When we moved our family from San Francisco to Oakland, we searched for a school that would reflect…read moreour values, some of the things that came to mind were: K-8 to minimize transitions, prioritization on diversity, school rooted in its community, strong leadership and a great support system for our kids, collaboration with educations not a us at home vs. them at school approach. Luckily, we found them at Park Day. Here are other things that I love about the school in detail. Integrated Curriculum: I love how the curriculum takes a central topic and weaves it through multiple subjects across math, science, english, and writing- they interconnect rather than exist in silos. My kindergartener recently completed a project-based learning showcase on living things, creating a forest ecosystem with a stream and his own animal (created from his art class using boxes) in the classroom. What struck me was how my kid was able to articulate a connection--explaining that their environment was inspired by Greta and the Giants, a book about environmental awareness and how human activities contribute to climate change.  Commitment to Economic Diversity: An indexed tuition program paired with deliberate outreach to families in surrounding zip codes. The admissions team emphasized that sliding scale participation is normalized and fully supported. It is not viewed as a "special accommodation" but part of the school's values and makeup. It feels great to be part of the school and see my kids thrive. I only wish that school models overall were set up this way for all. If you have the opportunity to choose Park Day, I'd recommend it.

Our time at Park Day has been so refreshing, our child LOVES the school, and we are so happy to…read morehave found such a wonderful place for our child to learn & grow. The community has been wonderful & welcoming (so many play dates, camping trips and more!); the school leadership/staff is fantastic & communicative; the teachers are deeply invested in their students. Here are a few key things we've loved about Park Day: * Community that is authentic and actually does what they say in terms of inclusion & equity. It's a school with heart, soul and character. * Learning environments that are whole-child learning, from time outdoors on campus to academic differentiation without burning kids out or forcing them into a mold. Our child adores the diverse curriculum including learning garden, music, art, innovation lab. * Strong & consistent leadership to guide the school and its goals. There is so much top-notch communication, energy, engagement, approachability and the understanding of children is simply astounding.

I think that the new principle has definitely changed things for the better. I'm excited to see…read morewhat else he comes up with that is new and creative. The parents and community have been really reacting well to him....very good thing. I went here, my middle sister went here, my best friends went here, my youngest sister goes here, my younger cousin as well. Its just a really good place to raise your kids. Not just because of the school, but the community around as well. Laurel district ROCKS

We sent our 5 year old to Laurel for kinder mainly just because it was the local school, but it has…read moreturned out to be a great experience. The teachers and staff and principal all seem to genuinely care and be good at their jobs, and it shows in the happiness of the kids. As an example, my kid for some reason we may never know was scared to go into the lunch line at the cafeteria, and therefor wasn't eating lunch. I mentioned this to the principal who happened to be outside before school and he took us right at that moment to go meet the lunch lady and practice going through the line, and then when we got to class I told the teacher why we were a couple minutes late the teacher said he would walk with my son into the lunch line that day. He's been eating school lunch every day since. He plays better with other kids than he ever did in preschool. Oh, he also reads at a 2nd grade level (but I get part of the credit for that!). They have a pretty awesome brand new playground, a garden, fieldtrips, music class, (optional) parent meetings and volunteer opportunities, and a pretty good budget for a public school. We'll be sending our second kid here in a few years once she's old enough

Gee, go figure, the devastating principal who destroyed morale is now gone. Guess the "drama…read morequeens" (ie the majority of the community) had a legitimate complaint, after all. Revising my review now that the Wicked Witch is gone. With her out the door, I truly believe JM will thrive and the community will heal from the damage she caused. Well done drama queens! The rest could learn from their dedication to making JM a better place.

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.

We live in Berkeley and both our daughters attend St. T. We are so grateful to St. T for helping…read moreour daughters be their best. We are especially impressed with the St. Theresa's teaching staff, their high academic standards, and the St. T community.

We have had a wonderful experience with Pacific Bay Christian School. One of our children has…read morealready graduated from PacBay and is now in college, and our second child is currently a senior and will be graduating this summer. Both of them were able to get into the colleges they wanted, thanks in part to the strong foundation they received here. PacBay's small, close-knit community is truly special. The small class sizes mean that teachers know each student by name -- they know them well, not just as a headcount, but as an individual who matters. It's clear that every student is seen, supported, and valued by both the teachers and the broader community. The school also provides many opportunities for students to grow academically, socially, and personally. The leadership team is attentive and genuinely listens to students' needs, making real efforts to act on their feedback. We are so grateful to have been part of the PacBay family and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a caring, supportive high school environment.

We were initially drawn to TRIS for its Montessori-inspired, self-directed learning style and what…read moreseemed like a knowledgeable and nurturing teaching staff. Our children attended from 2021 to 2023, starting in Pre-Primary and Primary. While our neurotypical daughter did okay, our son--who has learning differences--was not supported in the way we expected from a school that emphasizes individualized education. After his teacher and the head of the elementary program raised concerns, we pursued a comprehensive private assessment based on their recommendation. When we shared the results--which showed he was severely academically behind (below the 5th percentile in reading skills)--we received no response for two weeks. When they did reach out, the response was dismissive and lacked urgency. Even though they had asked for the assessment, they questioned the accuracy of the results and brushed off the findings by saying, "everyone learns at their own pace." His significant learning gaps were not treated as an educational concern. The burden of support was placed entirely on us as parents--recommendations focused on hiring outside specialists, while the school offered no internal interventions or accommodations. At the parent-teacher conference, we were blindsided when the Head of School abruptly informed us, with no opportunity for discussion, that our son would not be offered a spot in the Elementary program because there were "too many special needs kids" already enrolled. While our daughter didn't face academic challenges, even she--and her brother--commented on how much more engaging and enjoyable public school was after leaving TRIS. Leadership has since changed, but the current team still includes the former Head of School's daughters and son-in-law. TRIS may look progressive on the surface, but families of children with learning differences should ask careful questions before enrolling. In our experience, it was not an inclusive or responsive environment. One final note: our daughter once suffered a deep gash on her finger--apparently from one of the school's cots--and needed stitches. When her teacher called to notify us, it was made to sound minor, and we were told there was no need to pick her up. When I arrived, I saw how serious the cut was and took her to the doctor immediately. That experience reinforced our concerns about how the school handled safety and communication.

Our journey at TRIS was an experience that our family will always appreciate and treasure. The…read morestaff and teachers are dedicated to helping the students grow and discover possibilities from within. Their holistic approach for academic and personal development is what stands out most for us. As parents, TRIS was a valued partner in helping us uphold and reinforce our desire to nurture responsibility and accountability in our children. It wasn't enough for our children to be "smart.," although it is evident that our children and other TRIS children are among the smartest in their respective environments. Our goal was to instill behaviors that help them to lead, to participate in and to consider the world around them. Overall, Montessori education has made an incredible impact on how my children tackle challenges and conflict in their lives. As a result, they embrace opportunities to meet new people and try difficult things even when they are nervous or afraid. This is even the case for one of our children who exhibited shyness and introversion from a young age. TRIS and Montessori education helped us to realize that our children have innate capabilities and interests that will enable them to pursue things that have purpose and value to them now and in the future. There aren't enough words to describe the foundation TRIS helped to build in our children. Completely worth the investment and sacrifice.

this school is the worst my friend got hurt by a ball and the principal (Mukta Sambrani)she told my…read morefriend to take off her jacket and she told me and my other friend to leave but the original idea was to get a ice back but I guess we weren't getting a ICE PACK BECAUSE THE PRINCIPAL STOPPED US AND TOLD ME AND MY OTHER FRIEND TO GO BACK a day later she had a bruise. There would be no problems if she just got a ice pack. Wow Ms.sambrani great job

The teachers at Lincoln really show how much they care about their students and they teach in ways…read morethat no one can't understand but the principal ( Sambrani) is very disrespectful. She once pressured my child into a false confession by holding them in her office while it was a potluck in my child's class. She always goes back and forth and whenever we disagree on a topic she turns it into an argument. Another thing you all should consider before you send your child to this school is that she is incredibly sexist. One time my child got into a fight with a girl, he got in trouble while she faced no consequences despite being the one who started it. That's all I have to say, so if you are willing to send your child to a school with an unjust, petty, arguemental principal this is the place to go!

I am a little biased. I only spent three years here. But I even remember my teachers' names…read more Mr. Meadows for Kindergarten, Class A. Mrs. Barnhart for 1st Grade, Class A. Mrs. Klitza for 2nd Grade, I forget which Class I was in. I have fond memories of sitting on the stone walls with my best little friend and pulling the aloe, breaking it, and watching the clear goo ooze out of its veins, sharing a red delicious apple, pulling string cheese and wrapping it around all of our fingers. We often broke into the locked art closet to steal cat's eyes (plastic ones), climbed into the fenced garden to pick mint leaves, climbed over the stone walls to trespass into the neighbor's manicured back lawn, played hide and seek around the portable class rooms and permanently locked swimming pool. I collected dead bees and live caterpillars from all over the playground and showed my teachers. Both of my parents worked long hours, so I had daycare and afterschool extracurricular classes: stamp-making, ceramics, and book-making. I swung on the jungle gym bars, doing cherry drops - once I fell flat on my chest, which knocked the breath out of me, and for the first time in my young but conscious life, I realized I was mortal. I have almost endless memories of the part of my childhood that occurred here. Even at the beginning of summer, at the end of my 2nd grade school year, when I knew I wouldn't be coming back the next year because we were moving, I sat by the yard looking out over the playground with my hand-writing and math papers, and some craft I had made in art class, warmed by the sun, and feeling infinite (yes, children especially feel infinite), I cherished my time here. Education (one word for such a great thing?), good teachers (and good meaning sees to the children in their intellectual, emotional and spiritual development in school), good parenting, are the most important part of a child's life in their young years. A nurturing, creative environment it was, with fun, fair and disciplining hands to keep the mischievous ones in check.

While bullying from other students is always a concern, Bentley School has the unique problem of…read morehaving one of its teachers bully her students. Over the course of the year (school events, play dates, birthday parties), without prompting, classmate after classmate informed us that our child's teacher constantly put down our child and those other students who were not favored by her. Weekly, often daily, she would demean and certain students in front of the class. And yet while fellow students saw the problem, and the matter was brought to the school's attention, the school administration did nothing. Enabling bad people is what bad schools do. This is a bad school.

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 son started in the kindergarten class and is now a 5th grader. My daughter started in the blue…read moreroom (if I remember the color correctly!). And so far our experience has great! We really couldn't think of a better school that would nurture them as individuals and build a strong academic foundation. Mills really focuses on building socio-emotional skills. My kids often came home talking about the brain and how they were in their "reptilian brain" and what they could do to get centered. As a parent who is in the education field, I can't tell you how important this is to building skills that will allow them to self-regulate and to understand what's going on internally with them. I'm a high school administrator in a public school and I can tell you that the biggest challenge I see with students that academically struggle is their inability to self-regulate and access the part of their brain where executive skills are at. I'm so glad that both my kids could come here. I know that they have a strong foundation to succeed in middle and high school and beyond! Did I also mention how beautiful the campus is! Teachers take full advantage of this.