I'm not going to get into my general experience, which was overall quite good but challenging-…read moreInstead I want to say something very specific. I received the letter I wrote to myself in my eight grade advisory (10 years ago) and I was moved to tears instantly. Thank you for blessing me with that gift

This is the middle/upper school campus, with a slightly smaller playground, but more centrally…read morelocated than the kiddie campus. Tennis courts are right across the street, and the community center (hooray for the pool and martial arts classes!) are about 2 blocks away.

I do not recommend the school. On my first day of school I had a male staff walk my daughter to the…read moreclassroom and later thanked the principal for having the staff member walk my daughter to school. She said oh was it Mrs------? I said no it was a man and her response was we don't have any men working at the school and then she goes. Oh well it must just be a staff member of the day. This was very concerning and I did not like this happening on the first day of school. Then the second day of school, my daughter was put into the afterschool program which she's not enrolled in by her teacher. I have been asking since day, one to volunteer in the classroom and have gotten fingerprinted and have gotten no response about it. I have been completely dismissed. She picks other people to volunteer in the classroom, even though I was the only one to sign up at open house. I've been persistent about wanting to volunteer and no response. My daughter has been through trauma, and I shared this with the teacher on the first day of school and I feel I've been discriminated against. It's been quite upsetting and it was a big mistake to have my daughter register at the school. Staff are not understanding and can be very under mining.

This is our second year at Fairmont Elementary. My daughter is in Ms Cook's 2nd grade class and we…read morelove her! I love the way she carries her voice and she has a way of calmness whether she is happy or upset with the kids. As a parent I would like to be more like her when I am especially upset with my kids! Parent participation is welcomed at the school and I can't encourage parents enough,to take advantage of volunteering. I love that my daughter sees me active with her school along with the other kids asking me if we are doing an art project? We had our 2nd Silent Fiesta Auction which was a huge success. When we walk on campus, all the teachers on yard duty always smile and say hello! The office staff and Principal Ms Murphy are wonderful and always ready to help! I am looking forward to another 4 years at Fairmont Elementary.

And you'll be wanting to know what happened to my review of El Cerrito High School. Yep, the…read morecleansing sweep of Yelp TOS'd this review too. But, I live within a block of the school and follow its progress every day. So...I think I'm in a position to tell you about the place. Here's the review: Yes, I went to ECHS a thousand years ago, and no, it wasn't my finest educational hour! But... It wasn't the school's fault. I was a teenager. Get it? So, lets start with a few corrections: Bronwen, I've been watching over the school now for sixty years.Literally. I don't think that at any time "the board got pushed by a couple of homeowners." There were a number of community-based meeting when the new campus was about to be built. Homeowners went to these meetings and were asked what they would like to see in a new school The result was a very nice school building, awesome auditorium, and appropriate "setbacks" so that the hillside wouldn't slide into the new school. We do live at the edge of the Blakemont slide... Wouldn't want our neighborhood kids to be buried in mud, you know. Speaking of which...DO NOT refer to the kids as "pretty ghetto." These are kids in school. Not out on the streets. Where the kids are from is irrelevant. Where they are going is to the university. Good jobs. Good places. They have hope in their hearts, these kids in school...and the future really does belong with them. Easy on the mudslinging.....it smacks of inappropriate racism. Lots of nifty programs at the school these days. FIne (local) principal. All very well managed by teachers, staff and students. Campus police available for those intruding moments, which are rare. Do stay hopeful. I think these kids are going to be able to support you in your old age. When Social Security comes knocking at your door. And it will. Trust me. Trust the future.....

I am an El Cerrito High graduate and my younger sister is a current student there…read more I was fortunate enough to spend a year in the old building, but spend the remainder of my years in portables. Despite the portables, ECHS was enjoyable. The block system has changed a bit since I attended but it still maintains the general 3 classes for half a year, and then another 3 classes. In my opinion this system is nice in the fact that we're not simply in a class for 50 minutes and then off to the next one. But on the other hand it's easier to not remember information learned in one class and having to carry it over to the next school year. The new school looks great. I've heard there are multiple gyms, a dance studio, and tons of brand new buildings. The teaching staff was nice and helped me get into the college I had wanted. Since then I'm sure some of the teachers have moved on, but I did see a few memorable faces when I go to pick up my sister. All together ECHS is like any high school. It has its ups and downs, depending on who you hang out with. But in terms of teaching and facilities, it's one of the better schools in the area.

I'm rating the track area only…read more Plenty of parking right now. I asked one of the school county workers to be sure, and he stated the gate for parking that is next to the entrance of the field doesn't close until the evening between 7-8pm. Currently it's open everyday because obvi, school isn't in session in person. Anyway, great track. I did 3 miles and (about 12 laps) and I feel good.

Facilities review:…read more The middle school houses a full-sized track/field and basketball courts that are open to the public during "off" hours (when school is not in session). The full-sized track is glorious and located just beyond the "black top", the cement area that the parking gates lead to. The track is orange rubber which leaves a distinct red coloring on your shoes. It's easier on the knees than dirt or cement tracks and has painted lanes. The field is great for soccer, ultimate frisbee, football, shotput, and long-jumping. The basketball courts and parking area is on the aforementioned "black top". There are 5 or 6 full-sized courts with painted lines. Some of the baskets are lopsided and the floor is not level; however, these are the best courts for the public in Albany. Lighting past dark is non-existent unless there's a game/event going on at the track, so if you plan to go jogging on the track after dinnertime, then you'll probably be running in the dark. Generally not an issue since the track is so perfectly shaped and there's a very low chance of tripping.

I have two children attending St John's- one in 2nd grade and one in 1st grade- we have been here…read moresince they were both in preschool (4 years already!) and our family is really happy with the school! Will note first that the preschool is a real gem- great teachers, high-quality play-based program, with appropriate prep for school years, lovely bright classrooms, flexible hours, and amazing value. The best thing about St John's is that my kids wake up excited to go to school every day. They love their teachers (currently Mrs Leamy and Mrs Okada) and classmates, and are learning so much- (e.g. this weekend (labor day weekend), my 6 year old gave me a lesson on the labor movement including telling me who was president when the holiday was made and why people sometimes go on strike- I was pretty impressed!). The school just completed a grant-funded capital project to get a new playground- which my kids love! They also love art, P.E. and getting to say a reading at mass on their own (starting in Kindergarten!). The entire St John the Baptist community has been really warm and welcoming to our family. I love that there is a big focus on building community, on service and being kind to others. The Principal, Mrs T., teachers and staff are experienced and skilled, and so invested - often volunteering after hours and on the weekend. Many of them attended the school as students! After going through other schools with my older son, it is refreshing to have children attend a school with this much longevity in leadership and staff. I have found everyone very accessible and responsive. We also love that the school is K-8- and seeing the 8th graders celebrate graduation together after being here (some since preschool) is pretty amazing. Worth noting- the after-care program is wonderful for working parents- Mrs Cooke is amazing- very caring to the kids, and the program is flexible with drop-in options, affordable, and available 7am to 6pm! Highly recommend this school to other families!

The school recently paid Yelp to remove my original review. It was lengthy, but I'll keep this one…read morea little shorter and to the point. Ready? Here we go . . . We were a family in this school for eight years. During that time we experienced the following: - bullying (gender based, physical, and verbal) toward our child by students that were served no consequences and whose parents were very obviously favored; the principal refused to meet about this matter - a teacher told our 11 year old daughter she used to be a beautiful girl as she yelled at her in front of the vice principal. The VP witnessed this, told our daughter it was wrong, but still victim blamed our child for the teacher's behavior and the teacher served no consequence - this same teacher had been harassing our child for months; she waited outside her stall inside the STUDENT bathroom while she used it and kept trying to talk to her, she continuously begged our daughter to talk to her and say hello, saying things like "we used to be friends. What happened?" (our child was scared of her because of this odd, immature behavior). We told our child she didn't have to speak to the teacher unless another adult was present and that she could say she didn't feel safe. When she expressed this to the teacher, the teacher yelled at our child saying, "I know that's what your parents said but I can talk to you when I want to." The administration did not assist in holding safe boundaries for our child - the same teacher hung up on us during a zoom meeting with our child and the principal and vice principal. It was super unprofessional and rude. She kept insisting our daughter had to speak to her to show respect, yet she hung up on two parents and her supervisors mid-call -The principal had ZERO caring or helpful response to this behavior by her employee. She didn't apologize for her, require her to give us an apology, or even acknowledge that her teacher was targeting our child in an unprofessional way that crossed lines and safety boundaries. - one of our children was coerced to write lies about his actions and intentions in a statement about an incident. When first asked about what happened, he told his truth, but the principal and vp were not satisfied. They kept him in the office without calling parents until he lied and wrote what they wanted - stating he felt he was a danger to himself. When we told them he felt forced to lie and provided them with his truthful written account, they did not acknowledge our email or address this part - our child's therapist and doctor both offered to speak with the principal and sent correspondence affirming our child's health, wellness and ability to be in school. Administration never responded to anyone - we were told our neuro-divergent child would receive support and care from middle school teachers; instead the same teacher who harassed our daughter publicly humiliated him in front of his class because he finished a test "too fast" and then refused to tell us the grade he received on the test. (She informed him 6 months later that he got an A) - multiple parents told us similar stories about the non-response of the principal; most disturbing was that we were not the only family who experienced the written statement coercion. I was appalled, but not surprised that our child was not the only student who was forced to write untruths to self-incriminate themselves - the principal played favorites with students and families when she ignored bullying; she told Spanish speaking parents they were confused about situations they witnessed involving a teacher because they couldn't speak English; she did not take accountability for the unprofessional and harmful actions of her teachers; she was harmful in her own behavior - our child and their classmates witnessed their third grade teacher drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and slur words with a half clothed man in her presence while they were on zoom class. The teacher remained on faculty, and the principal took no accountability. She only addressed the matter after parents approached the topic multiple times. The behavior was excused, and we could not talk about it again because she said the teacher was protected by HIPPA; the family that first brought it to the principal's attention was told they were confused because of their language barrier - we also had amazing teachers while at the school. Ms. Fehr (skilled and fantastic, but obvious to us she was not supported by admin), Mrs. Barber (BEST teacher!), Ms. Cordova (so loving!), Mr. Bauer (excellent teacher) - all of which left the school. Also Ms. Cooke, Ms. Bains and Coach Mike are wonderful people and were very kind to our children and family. Ms. Bains is an EXCELLENT teacher and person. -we found the principal to be fake and untrustworthy That wasn't short. Oh well. They might pay to delete it again. Maybe they just should have responded to our emails and concerns to begin with.

I just have to do this school justice because the previous reviews really slander the image of the…read moreschool. Harding since four years ago has been a diverse, supportive, caring environment! With many dedicated teachers and staff. They will say hi to your kids even at the grocery store! I have nothing but positive feedbacks for this school and it takes the community/village to raise young people. This is a dedicated community of parents who are constantly volunteering and giving back to the school. This community keeps the students safe by prioritizing safety, and investing in teachers ongoing development!

First of all, my child said that a special Ed student tried to light a kids computer on fire. They…read moreshould have better watch on the special ed students and actually try to teach them. Second off they have also let me in on that their friend has been mentally abused and scarred by their third grade teacher. For privacy reasons, is called Ms B. In other events, I was also alerted that a suicide note was inside of the boy's lavatory and was most likely from this school and school caused it. The new change in authority was nice though because the old principal was pretty rude. As previously told, there is a janitor currently in charge in the cafeteria. What baffles me is that this janitor isn't even letting the new lunch monitor do her job because the janitor thinks she has more power than she already has. Don't really recommend, 1.5 stars.

I have two kids who attend this school and it has surpassed our expectations. We live in Orinda,…read morewhich has a very good school district. Our girls chose St. Mary's for the faculty, community feel, diversity, rigor, and e-week experience-among other things. It has not disappointed. The Vice Principal, Ms. Molinelli, goes above and beyond, talking to me outside of school hours despite me saying that I am happy to adjust to her schedule as I am also in education and know the challenges. She is knowledgable, up-to-date with current research (she mentioned articles from The Atlantic and other publications/books that I had also read), and is clearly passionate about education. There are other notable faculty who are just so pleasant, so warm, so willing to sit with an anxious parent and walk them through making these difficult choices for your child: Dr. Troyani, the new principal, is also wonderful as is Mr. Filson, Ms. Esposito, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Mosby and so on. We love that the adults in St. Mary's have high expectations for the students. They hold them to a dress code (no torn clothing). They have days where professional dress is required (as someone who has interviewed people in cargo shorts and open toed Teva sandals for a job in education, I appreciate that my children are learning that there are still appropriate ways to dress for more formal events/presentations, and that they implemented a cell phone ban. As a practicing Catholic, I also appreciate St. Mary's focus on LaSallian virtues and SERVICE, and that it is so incredibly inclusive, which is what I believe true Catholicism should always stand for. We could not imagine a better place for our girls, who both love going to school (which was NOT my high school experience) and who now have such a wonderfully diverse group of friends. As a mother of two Asian American girls, one of whom is darker skinned, I have deeply appreciated that my children have been in an environment that is nurturing and supportive; that celebrates who they are, allowing them to be comfortable in their own skin. St. Mary's is a special place and we are so grateful to be part of this school community!

Saint Mary's College High School came into being as part of St. Mary's College in Moraga, It was…read morefounded in 1863 by the Catholic Church, and put under the auspices of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in 1868. Saint Mary's is Albany's other High School, although the main entrance is on the other side of Codonices Creek in Berkeley. None of my kids went to school here, although I have been on their pretty, green, and 7 building campus several times. My most notable experience involved Leo, a now departed orange tabby cat that decided to run away from home, and take up residence at St. Mary's. In fact, when I found him, he was hanging out under a tree and holding court with a few students. After I took him back home, the school called to make sure that he was OK and to tell me that the kids really missed him! He was a great cat.

Tilden Prep has been transformative for our son, who's twice exceptional. It offers greater depth…read moreand breadth of curriculum and more highly educated staff than its competitors, like Fusion Academy. For example, Tilden offers Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra. While such courses are offered at a community college, having the option to learn 1:1 is critical in giving a student a more solid foundation before entering a 4-year college. At the same time, the rates make more sense than Fusion Academy, which is on a trimester system and 30% more. Tilden is run like a school rather than a corporation. It's more pure to its cause. Good job Tilden. Keep up the good work!

Our son had a great experience at Tilden. He is very bright but struggled to organize his thoughts…read moreand get them down on paper. We enrolled him in English 9 at Tilden and had him take the rest of his classes in his public high school. His Tilden teacher, Dave Locey, helped him learn the steps of writing and feel good about his progress and talents. He said Mr. Locey was the best teacher he'd had :). He wanted to get ahead in math (because the common core track forced him to take math slowly with a lot of boring repetition) so we enrolled him in Geometry through Tilden over the summer. Even though he could have taken Geometry online for less money, we felt the one-on-one instruction and monitored pacing and instruction helped him stay on track and thus made it more likely he'd succeed. He got through the course very quickly and is now starting Algebra 2 at his HS so he'll be able to take Calculus before he graduates. His Tilden math teacher was also very knowledgeable and positive.