I also encountered several situations where staff appeared underqualified or lacking appropriate classroom management, including questionable instructional choices that were not age-appropriate (R rated movies) More troubling were instances of unprofessional conduct and poor handling of disciplinary issues, which had lasting effects on my child's wellbeing. Several parents, myself included, raised these issues repeatedly before meaningful action was taken. To the school's credit, there were a few dedicated and talented teachers who genuinely cared about their students, and they deserve recognition. However, the broader environment was not consistently supportive or healthy, particularly in leadership and communication. In summary, while LVA may look appealing on the surface, our experience suggests that the substance does not always match the image. I encourage parents to seek out multiple perspectives and, most importantly, listen to their children's experiences before making a decision.

LVA has been an exceptional school for my step son. They…read moreprovided a high level of attention to his needs. Ferishta as well as his teachers were proactive and always available to meet when challenges arose. As a child care professional myself, I understand the challenges with meeting the needs of all students and I feel that LVA was masterful in this.

Noble Learning Academy is a unicorn. Both my kids are now graduated from there and, while we are…read moreexcited for the next chapter, we will miss Noble greatly. It has had the most incredible positive impact on our lives and I cannot thank Cassie, Mark, and all the phenomenal teachers enough for what they have given to our family. My oldest is thriving in high school and my newest Noble graduate is more than prepared for her next adventures. If your child needs a middle school that understands and truly sees your whole child for who they are during the challenging middle school years, don't hesitate to reach out to Cassie. You will not regret it.

As a parent of a child with learning disabilities and anxiety, finding the right middle school was…read moreone of the most important decisions our family made. Looking back on the past three years, I can honestly say that this school exceeded our expectations in every way. From day one, the teachers and staff created an environment where my child felt accepted, understood, and valued. Their patience, compassion, and willingness to meet students where they are made an incredible difference. Rather than focusing on challenges, they recognized my child's strengths and worked tirelessly to build confidence while providing the support needed to succeed. What stood out most was the school's commitment to inclusivity. My child never felt singled out for needing accommodations or extra support. The teachers fostered a culture of kindness, respect, and understanding that allowed all students to feel like they belonged. Whenever anxiety became overwhelming, there was always someone willing to listen, encourage, and help navigate difficult moments. The growth we witnessed over these three years has been remarkable. Academically, my child developed stronger skills, greater independence, and a genuine belief in their ability to succeed. Socially, they formed meaningful friendships and became much more comfortable participating in class and school activities. Emotionally, they gained resilience, self-confidence, and coping skills that will benefit them far beyond middle school. We are deeply grateful to the teachers, counselors, and staff who invested so much time, care, and dedication into helping our child thrive. Their support helped transform middle school from something we feared into an experience that prepared our child for the future. I cannot recommend this school highly enough to families seeking a nurturing, inclusive, and supportive environment for their children.

You'll wish you could be a kid again and go here!…read more This school is incredible - the teachers, staff, and students alike! The ethos of the school focuses on children as changemakers, the idea that each student has the ability to change the world. Within this framework, they center the child, and focus on "knowing the child well" and the child "knowing themselves well". The kids learn from a young age what makes them thrive (what environment, what tools, what topics interest them, what their growth areas are), giving them self-reflection and self-understanding skills which they will take with them for their whole lives. The school also focuses on instilling a growth mindset with the power of "yet", the idea that anyone can learn to do something new at any age. My absolute favorite school saying by far is "mistakes are magic"... Can you imagine growing up thinking that mistakes are just a part of learning and nothing to be ashamed or feel guilty about? I wish I could go back in time and attend this school!

We're in our second year as parents at Live Oak School, and we've been very pleased with the…read moreexperience. Our daughter loves going to school and really has enjoyed the teachers and staff, the lunch program, and the the experience to date. Things We Really Liked: * Weekly Field Trips in Kindergarten, which helps the students get to know the community / city and get comfortable with public transportation and exploring. Several also involve parents driving, which is a great opportunity to meet a lot of kids and other parents. * AnjiPlay, which helps promote exploration and team work, while also introducing a hint of "risky play". * Camp Live Oak, every year the entire school community goes to camp in May for 3 days, two nights. It's a wonderful and unique community building experience. * School lunch (included with tuition) program is great * Facilities are great - fairly light-filled former Hillsbro building in Potrero Hill, most classrooms have great natural light, Jackson Park is across the street. One of the few schools with a climbing wall (and will now have climbing as a middle school class). Small gym on sight, with UCSF nearby to support sports. * Very thoughtful and intelligent curriculum that they continue to respond to feedback on. They are expanding the Spanish program (currently starts in 4th) to encompass K-8. They are trying a new 8th grade capstone trip this year (traditionally DC) to be Civil Rights movement focused -- Memphis - Alabama - Atlanta. Things to Consider / Areas Could improve * The school doesn't come out of the gate hard in academics in kindergarten, ie they stay pretty light on reading, writing, and math the first year. This ramps up - for some kids very quickly - in first grade. This is probably ok, but parents should be prepared / aligned with it. Know that Live Oak 8th Graders place very well at the more academic high schools in San Francisco. They know themselves well, and they are prepared academically. * Extended Day Program. There are great hours of coverage (730 - 6pm, and holiday care on many of the days there is school off) available for working families. The enrichment programs leave a bit to be desired -- particularly the sign-up process. they seen to have way too few slots and getting a slot is like getting a Yosemite campsite. Soccer program is good. Be prepared to augment this outside of school if you have strong desires.

We've had a wonderful experience with the preschool program at Stratford, especially in Room 3. Ms…read more Sipra and Ms. Vaishali are incredibly caring, patient, and attentive teachers who create such a warm and nurturing environment for the kids. Our child has grown so much socially, emotionally, and academically since joining their class. The teachers do a great job balancing learning with fun activities, and it's clear they genuinely care about each child's development and happiness. Room 3 has been such a positive and enriching experience for our family, and we're truly grateful to Ms. Sipra and Ms. Vaishali for all their dedication and hard work!

Ms. Gopa and Ms. Sehr are incredibly kind, caring, and dedicated to the children; they consistently…read morego above and beyond to ensure our young ones feel supported. The monthly activities are thoughtfully planned, introducing children to diverse topics that foster language development and fine motor skills in a fun, safe, and engaging environment. Furthermore, Ms. Gopa and Ms. Sehr are meticulous in organizing cultural celebrations throughout the year, helping to instill meaningful values in the children. They are always prompt in communicating with parents and diligent in following through on any requests or concerns. Overall, Stratford provides a truly safe, secure, and nurturing environment, and we highly recommend it to any family seeking exceptional care for their children.