Sport L.'s experience doesn't reflect the Redwood Day School that I send my kids to. Redwood Day is great 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. read more

Sometimes I get parents who reach out and ask me more about redwood day school to them I say we left 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. read more

I don't usually participate in online discussions, but I'm speaking up here again. Redwood Day has a history of downplaying negative experiences that don't fit their narrative, and their response here is no exception. 1. Singapore Math is an excellent way to teach math. However, its execution at Redwood Day falls short tremendously; pacing is inconsistent, and children move between levels without achieving mastery first. 2. I'm glad the parent in the previous review had a positive experience with inclusivity. Listing cultural months and one-off events, however, is not the same as demonstrating that all children feel equally seen and heard. Inclusivity is not a calendar; it has to be embedded in the ethos of the school and in day-to-day practice. When the classroom consistently centers the voices and experiences of some communities over others, children from less represented backgrounds are left on the margins. It's worth asking whose experience is reflected in a positive inclusivity review and whose isn't. 3. Authoritative discipline is well-defined in child development research, and it's worth understanding before dismissing it. All the qualities that the parent wants their kids and the next generation to learn are in fact core to the authoritative discipline model, which calls for: administering fair and consistent discipline when rules are broken; allowing children to express opinions; encouraging children to discuss options; expressing warmth and nurturing; fostering independence and reasoning; listening to their children; and placing limits, consequences, and expectations on behavior. Redwood Day's approach to discipline lacks clear boundaries and consistent follow-through. If teachers struggle with conflict resolution, how are they going to model it for children? It's worth understanding a concept fully before using it to invalidate someone else's experience. Redwood Day is teaching children that it's acceptable to be whoever they are without consideration for the world around them. Teaching history, social justice, and displaying cultural symbols is not enough; all of this is superficial when there is no expectation from children to be upstanding citizens of the world. It makes for a good brochure, but does little for the social-emotional development of children. Every family deserves a school that genuinely aligns with their values. For those considering Redwood Day, I'd encourage you to look beyond the marketing and beyond the parent advocates who echo it. Ask hard questions about whether what's promised is what's actually delivered. read more

"They just don't care." This is a comment another father shared with me after pulling his dyslexic child from Redwood Day. His anger surprised and concerned me. My child had just been diagnosed with dyslexia, and I had hoped that the school would be able to support them. Sadly, my child's experience proved that the other parent's assessment was all too accurate. As a prestigious private school, Redwood Day holds itself to the highest standards of education, but only for those children who fit a normative mold. A New York Times article on the experience of a dyslexic child in a school similar to Redwood Day asks, "If a student manifests a learning disability after being accepted, does the school still owe him the attention and education it promised?" Unfortunately, Redwood Day failed to meet the needs of not only my child but also other children with learning differences, as well as those with ADHD. The school's surprising lack of understanding of dyslexia was evident from the outset. My child's teacher suggested simply placing post-it notes with words around the house. The reading specialist, who was supposed to meet with my child twice a week, most often met with them only once every other week. When she did meet with my child, she would try to cram several lessons together, leaving my child stressed and in tears. Moreover, Redwood Day failed to comply with other parts of my child's Individualized Education Program (IEP). The school's neglect of my child's needs and its disregard for their emotional well-being were deeply disappointing. It's worth noting that several other neurodivergent children from my child's class ultimately also left Redwood Day due to the school's lack of support. This pattern suggests a systemic issue rather than isolated incidents. I urge parents of children with dyslexia, other learning differences, ADHD, or other challenges to consider alternative schools that genuinely care about their students' needs. Finally, Redwood Day's claim to prioritize social justice is a façade. When my child faced bullying, the school's response was a single restorative justice session, which did nothing to address the ongoing harassment. Despite making numerous reports about the ongoing bullying, the administration and teacher were dismissive and failed to take meaningful action to protect my child. It became clear that academic achievement and reputation were their primary concerns, not the well-being of neurodivergent students. read more

I would NOT send your child of any background to Redwood Day. I especially wouldn't send a Black child there. I am a parent of two African American students who attended Redwood Day for two complete grade levels. My son is currently in 4th and my daughter in 2nd grade. I withdrew both of my children in October 2023 after the school year started and enrolled them in OUSD. The primary reason for the withdrawal is the abysmal academic quality of the school and refusal to acknowledge the widespread academic failure and put an improvement plan into action. Issues include the absence of basic K-2 core and intervention literacy curriculum, and failure to conduct actionable detailed assessments and make improvements though meaningful intervention. The secondary reason is the disproportionate negative impact the weak academics was having on Black children. The third reason was racist archaic disciplinary polices that I saw negatively impacting Black boys across all grades. Additionally, the privacy and safety of my children was violated by the administration. The academics at Redwood are weak. In the years my children attended, no literacy curriculum was being used for K-2 students. The children were not being taught to read. Generally, the Black children, once they were assessed, were in the lowest level reading groups. All of those Black children had at least one parent with an advanced degree. The math curriculum at RWD is not being taught to completion if at all. The majority of the families in the lower school are supplementing at home (literacy, math or both) or with paid private tutors. My 4th grade son was bringing home math homework that was second grade level. In my daughter's 2nd grade class, only 3 students were able to pass the pre-assessment which reviewed that math that should be been taught in 1st grade. The test scores RWD shows and claims are above average for private schools are being propped up by parents. In my case an extra $15K/year to undo the literacy failure in the K-2. Additionally, we taught our children math every weekend morning. Redwood Day is a product for the parents and John Loester (the head of school) is a salesman. All of the specialist classes and assemblies offered look amazing, but they take away from time that is need to teach core competencies. Therefore, the basics do not get taught. Social justice is not fancy expensive assemblies, it is every child being to read and do math at grade level. The school is doing too much and not much of it well. For example, the 8-day schedule which each Tuesday differs from the Tuesday before it makes it difficult for families, especially those that struggle with executive function, to prepare for what is happening each day. My son had 4 special class back-to-back and it was confirmed by a teacher that this was leading to behavior problems for numerous students as the transitions were rough. When I suggested they change the schedule, they said that wasn't possible. However, they were ones who made the schedule that was not developmentally appropriate. To manage the behavioral issues a classroom teacher implemented a very racially biased disciplinary policy that the administration seemed to have no knowledge of. Additionally, my son was often the one called out when behavioral issues were identified even if he was not involved. Also, my son had 12-minute recesses so they could fit everything in. At his public school is recess is 20 minutes. There is a lack of care for students at RWD. If you have visited the school and noticed that there are very few Black students, it is because RWD is an unsupportive racially challenging environment. If you visit RWD, ask them for the curriculum, how it compares to core standards, the curriculum map and scope and sequence for all K-5 grades. Ask them for all of the documents from the past 3 years. Ask them how often they are updated. I was never provided with any of these documents. I am not sure other than scope and sequence if they exist. If you have access to a public school that is fine, go there and support it. A former RWD employee told me that I would be better off anywhere than RWD and they were right. read more

Kindness and confidence that is what I have seen that Redwood Day teaches. They so deeply care about the community that it is evident in all they do. I struggled academically my entire youth and was rarely met where I was at. At Redwood Day I see the reality that they meet my daughter and others where they are at and where they can be. It is definitely a partnership and the administration listens to feedback on ways to improve. Even when we don't get what we want it is so often later that I realize we got exactly what we need, which in our case is a child who skips into school everyday, leaves happy, and each week improves in micro and macro ways. Shoutout to the administration for their growth mindset and approach. read more

I'm a student here and would not recommend it. I started in 5th grade and came from Chabot. It was seriously shocking how easy RDS is in comparison. I told parents that RDS is a joke academically, but they thought I was exaggerating. Now that my sibling is struggling with reading they finally believe me. I also find it sus that all the kids of color are in the same advisory. There has definitely been some questionable stuff that entitled students say and do. I feel like the kids of color are the only ones that usually get in trouble no matter what. read more

Redwood Day has been the biggest and best blessing to our family over the past two years. We decided to shift our daughter from Alameda public schools in 6th grade to begin her middle school experience at RDS. The decision wasn't easy as we had to commit to RDS the same week shutdown for COVID began (in 2020). Needless to say that after our child had to accept that her 5th-grade year would be finished from home AND that she would be starting a new school, she was none too pleased with us. She barely talked to us for the entire Summer. On the first day of 6th grade, she cried. It was not easy. 2 weeks into her experience at RDS, she came home and reluctantly said, "I can see why you sent me here. It's a really good school," and then just walked into her room frustrated that she had to admit we were right. Now in her second year at RDS, she's on the student council, has found her group of friends, and absolutely HATES missing school. She genuinely loves it there. The staff at RDS is unbelievable. Not only is she challenged academically, but she is cared for emotionally and inspired by the impressive and accomplished staff at RDS. Just the other day, she told me that she wanted to get her Ph.D., like Dr. Momary. I cannot say enough about the administration and the example they set for our daughter. My only wish is that they went up to 12th grade! read more

Redwood Day is not just our kids' school but feels like our extended family. Our older son started there in K, and is now in 10th at College Prep, our younger son is in 5th. SO we've known the school a long time, and what we thought was already strong has only gotten even better over time. When we applied, we just wanted a balanced approach that wasn't snooty. The program is really well-rounded (academics, social/emotional, DE&I, music) with an incredibly loving faculty and staff who are always looking to advance what is offered. When I talk to parents at other schools, they're super-impressed (and maybe a little jealous) of how far ahead Redwood Day is (distance learning, going above and beyond to make in-person learning safer and possible during COVID, progressive staff/programs around DE&I, curriculum, etc.). And now they have Mandarin, which is great. If you're thinking, well, I only want to do this application process once so I'm going for Head-Royce or Bentley, think of it this way: without the pressure of a high school sitting right there/on the same campus, your kid gets to be a kid longer. And when they get to 8th grade, they (and you) get to think about what they want next and make a meaningful, individual choice. read more

Redwood Day is a truly fantastic school. We've been here since Kindergarten and the experience has been everything I've hoped for for my daughter. Great community, great academics, beautiful, well-kept campus, awesome library, labs, art rooms, kitchen, garden...we've even got goats, people. I fell in love with this place for my child the minute I stepped on campus, and I was NOT wrong! If you're looking for a good school for your kiddo, come take a tour and see for yourself! read more

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My children have attended RDS for the last two years. We placed them into the Lower School in fifth grade and now they are in the Middle School in sixth grade. It was a great fit from day one as my kids have really thrived. The school teaches responsibility, fosters independence and promotes self advocacy. I've been incredibly impressed by the professionalism at the school and the diverse cohort of students. RDS makes every attempt to reflect the Oakland community. Parents are encouraged to be involved in their students work and growth but are also encouraged to let the students explore, find their own strengths and even fail a little. What enables that is the amount of resources applied and the quality of the facilities. The school has made an investment in a new science building with a top notch chemistry lab and design and innovation center. Suffice to say we feel fortunate that our kids are at RDS. read more

Five years ago, we were considering several private Oakland elementary schools for our son. To this day, I still remember a trusted friend of mine saying "You should really check out Redwood Day School. It really is a nice little school." And so I scheduled a tour and was absolutely wowed by the administration and the faculty after a two hour visit. Ms. Selma (loved and respected First Grade teacher) taught me about spiders and Ms. Cindy (devoted and engaging art teacher) taught me how to make a clay bird in under fifteen minutes. Katrina Lappin, the admissions director, elicited an excitement and enthusiasm for learning. I was so impressed by RDS and all the other schools paled in comparison. I felt that this was a clear choice for our son with its focus on the core subjects but the curriculum also included Spanish, gardening, computers, art, music, physical education and technology lab. My son is now in third grade and we still adore RDS. My son is always excited to get to school every morning. He adores all the teachers and we are very satisfied with his education. The faculty is always accessible if we have any questions or issues. John Loeser, the Head of School, is a uperstar and I am continuously impressed by his motivation for academic and strategic short and long-term planning. We are also happy to have made life long friends of other parents. There is a strong sense of community and support among everyone. We highly recommend RDS. read more

Redwood Day - Ms. Christie and Ms. Selma on First Day of First Grade! - Elementary Schools Near Me - Oakland, California

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Ten stars! It's that time of year and we are seeing our preschool friends in school admissions panic mode. We like many Oakland families went to numerous school tours searching for the best school for our child. Not even halfway through our tour at Redwood Day we knew this was where we wanted to be. It was the first school where the tour did not feel like we were being shuffled through with the same questions and answers from administrators. We had parents and students speaking to us about the school! The admissions team is great and went above and beyond to make sure they got to know our children and that they were a right fit for each other. We've now been at Redwood Day for three years, with our oldest in second grade and our youngest in kindergarten. First, we are a mixed race family and diversity is very high on our school checklist. Diversity was hard to find in a private school when we were on our search for a school but Redwood Day felt different. Now that we've been at Redwood Day for three years, diversity is definitely a priority for Redwood day. They have created equity and inclusion groups for parents and students, they study and celebrate achievements of various backgrounds throughout the year, and make, at least, our kids feel safe to take pride in their mixed background. (They also take the initiative in these groups and in the classroom to teach our kids to connect with their own feelings and the feelings of other students. In our experience, they create an environment of inclusion and empathy). Although they may not be as diverse as some of the public schools we looked at, for private school they are making a huge effort to make the school as diverse and inclusive as possible. Next, our oldest daughter who is now in second grade was painfully shy. Not only with adults but also kids. She started at Redwood Day as a kindergartner. Our hope for her was to come out of her shell and at least talk in small groups in her class. By the end of kindergarten she was speaking in front of the class and performing in front of the whole school in the student showcase. The social emotional aspect and learning groups of Redwood Day has been fantastic for her. Fast forward to now and she is thriving in second grade. Any question or concern we have had has been addressed and handled the same day by her teachers. Our youngest daughter is a kindergartner this year. She is completely different than her sister and we had different concerns for her. She makes friends easily and is outgoing but reading and writing are not her priorities. Her teacher Jennifer has gone above and beyond to keep us in the loop and offer suggestions to help her focus. The school also offers a specialized teacher in reading and writing that provides the extra help my little one needed. With all the investment the school has given my daughter, and us, we can certainly say that the school has been very attentive to the needs of our child. The small classroom size is definitely a benefit in this regard. Our little one is slowly growing out of her resistance to reading, and she loves working with her teachers. I could go on and on with the school, teachers and their enrichments programs. Every morning my kids log onto the app and see what classes they have and pick their outfits out from there. They love when they have gardening, they wear clothes that can get dirty. P.E days they need their comfy dancing clothes. Design and innovation lab days my kids fight with each other because it's not fair one gets to go. All in all it's a great school that keep the kids excited to learn and be involved. Bottom line is that we think Redwood Day is great and most importantly so do our kids. read more

We have three kids at Redwood Day. What we appreciate most is the following: 1) administration and teachers who are capable, open, and listening. 2) teachers who are highly skilled and also "get" our kids 3) a community of parents and kids who are caring, down-to-earth, and engaged in their kids' lives and the community. When a teacher really "gets" your child, the learning expands profoundly! One example of excellent teaching at RDS was when our child, who struggled with writing, finally found a topic and place (under her teacher's desk) that inspired her and gave her the focus she needed to produce. When it was time to move on to another assignment, which the rest of the class did, this teacher decided to allow our child to continue writing, under her desk, in order to fuel the intrinsic motivation that was already there, and allow her to feel the pride of having accomplished something that was not usually very easy for her. To us, this teacher was not just teaching our child how to write, but teaching our child how to love to write. And that makes all the difference! read more

Hard to say more than has already been said - two of my son's baby sitters (now in college or post grad) had both gone to RDS and told us how much they enjoyed it and wanted our son to go there - We have not been disappointed - from the first day when two fourth graders that we had meet the day before at the piedmont pool took time out of their first day back to school to make sure that my son was happy on his first day of school - to the on going open communication between faculty, staff and parents - it is a community we enjoy being a part of and seeing our son become an inspired learner. Thank you RDS read more

Our family could not be more pleased with our experience at Redwood Day School (RDS). From the school's dedication to diversity, including their generous support and contributions to financial aid to the community support, to the education, and friendships formed--our family is truly blessed. As a parent, I can not imagine a greater investment to make in my child's life, than to give the opportunity of education and community. Teacher Emily (KB) has been a huge part of our son's success in Kindergarten this year. I've watched, admirably, as she teaches and guides her class with a firm, but very loving hand! There are so many aspects in which the strong family/school partnership is apparent. If you're looking for a K-8 private school, I could not more highly recommend RDS! Please feel free to contact me with any questions. My older son is currently in Kindergarten at RDS. (http://www.rdschool.org/about-rds) read more

I want to BE my children ... and my greatest wish is for every child to have the opportunity to learn and grow in a place like Redwood Day School. Thank you, Redwood Day, for helping all kinds of learners -- and all kinds of people -- come together and become the best that they can be. read more

We LOVE Redwood Day. The teachers and staff are very nurturing. They do a fantastic job of both supporting and challenging kids academically for them to really grow into the best they could be. We could not be happier at RDS! read more

I can't believe I'm the first to review this wonderful K-8 school! It doesn't always occur to me how many things you can discuss on Yelp now. Well, Redwood Day has been an absolutely wonderful environment for our son. The administration and community are so open and supportive. And of course we treasure the teachers. They've delivered such a well balanced curriculum...and somehow they manage to make the parents feel in touch and encourage our participation. I'd recommend this school to everyone! read more

My daughter has had a great experience at Redwood Day. Although, I am saddened that this is her last year with such a wonderful community, I am comforted by that fact that RDS has helped prepare her to exceed academically and emotionally at any high school she attends. The majority of her teachers were very supportive, communicated with me when there were concerns and were available for additional instruction when needed. One of the best parts is that her advisor, who stays with your kid all three years, remained her advocate throughout her 3 years. Lastly, the school leadership has been supportive as well and during this pandemic the Head of School and team were diligent about communicating with parents and staying on top of all the changes that impacted the school. Thank you Redwood Day for this great experience! read more

After 4-1/2 years at another highly-regarded independent school in Oakland, we transferred our daughter mid-year to Redwood Day School, and what a difference! A few weeks after transferring into fourth grade at the beginning of 2017 without knowing anyone at the school, she said to us that she was so happy because "school is fun again." Within days of arriving, she made new friends, and during her second week, she attended the overnight, outdoor education program without us, further solidifying new friendships, promoting her confidence, and building independence. Many times this year, I have said to my husband: when do you think this honeymoon will be over? And we are starting to understand that this isn't a honeymoon - it's the real thing. To start at the beginning, we made what many said was a bold move by pulling our daughter out of a school that she had successfully attended since kindergarten, because, despite our many efforts to support that school, it finally became clear that it no longer cared about its students' experiences or well-being and only about the ease of its own administration. From the first phone call to Redwood Day, when I spoke with Darlene (who just radiates sunshine!), I thought I had stepped into a parallel universe in which there existed a school that genuinely, deeply cared not only about our child, but also (and inextricably) about our family. Throughout that scary and tricky process of applying mid-year, Darlene, Katrina, and the entire staff and school leadership, as well as all of the teachers we encountered, could not have made us feel more supported. And among the many things that struck me was how truly concerned they were with helping us find the right fit for us; there was never a hard sell, because there didn't need to be. Instead, the school was completely transparent in terms of what it is trying to achieve, and how it is trying to achieve it. Now, having been at Redwood Day School for almost a year, we could not be happier with the growth we have seen in our daughter. She is finally in a school environment in which she feels held - one in which she is celebrated (not punished) for her many strengths and one in which she is equally encouraged to stretch herself beyond her comfort zone. When she joined Redwood Day earlier this year, she was behind in math, not having been taught certain operations that the Redwood Day fourth graders had been practicing since the previous fall, but her teacher (the amazing John DeSerio) sensitively and quickly helped her catch up (with extra instruction and differentiated homework), without ever making our daughter feel insecure. That extra boost has transformed her from someone who said she was "bad at math" in fourth grade into someone, in fifth grade, who now says she is "pretty good at math." In fact, she has been asked to demonstrate her mathematical reasoning to her class on a few occasions, where she solved problems using an approach different from her teacher, further elevating her confidence in her number sense, specifically, and as a learner, in general. Just last week, our daughter shared with us one moment that typifies the experience we had dreamed of finding for her. In P.E. class, the children were asked to run into a swinging jump rope, which our daughter reported as being easy for many but very hard for her; when it was our daughter's turn, she tried, but being afraid, she turned away. As she proudly told us, what happened next was something that never would have happened at her old school: because each and every one of her classmates cheered her on - even the ones that she doesn't necessarily consider friends - on her second try, she succeeded. And, she said, everyone was as happy for her as if they themselves had made it. Said simply, I love this school. It is a place built and sustained to raise our most precious citizens - our children - to be the best versions of themselves by showing them the importance of intellectual and emotional honesty and courage: this is lived every day in the classrooms and beyond. read more

We are so grateful to have found Redwood Day. Our kid is thriving in Kindergarten. The faculty and staff are incredibly smart, skillful and wise. We particularly appreciate the diversity of the faculty and staff as well as the core values of the school that includes a celebration of differences. The grounds are large and lovely and our kid sits under huge Redwood trees for lunch!! We receive 1-3 communications from the school each week so we feel like we are closely involved in our sons education and we can support learning from home. We can easily contact the very special teachers and the awesome head of the lower school anytime. Every day is varied: some time in his home-room and then 1-3 specialist classes which include science, Spanish, art, library, Design/Innovate/Build, music and PE. Soon they will start Mandarin classes too. Afterschool care is guaranteed and is superb (our kid does not EVER want to leave!). We commute and it is worth every minute in the car, even for 2 parents who work (much) more than 40 hours/week. The school established a contact list of all the incoming Kindergarten families in May. We had many fun gatherings as a community over the summer and we have became friends with this awesome group of parents. I am just sharing incase helpful to other parents who are searching for a great school! read more

Our kids love the school and we do too. It is amazing to me that the entire staff pretty much knows every kid's name. Very happy that the teachers will email if there are any areas that needs to be worked on. I appreciate a school that is well run and responsive! Our kids actually look forward to going to school and asked when summer will be over!! read more

We just completed our first year at RDS after transferring from our local parochial school. Wow. Total transformation in our 2nd grader. She started the school year lacking confidence in her ability, and was behind where she needed to be for her grade level. The school identified this and placed her into a classroom where she had the greatest chance to get back on course. And then...wow! It took about 1 month of school and she became a totally different student. The teachers made her believe in herself and her confidence began to soar. She believed she was good at school and was capable of learning alongside her peers. Everything from there on out just started to fall into place. She absolutely loved her second grade year and it was very bittersweet to finish the school year. By far her best year in school (albeit a small sample size at this point!). She was excited to go to school each and every day. She stayed after class to do additional work on most days and embraced the learning. I could go on and on. My wife and I must have told each other a hundred times how glad we were that we made the decision to switch schools and enroll at RDS. Best decision ever. Not a single regret or anything we would wish to change about the school or their approach to teaching children. We feel privileged to be part of the RDS community and relief we don't have to choose another school until after her 8th grade year! I'm sure if you tried hard enough you could find something you didn't like, or someone that had a complaint. So far, we have not found either. Each and every person (both staff and families) really try hard to make it a great place and the result is excellence. read more

I have a kindergartner and a third grader at Redwood Day. It has been a wonderful experience for our children and our family to be a part of the Redwood Day community. The kids go deep in the academics often pursuing one topic from multiple perspectives. They are encouraged to be kids. They create games for instance during recess in the nooks of the redwoods and the garden - creating a pretend kitchen, making a music band, climbing trees. The teachers, staff and administrators look out for each child, getting to know who they are and how to connect whether they are in their class or not. And the families - they are wonderful. Come check it out! read more

Great school, passionate administrators and teachers. My children absolutely loves and thrivesvin this environment. There is not a better place to send your children to for a K - 8 education. Kids are having fun here while learning a great deal about themselves, the outside world and formal education. This is a absolute magical community for all children and their supporting families. read more

We have two kids at Redwood Day. I really love this school for both of my kids. My son, who is now in 2nd grade, has grown so much at this school. In kindergarten, he was so apprehensive and fearful of new places and people when he started and has now become this confident, social, kid that loves to go to school. My daughter, who is in kindergarten this year, would go to school on Saturday if she could. She has formed many friendships and I can't say enough about Ms. Emily (who was also my son's teacher in kindergarten). She has an amazing gift with children. I have no doubt that she played a huge role in helping my son get to where he is now. You can tell she really loves the kids. I am so grateful for RDS! read more

My children have thrived at Redwood Day School! They are constantly stimulated and challenged by the strong, yet progressive academic program. Rather than simply listening to lectures, taking tests and reading textbooks, Redwood students are engaged in projects that excite their curiosity and their interest in learning. We love the beautiful redwood grove and the outdoor learning that takes place there, and in the school garden (with chickens!). It is great seeing how the children treat each other with respect in environments like the weekly all-school assemblies where the eighth graders quietly listen as kindergarteners stand up and "honor" their friends. I have an eighth grader (and a fifth grader) and looking for a high school has been bittersweet since it will be hard to match the experience we've had so far. And not just for the kids, but for the parents as well. The RDS community is a wonderful supportive and diverse group of families who really care about the school and the children there. I highly recommend Redwood Day School! read more

We are new to Redwood Day School-our son is in Kindergarten. We chose it over several other schools because of the warm and welcoming community and the strong dedication to a diverse and supportive differentiated learning environment. I recommend the school highly. read more

We can't be more pleased with our choice of schools for our son. As parents of a K student, we have been thoroughly impressed with the quality of the program and community. Our son loves going to school and is thriving both academically and socially. Our King of Scribble Scrabble is writing simple words, recognizing words and numbers in public, and coloring in between the lines. Socially, we see a great improvement, he bike rides after school with classmates and now looks forward to play dates. It is a very accepting, respectful, well diverse community that works together. We are so impressed with how the students get along and the interaction between the staff, students and parents. When there are bumps in the road (part of learning), they have been handled skillfully so it becomes a good learning experience. We would highly recommend RDS. read more

I'm a single parent with an 8th grader at RDS and we've been there since 6th grade. What set RDS apart from all the other independent schools we visited was their focus on the student, and not the parent and whether or not they could afford it. In addition to the entrance exam(part of admissions process for independent schools), my student was paired with a buddy in her grade for a tour. This made my student feel comfortable about asking tough/ embarrassing questions with a peer instead of adult. Value Added. She got to sit in classes and participate rather than do a "walk by". Value Added. Best of all, she was met by the admissions team for a 1:1 interview to assess true fit with the school!! This said to me that they truly work to match and preserve the common thread of character; diversity, respect, inclusion, compassion, kindness among the students, all while being challenged with exceptional curricula, taught by faculty members with masters degrees from top school across the nation and world! Value Added!! My student has worked with 3-D printers, Tinker Cad(design and coding software), and Mac books to do research online and writing composition. The sports opportunities and enrichment programs are endless and I can't begin to share my daughter's overall development since we've been here. She started off a very shy, introvert in 6th grade, not because she was new, but because this was her general temperament. After a few months at Redwood Day she'd come home with endless stories about the friends who invited her to eat lunch with them, and before I knew it, she was getting invites for birthday parties and play dates almost weekly! I mentioned I'm a single parent and being able to afford the school was the biggest factor - we didn't even think we'd get in because I couldn't afford it but the generosity and consideration they use when assessing families financial need is downright overwhelming and brought both my student and I to tears each year we got our grant letters. I cannot say enough great things about Redwood Day School. If you're curious to learn more, I HIGHLY encourage you to visit their website or call and ask for a tour. You'll be refreshingly surprised to know this quality of education and beautiful community of families and friends are tucked right in the Laurel/ Diamond district. Best of luck on your search! read more

I went to RDS for elementary school and it was great, but by the time I was heading to middle school they took away some of the best teachers Oakland has ever had. Also, you kind of live in this oblivious world. What I mean by that is that when I went to public school for middle school it seemed like I had fallen into another planet. In other words RDS doesn't prepare you socially for the real world, but that is more because of the students that go there not because of the school itself. read more

Redwood Day offers an incredible staff, both teaching and adminstration, and an incredible community of adults and children. My children are happy everyday to go to school. They are more motivated than I've ever seen them, to learn and grow. They have become as passionate as the school community that surrounds them. The staff understands and knows each child strengths, and the environment is one that is set up for their success. As mentioned in the other reviews, it's magic. read more

My son is in lower school at RDS and next year his brother will go. I am soooo very glad we're past the point of wondering what school would embrace both of their learning styles and unique interests! One son is very facile with math, drawing and mechanical things, into individual sports... very visual, has a few good friends and tries once he's sure he'll succeed. The other, Mr. Social, dives in to try everything. He's already loves to read and is gung-ho about all team sports. RDS teachers -the grades and all the specialists- are extremely tuned into the ways and strengths of each child so I am confident we're in great hands for the next 9 years! The whole diverse community cares about ALL the KIDS' potentials. I hope my sons can be as smart, grounded and cool as the middle schoolers are one day. These older students are the best evidence of how well prepped they are to always be who they each truly are, striving to do their very best and being constructive participants in an increasingly diverse world. read more

Redwood Day is an amazing school and I could not imagine a different or better educational environment to help raise courageous young leaders. I have two children at Redwood Day one in Kindergarten and the other in 6th grade (started at Kindergarten) and each day they come home happy after a day of being appropriately challenged academically with a diverse and supportive manner. In addition, the rich experiences socially compliment the classroom. The staff and teachers at Redwood Day truly get to know each child and build deep relationships across the grades and across the parent community. My experience has also been feeling welcome, heard and supported, and I am certain that is the same for my kids. The academic rigor and continuous curriculum enhancement is impressive. Teachers are recruited globally to meet the high academic standards and diversity is not just a statement in marketing material. I highly recommend visiting and taking a tour. read more

When our family began to investigate the numerous private school options in the bay area, we felt compelled to visit as many as possible. In all, we visited six different schools, a couple multiple times. The first school we visited was Redwood Day. As soon as we got into the car to leave, my husband, a Bentley alum, said the search was over. One visit and done. My husband, willingly or not so willingly, tagged along as I dragged us to other schools to dot the i's and cross the t's. After each and every visit our desire was solidified, Redwood Day was the only choice for our family. There were a number of factors that contributed to our decision. Genuine is the first word that comes to mind. While interviewing teachers and administrators, the vision and focus of the school were​ incredibly​ consistent. They were not regurgitating the school mission statement, rather they provided a rather personal perspective. It was real and part of their own identity and value system. Secondly, I was very impressed by the focus on social and emotional development. We were convinced that our children would be safe, cared for, and prosper at Redwood Day. It has been 4 years and we now have both of our boys at Redwood Day and it continues to be everything we want for our children. read more

My daughter attended RDS for 9 years (K - 8) and my son is now in 7th grade and has also been there since kindergarten. I can't say enough about what a wonderful school RDS has been for both of my children, one of whom is very high achieving and one of whom is a more typical student (average grades). First and foremost RDS has fabulous teachers who love their jobs and the children with whom they work. Almost all of the teachers are engaging, talented, supportive, and organized. All are very kind. The curriculum is challenging, and my daughter (now in 9th grade at a public school) is way beyond her peers in every subject. My children's teachers have gone above and beyond to accommodate my overachiever with extension and extra credit projects, and to support my other child who needs a little extra help at times. The teachers and administration do a wonderful job attending to the social and emotional needs of children as well, and they are cognizant of what is going on among peers and friends and do a great job intervening when need be. The facilities are phenomenal, as are the opportunities for extra-curriculars (especially in the performing arts). Both my kids are growing into happy, enthusiastic, conscientious, and talented young people and I believe we owe a lot of credit for these outcomes to RDS. read more

We have been members of the RDS community for 6 years and continue to be thrilled with the education our children are getting. They are not only getting a rigorous and complete academic education they are learning teamwork, problem solving and most important who they are as students and learners. If you want a differentiated educational experience for your children with a fun, supportive community this is the place for you. read more