As I approach my senior year in high school, I think about my time I spent here; I attended from k-5 returned for 7th and 8th grade. When they moved campuses in 2015 that's when it all started going downhill. They had to renovate an office building to be the foundation for the upbringing of kids. We didn't have any real grass; we played kickball on a patch of turf. The hallways and cafeteria felt like that of a hospital's and the classrooms were white walls and brown carpet. When I started struggling with my mental health in middle school, there was no support system, I literally had to tell the Dean all of my problems. Everyone was the same and bland. Also the change in teachers was so frequent and confusing like you'd have a teacher for one year and then they'd leave the school and you'd be taught by another teacher who was just starting their first year. The tuition is expensive for such little resources like the computers we used were from 2005, no yearbooks, discontinued bus services (I had to ride the public bus for 30 minutes everyday), there was no sense of community or understanding for students. Overall if you want your kids to attend school and not an internship, don't send them here. read more

My son was a student there in the early 80s. He just turned 50 and he's quite successful. He often says that Dorris Eaton is the reason. He speaks about the education, the staff and the whole experience. I agree with him wholeheartedly. I was a single parent, and the tuition took about every cent I had. I have never regretted it. It was worth every cent I had to spend. As a result Of his experience, both my grand children are the products of private schools. Whether or not, they are as good as DE, I d o not know, but I do know they are better than the public school system. If Nancy and Jerry are still there, hello from Sandy Richmond . Ryan remembers you fondly. read more

Went here K-6. Teachers at this school are unnecessarily brutal on literal children and have obvious favorites. I look back and I'm horrified at how I was treated when I was merely nine years old. Kids are pit against each other at a very young age and are put under extreme stress. If you don't fit the mold - "book-smart", rich, dare I say coddled and self-absorbed - you are going to struggle and come out with a lifetime of self-esteem issues. Don't go to this joke of a school read more

I am still currently a student at The Dorris-Eaton school. My brother and I both attended, and I feel that the school is a great school overall. Most of the teachers and faculty are nice and the school is supportive. Although the curriculum is incredibly challenging, I think it is great if you can keep up, and allows me to pursue some things that I want to do. read more

This school is pathetic and the only things gifted here are the stupid plants that you see at front. Children are crammed into small classrooms and are forced to learn. Sure, some of the teachers are nice but most of them are jerks. Trina Spencer deserves to live in a hole for how she treats students. read more

We had to file a police report with San Ramon Valley Police department for serial bullying by one individual in his class which then culminated in a group (more than one kid in class) public humiliation of our son. We were consistent throughout the year to report and nothing but escalation occurred, despite this. First verbal, then physical violence, then physical combined with an action that resulted in public humiliation in front of boys and girls in class. The administration's handling of this situation was an abysmal disappointment. read more

To begin with, I am currently a student here. I've been here since 4th grade, and to be honest, 4th and 5th grade were amazing. The elementary school program is, in my opinion, very good. The teachers were kind and supportive, the curriculum was challenging, and there were never many expectations of diving deep into technology or science or other subjects. We were learning material that would prepare us for more in depth learning in middle school. Unfortunately, the same is not true for junior high for many reasons. My biggest gripe about the entire middle school is the technology. As nearly every student review here mentions, the technological education is nonexistent. You pay 30k a year for some crappy wyse terminals from 2005 (we have picture evidence of this) , chromebooks which are nearly a decade old by now, and a WiFi plan that can only support 3 chrome tabs before lagging out and crashing (this especially impacted covid learning, because so much was online). The only uses for the computers are powerpoint and word 2010. Google docs are strictly forbidden most of the time, and half the apps on your desktop won't even work. Moreover (I used a transition word!), there is no education in one of the largest growing industries--tech. There used to be a computer class where we learned HTML coding, but that was quite literally a class where we practiced copying what the teacher wrote. None of my peers nor myself could fully understand what was being taught, which just ended up wasting time to the point where the class is no longer taught. Their programming elective uses codecademy, which is a FREE service. My second biggest issue is a teacher. One teacher. Our science teacher has stayed remote for the past two years, meaning our seventh and eighth grade science education is nonexistent. Last year, we never once did a lab in class for biology. This year, for physics, our labs involved rolling marbles against a ruler, weighing a piece of candy, and watching water boil. These labs are designed for third graders, and the answers to them exist online. Sometimes during our quizzes, he will give everyone the answer for free. He even uses class time to babysit his daughters. For these two years, four periods out of our week have been wasted in a science class that has not taught anything new. No one pays attention in class, which I admit is not the teacher's fault necessarily, but the teacher should be IN PERSON. And the administration is fully aware of this, yet still does nothing. Countless parents have sent complaint emails to the admins, and they are just brushed off. It seems as if their attitude is that "you've give us your money already, why should we care?" They are fully aware of the lack of a science education, and they still let the problem persist for two years, depriving us of a needed science education. But, and this is the reason for a two star review, the teachers for the most part are amazing. Besides this one teacher, everyone else truly cares about students. They keep us engaged in their classroom, offer challenging courses and material, and help us in every way succeed. This brings me to my third point, which is that the admins are terrible at maintaining order. Most of the kids at DE are modestly well behaved, but there is always a handful of bad kids that everyone is aware of. Whenever something goes wrong, it is pretty easy to assume that one of these three or so kids caused it. So, they should be the ones punished, right? NOPE. Instead of figuring out who exactly did something wrong, the administration's response to everything is to yell at the entire class and punish the ENTIRE class, most of whom are innocent. To me, this just shows a lack of care and laziness, because they can't even be bothered to figure out exactly who caused trouble. Overall, if you want a "good" education, you might consider DES, but in my opinion, there are so many better options, even public school. DE offers a good standard curriculum for the most part, but that's it. They don't provide the opportunities and tougher material a larger school would, which will bring everyone down to the lowest common denominator. Some say that the grading is too tough, but in all honesty, teachers teach what is on the test. There are no surprises, and while having a 94 as the cut-off for an A seems tough, studying and hard work do pay off. But that is true at any other school, and so many other schools in this area have excellent programs that are far superior to DES. read more

To start, I am writing about this school with an honest opinion as a student. I have been here for a few years (before covid times) and I believe I can give some honest insight to parent searching for a place for their child. First of all, the quality of the materials. I believe, in this digital age, that computers are becoming more important and necessary for education. The technology at this school is extremely outdated. They use Microsoft Word 2010 and terminals all the way from the 2000s which can found for 49.99$. The servers slow down drastically when more than 30 people log in. Each computer has their memory near full which causes the computers to sometimes crash randomly. Microsoft Word also requires you to save occasionally which makes these crashes detrimental if you want to get work done. Public school are seen as low-budget compared to private but Dorris eaton just shows otherwise. My previous elementary school had Macs and I'm pretty sure that middle schools have higher quality tech. Plus, each Student pays upward of 30k which makes it just unreasonable to have such low-quality computers. Their books are quite old with some science textbooks going back 20 years and their desks are missing bars and have sharp, protruding spots due to the metal splitting apart. I would care less if this were a public school but this is a school where each student pays upwards of 30k a year. Second of all, the dean. Trina Spencer is the dean of the middle school and has two faces; one for the parents and one for the children. She often goes to the drop-off to greet parents dropping off their children, often saying nice, playful things about their child and sometimes complementing a dog they might have in the car. But this playful attitude just fades away like it was never there when she enters the school. Every single time she enters a class, she says the same joke over and over again; "The answer is *bunch of random numbers*" just to try and make her seem nice. The class eventually laugh out of awkwardness, some sort of pity. Whenever a problem or conflict emerges, she finds the easy way out and just gives a talk. She throws the blame around trying to get people to rat on their friends which just causes more and more problems. Whenever we compare stories within grades, there are often a lot of differences and bluffs within her story which is made for people to rat out their classmates. I will accept any feedback or questions. Third of all, the teachers. Honestly, I believe most of the teachers are great but the curriculum doesn't seem very advanced. Their grading system has higher standards which is just annoying. Sure, they might be able to say that their standards are higher but for students that want to apply to private highschools, these standards on the grading scale might become an issue. read more

Best 3 years I'd had of school, definitely wish I was still there. Curriculum was definitely challenging, but manageable. Teachers were very helpful and kind, and taught many useful skills for high school, especially in helping me improve my skills in the liberal arts area. Brother currently enjoys the school, and I would definitely send my kids here in the future. To all the people who say they think the school is terrible or bad, I should think that it is due mostly to the structure of the school- it requires the child to be much more self-motivated, but the teachers are definitely happy to support and help. read more

My daughter joined the Dorris-Eaton in 7th grade at the new spacious location. While the academics are outstanding just as I thought they would be, the most amazing thing about this school is not in its extremely high test scores, college-level writing skills or that High School challenges are easy for DES graduates. DES faculty really care about developing solid study, organizational, learning, and critical thinking skills in their students. The love the teachers have for their subjects shows in their work and in my daughter's renewed excitement about learning. The teachers make an effort to get to know each child's challenges and won't rest until they figure out a way to help (as it was in our case). The English teacher, for example, regularly gives up her lunch time to work with students who need help with grammar. Asking for help when needed is an important skills DES develops in their students. (By the way, DES has 4 teachers who cover the the typical CORE Language Arts: Writing, English, Literature and History). Besides teaching their main subject, many teachers are involved in organizing after school activities like sports, debate, Science Bowl and even dance parties :) Our daughter made many new friendships and seems to enjoy every activity the school has to offer. Even though the education is rigorous and is very different than what she is used to, our kid is very happy! read more

We withdrew our kid out of Dorris Eaton a month ago, in the middle of school year. Unbelievably, it was an easy decision for us. Now a month passed, we'd like to say it is a great decision for my kid! My kid attended K-3 in another top private school in the region, and he was top performer and pure hearted learner. We put him into DE after learned that DE offers more challenging curriculum. DE does offer very good curriculum of math, science, Spanish and PE on 4th grade. And my kid had 8 As, 1 B and 1 B+ in DE. However, there are some big issues with DE. The management team is so self righteous. The school does not teach kids the integrity. There is this peer grading system among 9 year old students. Most teachers use it in a positive and constructive way; but there is always an exception. My kid had a very nasty experience with his teacher, Mimi Wong. At the end, my kid sadly said "I can not trust anyone there." Like some reviews mentioned below, this kind of system only creates negative and toxic environment for kids to grow. After meeting with Wong and management team, we realized how manipulative Wong is and we know right away we can not let her teach my kid any more, and neither DE a good environment to grow. We pulled him out immediately, the same day he passed evaluation and has been accepted by his old school, which offered an important lesson to my kid on his 1st day in school, fight for the fairness and justice. BTW, regarding some reviews saying parents of incapable kids tend to give bad reviews. I am a parent of a smart kid, an A student with ERB test ranks 99% in five subjects and two 98% in his 3rd grade. Now back to his old school, my kid feels he had to catch up with all sorts of modern day technologies(PowerPoint, Word Processing, Python programming etc), read more classic novels. He is busier but excited everyday! We appreciate those hard working, responsible and caring teachers in DE, they deserve 5 stars. But this school system deserves only 1 star. read more

My son graduated Dorris-Eaton in 2015. He attended this school from 6th to 8th grade and came from a public elementary school with raiting 10. By the end of the 4th grade he was really bored in school. He needed something more challenging. That's when we started thinking about enrolling him into a private school with higher academic standards. I visited two private schools - Seven Hills and Dorris-Eaton. Wasn`t impressed by the academic standards of the 1st one. But here in Dorris-Eaton I found what I was looking for. I disagree with a person who said kids are raised to be robots in this school. Yes, the rules are strict. Standards are very high too. But my son was able to fit in. He was struggling for the 1st 6 months because the gap between skills he got in public school and requirements of this school is huge. Also he had some slight behavior issues because kids are not allowed to fool around in the class (which was normal in public). I consider this as pros not as cons. He is not a robot at all :) He has grown to a very independent person, with his own point of views which he can really prove, encislopedically smart, his logic amazes me. Teachers in the Dorris-Eaton are strict but fair. Most of them have a really good sense of humor and understand that kids are kids. My son was taught to independently study, make researches, use logic, use manners, respect others and to be organized. Debates team is a great addition to the school program. Also, if your child needs support, you don't need to pay for a tutor. Teachers are working with students in the morning before school starts free of charge. You can do it every day if you feel your child needs help. There is also math and science club, both competitive and are included in tuition. So, now when my son started a high school he has straight A grades. Dorris-Eaton prepared him really well. He is not a "nerd" or "robot". Normal teenager. Funny and easy going. Now, looking back at three years in Dorris-Eaton, my son thanks me for making this decision and enrolling him there. read more

You only make a difference in education by making a difference with individual students. With Dorris Eaton the whole place feels like a robot factory rather than a school where kids need to be nurtured and guided to a fulfilling future. Teachers are only focused with making kids conform, there is no left or right. All students are expected to fit in to a mold which is extremely rigid and narrow minded. This leads the kids to become like robots with their true self lost. When you look at your own kid, and other kids, you will see how their spirit and personality has been completely drained from them. It's truly a heartless place where teachers forget their own purpose in a child's life. This place feels like a correctional facility rather than a school. The whole purpose of education making a difference is totally lost with a pretentious and overly judgmental staff. They bombard parents with each and every nonsensical tidbit of information regarding your child that they cannot handle. Which is pretty much everything. From talking out of turn to not being able to sit still, you can be assured that you will have many multiples of meeting with teachers and administration. Simply inefficient, unacceptable, and ridiculous. Paying 25 grand hoping your child goes to an Ivy League because of an education at Dorris Eaton is totally ridiculous, hope in a made believe world. If you fear your child is too outgoing or lively, do not send your child here. You will not be able to deal with the stress, and neither will your child. You and your children deserve better. If academics is the ONLY thing that matters to you, then please send your child here. If you are a loving parent that wants your child to flourish in this world, they do not belong in this school. read more

The 5-star reviews here are extremely generous and not true to the experience of most families. If your looking for an academic hot pot, this maybe your desired robot factory. If you desire a balanced approach to your child's education and childhood, run from Dorris-Eaton. The administration is a joke, and carry a very for-profit mentality. Recently, a parent "anonymously" sent out an email to the parents of the student body to rally support for a multiple student discount, this immediately triggered a slap-on-the hand nasty email response from the school administration to the entire parental community. This behavior speaks volumes on the treatment of the "school community". There are plenty of other choices for parents looking for great academics. read more

Dorris-Eaton is a wonderful school. We have tried public schools in the Peninsula and East Bay (Roy Cloud in Emerald Hills & Happy Valley elementary in Lafayette), and most recently another top private school. But we decided to return to Dorris-Eaton. The 3 main reasons are: 1. the teachers 2. the students that are well behaved and eager to learn 3. an administration that runs the school incredibly well When our son transferred to Dorris-Eaton in 1st grade he was behind vs his DE peers - didn't know his math facts as well, how to spell/write as well, or read as well. This was something that his public school simply didn't teach. He was a top student at Happy Valley but initially an average student at Dorris-Eaton. The school was patient with him and worked with him to help him get equipped with the habits/fundamentals that Dorris-Eaton teaches. A few months into it, he emerged as a top student and couldn't believe the type of stuff he was learning and how capable the kids were to learn this at such a young age. We had been considering moving out of state for the last few years, and we had our kids tested at both public school and private schools. Both kids tested 1-2 years above their public/private school peers. This isn't because they were the smartest, or the hardest working. It simply came down to the fact that Dorris-Eaton did a wonderful job teaching the kids the fundamentals. Last, I didn't know that so many private schools fundraise to help cover their costs. Dorris-Eaton does no fundraising at all! To me, I want our teachers/administrators focused on teaching the children - not who is giving $ and are you hitting your fundraising targets. At our last school, I felt harassed by the amount of fundraising - it came in email, flyers home, sign up tables. There was grandparents day, special friends day, walkathon. I am so happy and impressed that Dorris-Eaton is able to retain the teachers they have, keep the classrooms small, and not ask for another dime outside of the tuition. PS. The new campus is wonderful! And the bus system has reduced the dropoff/pickup traffic. Everything is just so easy now, and the location couldn't be better. Near everything. Tree lined streets. A bus option. Brand new building. read more

It seems that the parents with smart kids usually will have favorable review of the school. The reverse is true. There are many brilliant kids here and the competition is pretty intense. Starting in 3rd grade, the kids will start getting a letter grade. Anything below 92 is a B and anything below 84 is a C. It is a very unusual grading scale but it forces the kids to try even harder. We love this school and the curriculum. This is probably the most academic school in the Bay Area. I think that the parents whose kids cannot handle the curriculum should realize that their kids' limitations and send them somewhere else instead of complaining. read more

I attended DES from 3d grade all the way to 8th when I graduated last year. Trust me, I can see why a lot of people think "oh, they're so uptight" or "oh, the kids are like robots" but I think it's worthwile to just give it a chance! Every member of the faculty is really friendly once you get to know them, and as a school turned out surprisingly nurturing? Because of the small class sizes you really feel like you can get the attention you neef when you're lost and confused. Granted, the kids change every year but my classes and the people i've met have been really supportive and kind to each other, like a second family, so much so that I still stay in contact with them, even though they all go to many different high schools. The school helped shape who I am today, and in my opinion has really helped me in high school, from studying and writing tips to the importance of being respectful and holding onto your friends. It may not be for everyone, but my Dorris-Eaton experience as a whole was really, really great. read more

The school is definitely one of the best in the region. The teachers really care about the students and learning; as well, they are extremely kind and supportive. There are a great deal of extracurricular activities as well. The students there mostly have the same mindset of wanting to learn more, and it is very helpful for a person who also cares about learning. A variety of different skills are taught in depth. In conclusion, if you care about learning and want to go to a school where you will learn the most, go to DES. read more

I agree with the other 5 star reviews. Started at a large private religious school where my child was bored and did not enjoy being there. Went to Dorris-Eaton & just blossomed. Loved the teachers and lots of opportunities to get involved in after school activities. Staff was very flexible when I had to pull my child out of school for a few days due to different reasons. Love that they stress ethics and honesty. Because of Dorris-Eaton, my child had a safe, personal & happy school life. The entire school staff took an interest in my child & knew my child by name. My child still enjoyed being a kid with lots of interests outside of DE - not just studying. My child really got the foundation needed to prepare for high school & college. The study habits, confidence and enjoyment of learning helped my child get into a Top Ten college & even my child says it is because of the foundation that DE gave him. Not to mention a lot of very close friends from all walks of life. Yes they do challenge the child but DE is for children who want the challenge and can keep the pace. I checked out many schools and have had experiences with four schools and DE was definitely the best experience for my child and for our entire family. read more

1) We had several years of experience at Dorris Eaton and more than one child enrolled. 2) When we wanted to take our children transferred to another private school, Trina Spencer tried to undermine the process ( too many $$ to leave Mr. Ludden's pocket). She told us that we will regret our decision and we will come "crawling back". Leaving Dorris Eaton was the best decision we made on behalf of our children. They have thrived at another private school with better reputation and much more flexible academic program and our family is far less stressed.3) The rigid, unfriendly, non-welcoming, closed minded and locked in time( like 60 years back) administration is a well known, long-established feature of this school. 4) The teachers are extremely varied in enthusiasm and competence, but they follow the path of the administration and are very afraid of it. Very few are approachable and many are downright nasty. 5)The students and parents carry the burden of the academic work, nearly always having to hire outside help such as enrolling the kids in after school intense programs or with private tutors, often from Dorris Eaton itself, at exorbitant fees. 6) Practically no after school help or outside classroom academic support is available to children unless parents are willing to pay $80.00 or so per hour and the teachers at this school thrive on these additional tutorial fees. 7)The athletics, music and arts programs are nothing but shameful for a school that charges such a tuition. This school caters to a very specific subset of parents and their children. read more