PEL stands for "Pre-Eminent Learning" and is the new Kumon with the Singaporean math trend focus on common core math that us millennial parents didn't grow up with. There aren't any Russian math options around Alameda yet so we decided to sign up for the free consult/testing for PEL for our then five year old at the end of TK to see where he was at and he's been enjoying it ever since. We go twice a week for one hour and with the daily homework, our kindergartner is enjoying math drills and writing practice/phonics/reading. It takes a second to make it a habit but now he enjoys it and timing himself on the homework (cue childhood trauma from Kumon where my mom had a stopwatch!). I stopped correcting the homework for my sanity (more trauma - my mom corrected all our Kumon with the borrowed answer books and yelled if we got too many wrong). At this young age, they have Junior PEL which is with a teacher in a small group (versus the older kids who independently work and then raise hands for help). Our son's favorite teacher is Teacher Anna. For the waiting parents, this place has better parking, location and amenities than Mathnasium or Kumon with the Southshore shopping center. You can go grocery shopping at Trader Joe's and Safeway, pickup dinner, get a foot massage at W Spa, go for a run/walk by Crown Beach, return Amazon purchases at Kohl's, go to the bank, charge your car, etc. It's a carve-out time for errands that makes PEL seamless into our hectic family life with two young children. You can also just veg on the phone or work while waiting in the lobby (they have a super clean bathroom and it's quiet). The couple that owns this location also has a sister location in San Leandro and they run it efficiently and smoothly bc Alameda is their second location. Director Lawrence and Ms Kiwi are caring and kind and they also conduct regular parent teacher conferences, which is helpful at projecting and quantifying the hours invested into PEL. The icing on the cake is the annual honor roll ceremony in October. They did a great in putting the event together with the kids and parents in mind and our son is so proud of his honor roll trophy and shows everyone that comes over. Highly recommend PEL (especially those in public school in alameda bc K doesn't have homework!) read more

My son has been going to PEL for over a year now and it's definitely positively supplemented his regular school learning. We felt like he was starting to fall a bit behind and school work/assignments alone weren't giving him enough practice/rigor. He's been doing both English/language arts and math programs. The extra attention and practice/repetition caught him up and then some. PEL also has some fun incentives for kids to help support their motivation: they earn "money" for work completed successfully and can "buy" prizes. This also helps teach value and rewards/incentivizes saving for bigger prizes. If your kid could benefit from some extra practice/structure, it's worth at least doing the free consultation to see if PEL would be a good fit for their learning style. read more

PEL Alameda is amazing! My student was behind on math and reading last year and I signed him up for PEL. Since then, he's meeting his benchmark goals and his penmanship, math and reading has improved tremendously. Mr. Lawrence is very intentional in his planning and goal setting for each student and takes his time to meet with you go over important details in your students learning. 10/10 highly recommend. read more

My second grader has been attending PEL for a year now--he started in first grade, and the improvement in both his English and Math has been truly rewarding to see. His recent state test scores reflect that progress. Since attending PEL, his English comprehension has noticeably improved, and he's now doing three-digit division--mind you, he's only in second grade. Lawrence and the entire PEL staff have been exceptional with communication and incredibly supportive of his learning journey. Because of this positive experience, I'm confidently enrolling my 4-year-old in their Junior PEL program as well. read more

My children have been attending Pel for several months now, and we've had a wonderful experience. The math and English curriculum is thoughtfully structured, and the instructors are great at breaking down concepts in a way that builds true understanding. Over time, I've seen steady academic growth in both subjects -- and even more importantly, a noticeable boost in my children's confidence. Mr. Lawrence has been especially communicative about my children's progress, regularly providing updates and feedback. He is incredibly supportive and genuinely invested in their success, which gives us great peace of mind as parents. We're truly grateful for the dedication, encouragement, and consistent support from Mr. Lawrence and the entire PEL staff. read more

Really great program to put your kids in. My daughter in grade: K, has been there for only 3-4 months and I've already seen improvements in her reading and math skills. Mr. Lawrence is friendly, very structured and detail-oriented. In addition to just seeing her improve, the center takes time to go over a 3-month status report, which is very detailed. It's been a great experience here so far. read more

We have two elementary-school boys and spent over two years trying other learning programs in the area. While they helped a bit, nothing compared to PEL Learning Center in Alameda. Mr. Lawrence and the entire staff are incredibly attentive to each child's individual needs, helping them not just improve but truly excel. What sets PEL apart, however, is their outstanding communication with parents. They keep us closely informed, work directly with us to assess progress, and make thoughtful adjustments so our boys stay engaged and never lose interest. This partnership lets us provide the right support at home. Most impressively, Mr. Lawrence has gone far above and beyond--he has even attended our son's IEP meeting at school to better understand his specific learning needs and ensure PEL's program perfectly complements, supports, and supplements his classroom experience and special education plan. I've never seen this level of genuine passion and investment in individual students from any other program. If you're looking for a tutoring center that truly cares about your child's academic growth and overall engagement, I can't recommend PEL highly enough! read more

We've had a wonderful experience with PEL tutoring for our 6-year-old. Mr. Lawrence, the owner, really impressed me right from the initial assessment. He said, "rain falls from the sky, not the ground," to help explain the correct order of strokes when writing letters, and it immediately clicked for my son. It was such a simple moment, but it made a real difference. The tutors are patient, kind, and truly great with young kids. Our son feels comfortable, enjoys his sessions, and has gained both confidence and skills. We appreciate the thoughtful approach and clear communication. Overall, it's been a great experience for our child and very reassuring for us as parents. read more

I signed up my oldest daughter for math tutoring 2 times a week at PEL in Alameda Center and we have been nothing, but happy and excited with the results. Towards the end of 2nd grade my daughter's teacher kept stating she was below grade level. We just got my daughter's 3rd grade report card and she is not only at grade level, but already understanding multiplications. She was able to get the fundamentals for addition and subtraction within 2/3 months after attending tutoring classes at PEL. I've seen so much progress and improvements, but what I am most happy about is that her confidence level increased from zero to a hundred within weeks. My daughter also won an Honor Roll award in Math being 1 grade ahead which gave her even more confidence and a boost to continue working even harder. Mr.Lawrence has been so great with parent conferences and communicating with us on what she still needs to improve on and how we can help to continue with her progress and success. After, seeing positive results and fast progress with my oldest we decided to sign up my youngest daughter as well to give her a head start on literacy. She's 4 years old and enjoys attending tutoring classes. She continues to express how fun it is to go while learning. Thank you Mr.Lawrence and PEL Team for your hard dedication and support on helping my daughters succeed in school. I highly recommend PEL the center is very clean, organized and they have great tutors while keeping the price and schedule reasonable. read more

PEL Learning Center - Alameda - My daughter's Honor Roll award in Math 1-year ahead of grade level. - Tutoring Centers Near Me - Alameda, California

We currently have a 1st grader and 3rd grader enrolled. We enrolled in Aug 2025 for both Math and reading needs. The program is well structured and is setting a solid foundation for future Math and English concepts. It is a great complement to the school curriculum and fills in the gaps. Both daughter's state test scores have improved significantly since adding this to their learning schedule. It is also helping with speed and focus when completing homework and tests. The program director and staff are dedicated, thorough and friendly. The program is tailored to each child. As they are improving academically I see their confidence grow. Both my daughters enjoy and even look forward to attending every week, homework is not a chore :) We are really happy with our decision to join! read more

Good spot for your kid to be tutored. My little cousin went here and learned so much. I would pick him up and felt like such a good safe environment for a kid. read more

My three kids have been going to PEL for over a year, right when they first opened this Alameda location. The director of the center, Mr. Lawrence, is very patient and understanding of different kids' personalities. My kids were very resistant to enrolling originally, but Mr. Lawrence was able to ease their anxiety and make them comfortable. The program has helped my kids learn to be more disciplined and confident in themselves. The location is also very convenient so you don't have to worry about parking and can do your grocery shopping while your kids are in their lesson. Lastly, PEL rewards kids with PEL cash when they complete their assignments and pass their tests, which can be redeemed for prizes. It is a great incentive for the kids and makes it more fun for them. read more