Ten stars! It's that time of year and we are seeing our preschool friends in school admissions…read morepanic mode. We like many Oakland families went to numerous school tours searching for the best school for our child. Not even halfway through our tour at Redwood Day we knew this was where we wanted to be. It was the first school where the tour did not feel like we were being shuffled through with the same questions and answers from administrators. We had parents and students speaking to us about the school! The admissions team is great and went above and beyond to make sure they got to know our children and that they were a right fit for each other. We've now been at Redwood Day for three years, with our oldest in second grade and our youngest in kindergarten. First, we are a mixed race family and diversity is very high on our school checklist. Diversity was hard to find in a private school when we were on our search for a school but Redwood Day felt different. Now that we've been at Redwood Day for three years, diversity is definitely a priority for Redwood day. They have created equity and inclusion groups for parents and students, they study and celebrate achievements of various backgrounds throughout the year, and make, at least, our kids feel safe to take pride in their mixed background. (They also take the initiative in these groups and in the classroom to teach our kids to connect with their own feelings and the feelings of other students. In our experience, they create an environment of inclusion and empathy). Although they may not be as diverse as some of the public schools we looked at, for private school they are making a huge effort to make the school as diverse and inclusive as possible. Next, our oldest daughter who is now in second grade was painfully shy. Not only with adults but also kids. She started at Redwood Day as a kindergartner. Our hope for her was to come out of her shell and at least talk in small groups in her class. By the end of kindergarten she was speaking in front of the class and performing in front of the whole school in the student showcase. The social emotional aspect and learning groups of Redwood Day has been fantastic for her. Fast forward to now and she is thriving in second grade. Any question or concern we have had has been addressed and handled the same day by her teachers. Our youngest daughter is a kindergartner this year. She is completely different than her sister and we had different concerns for her. She makes friends easily and is outgoing but reading and writing are not her priorities. Her teacher Jennifer has gone above and beyond to keep us in the loop and offer suggestions to help her focus. The school also offers a specialized teacher in reading and writing that provides the extra help my little one needed. With all the investment the school has given my daughter, and us, we can certainly say that the school has been very attentive to the needs of our child. The small classroom size is definitely a benefit in this regard. Our little one is slowly growing out of her resistance to reading, and she loves working with her teachers. I could go on and on with the school, teachers and their enrichments programs. Every morning my kids log onto the app and see what classes they have and pick their outfits out from there. They love when they have gardening, they wear clothes that can get dirty. P.E days they need their comfy dancing clothes. Design and innovation lab days my kids fight with each other because it's not fair one gets to go. All in all it's a great school that keep the kids excited to learn and be involved. Bottom line is that we think Redwood Day is great and most importantly so do our kids.

Sport L.'s experience doesn't reflect the Redwood Day School that I send my kids to. Redwood Day is…read moregreat in so many ways, from the teachers, administration, the beautiful campus, and a true sense of community. I have two kids at the school, and I am grateful that I made the decision to send them here for these very important years of their education. For math, the school uses a hybrid form of Singapore Math, which for most parents seems very different from what we learned, but it works (and has success metrics - students in Singapore have one of the highest math mastery in the world). They use a different model in the Middle School for the 6-8th span that equally prepares students for higher level math in High School. Redwood Day has ways for kids who need or seek more in math - my kids are always challenged. They also have a Math Olympiad program and programs/staff to help students who may need additional support. I have never found Redwood Day to be lacking in helping my kids learn, grow, and master math. Culture and celebrations are also very integrated at the school - which celebrates everything from Latin, African American, Asian American, and Jewish Heritage months to Women's History. The school is having something for Ramadan, and I know they have also hosted a Shabbat dinner in addition to other cultural celebrations. All to say, Redwood Day is super inclusive, and my kids come home learning a lot about their friends' cultural traditions - just a couple weeks ago, they did a Holi event. No school is perfect, but I believe that Redwood Day is always evolving, changing, and listening to the parent community. For discipline, I'm thankful for the social and emotional learning that starts in K and goes through 8th. Even as 5 year olds, kids learn about choices, options for dealing with conflict, and what and how to make different (and better) choices when there is conflict. I don't know what the prior post means about authoritative discipline, but long gone are the days of that type of discipline model. My kids (and these next generations) need to learn self-awareness, self-regulation, critical thinking, and agency in working out their own differences - with the guidance and oversight of teachers, coaches, mentors, and role models. Personally, I much prefer that my children talk through issues with their friends, take accountability, practice humility, and have the support of trusted adults to help them navigate challenges. Not everyone is the right fit for any school - and as a parent, it is absolutely on us to ensure that we find mutual synergy with the school, teachers, faculty, and community. For me, Redwood Day was the absolute right choice for my kids - and I know they are more because of it.

Our journey at TRIS was an experience that our family will always appreciate and treasure. The…read morestaff and teachers are dedicated to helping the students grow and discover possibilities from within. Their holistic approach for academic and personal development is what stands out most for us. As parents, TRIS was a valued partner in helping us uphold and reinforce our desire to nurture responsibility and accountability in our children. It wasn't enough for our children to be "smart.," although it is evident that our children and other TRIS children are among the smartest in their respective environments. Our goal was to instill behaviors that help them to lead, to participate in and to consider the world around them. Overall, Montessori education has made an incredible impact on how my children tackle challenges and conflict in their lives. As a result, they embrace opportunities to meet new people and try difficult things even when they are nervous or afraid. This is even the case for one of our children who exhibited shyness and introversion from a young age. TRIS and Montessori education helped us to realize that our children have innate capabilities and interests that will enable them to pursue things that have purpose and value to them now and in the future. There aren't enough words to describe the foundation TRIS helped to build in our children. Completely worth the investment and sacrifice.

We were initially drawn to TRIS for its Montessori-inspired, self-directed learning style and what…read moreseemed like a knowledgeable and nurturing teaching staff. Our children attended from 2021 to 2023, starting in Pre-Primary and Primary. While our neurotypical daughter did okay, our son--who has learning differences--was not supported in the way we expected from a school that emphasizes individualized education. After his teacher and the head of the elementary program raised concerns, we pursued a comprehensive private assessment based on their recommendation. When we shared the results--which showed he was severely academically behind (below the 5th percentile in reading skills)--we received no response for two weeks. When they did reach out, the response was dismissive and lacked urgency. Even though they had asked for the assessment, they questioned the accuracy of the results and brushed off the findings by saying, "everyone learns at their own pace." His significant learning gaps were not treated as an educational concern. The burden of support was placed entirely on us as parents--recommendations focused on hiring outside specialists, while the school offered no internal interventions or accommodations. At the parent-teacher conference, we were blindsided when the Head of School abruptly informed us, with no opportunity for discussion, that our son would not be offered a spot in the Elementary program because there were "too many special needs kids" already enrolled. While our daughter didn't face academic challenges, even she--and her brother--commented on how much more engaging and enjoyable public school was after leaving TRIS. Leadership has since changed, but the current team still includes the former Head of School's daughters and son-in-law. TRIS may look progressive on the surface, but families of children with learning differences should ask careful questions before enrolling. In our experience, it was not an inclusive or responsive environment. One final note: our daughter once suffered a deep gash on her finger--apparently from one of the school's cots--and needed stitches. When her teacher called to notify us, it was made to sound minor, and we were told there was no need to pick her up. When I arrived, I saw how serious the cut was and took her to the doctor immediately. That experience reinforced our concerns about how the school handled safety and communication.

I think that the new principle has definitely changed things for the better. I'm excited to see…read morewhat else he comes up with that is new and creative. The parents and community have been really reacting well to him....very good thing. I went here, my middle sister went here, my best friends went here, my youngest sister goes here, my younger cousin as well. Its just a really good place to raise your kids. Not just because of the school, but the community around as well. Laurel district ROCKS

We sent our 5 year old to Laurel for kinder mainly just because it was the local school, but it has…read moreturned out to be a great experience. The teachers and staff and principal all seem to genuinely care and be good at their jobs, and it shows in the happiness of the kids. As an example, my kid for some reason we may never know was scared to go into the lunch line at the cafeteria, and therefor wasn't eating lunch. I mentioned this to the principal who happened to be outside before school and he took us right at that moment to go meet the lunch lady and practice going through the line, and then when we got to class I told the teacher why we were a couple minutes late the teacher said he would walk with my son into the lunch line that day. He's been eating school lunch every day since. He plays better with other kids than he ever did in preschool. Oh, he also reads at a 2nd grade level (but I get part of the credit for that!). They have a pretty awesome brand new playground, a garden, fieldtrips, music class, (optional) parent meetings and volunteer opportunities, and a pretty good budget for a public school. We'll be sending our second kid here in a few years once she's old enough

The principal the office personnel vice principals the teachers all seems very very nice even the…read morecafeteria people. The holes are clean everything looks fine I could use more balls for playing. It's very secure no one wandering in the school unexpectedly.

St Elizabeth elementary school, is a school rooted in faith, students attend mass, every week!!…read moreBecause I believe we can do all things in Christ who strengthens, Students achieve goals when our lord is given first place. Great programs, wonderful teachers, magnificent Principal! Mrs Rodriguez in the office is awesome!!! Helping with Financial aid and everything that goes on in the office. She's simply the best.

Hello, I am one of the parents of Saint Elizabeth, and my children, ages 33 and 31, attended this…read moreschool. Now my daughter and grandchildren do too. Principal Mrs. Packer and the staff are wonderful. Principal Mrs. Packer started this school year, and I can tell you that she is a firm believer in giving second chances. She did it with my daughter, and she also suggested therapy for her, which we attended. Her attitude and many other things changed for the better. At Christmas, Mrs. Packer put on a nativity play with the children and an extraordinary Christmas concert, the first of its kind at Saint Elizabeth Church. The children's performance was outstanding, and the Christmas carols with all the classrooms were magnificent. All of this was made possible by the efforts of Principal Mrs. Packer, who has been very positive. Thank you, Mrs. Packer, and thank you to Saint Elizabeth Elementary and Saint Elizabeth Parish.

Gee, go figure, the devastating principal who destroyed morale is now gone. Guess the "drama…read morequeens" (ie the majority of the community) had a legitimate complaint, after all. Revising my review now that the Wicked Witch is gone. With her out the door, I truly believe JM will thrive and the community will heal from the damage she caused. Well done drama queens! The rest could learn from their dedication to making JM a better place.

The school has so much going for it, and mainly was a great place when my kid attended more than…read moreten years ago. However, an excellent and beloved aftercare, Adventure Time, was forced out under false pretenses in 2014. Their contract was broken so another aftercare could slide right in. It made me wonder back then. Makes me wonder even more now.

I went to give a guest lecture on archaeology with a few other graduate students and was deeply…read moreimpressed by this school. The girls were passionate, self-possessed, and hungry to learn. I was consistently surprised by the caliber and complexity of the questions they were asking while we were lecturing and there was no lack of self-confidence that you so often see with girls in their pre-teen years. The teachers were equally as engaged and enthusiastic, and it was obvious that they were professionals at the top of their game, but also personally involved with the girls' progress as well. The campus is beautiful, located in a building designed, appropriately enough, by Julia Morgan. If I ever have children, I'd move heaven and earth to have my daughter attend this school. And this after spending only half a day there!

We love it at JMSG! Our sixth grader is thriving. She receives so much personal attention and help…read moreto become a confident student. She struggles in math and is becoming a confident math learner. She absolutely loves the emphasis on women's empowerment. This is helping her grow into the kind of woman we want her to be. She participates in musical theater after school and is looking forward to playing basketball next season. What a gorgeous campus, dedicated teachers, and unparalleled curriculum! I'm so glad we found JMSG for our girl!

Went in today to get a registration packet for my younger sister. They had these wonderful handy…read morefolder packets ready with the application, a packet of their guidelines and rules as well as a couple sheets of student score statistics. You guys have probably heard of this school. The only school in California that had ZERO absences and the governor thus came to visit. Because of this, its extremely hard to get in now. Last year they the kids do an essay...uhhh...SCARY. Oakland residents get priority seating and if seats are filled too quick there is a lottery. Reading the packet was sort of scary. Extremely strict dress code, things like NO colored hair ties, socks, nor shoes for girls. Detention for breaking rules such as not tucking in your shirt for boys. Saturday school for missing school even if it was a valid excuse. I saw the very disciplined students go to their next class in a single file line. My first thought was zombie? But then again, its too early to really judge. I DO know that kids have dropped out after three months and even after a year of going to the school. With all that said...this IS the school if you want your kids to get a free private school education, this IS the school if you want your kids to become more disciplined...this IS the school if you want your kids to learn responsibility. Its either here or Bret Harte which my parents are very BLAH over at this moment. Our sister will not continue high school here however, just middle school. I think High School is a very critical period in ones life. As the chubby kid said in the movie Hotel for Dogs "Its a critical part of my social development" lolz...

This school has a barely functioning administration. They are incapable of the basic functions of…read morerunning a school, one of which is the accurate recording of grades.

My son had an awesome year and made some good friends along the way. I loved his instructors and…read moreofcourse loved the convenience as the school is nearby. I have 2 gripes though: not enough home work, I worry he wont be prepared for high school and big home work load lol. The other problem is I felt like the sports programs left alot to the imagination. Hopefully next year they will have better organized sports teams. However this has overall been an awesome experience for my child.

Mills College Children's School is an absolute gem and a truly transformative environment for…read morechildren and families alike. The teachers and staff are incredibly supportive, creating an inclusive and diverse community where every child and family feels welcomed and valued. Their ability to meet each child where they are--both in terms of needs and abilities--is unmatched. The educators here are first-rate, highly educated, and deeply dedicated to their craft. They foster an environment where children can blossom socially, emotionally, and academically. Every child is seen, supported, and celebrated, which allows them to build confidence and thrive in all aspects of their development. The care and thoughtfulness that go into every interaction and every element of the program are evident. I feel so privileged to have my child--and myself--be part of this extraordinary community. Mills College Children's School is a place where children and families grow together, and I cannot recommend it highly enough!

My child is in their first year here and we are blown away by the thoughtfulness the teachers put…read moreinto every detail of the students' surroundings and the variety of creative activities my kid gets to choose from in following their interests to see where it leads. This school really does feel like a community that's aligned with our values as a family. I also appreciate that parents at MCCS are encouraged to participate in making learning fun and helping in different ways. I've guest read books to the children and am planning to lead a craft activity in a few weeks. My kiddo looks forward to those moments together. I also really appreciate how I can tap my kid's teacher for advice on how to handle different challenging behaviors when they arise (as a fairly newbie parent). I'd recommend the school again and again.