Hi I give James Madison 5 stars because its an amazing school teachers are great and passionate…read moreabout teaching

I was a little apprehensive to put my child in a San Leandro school because I always heard negative…read morethings about the area. I grew up in Orinda which has some of the highest school rankings in the state, in my head I thought that san Leandro would never compare. I will say that my fears/ doubts got put to rest when my son started attending James Madison. Right away my son felt included and like he was part of the community.. I will say the reason that my mind changed was because of Issac's teacher, ( Mr. Baird) and ( Principal Grotke)! Principal Grotke is the kindest man, he smiles at you and has conversations with you.. he really cares about his students and the families of his students. He would also look out for the school and ask parents if they could volunteer or help in any way. Principal Grotke is a very caring, loving person... he's a very peaceful guy. He radiates peace and good energy... I know his job is tough.. I see some parents who break rules and don't follow school procedures... He has always had an optimistic disposition though... Mr. Baird has also made me appreciate this school. He is really nice, mellow, and patient... my son has learned so much from him.. My son now cares more for the environment and animals... This school is so lucky to have Principal Grotke and Mr. Baird.. it is so important that children have supportive people who can help them foster their dreams and help them aim for the stars. My son is lucky that he has crossed paths with these two wonderful people... and that they have helped him build such solid foundations.

they don't keep very good records at all!! very unprofessional!! there are a handful of great…read moreteachers in this school but over all my children will not be attending this school again if I can help it! PLEASE DO NOT automatically side with the staff if your child gets in trouble investigate the situation yourself or things can get ugly for your child and your child will be labeled by all staff!! GOOD luck !!!

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.

It's been a few years since both my kids have been going to this school and they love it. All the…read moreteachers and staff have been excellent and we've gotten to know other families who all have a similar experience. All the students are here to learn and the families all have similar values. Our kids are always being pushed outside their comfort zones and growing as a result. The Odyssey of the Mind had many parents involved as coaches for the kids and the kids performed so well in competition. A few teams from CCS even made it to the international competitions. Overall an amazing school with a nice campus, great curriculum and dedicated teachers and students. After the pandemic though they've lost some extra curriculum activities and I hope they can bring more of those back soon.

My daughters have gone to CCS from Kindergarten to 8th grade, and my son is currently attending the…read moreschool as well. I really appreciate the teachers and their attentiveness to the students. The school offers a rigorous academic program that has well prepared my daughters for high school and showed them good study habits. The campus is clean, and the kids love the cafeteria food offered. The class sizes are smaller than public school, and the tuition is reasonable. I would highly recommend this school if you are looking for a safe place for your child to learn.

I was at Woodland Elementary this morning to participate in theOur Oakland Eastside Stories…read morecommunity storytelling day. wow thats a mouthful. Woodland School is BRAND NEW! and looks like a school./community center/daycare/playground facility. I wanted to go to the tetherball station and have a round but forgot Im an old merekat and might twist or hurt some valuable piece of me....

My teacher is awesome and their chicken nuggets are so yummy they have movie nights and more…read moreawesome school 5 star.

The school had barely any security!!! I drove by the school one day and see teenagers climbing the…read morefence I and out just to play!!! They only had fences and they are so short that I'm almost as tall as it and I'm a pretty short person! I can almost say that there are no real gates around the school and most of them were "climbable" and the other ones I wouldn't consider it as a gate.the lunch lady are nice when they feel like it and if not...

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.

A few years ago, my husband and I first visited Joaquin Miller on a parent volunteer led tour of…read morethe school. We were pretty happy with the private school our then-preschooler was attending and were considering keeping him there through elementary school. Our primary concerns about public school were mostly about class size and colored by negative stories then in the news about the financial woes and generally poor performance of schools in the OUSD -- concerns that were quickly dispelled upon learning more about Joaquin Miller and enrolling our kids there. Right off the bat, we were immediately struck not only by the bright hallways and cheery classrooms decorated with student art projects, but also by the intelligence and passion shared by the teacher and parent guide we met that day. We saw parent volunteers and aides helping out in the classrooms, and kids who looked happy and engaged. Lessons were creatively approached and students' individual talents and needs were respected and addressed. We saw that this was a place where everyone involved was working together to create a vibrant, supportive community where kids learn and thrive -- and that our whole family might benefit from getting to know our neighbors better (not always an easy trick in the hills). Now, we have two kids doing great at Joaquin Miller, and we continue to be impressed by the staff and the dedication of the parents to contribute the success of the school. JM has an impressive library and computer lab, Khadra and African dance, after-school enrichment programs, and phys-ed and music classes, supported by the PTA. The multicultural education though the Living history program is especially terrific. We love this school and would recommend it to anyone in the neighborhood. The JM website has more info on academics, parent involvement, and school performance. Yelp! has the wrong school office phone number listed: it is (510) 531-6688.

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.

Sometimes I get parents who reach out and ask me more about redwood day school to them I say we…read moreleft here and went to Berkwood Hedge School in Berkeley where my daughter thrived. We made it though covid with an amazing pivot to outdoor classrooms and my child didn't miss a beat. She's now in a public middle school: wise, self assured, kind. confident and getting straight A's. I believe her courage and strong sense of self come from the education she received at Berkwood Hedge School. If you're looking for a truly inspiring progressive independent education check them out. Not as many Bells and whistles but what matters is there the heart and the academics.