The process of looking for a new school is overwhelming due to the sheer number of options. You come up with a comprehensive list of 10-15 schools you are considering and try to knock any of them out for even random reasons so that you can focus on touring and applying to a more manageable list of schools. Berkwood Hedge was on my long list - and when I read some of the negative reviews, I almost just crossed it off of our list. I am so thankful that I kept my mind open and saw Berkwood Hedge for myself. My son joined the 4th grade class this past Fall and it has been truly transformational for him and our family. After years of unhealthy social situations in his past schools and lack of attention to his learning needs, due to the care from Berkwood Hedge, he is now starting to come out from a haze of low confidence. His teachers, Olivia and Elisa, have been invaluable in helping him grow in confidence. Before you make any decisions about schooling for your child, I implore you to just attend one community meeting that happens in person every Wednesday morning at 8:45 on campus. It really does take a village and Berkwood Hedge has set up just that - a loving village around our children. When you hear the head of school, Love Weinstock, speak, you know that this care for the whole child is everywhere in the school's culture. You will definitely see the intentional approach in your child's classroom but you will also see it with restorative justice with Silver, music with Ajayi, learning with Edie, art with Laura, school operations with Kris, and the list goes on. We will be moving to Berkwod Hedge's upper campus next year and we are really looking forward to it. They have really been able to increase the diversity in the upper grades. Furthermore, Love leads with so much clarity that I look forward to seeing that come alive in middle school. read more

My child started at Berkwood Hedge this year after transferring from a much larger public elementary school. The difference in his enthusiasm for learning has been night & day. He is thriving -- academically, emotionally, and socially -- at Berkwood Hedge, and we are grateful! I can't say enough good things about this incredible school. The quality of teaching, arts programming, and true care demonstrated between adults and kids is phenomenal. Each time I think about our experience, I realize "but wait, there's more!" The list of wonderful things about Berkwood Hedge just goes on and on. read more

We feel super lucky to have found Berkwood Hedge. We were almost scared off by some of the few bad reviews from several years ago, but we talked with numerous parents and felt confident in our choice and I am very relieved that we ended up at Berkwood Hedge. We had toured a lot of of public and private school options, and ultimately it felt like they were just variations on a very traditional theme. Many of them used words like supporting children and social emotional learning and whole child, but very few seemed to really put that in action. Berkwood Hedge talks the talk *and* walks the walk. My kiddo is now in first grade there and is thriving. There is nothing as amazing as seeing your kid truly love learning, because this is the school that does not just push memorizing facts, but really somehow maintains the sense of awe and wonder the kids inherently have -- without extinguishing it by requiring the completion of 1 million worksheets. Instead they do project-based learning and deeply explore topics. The teachers are extremely skilled and each bring their own passion for various things. The restorative justice approach has really helped my kid when issues have come up like disagreements about Hopscotch order or frustrations about who is line leader. We also just really love the community - the other parents are grounded and kind, not what you might think of as stereotypical "private school parents." We have a younger kiddo as well and are excited to send her in a couple years when she is old enough. read more

I remember the stress I felt when trying to find the right school for my daughter - I visited all the public schools available to us in the Berkeley zone system and also Oakland because her dad resides there. I visited a handful of private schools in both cities as well. I was hoping to find a school where I knew she would be safe, would be able to attend aftercare without the stress of waitlist/moving campuses, and would receive the personalized attention that a child with social anxiety and extreme shyness would need. Along with having her creative pursuits enriched during the school day (arts, crafts, music). Having visited perhaps 15 different campuses I can tell you the moment I stepped on the Berkwood Hedge campus I just knew. The first things I saw were the adorable chicken coop and the fairy garden that kindergarten teacher Hanan lovingly uses to engage the children in pretend play. It just had this feeling of warmth and community that I did not feel on any other campus. When I visited with my daughter I was shocked to find that she literally didn't want to leave! She cried on the last day of kindergarten because she didn't want school to end. I can't tell you how much this meant to me. It's hard to cover all the things about a school that you love, but here are some of the most important things to me as a parent that the school delivers on: - Communication. I was initially overwhelmed by the volume of emails but to have a school that not only provides a weekly email but also teachers who painstakingly fill you in on every last thing your child learned and did that week, in detail and with photos, is incredible. There's scheduled check-ins but you can pretty much talk to anyone about any issue anytime. - Personalized care. From the time my daughter was in kindergarten I was able to share with her teachers Hanan and Silver about specific needs or issues she had and they would triangulate support between themselves and Edie the learning specialist, and anyone else who needed to be made aware, from administrative to recess staff. Not to mention that Silver is not only the restorative justice specialist but also a pretend play expert (so when it came to my daughter's fear of bugs in restrooms he even bought a purple duster for "bug patrol" and had the kids play along with clearing the bathroom). Having this level of care really soothes parental anxiety. - Safety. It was paramount to me that my daughter attends a school where she is safe from harm and bullying. I can't tell you how relieved I am every day that I drop her off knowing that the children feel safe to bring any issues to staff and that the staff is hyper vigilant about the school philosophies around kindness and community. I recall reading some (very old) reviews before attending the school that cast such things in a negative light and I have to say that my experience has been the exact opposite - I've never seen a kinder school community. - I'll share just two real life examples of how they are teaching our children to act toward each other: 1) During a class field trip to Angel Island my daughter's hat blew off her head and into the water at the dock. She was immediately encircled by all her classmates - and older students - who tried to comfort her as she cried and cried. Then the older students slipped away and came back with the hat! They had taken it upon themselves to ask the staff to fish it out of the water. Not one adult had to step in, the kids took care of her. 2) Another small example is when her classmates were playing at a public playground on the last day of school. Some older kids were taunting them ("being bullies" my daughter later shared). They defended each other and once they left, she and her classmates took over the play structure, declaring it a kindness zone and would ask everyone to agree to being kind before getting on the structure. This was another child-led initiative that blew my mind, 6 and 7-year-olds creating a kinder mini society of their own making. No adults were involved. - Community. The school offers something no others I know of do, parent/child attended community meetings every Wednesday morning. These are much warmer and more relaxed than the idea of a school assembly, it's a time where parents and students can "honor" each other by standing up and sharing, where school announcement are made, where parents/kids sing along to celebrate birthdays, and where select classes share special projects they have been working on and receive applause and praise. It's one of the elements that most staff and parents point to as illustrative of the strong community-feel of the school, in addition to the parent community that is built through the volunteer activities that parents participate in and the chaperoning of field trips and read more

Our daughter's preschool teacher recommended Berkwood Hedge to us, and we toured it along with other schools, including our local Berkeley public schools, to get a sense of what we wanted for our daughter for kindergarten and beyond. For our family, it was important to find a school that felt like a community, where our kids would be taught by teachers and staff who really cared for them, with other families who also see this project of raising kids as a collective effort. The head of school on the tour said, "We are the day shift," and that really resonated with me. I wanted a partner in raising my kids. As we met the other teachers, we got the same sense from them, that this community was energetic, inclusive, empathetic, and loving. I'm grateful to say after a year of kindergarten, we have found a great place for our children and us to learn and make friends. They are great at seeing my daughter and accepting her for where she is and who she is, while supporting her growth and learning, as a student but also just as a person in the world. She loves school! I asked her just other day if she will be sad that summer is coming to an end (we've had a great summer), and she said yes but also she is really excited to go back to Berkwood Hedge. I really recommend you attend a Community Meeting during the school year if you are considering Berkwood Hedge. It's a great example of the kind of commitment the school has to meeting children where they are at while also pushing them to grow, connectedness, and diversity. Community Meeting is the highlight of my week, and I blocked my very busy work calendar to try to attend as much as possible. It's a window into what our kids are up to at school but also it's a community gathering time. Just that one half hour meeting, which includes all students, staff, and parents, helped me become a better parent and helped me process and appreciate current events, seasonal themes, holidays, etc. read more

If you're looking for a safe, student centered, family oriented school, Berkwood Hedge is for you! Located in the heart of downtown Berkeley you'll find the sweetest school with a long history of supporting students though early grades & they also have a new middle school that opened to meet demands for a upper school that also sees and nurtures the whole child. Things we love about Berkwood Hedge 1. Our daughter loves school, she is challenged academically & she is stewarded through any challenges with love and care. We considered & got into many local independence schools, but BHS was the BEST fit for our daughter she thrives at BHS. Kindergarten with Hanan and Silver is the magic that kindergarten should be!! 2. Teachers & Pedagogy: cutting edge academics, experiential learning, connecting students to others and nature. 3. Other families. We have made very good friends through the school community, everyone shows up for the kids there are lots of ways to be involved. Weekly community meeting and Wednesday rollerskating day were our favorite days. 4. Tuition is all inclusive! You never have to worry about buying a pencil or paying for a field trip. They have it all covered. As a busy mom this is awesome! 5. Responsive Administration. We entered BHS for kindergarten in 2018, it was in 1st grade that Covid shut down schools. Berkwood Hedge stayed open! The school made a very quick pivot to online learning. Dropping off supply kits including iPads and art supplies to each students home. That summer BHS re-envisioned the Campus & built outdoor classrooms for learning and installed HEPA filters to help with Covid fears. This astounding commitment to children allowed BHS to open for in person learning October 2020, 7 months before CA public school's opened!! I believe it's because of BHS that I have a thriving 4th grader who is leaning at or above grade level, she is HAPPY and trusts the adults in her life will do the due diligence to offer her the best education possible even in the hardest time of our lives. Head of school Love Winstock is a heart centered, fair, amazing woman and leader. In this day and age when heads of a schools are threaten with violence and their job demands have increased 10x fold during the pandemic. Love and her team will be there for you with clear and honest answers that best serve the entire school community not just individual demands. Questions ? please write to me! fancyradish@gmail.com read more

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My daughter is in her second year at Berkwood Hedge. My kids have gone to a few schools, and this one is the most soulful and heart centered by far. She is also being taught to think critically and creatively. Her work and writing blow me away. The teachers are very responsive when things come up and it is very much a culture of kindness and empowerment for kids. I love the music program and the middle school campus is a sanctuary in the Berkeley Hills. The parent community is very positive and it feels easy to make connections. Some of the less than flattering reviews shocked me. No school is perfect, but this one is pretty great! read more

Wowowow has it been a doozy of a year (or 2 and 1/2 years)! I honestly do not know where my child and our family would be without the amazing teachers, administration, and staff at Berkwood Hedge. My now 9-year-old daughter has been going here since first grade. She's highly sensitive and empathic, so group experiences can be challenging. However, thanks to the skill and support those at the school, she has really blossomed into an emotionally intelligent person who freely advocates for herself and others. This school fosters students' unique gifts, and encourages them to tackle important issues (i.e. climate change, racial justice, gender equality, etc.) using projects to ignite their passions for creating a better world. At the beginning of COVID I sent my only child to school because of the careful, thoughtful, meticulous way in which Berkwood Hedge was handling in-person learning. This was scary for all involved, but there was a particular weight to it for our family because I had been newly diagnosed with breast cancer and was dealing with a compromised immune system. But thanks to the school's COVID task force, I felt my child was as safe as humanly possible, and therefore, so was I. As a mental health professional, emotional safety is very important to me. I feel as though Berkwood Hedge has been an incredibly safe environment for my daughter and the other kids in her class--at least that's what I can gauge from speaking with other parents about their experience of the school. Whenever there's an issue between kids, teachers have helped to bring about reconciliation. If an issue has somehow flown below the teacher's radar, I have been thanked and appreciated for bringing it to light so it can be dealt with either in a one-on-one conversation or in a restorative justice circle. As for academics, I really appreciate the school's Socratic- and project-based approaches to learning . As a result, my daughter is becoming a real critical thinker who can make a sound argument, as well as a person who will grow up learning to approach the world's problems with curiosity and an all-hands-on-deck attitude. My husband is a public school teacher (high school) and has been consistently impressed by the balance between academic support and whole child development at Berkwood Hedge. I hope this is helpful. Good luck on your school search! read more

We put our kid into Kindergarten at Berkwood Hedge, despite the negative campaign waged by some people. We found it hard to believe the negative comments based on our positive experiences with the school and its admin during the application process. Unfortunately, this negative campaign did result in a small K class, and the school had to figure out how to best handle it. We initially had some concern as to how it might work out, but it has worked out wonderfully. We looked at Berkwood Hedge because our kid had already learned much of the normal K curriculum, and we didn't want her to be bored at school; we wanted her to be challenged. But she is also shy and has some social anxiety and we felt a big public elementary school would be too overwhelming, and so we liked that Berkwood Hedge is small. Both these aspects of our kid are being well catered to by the school. She is being taught at a level "just right" for her, and she is enjoying learning and loves her teachers. Her "social-emotional" skills are being improved too, with super support from the school and the K/1 staff in particular, and from older kids too, who have volunteered to help make the K kids feel welcome. Our kid really enjoys school and looks forward to going every day. We have every confidence in the school administration, the teachers and staff, and are happy to be part of the school community. read more

This school is an unbelievable waste of money and actually harmed my child's love of learning! The admin preach the social-emotional learning talk but don't walk it (and don't be fooled by the leader "Love" because there's nothing loving about her). Worse, some of the teachers are mediocre to terrible: my very intelligent daughter was reading the same book for an entire semester without the teacher noticing never mind doing anything about it (that teacher was eventually fired but it took years). She was bored to death bc never challenged and it wasn't until she was in a challenging environment where the teachers actually cared that she started to engage and excel. Lots of talk about respecting children but often don't actually behave respectfully (my kid was pushed by another kid for no reason but because everyone picked on that kid, then forced to share the blame for the episode undermining her trust and faith in all the adults at the school. independent thinking, genuine kindness, etc.). Teacher retention has been intermittently terrible. When there is a problem, the admin deny the problem and/or mishandle the problem so trust is broken on all sides. The one shining light was the art program which was amazing ...but the dance and language and music classes, all of which were incredible when we started, became TERRIBLE because the teachers left (probably due to poor pay or the above reason). I sa was because we left too. read more

Fantastic school that somehow manages to do it all, while meeting kids' unique social, emotional, and learning needs. From the Head of the School's excellence and warmth, committed and talented Teachers & Staff, down-to-earth and engaged fellow parents, and even the kind and friendly cleaning staff, the School excels and welcomes all. read more

After being waitlisted and finally offered a spot, I sooooo wanted to love this school... My daughter went to Berkwood Hedge earlier this year, and we lasted only 28 days before I pulled her and found a school where I knew she would be physically safe and in an environment where she was actually learning again (in her 1st few weeks of school, there was no phonics or reading aloud even though they were supposedly part of the curriculum, and after a year of Zoom school due to the pandemic, this was concerning as I was hoping she'd get back on track with reading and writing). To make a long story short, we wound up being the first family of five families in just one class who left shortly after the school year began. While *part* of the issue was the teacher's inability to manage the class (who I hear recently resigned, and will be replaced in a couple of weeks), the issues in my mind were more top-down; more of a systemic problem, where dysfunctional and potentially dangerous behaviors were normalized, and if your child confides in you about something terrifying and dangerous that happened to them (which thankfully my daughter did), the school's response was essentially (and I'm paraphrasing) "nobody saw it happen, so prove it." My daughter ended up feeling worse after reporting something than she had to begin with, and her take away was that she should never "tattle" again if someone tries to hurt her. Not what I want for my daughter or anyone's child. I wasn't about to keep her there until there was physical evidence that I could photograph as proof. While I'm now out 5 months tuition for only 28 days of school (which seems criminal to me given the circumstances), I'm thankful that my daughter is now at another school where she is happy and learning again, not afraid to come to school, and thriving. Any family reading this who is considering Berkwood Hedge and would like more details should feel free to reach out to me with follow-up questions. I'm happy to find time to chat by phone if it helps even just one other family make a more informed choice for their child(ren). All the best with your school search, and be safe out there! read more

What an awful experience! Some of the teachers are so kind and patient, but there's so much inherent racism in the school that it's not safe. We were excited about the HOS being a WOC, but she's a huge disappointment-not centered, lies, and when she feels like she can't handle things sics a board member onto any parent who is trying to advocate for their child. Also, the education is so poor, save your money and go public! read more

I can't say enough about Berkwood Hedge, it has been the most positive and enriching experience for our family. The teachers and staff are warm, loving, supportive and experienced. Love Weinstock is a passionate, caring, child-centered leader and the community is close, down to earth, and focused on making positive changes in the world. our kids have been there for 5 years and they come home every day happy, engaged with school and excited to learn. We feel so fortunate every day for this amazing school. read more

My daughter started at Berkwood Hedge earlier this school year. Our family was excited to transition her there because of the promise of academic differentiation and their constructivist approach. We ended up pulling her out after five weeks for several significant reasons. Some of this was due to the teacher's lack of instructional control that impacted her ability to teach the curriculum. When my daughter finally brought classwork home I was shocked how behind it was compared to the local public schools. She constantly complained that she was not learning anything and was bored. There was little socioemotional learning going on as well. Children were taught to fend for themselves and solve their own problems, which caused high incidents of bullying and some physical altercations. Although my daughter was not directly targeted it was stressful for her to hear constant name-calling and put-downs, especially when it was targeted at her friends. As an educator and a psychologist, I took her out because I felt Berkwood Hedge was not healthy for her well-being and the poor academics did not justify the high tuition. Our family also felt little support from the head of school, which was disappointing because besides being a new family to their school community we were also one of the very few families of color in the entire class. I asked her twice if we could schedule a quick call about my concerns and she never made the time.  My daughter is now thriving, engaged in learning, in a racially diverse classroom,  and is so much happier at her local public school. There are so many red flags about Berkwood Hedge that I need to caution prospective families to do their research before enrolling their child here. Good luck with your search and if any other parents have any questions about my experience at Berkwood Hedge please feel free to directly message me. My experience is not unique as I can put you in touch with SEVERAL families that have also left this school. read more

Berkwood Hedge is the best place for my spirited boy. It seems like a cliché but they really put the student's care and needs up front. Every situation is an opportunity for a learning experience. read more

We have two children at Berkwood Hedge, in 5th grade and Kindergarten, and we wholeheartedly love the school and its wider community of families. Our 5th grader has thrived over these past six years; he loves learning, is an avid reader and enthusiastic writer, and most importantly, is a good, caring human being. This speaks volumes about Berkwood and its staff. And our kindergartener is held so caringly by Hanan and Silver. I am honestly dismayed by the vehemently negative reviews written by a handful of disgruntled parents who had a negative experience at the beginning of this school year. Was there a difficult situation at the beginning of 2nd grade this year? Yes. Was it solved instantaneously? No. Sometimes situations take a little time to get resolved. It's called being alive in the real world. Does that warrant 3 or 4 parents writing negative reviews and posting them (often repeatedly) on every parent portal out there? Of course not. These reviews were all written by parents who were at the school for 28 days. 28 days! They cannot possibly know the love, skill, compassion, care, and dedication that Berkwood children and families experience day after day, month after month, year after year. Obviously, these parents have a bone to pick with the administration, but this is mean, troll-like behavior that reeks of a coordinated smear campaign, and should be identified as such. Is Berkwood Hedge a perfect school? No, because that's impossible. But is it a great, great school? Yes! As I mentioned before, both of our children are thriving here. From Love's leadership and vision as school head, to the skill and dedication of every teacher we've had, it is a very special community to be a part of. In addition to top-notch academics and arts instruction (visual, music, dance), they really do walk the walk on Social Emotional Learning, starting from teacher Silver's SEL story theater in the classroom, and beloved "Office of Restorative Justice" to work through inevitable playground challenges between growing kids. While all public schools and many private schools were shuttered last year, Love envisioned and then created outdoor classrooms over the first covid summer. The result; the school opened in early October and remained open the ENTIRE school year. If that's not expert handling during a horrific worldwide pandemic, I don't know what is? Our kids actually experienced a "normal" school year, with in-person, experiential learning and daily social engagement with their peers and adults. No small feat. The biggest reason we are thankful Berkwood parents is that our children are "seen" every single day. Seen for who they are at this very moment, and who they can and will become. For those considering Berkwood Hedge, I urge you to seek out families of current students and those who have graduated. Talk to them, ask questions. The vast majority will have the same kinds of glowing words about a school that has built an outstanding reputation over decades, a school that should not and ultimately won't be "taken down" by a handful of unhappy parents. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Here's hoping to a more normal year ahead. In community... read more

Berkwood Hedge School turned our family's life around and had a dramatic and positive impact on my son's educational trajectory. We moved my son to Berkwood Hedge mid-year in 3rd grade to escape a school that was a horribly poor fit for him and that had caused both social/emotional and educational problems for him. At Berkwood Hedge, we learned that when you handle the social/emotional development well, all the academic pieces of the puzzle fall into place too. Having heard about Berkwood Hedge's math program from a Cal computer science professor, we were especially excited to see if we could get my son excited about a subject he had once found fascinating and then found tear-inducing at his first elementary school. Now he's in honors math in 10th grade and will take calculus in 11th grade. My son also disliked physical education before Berkwood Hedge and fell in love with it at Berkwood Hedge and he's now a two-sport high school athlete so the school's positive impacts extend through mind and body. I'll never forget attending a music and dance event at which I was struck more than anything by how much the students enjoyed their performance. We had moved my son from a school in which kids regularly broke down in tears before performances because of the stress. At Berkwood Hedge, they understand that the goal at this age is largely to foster a love of learning. Wednesday morning community meetings at Berkwood Hedge were my favorite part of my week and I still miss them five years later. I attribute this to the incredibly warm, inclusive, and supportive environment created by the Head of School who spreads exactly the sentiment that is her name: Love. I recall experiencing tears of joy twice even just during our first school tour because of the heartwarming verbal embrace that is any session led by Love. The first racially integrated school in Berkeley (integrated before Brown v Board), the Berkwood Hedge story extends back decades and the 5-star reviews on this site extend back at least 12 years. A surprising cluster of one-star reviews in the span of a few weeks appears to be a coordinated effort by a bunch of people who don't respect contracts. read more

My son has attended Berkwood Hedge for the past two years. The short version of this review will be that this institution provided has provided a phenomenal experience for my boy, transforming him from a friendly if somewhat shy and awkward child into an outgoing, vivacious, curious person with a wonderful and supportive community of friends that he has made during his time there. I can't say enough positive things about the caring environment provided by his teachers. If you want more detail, please read on. The learning at Berkwood Hedge is customized to who he is as a person and the support is tremendous. He gets learning assistance from the Berkwood Hedge staff that he would not receive in the BUSD. We also take comfort in the fact that during the pandemic Berkwood Hedge, in distinction to what is done in the BUSD, prioritized in person education at the earliest possible opportunity for the youngest learners who had the lowest risk of COVID transmission and were at greatest risk from being outside a classroom setting. It has been a scary two years for all of us; I give private educational institutions like Berkwood Hedge a lot of credit for striving to do what was right for the youngest kids and getting them back in person despite what was (initially) a lot of unknowns about risks. This commitment to doing what is right for the kids is part of what makes Berkwood Hedge stand out amongst a lot of the competition. My praise for Berkwood Hedge comes in part from our experience at another school that he briefly attended which was not a good fit. Allow me to clarify here that while I was unhappy with my son's experience at this other school, which shall remain nameless, I am not so piqued that I am going to take a social media sledgehammer to it and try to hurt an institution that works well for many other families...it just did not work for mine. How is one to determine the intent of a review? To help others or to hurt a business/institution? I recommend checking the number of reviews. I have in the past been Yelp elite, and while my family and work obligations mean I don't review the way I used to I stand by my record of extensive Yelp reviews on a variety of places; mostly good, some bad, but a rich experience of contributing my experiences to help others make decisions. I make it a point to review broadly, not just when I have a particular beef. Clearly some people have a problem with this school, and I can't speak to their particular issues. They may be legitimate and clearly Berkwood Hedge is not the best choice for everyone. But I think in the year 2022 we are all savvy enough to recognize that one or even several 1 star reviews does not indicate a fatal flaw any more than universal 5 star reviews indicates that a place does not have issues. Give Berkwood Hedge a look. Ask the hard questions about negative things you have heard and/or read. Explore the positive things they offer. Then make your own decisions about whether it would work for your children...what I or anyone else who has written a review on Yelp matters a lot less than what you personally think will work for your family. read more

Enrolling in Berkwood Hedge was one of the worst and most expensive mistakes our family has made. Looking back, we wish we had taken their early communication lapses and the head of school's emotionality as warning signs of dysfunctions to come. We saw some good teachers and shiny admissions brochures and took a chance. What followed was an experience that was lacking in all areas - behavioral and emotional support, academics, and administrative organization and response. We had a MUCH calmer and better experience at the BUSD public school. If you go on a tour, and have a gut feeling about anything being off, I encourage you to listen to it and find another school. Our child and our family have been much happier since we left. read more

Berkwood Hedge is the school I wish all schools could be. Their commitment to children's social-emotional learning and project-based curriculum means that the children are learning on every level. The staff and teachers are wonderful and make families and children feel so loved. During the pandemic, they have gone above and beyond to make sure they can be open safely! I'm an educator who has been in the field for over 20 years, and I know that many of the children the school are children of educators and child therapists. To me, that shows that this school does all of the important things well: it takes care of my children's academic needs while also holding them in safety and love. read more

Our family is in our 4th year with Berkwood Hedge. We are very involved parents who are so very glad to have found this school community, have been consistently happy with our Berkwood Hedge experience, and find that our child is thriving. We are saddened to read the negative messages posted by a few families from another class who decided to leave the school after a couple of months. These families seem very angry, according to their posts. I wish them respite and resolve. We want to share our very positive experience with Berkwood Hedge. Our daughter experienced multiple losses on top of Covid related stress, and developed high anxiety and motor tics. Because of the loving response of her school community, along with the thoughtful and carefully structured re-opening of BH in October of 2020, she is thriving. Her teachers and assistant teachers, along with Love (HoS) were always available to offer supportive input and care to address her (and our families) needs. As a therapist, I have insight into the socio-emotional needs of kids, and can say with confidence, that our child feels held and emotionally supported as a result of the care and attention she has received. We see this as an essential fundament for effective learning. She is a natural artist and musician, and feels supported in her passions. She is excited about science and math- and even feels inspired to get artistically creative with her mathematics. She is a prolific writer, her stories infused with true friendships and narratives shared by Walker, the resident story teller, and Silver Morningstar, a truly magical staff who is known to engage the children in imaginative play based character development. She frequents the restorative justice corner at school to talk with staff and peers, and create her own comics addressing adventurous, complex and sometimes difficult peer and family dynamics. Although often reserved about her emotions related to family losses, she welcomed and felt held by Love's and also her amazing teacher's caring attention. Her classmates describe her as focused and thoughtful in class, and a compassionate and funny friend on the school yard. She is making friends for life, as are we. We are looking forward to many more years at Berkwood Hedge and are excited for upcoming community events! read more

Our family had a terrible experience at Berkwood Hedge School. We were drawn to the school for its philosophy of allowing kids to enjoy being kids, and a more flexible approach to developmental education. Unfortunately, their "let kids be kids" philosophy is not adequately supported by clear expectations, structure and behavioral supports. My child saw so much inappropriate behavior in her short time at this school, including kids verbally lashing out, disrespecting teachers, body shaming, grabbing/spanking one another, excessive crying, uncontrolled impulsivity and intentionally provoking vulnerable kids with mean songs and taunts. When parents brought these serious issues to the attention of the head of school, Love, her response was inconsistent and ineffectual. She blamed the teacher, then the parents, and demonstrated unprofessional and unethical behavior, including breaking confidentiality between parents. The school will probably tell prospective parents that this was an "off year" with unique challenges, but as a former public school teacher, I observed many issues that run much deeper than this one cohort. As a volunteer librarian, I observed kids from different grades being really rough and unkind to one another on the yard. I am open to talking with families in more detail about our experience, much of which feels inappropriate to share in a public forum. Out of the 16 families who began the 2021-22 school year in the Earth class, 6 have either left or been pushed out by the school. I hope to prevent other families from being wooed by what seems like depth and sweetness of this school, but in reality is an environment lacking in substance, responsibility and boundaries. Feel free to email me for more information: sarainberkeley@gmail.com. read more

Our third grader spent the year at this wonderful small school. We are returning to the public school system next year, but I enthusiastically recommend this school to anyone. The project-based learning makes academics really engaging. The strong emphasis on arts convinced my kid for the first time that (1) he likes art and (2) he's good at it! The school emphasizes relationships and the kids form deep true friendships. The leadership has a vision, is organized, and is excellent at communicating. The flexibility and resilience they modeled during the pandemic were really impressive. read more

We learned about Berkwood Hedge from several families we attended preschool with who recommended it for its student-centered learning environment and facility around SEL. We made the leap and have been very happy at the school. Our child's teachers have been very tuned into their needs, both socially and academically, encouraging their independence and empowering them to communicate and self-advocate. It has been a great experience of community and an especially strong experience in art and music, my child's favorite subjects. read more

I'm not one to write reviews, especially of schools but my daughter's experience here was truly horrific. Prospective parents acknowledge the positive reviews but also strongly consider the negative experiences. I wish our family would have done more research and talked to more families. We are one of the multiple families that transitioned our child out of BH. All I have to say is do your research. Ask BH about their policy for behavior issues or what services they offer struggling learners and/or children that need additional support. Ask about diversity among the grades. Ask them why almost half of the 2nd grade has left. Will they blame the teacher, children, or the pandemic instead of taking responsibility? The school appears small and nurturing but take a closer look at the foundation. There are so many issues here. For one they did not believe the words of a 7-year-old girl when she asked for help and displayed fear. They also blamed children for behavioral issues and pushed them out instead of examining their needs. BH will try to bury this review because they do not want you to ask these questions. The range of positive and negative reviews underlines HUGE inequity. To clarify one reviewer's mention of "additional bumps" -these actually involved multiple cases of physical harm, chronic verbal bullying, scapegoating, and weeks of no learning for many children. The truth is no one would not leave a school if they felt supported. Even though my daughter was not directly targeted, our family's choice to leave signified we didn't tolerate this behavior, settle for poor instruction, and we knew there were CLEARLY better options. I am grateful BH because I now see how fortunate we are to attend BUSD. We didn't have to wait until spring (February) for an experienced strong teacher. The first day my daughter transferred back to BUSD there were zero behavioral issues, she instantly connected to her teacher, she entered a supportive diverse classroom community, and she is thriving in a local free public school. read more

Our child has attended Berkwood Hedge for three years. Our experience has been very positive. It really feels like each teacher has gotten to know my child personally and has a good understanding of both his academic and his social-emotional strengths and needs. There is a good adult/child ratio and he gets a lot of personal attention. There is not a lot of homework in the younger grades, but I have always felt like the learning objectives were being met. We did a year in public school in the Bay Area so I can compare to that and I know that my child is doing well academically and more than meeting grade expectations, but with less busy work. The extracurriculars here are very good, especially art and music. My biggest hesitation when we first chose the school was that its physical space for the lower school campus is not large, but actually they use it very well and my child still enjoys the playground after all this time--he doesn't even want to leave at pickup. I've also been happy with their COVID response which I feel has been very comprehensive and evidence-based with a lot of strong communication. I recommend this school to parent friends all the time! read more

There's something special about this school. You only need to show up at one of the Wednesday morning Community Meetings to get a sense of it. The kids, unprompted and consistently, stand up and "honor" the school for being a place they enjoy, feel safe, and thrive. In their own voices they share what they've learned (amazing depth of subjects and broad-reaching relevant curriculum), how they've learned (genuine curiosity and teachers that are both wise and modern), and who they are becoming (whole people - with creative, courage, sophisticated and fluid relational skills, and a reliable sense of themselves). Add to that a dynamic Head of School, a warm and bright parent community, a history and ongoing commitment to social justice, diversity and green-living - and you start to know that this school is unlike any other independent school in the East Bay. As a parent, I love the fact that this school only goes through 5th grade. The kids, all ages and grades, are a real community. Fifth graders are not yet seeped in the complex dynamics of adolescence - and the sweetness of childhood resonates through (and between) all grade levels. Emotional safety allows a child to relax and learn openly - and the academic excellence that ensues is both touching and awe-inspiring. Our son is about to enter second grade, and he loves Berkwood Hedge. A thoughtful, bright, and deep kid - he is truly happy in this school setting. He loves listening to the story teller weave and share tales during lunch, having open art where he can make "inventions", learning cool new things in math, learning physical skills with the excellent PE program, and having "sign ups" where he can explore his topics of interest in-depth. He feels connected and known, and school is a place of joyful learning. As a parent, what more can I ask for? read more

I have two boys-one a recent grad and the other in third grade at Berkwood Hedge. They are quite different temperamentally-a cat and a dog-so to speak. It has been evident throughout their experiences that both boys have been seen as individuals, with learning styles specific to them. They have been met, held, and challenged in ways congruent with their capacities. I am profoundly grateful to have found this special place for my children. The community is like family. Our kids have been supported not only along a path of academic rigor, but one of becoming more fully themselves. The program has strong themes of social and individual responsibility. Diversity is honored and celebrated. The small size allows for an intimate, nurturing environment. The teachers, from 5th grade to Kindergarten, know every student in the school and weekly community meetings reinforce the importance of everyone in the circle. I also want to put in a personal shout-out for the theme of storytelling in the culture of the school, which not only helps children in oral presentation and public speaking, but allows them to find and trust their own voices. To support this, there is an annual storytelling festival, daily storytelling at lunchtime, and additional, optional programming around this topic. Both my boys love learning and love school, largely, thanks to Berkwood Hedge. read more

We have been at this school for three years now. Berkwood Hedge creates a truly unique learning experience for the kids by providing a small, supportive and nurturing environment for young learners. If your goal at the end of elementary school is for your child to love going to school, believe that learning is enjoyable, and preserve his/her natural curiosity and joy of discovery, this is the school for you. I also love the diversity of the school, both racially and economically, which is quite uncharacteristic for the majority of private schools. If you go visit the school, you will immediately sense how at home the kids feel. It is truly a unique school with a strong sense community and clear set of values. read more

Berkwood Hedge is a school that truly fosters a love of learning by encouraging curiosity, connecting concepts with the real world, and approaching each child as the individual, special person they are. Our 1st grader is a bright, precocious kid who could easily become that class clown seeking attention and learning little. But from his very first day in kindergarten, the teachers and staff have found ways to engage him, adapt with him and delight him. He's thrilled to go to school each day, which is everything we hoped for him. I've always believed that you see the true character of a person or institution by how they handle the hard stuff. Our son brought his own challenges to the class as a kindergartener and the way the teacher and staff handled it through compassion, consistency, and caring communication with him, and us as parents, genuinely impressed me and reinforced my belief that we had chosen the right school. And as a child of two moms, we wanted a truly inclusive school where he could be proud of himself and his family. Berkwood Hedge is that place. Differences, similarities, and everything in between are discussed, experiences shared, celebrated, and challenged appropriately. Berkwood Hedge is a school that nurtures confident and curious learners. I see it in the current students and in the alumni who return to say hi and stay connected. I'm excited to watch my son's journey at this school and where it takes him. read more

My daughter is currently in 3rd grade at this school and we love it! We love that there are lots of other queer families here, that social justice and environmental responsibility are highlighted, and that she is getting a wonderful education from amazing teachers! Also, more than half the families here are receiving some financial aid. This means that it is not only ethnically diverse, but also financially diverse. If you are looking for a great school, I encourage you to visit BH! read more

We decided to choose a different school than BH because we were interested in a different philosophy of teaching, but we toured the school and went through the admissions process. The teachers and administration are genuinely kind people and so is the community. The school is transparent and nurturing. Even though we chose a different school, because we wanted a more traditional style of education, we feel that if you like their teaching philosophy that it's an excellent school. When we toured the school the environment was happy and fun, which is what kids need. The campus has a wonderful layout and was designed by a well known local architect. I tend to think theses types of schools can work well, but the curriculum is different than a traditional school, which means you need to go through most of the program to get the full benefit. If you just do 1-2 years here and then go somewhere else, you may be ahead in certain areas and behind in others (I'm not an educator, this is just my sense). If you are looking for a more progressive/experimental type of school I highly recommend this one. read more

My daughter is graduating in just a few shorts weeks, so we've been at the school for 6 years now. We have another child in the 1st grade and our youngest entering in the fall. Obviously we're fans of the school for many reasons. If you've ever met any of the alumni, you would notice that they are: comfortable, confident, interesting, thoughtful, intelligent, easy to talk to...Well-rounded people. It's one of the main reasons we looked into the school to begin with. It's a small and nurturing place with an effective approach to academics. The entire student body knows one another. My children have always LOVED going to school and never want to miss a day. Although they are involved in many extra curricular activities (soccer, piano, chess, dance), they have a special bond with their classmates because there is only one class per grade. From what I've experienced, the school is very welcoming to new students and families. Berkwood Hedge focuses on being "green", diversity, social justice, and community. I've always found the art program to be fantastic! As in any school, you have to find the right fit for your child and family. We know children in many of the Berkeley public schools, as well as the surrounding area's private schools, but Berkwood Hedge has been a very special (and safe!) place for my children and we're very grateful for that. We continue to be impressed with the work the children, teachers, staff, and administration does each year and how they continue to grow. read more

What an incredibly special place Berkwood Hedge is and what a positive influence it has has on my son and our entire family. The focus on the students' social and emotional development turned out to be the missing piece of the puzzle that made everything fall into place for us, including the academics. One example is the math program. During our tour, the physical education teacher said, "I don't know a student at Berkwood Hedge who doesn't like math." Whereas my son found math excruciatingly painful before moving to Berkwood Hedge, he recently announced that math is his favorite subject. In fact, the teachers seem to find a way to make every subject fun for the kids. The music, physical education, and dance instructors are all very creative and engaging and everyone seems dedicated to providing a nurturing environment where each child feels honored and respected. The book reading and storytelling events are phenomenally engaging. Whereas my son frequently expressed disdain for school before moving to Berkwood Hedge, he now volunteers that he loves school. Whereas he was beginning to internalize a notion of himself as a troublemaker at his previous school, he now feels a part of the community and clearly wants to contribute to the school community. The social/emotional development tools the school uses benefit us at home as much as they benefit the students at school in situations such as resolving conflicts. The weekly community meetings at Berkwood Hedge have come to be an essential part of my week that I don't like to miss. Since coming to Berkwood Hedge a little over 3 years ago (prior to our arrival), the head of the school has worked tirelessly to lead, support, and grow the community, and has made brilliant hiring decisions in the new faculty and staff. We couldn't be happier with the choices she's made. read more

Choosing a school for our daughter was one of the hardest things to date as a parent (ok, so sleep deprivation, potty training, bedtime resistance were also hard - but seriously, sending our precious daughter to be with a bunch of strangers all day who will hopefully help her to love learning...terribly difficult). We had a spreadsheet with 40 specific criteria and we put 3 schools through the ringer to make sure we left no stone unturned. While we ended up being accepted to all 3 schools, the Head of School at Berkwood Hedge made the biggest difference and the best point - she said to us "you need to find the place that feels right as a community. All the schools will be 'good' schools, but who are the people that feel like your people?" Now, this didn't seem like a great way to sell a school, but that wasn't her point. She was truly interested in our child finding a place that was best for her education and well being. It turns out that's how all the teachers do their work: by asking what is best for this particular child? How can we help her best self come out? Now every day I drop off our daughter she heads off into a community where she has people who love her and care for her and inspire her to enjoy learning; and in the end that was the most important box for us to check when picking a school. Berkwood Hedge is an amazing community of kids, teachers, parents, administrators, and parents. My daughter has close friends in every grade, and she sees school as her place - a place where she can be herself. Mission accomplished - looking forward to 5 more great years here! read more

My older son just graduated from Berkwood Hedge and my younger son is in the 3rd grade at Berkwood Hedge. The school has been a good fit for both boys even though they are very different. The teachers and staff have a deep understanding of them and are able to individualize their teaching to meet their needs. I appreciate that the school places a strong importance on knowing every child well and seeing them as a whole child. The day before graduating, my son was crying because he was going to miss Berkwood Hedge so much and he said it felt like a home away from home. He knew he was loved and held by the community; teachers, staff, kids and parents. At the same time, it is nice knowing that he is so prepared for what lies ahead. Berkwood Hedge provided him with a strong academic foundation and has instilled a joy of learning, an intellectual curiosity and a strong sense of self. When thinking about what sets Berkwood Hedge apart from other schools, I keep coming back to the idea that it prepares children to be good people in the world. The strong social justice curriculum, the culture of kindness, and the sense of belonging allows children to feel free to be who they are on a core level and to care about others deeply. What drew me to the school originally was the feeling of creativity and vitality that I had when visiting the classrooms. While these continue to be things I value about the school, I have learned to appreciate many more characteristics of this school that make it truly a magical place. read more

Hi! I am the mom of a 4th grader at Berkwood Hedge. Five years ago when we were moving from San Francisco, we started to look at schools in the East Bay. We were a little late in the process because we had been assuming he would just continue in the French system that we had been part of in SF. So when we decided to look around, we looked at 6 schools in a week and a half. I have to say I was genuinely impressed by all the schools that we visited - grateful that so many good, thoughtful, programs existed with not only good academics but also a focus on the socio-emotional development and health of the students - but my husband said he wasn't sure that any of them were ultimately that different from the French school we were considering. But then something happened; the minute we came on campus to tour Berkwood Hedge, my husband, who does not tend to be "touchy feely", literally got the chills. He just knew it was "right". It was not something that he could even put words on; he said it was the "light", the classrooms, how excited everyone seemed, how authentic it felt; When I tell this story of why we chose Berkwood Hedge, I think of the Malcolm Gladwell's book Blink where he explains that there are so many things we just know in the blink of an eye - a conglomeration of all our life experience. There are so many things that good, quality, progressive schools say that they're about - academic excellence, community, focus on the whole child - but having been at Berkwood Hedge for the last 4 years, I can honestly say that I have never been in a school (and I'm a teacher so I've been in a lot of schools!) where these were so palpable, so authentic, so quintessential to the very core of what Berkwood Hedge is about - where the teaching and learning is so powerful, the kids (every kid) is so engaged, the teachers so dedicated, the connections so real, and the joy so incredibly palpable. read more

I am a parent of two Berkwood Hedge Graduates who are now students at King Middle School and Berkeley High. Looking back at their Berkwood Hedge education, I'm very pleased. The Berkwood Hedge hands-on approach to learning and inspiring curiosity prepared both children well for the academic challenges of middle school and high school. Surprisingly, moving from a small school to a large one was a great transition, despite my worries. With only one class per grade at Berkwood Hedge the kids learned social and communication skills that they may not have learned in a larger school environment. Both of my kids hit the ground running as leaders in their classrooms, and it was noted by several of their middle school teachers that they were very comfortable negotiating and leading group efforts. Picking a small learning community was a great choice for my family too. We had fun at Berkwood Hedge. It's a great small, tightly-knit community. For any family considering private school for the formative K-5 years who then sees public school as a desired option, check it out. read more