YELP!!! Do not remove my glowing review of my daughter's school again! How dare you??? I'm posting this again. DO NOT REMOVE AGAIN! "As an educator and teacher-practitioner, I am very impressed with the educational setting at Meadows-Livingstone School. Each student has a personalized learning program geared toward their individual interests and abilities. Gail Meadows and her team have built a supportive learning community with the children at the center. The multi-age setting allows the students to grow as learners and mentors. I speak from experience as I have a solid foundation in progressive education and pedagogy from Bank Street College of Education. I have extensive experience as a classroom teacher and as an elementary school administrator. It is my position that each student is an individual who thrives in a secure, stimulating environment. Meadows-Livingstone School meets that criteria as the school is committed to helping every person in their close-knit community meet their fullest potential as they share their thoughts, ideas, hopes, and dreams. The expectation at Meadows-Livingstone is that all students take risks, participate, ask questions, support one another, and form their own opinions. As a parent, I highly recommend Meadows-Livingstone School for families in the Bay Area. My ten-year old daughter arrived at Meadows-Livingstone mid-year from an independent school on the peninsula. Her confidence, fire, excitement, and passion for learning has been rekindled with Gail, Morgan, Robbie, Denise, Julie, Yele, Barbara, and Robin. I asked my daughter what she loves about Meadows-Livingstone School. She said, "I love the curriculum - math, history, music, geography, tennis, dancing, drumming, swimming, and our talk sessions at meeting." My child is happy, growing, learning, and thriving. What more can a parent want for her child?!" read more

PLEASE READ THE REVIEW and don't just look at the stars! A school is way more complex than a restaurant or a bar, and there are nuances that the star rating just can't convey, you know? There are many amazing things about MLS, i want to say that right up front. The school strives to be a place where children, especially African American kids, are not pathologized. The school has a deep commitment to anti-racism and social justice. The curriculum incorporates a lot of movement, including yoga, tennis, regular swimming classes at the public pool down the street, and recess in the parks nearby. Teasing is not shrugged off like at many schools, but is mostly addressed on the spot, and a culture of respect and community accountability is definitely encouraged. The MLS approach to history is unique in my experience with elementary schools; they start at the place everyone tells us the homo sapiens effort started, but that never seems to get covered first in the public school curriculums. MLS history starts in Africa, they call it African Civ, and they learn things about all the great civilizations whose knowlege underpinned the later greco-roman and (way later) european Rennaisance. Sounds fantastic, right? Well, i thought so too, which is why i sent my kid there. I was naive, tho.. i did not listen when the Principal told me the school was not accredited. The language arts class they have is not really a class at all, it's a once per week thing they call "writer's workshop": this might be okay if all the kids are what are traditionally known as 'high performers', but a lot of the kids who attended when my kid was going were fleeing the dysfunction of the public school system and so were not even on grade level with reading and writing. and most kids, high scoring or not, need more instruction in elementary school than a couple of hours a week and peer review of papers. The math is similar, although it is gone over with the principal, who also teaches, every day; there is, however, a catch-as-can feeling about the instruction that is disturbing. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that there were, when i was a part of the school, only two teachers, and one was also the principal: even though there are only @ 27 kids in the whole school, the principal does not pull off a one-room schoolhouse thing well at all. I found the place to be rather chaotic, and it was hard for quiet kids to really get down to learning. I probably would not be writing this review now, even with these things that i found problematic for my family, but the last year my kid was at the school, i started feeling like something was amiss.. i kept asking the principal if my kid was on grade level for math, because when i would help him with his homework, he would not be able to tell me how he did the problems that he did do, and a lot of them he could not do. The principal kept telling me everything was fine, that my son was on grade level... then just before graduation (the school goes up to 6th grade) i had my son take a placement test at a public school in the area.. it was then i found out that my kid was at a 5th grade level when he was about to go into 7th grade next year...! Of course there were obvious signs, like parents before me pulling their kids out of the school angrily, and many parents having to pay for tutoring for their kids who were enrolled at the school in order to get them up to speed, but i was so enamoured of the social curriculum that i would not see it. Now, my kid is in a good public school, and i spent $1500 this summer on a private tutor to get him back to where he should be in math. The principal, who is also the owner and co founder of the school, was trying to create a place where African-American kidscould be true to and learn about their own culture, and would not be penalized and looked down on or conceived of as stupid or violent or any of the host of stereotypes that Black kids still labour under in our racist public school system. It's so frustrating, because the cultural curriculum of the place is EXTREMELY empowering... but once the kid gets out of the school, unless there is some serious intervention OR you happen to be one of those parents who can afford to send your kid to private school and homeschool them, your kid might very well experience some unpleasant labels having to do with being unprepared for the grade he or she is in... read more

We've had five children. They went to six different schools in San Francisco. Their father and I would go to our kid's school to find out why the kids were coming home from school depressed. We met teachers and principles who thought they were missionaries whose job it was to "civilize" the "poor, little" Black children, and they also treated us as though we were morons. Our first child was reading at the age of two. When she was seven she got bussed from the neighborhood school (where the teachers were friends and the PTA was close by) to what was called "a good school" on Twin Peaks. At the school's open house, our daughter showed us her folder of art work which included 20 drawings of blonde-haired, blue-eyed people and no one of color. Her dad and I asked the teacher (blonde) why our child had a hard time being Black in her class room, pointing out that child used to be proud of herself. The teacher replied, "I noticed she (the child) was Black, but I never held it against her!" It was all we could do not to punch out this woman. We found out later that the teacher had been bringing her daughter to class who had long blonde hair, and the "best" student in class got the "honor" of brushing the blonde hair in front of the class! Also, the teacher had been trained to teach handicapped children so the school put the newly-bussed Black children in her class, figuring Black was a handicap. To keep from going to jail for assaulting a teacher, we just kept moving from one recommendation of a "good" school to another. Our son was killed when he was nineteen. He was very popular and this attracted crack dealers who saw him as a pawn with a ready-made following. Pawns kill each other and he was gone. His dad and I became even more serious about our children's school environment. We needed schools that would allow our remaining children to pick their own careers rather than being swayed by destruction's seduction. And then Gail Meadows walked into the Marcus Book Store. She was purchasing 300-page young adult novels. She looked like a teacher and I asked her if she taught high school. She replied, "These (books) are for my seven and eight year-olds." BINGO! That's exactly what we had been looking for: a teacher that knew Black children have brains and that you start from there. We were AMAZED when we went to check out the school. The children's behavior and dress reminded us of growing up in the fifties when we dressed to play, rather than now where children dress to impress. All the children were happy. They treated each other lovingly. They were enjoying studying alone or helping each other. Some were playing chess. They danced and sang and drummed and asked questions with the confidence of knowing their questions had value, and the children knew they, too, had value. I remember going by to help at the school the day Gail and the parents paid for people from the Circus School to teach the kids stilt walking. We strapped the stilts on the kids and they walked, now seven to eight feet tall, over the rolling hills of the neighboring park, like a family of giraffes. Gail said the purpose of the lesson was to have the kids feel taller than adults so they wouldn't grow up being bullied into submissive behavior as sometimes adults don't make the best decisions, either. When children graduate from the Meadows-Livingstone School, they are prepared to live a life of purpose. The school song is "Get Up, Stand Up" and the children know what it means. They leave knowing it would the best school experience they'd ever have. There are always tears at the graduations they call Steppin' Up and Steppin On. Over 90% of the graduates go to four-year colleges, and follow their dreams out of school. They come back. It's family. The kids are humane, at ease, independent thinkers: leaders who understand the value of study, culture, health, friendship, art, and, because they were given an African Civilization class EVERYDAY, they know their own value. This gives them a grace and the where-with-all to make the world a better place. I wish that all children of color could share in the nobility ingrained from attending the Meadows-Livingstone School. I really do. read more

Fantastic school! If you are looking for a safe, intimate, cultured environment for your child then the search stops here. The years I spent learning at Meadows have certainly shaped my character into adulthood. The students I learned with and the teachers I learned from will be some of my closest friends forever. I recommend Meadows-Livingstone school with all of my heart. You won't regret becoming the latest editions to our ever faithful Meadows family. Cheers read more

As one of the first graduates of MLS, I feel that every child would benefit from attending this unique and wonderful program. I learned to swim while a student at MLS, and my love of learing was fostered there. I have my BA from CSUEB, and when I talk about my teacher, it's the founder of MLS. read more

I cannot say enough about how wonderful this school has been for my child. It is truly a unique, supportive, and exceptionally effective educational option for many children looking at alternatives to the public school system. I recommend it highly, and suggest that you connect directly to Gail Meadows to see first hand what kind of treatment your children will receive. read more

Meadows - Livingstone is one of the few schools that works diligently to meet all the needs of the children. I found the staff to go out of their way to listen to whatever is issues I chose to raise. I learned to trust the staff immensely and knew immediately that they had the best interest of my child at heart. My child acquired critical thinking skills, empathy and confidence. The combination of these factors Led her to excel academically and social. I am ever so grateful and you won't be too if you choose the school..... read more

I found MLS was important in building my kids' understanding and love for Black history and culture and gave them a foundation of personal self confidence and encouraged a commitment to their community that they would not have found anywhere else. For example, before my older child started school there, he had no interest in the "A-is-for-Africa" type books but two months into kindergarten at ML he was an enthusiastic patron of the African American Section of the SF Library. MLS re-enforced my own attempts to teach my kids critical thinking, reading and writing. Unfortunately, choosing a school always involves trade offs. If it is important to you that your child does well on standardized tests, MLS may not be the best choice. If it would not bother you or your child if your child becomes the "token African American" to diversify an elite school, then MLS may not seem so attractive. And if it is important to you that your child becomes fluent in a foreign language, send that child to an immersion school in that language. Both my kids went to MLS, went on to "college prep" middle and high schools and Ivy League Universities. Although I do not think MLS deserves all the credit (or maybe not even half the credit) for my kids' achievements, it did provide a strong foundation in critical thinking, reading, writing and social consciousness. If I had to choose a school for my (future) grandkids, I would choose MLS again. However, after the 4th grade, I might consider transferring them to a more rigorous academic program that offered fuller math, science and language programs. Such a transfer might have eased their transition to more demanding private middle schools. read more

I attended Meadows-Livingstone School from 4th to 6th grade. It was the best school experience I've ever had. My younger sister, neice, nephew, cousins, and current best friends also attended. This school has had an enormously positive effect on all of our lives. The staff taught me that being myself would get me much further in life than trying to be what others wanted me to be. I highly recommend this school to any family looking to provide their child with the attention, care and discipline it takes to create a bright and smart student that can also be understanding and compassionate in school and in life. Love love love this school! read more

My daugher attended ML for her entire elementary school experience so I am very familiar with the school. Gail Meadows is one of the most gifted and talented teachers I have ever had the opportunity to know. Meadows Livingstone school reflects her extraordinary gifts and educational knowledge. When my daughter began her schooling I was looking for a school where she would be valued and nurtured as an African American girl. She was admitted to French American and Hamlin but we chose Meadows Livingstone because I was convinced that she would receive a more valuable education with Gail. And, that turned out to be true. More than just the information side of schooling, Meadows Livingstone promoted my daughter's innate curiosity and desire to learn. As her schooling continued, her confidence as a learner grew. Meadows Livingstone addresses the needs of the whole child -- her mental, physical, and emotional development and well-being. My child received a well-rounded elementary education, participating in basic studies, art, dance, music, physical education, science, and African American studies. She was well prepared for middle school, high school and beyond. She also developed respect for learning, her classmates and teachers, and a positive awareness of herself as a young African American woman. Being a part of the Meadows Livingstone family has been one of the most important life experiences for my daughter and our family. It's a wonderful school. Laura Luster, Ph.D. read more

I am very familiar with ML, as I had a daughter attend for many years. Honestly, Gail Meadows is an amazingly gifted teacher, and I'm so happy that my daughter is under her care as an educator. Meadows Livingstone school provides their students with extraordinary gifts and educational knowledge. When we began our search for a culturally sensitive school, I wanted an environment where my daughter could be nurtured and valued, and if you are looking for this quality in a school, look no further. We also looked at the French American School and also Hamlin, but we wanted this program because I felt she would get a more wholesome and quality education. We couldn't be happier with our choice. The school truly promotes understanding the individual student, and the teachers there go out of their way to genuinely understand EACH student. As such, I know for my daughter, her innate knowledge came forward, and she trusted the environment to be her best educational self. Because of this, she grew with her self esteem and confidence. I cannot recommend a school more. She received a balanced and in-depth elementary school education, including basic studies, art, dance, music, physical education, science, and African American studies. Thankfully, now we (her parents) feel she is well prepared for middle school, high school and college (hopefully). read more

My child, and the children of many of my friends, went to Meadows Livingstone. There are so many wonderful things about this school I don't know where to begin. But first, I want to respond to the parent who thought that the academics are lacking at Meadows. The philosophy of that school is to provide each child with the challenges they can handle when they can handle them. That means that one 8 year old might still be working on multiplication tables, and another might be working on Algebraic equations. My child struggled with reading at first but by 6th grade was reading Shakespeare on her own, telling me that if you just listened to the words, they were like music, just like Langston Hughes' poetry. No child is held back because of age or an artificial grade designation, and no child is made to feel stupid because they might be a little behind some arbitrary grade-level standard. Of course no school can do it all for you. Like any school, parents have to make sure the kids arrive ready and rested and having done their homework. But Meadows children go on to excel in high school, some end up in medical school, or with scholarships to Columbia, or in graduate school at UC Berkeley, or teaching, some go to city college and on from there, all of them knowing that they have the tools they need to set their sights high. They go armed with not just academic skills, but with good sense, self-confidence, and the tools they need to negotiate race as they proceed through a world that does not share Meadows philosophy or commitment to justice. I have seen children who come into that school as geniuses and leave as geniuses with heart, good sense, and vision. I have seen others who come in so battered by their life experiences in other schools that they literally cannot bring themselves to speak above a whisper for months, and they leave being able to make a speech to a room full of people about what Meadows means to them. Meadows is a family, and just like every family not every child excels at everything, and not all grasp every subject on the same schedule. But every child is nurtured and challenged and never held back. Sending my child to Meadows was one of the best decisions I ever made for her. read more

My child, and the children of many of my friends, went to Meadows Livingstone. There are so many wonderful things about this school I don't know where to begin. But first, I want to respond to the parent who thought that the academics are lacking at Meadows. The philosophy of that school is to provide each child with the challenges they can handle when they can handle them. That means that one 8 year old might still be working on multiplication tables, and another might be working on Algebraic equations. My child struggled with reading at first but by 6th grade was reading Shakespeare on her own, telling me that if you just listened to the words, they were like music, just like Langston Hughes' poetry. No child is held back because of age or an artificial grade designation, and no child is made to feel stupid because they might be a little behind some arbitrary grade-level standard. Of course no school can do it all for you. Like any school, parents have to make sure the kids arrive ready and rested and having done their homework. But Meadows children go on to excel in high school, some end up in medical school, or with scholarships to Columbia, or in graduate school at UC Berkeley, or teaching, some go to city college and on from there, all of them knowing that they have the tools they need to set their sights high. They go armed with not just academic skills, but with good sense, self-confidence, and the tools they need to negotiate race as they proceed through a world that does not share Meadows philosophy or commitment to justice. I have seen children who come into that school as geniuses and leave as geniuses with heart, good sense, and vision. I have seen others who come in so battered by their life experiences in other schools that they literally cannot bring themselves to speak above a whisper for months, and they leave being able to make a speech to a room full of people about what Meadows means to them. Meadows is a family, and just like every family not every child excels at everything, and not all grasp every subject on the same schedule. But every child is nurtured and challenged and never held back. Sending my child to Meadows was one of the best decisions I ever made for her. read more