We were initially drawn to TRIS for its Montessori-inspired, self-directed learning style and what seemed 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. read more

Our journey at TRIS was an experience that our family will always appreciate and treasure. The staff 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. read more

We love TRIS! We have 3 children attending here. An 8 year old in the lower elementary program and 5 year old twins in the primary program. Our 8 year old who has some learning challenges has caught up to his grade level in both reading and writing. It's amazing to see him write in his journal in both French and Spanish. Our twins have been attending TRIS since 3 and can already read and write. Although one sometimes struggles with the writing, the movable alphabet (Montessori learning tools) helps him construct his sentences. Besides the academics being superb! The music, choir, and art program is amazing. It brings weekly smiles to my face when I hear my children singing in Spanish, French, and Portuguese all around the house. I highly recommend TRIS! read more

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I am the parent to two young boys, both of whom attend TRIS (in the Primary and Pre-Primary programs), and we have now been at the school for close to three years. Our boys have absolutely thrived here socially and academically. The emphasis on culture, language, and the arts is fabulous to develop their curiosity and empathy... and the quality of the teaching and care is really amazing. Choosing TRIS for our children feels like one of our best parenting decisions to date! We are really grateful for the school and recommend it highly. read more

This school is one of the worst school in the whole world. l used to be a student there, my experience was horrible, the staff was terrible, they judge and attack young girls on their attire, and blaming them when male staff and boys would comment of a girls body. The staff has no respect or cared for the students, read more

The Renaissance School truly lives up to its name. My son is 4.5 and halfway through the Primary program. He is starting to read easy decodable books, write short cursive words in both English and Spanish, count/write the numbers from 1 to 100, and is learning about volcanoes, magnetism, and the life cycle of frogs. But that's not all! In the classroom, he gets to arrange flowers, make guacamole and serve it to others, help set the table, cook new dishes from Latin America (e.g. pupusas with masa and cheese), and is responsible for keeping the Science shelf clean and tidy. In music class, he is learning how to write quarter notes (ta) and eighth notes (ti), and makes up new rhythms for his teacher to play. In art class, his creations are generally variations on the same thing (vehicles), but he is also learning how to sew and make little clay sculptures. Every Thursday he takes a capoeira class where the kids play-fight-dance and howl like a happy pack of wolves. He also gets plenty of time for lunch and outdoor recess every day -- around 40 minutes for lunch and an hour for recess. It reminds me of the Robert Heinlen quote: "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship... Specialization is for insects." If you agree, then you should consider sending your child to TRIS! read more

My four children attended TRIS for seven years until we moved out of state. They all started at 2 years old and my oldest left just before her ninth birthday. I was continually impressed with how much each teacher cared for and was invested in my child as an individual. They were able to grow so much in independence, socially, and emotionally at TRIS. Leaving TRIS was one of the saddest things about moving away. The language immersion aspects of the program are excellent. All four of my children entered a bilingual public school where they are taught for over half of the day in Spanish. They transitioned to this environment with no issues, and continue to thrive with their Spanish skills. I highly recommend TRIS as a parent and an educator. read more

My son has been at TRIS for 6 months -- he joined the Pre-Primary community (2-3 years old) the day after his second birthday. It's been nothing short of astounding to witness his flourishing in this time. Toilet learning is a big focus of this classroom, and the Montessori approach as implemented at TRIS was fantastic...I don't need to get into too many details, but lets just say that my partner and I are very pleased. The pre-primary kids also do a lot of food preparation and practical life activities. Food has always been a great passion of my son, and I have enjoyed seeing him gain skills and competence in the kitchen. He loves going to school each day; in fact, last week was spring break and by Wednesday my son was bemoaning (in quite dramatic 2 year old fashion) how much he missed his teachers. The Pre-Primary teaching team are so knowledgeable, patient (with us parents!), and loving. The early-childhood coordinator, Sara Sangco, is a superwoman. Finally, the language immersion. Though he was a bit tight-lipped when he joined the school, his desire to communicate has made the Spanish program very successful. Just recently, about 5 months in, my partner and I have seen a dramatic expansion in his Spanish speaking and comprehension. He is speaking Spanish to people he meets on BART and is explicitly teaching us vocabulary. Adorable! In a few months, he will join a French Primary classroom, and I'm looking forward to him being able to speak all three languages when he joins Elementary way down the road. As a queer family, I do feel welcome and supported at TRIS, however I wish there were more of us queer families in the school community. read more

TRIS is a phenomenal school.  Our eldest (now age 7) entered TRIS at age 2 1/2 in the pre-primary classroom, went through primary, and is now in a pod in lower elementary. Our youngest (age 3) is now in a primary pod. We were initially drawn to the strong language immersion at TRIS, which has indeed been incredible. Each primary class has native Spanish or French guides and an English-speaking guide, while all three languages are combined at the elementary level.  We love that the three languages, while themselves studied, are also mediums of instruction in math, science, cooking... or whatever. The language used simply depends on the guide or assistant who is leading a lesson. While the international orientation and language curriculum initially attracted us to TRIS, we soon also came to adore the Montessori philosophy and pedagogy, which we found has bred self-confidence, autonomy, independence, and most importantly a deep love of learning.  We have been so grateful during the time at home in the midst of the Covid pandemic for the way that TRIS has helped our eldest daughter become an independent learner.  We also love the Montessori materials, especially in math, which breed concrete understanding and provide a rich foundation for later advanced math. TRIS also has a very strong visual art and music program, as well as an international travel component at the elementary level.  The emphasis is on helping kids plan the trips, fundraise, and lead the way in every possible respect.  It is a school that breeds a sense of community, service, and responsibility rather than entitlement; that is so important in an independent/private school. Finally, we are especially appreciative of the thoughtful and creative way that TRIS has adapted during the pandemic, first offering an online program for a brief period and now with in-person pods that have kept students and faculty safe.  The Montessori pedagogy actually is remarkably adaptable to the current context. Communication with the school leadership has been excellent, frequent, and consistent (the head of school holds a weekly Zoom update for interested parents, and teachers/guides are extremely responsive over email to any questions). Our two kids are thriving at TRIS, and we are so grateful that we found this remarkable school 5+ years ago. -- A happy TRIS family read more

As a parent one needs to find a school with a welcoming atmosphere, where the school hires professionals with patience and positive customer service training as the first point of contact. The conversations I had with Adriana, who processes admissions was quite the opposite. She was condescending, impatient and acted like she couldn't be bothered to answer any of the questions I had. She sighed and huffed and puffed like she didn't have the time time of day for such mundane questions. I was shocked! I have called around and asked the same questions to other schools. Everyone else has been kind, informative and did not show me the same attitude Adriana did. Perhaps this goes to show her personality more than the school itself, but I can imagine what a nightmare it would be if I have concerns and questions about my child on an ongoing basis if he attends the school and have to deal with her! read more

We have 3 children at The Renaissance International School, ranging from 3 to almost 9 years of age. They each started the school at 2 1/2 years of age, thus we have had experience with the Pre-Primary level (ages 2-3), the Primary level (approx ages 3-6), and the Lower Elementary level (approx equivalent 1-3 grades). TRIS offers an exceptional academic program. The children have strengths in advanced reading and writing from an early age, and benefit from the use of concrete materials to aid in the early understanding of math, which may then be taken to abstraction with more thorough comprehension of the concepts. They learn geography from an early age and are able to link the geographic locations to the local cultures, ecosystems, food, music, language, and art. Augmenting the fundamentals, TRIS has outstanding music and art programs. The music program is based on the Kodaly Method - all children have great potential to learn, appreciate, and make music - skills are introduced relative to the capabilities of the child at certain ages. There are also instrumental lessons within or after the school day, offered for various instruments. With art, all the various materials are available for the children to experiment with, and art is thought of more as a subject that the children are capable of learning, versus a talent only available to a few. In addition to the above, the TRIS children choose to focus on Spanish or French, with English, in Primary school. They will speak, read, and write in both languages as they will have at least one teacher in their classroom who teaches each language. When they reach Elementary School, they expand into a trilingual classroom, with a teacher instructing all subjects in French, another teacher doing the same in Spanish, and a 3rd in English. There is a strong emphasis on respect of others in the classroom. The children learn, from an early age, how to discuss their conflicts together at a peace table. The teachers use a "Redirecting Children's Behavior" approach to discipline with positive communication. TRIS is unsurpassed in its education with emphasis on fostering well rounded, interesting, respectful, challenged individuals in a warm and responsive environment. read more

Our daughter had such a positive experience at The Renaissance School (TRS). When she was 2-3 years old, she spent her first year of preschool at a different nearby school that had Montessori in their title, but not truly in their program. When she was 3, our daughter began in the Primary I classroom at TRS and stayed for two years. The program is solid, thoughtful, rich in art and music, tailored to the children's individual levels, warm and respectful and she loved it. She's now 7 years old and I look back to her time at TRS with much fondness and appreciation. She was introduced to Spanish via her immersion classroom, handled with great care by her exceptional teachers (especially Chelle), enjoyed learning in depth about other cultures, experienced weekly collaborative cooking in her classroom kitchen, developed an early sense of social and personal responsibility through specific task/chores that really built a sense of confidence/competence, made some great friends and grew a love for drawing/painting and choral music that continues in elementary school still. We had hoped to stay longer at TRS, but unexpected circumstances required us to move schools when our daughter was 5 1/2 -- her transition to Kindergarten at a strong Oakland public school was seamless and, both academically and socially, she's doing well (now a 2nd grader). We miss the Montessori approach, rhythm and innate respect for how to best meet children where they're at developmentally. The Renaissance School not only taught our daughter, but they offered us a lot of guidance as first-time parents in how to support and redirect our child when needed. And, though it's been almost two full years since our girl has been a student there, she continues to speak and understand a good amount of Spanish which was learned and lived in her Primary I program at TRS. After hearing our experience of the school, our neighbors started both their daughters at TRS in 2009. Both girls are still there (in the Primary and Lower Elementary programs), thriving, learning and happy. The only reason for 4 (as opposed to 5) stars is the cost of tuition. It's expensive. And while pricier than many preschool programs in the area, we never doubted or questioned where the funds were going. It was evidenced in the quality of the programs, staff, daily schedule, lovely and well-maintained/clean facilities and the organization of the administration and office/support staff. They were all incredibly warm, efficient and wonderful with us. If you're interested in a high-quality and loving Montessori program for your young learner/explorer ... absolutely take a tour. It's an incredibly special program that we feel went a long way to develop our daughter's love of learning. read more

I have two kids at TRS, one now going into Elementary, and I have to say I am regularly impressed with the things they are learning there. Driving home from school they are having conversations about math in the back seat...from a 6yr old and a 4yr old! My youngest spills his milk on the floor, the oldest says, "Look! You made Africa! Let's see if we can make Australia!" When the youngest was 3, sitting in the back seat he says "Papa, the car next to us says TACOMA." Thanks TRS! read more

There are many aspects of The Renaissance School (TRS) that inspire and impress me everyday. I am so grateful that we have been able to send our daughter there for the last few years. The program at TRS is how I think education should be and how I wish it had been when I was a child. Each child is treated as a unique, creative being who passions and learning styles are as different as snowflakes. The high teacher-student ratio means that each child frequently receives one-on-one attention and lessons. From the pre-primary to primary levels (preschool through kindergarden) all the concepts are taught in very concrete, tangible terms. Mathematics, geography, written language comprehension - everything is taught through hands on and sensory materials. It is not until age 6, which is developmentally appropriate, that abstract concepts are integrated. The result is that children at TRS are reading & writing and comprehending basic math at very early ages. Although the children of TRS advance quickly in academics, the culture of the school is not focused on achievement. The focus is on each child expressing their creative, intellectual, and social potential. Every lesson - whether it is teaching a 2 yr old how to dress themselves, or teaching a 4 yr old how to cook chicken tikka masala for their classmates - the focus is on self-esteem, self confidence and independence. The children learn new skills - from practical life skills to academics - as a way to help them trust in their own abilities to take care of themselves and have the tools to open new worlds of exploration for themselves. When a child learns to do something on their own and is no longer reliant on the help of an adult - the look of pure joy and pride is incredible. Each classroom is bilingual - either French/English or Spanish/English. And the foreign language teachers are all native speakers - so the children learn the proper accents and the culture that accompanies the language. Because of the immersion style classroom - my 4 yr old can over-hear a conversation in Spanish on the street and understand what was said. All of the teachers at TRS are incredibly talented and special. I'm not sure how Leslie (the head of school) does it, but she manages to find the most extraordinary teachers and keep them for a long time. TRS also offers incredible art and music instruction as part of the regular curriculum. And twice a year TRS offers "Redirecting Children's Behavior" a parenting class that helps parents create positive solutions to challenging behaviors or dynamics within the family. I can't even begin to express how helpful that class was for me! As a result of our participation at TRS my child is more self-confident and has an increased language for social problem-solving; and my partner and I are parenting in a way that more closely reflects our values. We are eternally grateful for the community at TRS! read more

Our two children have attended TRIS for the last 3 years. From preschool and now into elementary, the school continues to impress us! Our children have been happy and supported throughout. They have learned so much with the thoughtful approach to Montessori curriculum. But what really stands out is the TRIS focus on music, art, international studies, and especially foreign language. I've compared many public and private schools over the years and highly recommend TRIS above them. read more

My daughters contracted both head lice and pink eye while attending this school. We pulled them from the school after three years in the program and they tested on average 1.5 grades below their peer group. read more

My Son has attended The Renaissance School for the past 8 years from Pre-Primary to Elementary, with wonderful results. It is a first-rate Montessori School, situated in the Dimond district of Oakland. It is great to see how my son is shaping and developing into a thoughtful, bright young man. Over the years, TRS has taught him how to learn. To take a topic, plan, research and develop and express complex thought. Because of the positive, thought provoking environment of TRS, my son is steadily becoming a renaissance child. He speaks and writes three languages, sings and plays the piano, and this year has begun composing music. I highly recommend this school. It is definitely laying the ground work for my son's next level of education and beyond. lawrence read more

My daughter has attended TRIS from preschool (age 2 1/2) through Jr High (age 13). I was a military brat...I wanted to raise my kid with travel and adventure, without physically moving her every two years of her life. I was also a Montessori kid until I was in first grade, and my Mom had always raved about Montessori. At TRIS, I found this amazing combination of all that was best in my own childhood-- Montessori curriculum, with bilingual teachers from all over the world. In the years that my daughter has attended TRIS, she has had teachers from Mexico, Brazil, Korea, France, Spain and many more... they have taught her language, culture, cooking, and that people from different countries have so much to learn from each other. Kids at this school travel together too - my daughter has been to Montessori Model United Nations Conferences in China and Rome. I can't recommend the whole experience enough- the diverse and active community, the language immersion experience, and the fantastic teachers- it has been such a good experience for my family. read more

Our son LOVED his school before TRIS (The Berkeley School), the summer camp he just took this summer, and the pre-K class he is in now, so it's not that he doesn't like being at a 'school'. He really HATED being at TRIS. Many of the boys in his class where we knew the parents had a similar experience,although some seemed fine there. I would give it one star except it didn't seem unsafe, and some of the teachers seem to care. TRIS is very structured, and tp us no one in the preschool seems very happy. The kids don't seem that happy, and most of the teachers don't seem that happy. Nothing like coming to pick your 4 year old up, to find him in a room almost alone saying he cannot leave until he finishes all of his cursive letters on a worksheet to make you wonder what they are thinking, and what was I thinking sending him here. Then looked into the origin of Montessori ( http://www.golikethewind.com/montessori/a-history-of-montessori ). It was originally design during Maria Montessori while seeing children from orphanages and asylums across Rome who needed psychiatric care: "She was a doctor in a Rome psychiatric clinic, her wards were children from orphanages and asylums across the city. At the asylum, she came in contact with children labeled "deficient and insane," though most were more likely autistic or learning impaired. She saw her young patients first and foremost as human beings, and searched for ways to help improve their mental and spiritual (as well as physical) health. Locked all day in barren rooms, they would scuffle over crumbs of bread on the floor. Observing them, Montessori realized that the children were starved not for food but for stimulation. Mental deficiency, she decided, was often a pedagogical problem. Experimenting with various materials, she developed a sensory-rich environment, designing letters, beads and puzzles that children could manipulate, and simple tasks such as mat weaving that prepared them for more challenging ones. After working with Montessori for two years, some of the "deficient" children were able to read, write and pass standard public-school tests. In trying to reach their minds, she made discoveries so fascinating that she left her medical practice to focus on learning more. She applied what she learned, testing and refining her ideas throughout the rest of her long life." Our son was already able to do some basic reading, was very interested in learning, and well stimulated. TRIS seemed a step backwards for him, and we regret leaving him in for the year (although we did start keeping him out 1-2 days a week). On the other hand, he is so thrilled with every place he goes now in comparison,so there is that.. read more

We have two happy kids (age 7 and 5) at TRIS who both started at age 2. The learning is rooted in the Montessori philosophy and following a child's natural inclinations to learn and understand through doing. The schools philosophy needs to be in sync with the family's style and there may be some "studying up" on the parents part to really understand the philosophy being followed and to provide a consistent approach in the home environment. I was a Montessori kid and my husband was not; we both found the school's Redirecting Children's Behavior class to be transformative in our parenting style - for the better! You can take the class without being a parent at the school, too. Do your own research on Montessori and Redirecting Children's Behavior (also termed RCB). Not all Montessori schools are created equal and there is some misinformation out there so check your sources and make sure you are reading quotes in full context. In thinking of the school's values, the words respect, commitment, understanding and service all come to mind. I could write pages of examples of how the teachers have used common day-to-day interactions such as playground conflicts, following through on work, or helping a friend in need to instill these values in my children for the past 5 years. My 7 year old doesn't jump with joy when she has to do daily math or spelling lists, or is asked to finish her work during outdoor play (b/c she was goofing off during the work period). However, this doesn't happen all the time as the teachers are very cognizant to keep a balance of accountability by the students, but not at the risk of sacrificing a love for learning. Children learn through doing, experiencing the logical consequences (good or bad) of their actions and repetition. I have an enormous amount of respect for the commitment of the teachers to use every opportunity as a learning moment. No school is without flaws, but TRIS is a school that values direct and honest communication and provides the accessibility to its community members to have these dialogues with the teachers and heads of school (repeatedly if needed and I have also been the parent that needed it repeatedly). Lastly, my kids have fun at school and yes, they work hard in their academics and have high expectations of themselves at the same time. This is the kind of adult we hope to send forth to the world and we are confident that we are in the right place to build this foundation! read more

The Renaissance School doesn't just educate children, it is a whole package that creates citizens of the world and scholars of life. It provides children structure, guidance and a method by which they enjoy learning, seeking answers and being part of a community. The school director Leslie Hites has an unshakable vision, and everything that happens at the school is the embodiment of an amazing set of core principles. She can explain it much more eloquently than I, but the result is that my two children who are VERY different, both thrive and are progressing in a way that exceeds my expectations and often amazes me. It has changed my entire outlook on parenting and education, and has greatly improved our family life. read more

One of the Bay Area's best kept secrets! I initially was wowed by the full arts, music and language program offered (There is a full immersion program of not one but two languages: French and Spanish) but the more I learned about The Renaissance School and the Montessori philosophy, the more I understood that it wasn't just the curriculum that made this school so special, but the way it is able to shape these kids into confident, competent, and creative beings. There is a lot of mutual respect between students and teachers here. The teachers take a lot of time to teach the children how to problem solve on their own, come up with creative solutions, and really instill a life-long love of learning in them. To me, character building is just as important as a child learning to do math. So, if you want your child to grow with a strong sense of himself, loads of self-esteem, and independence, than you need to check out TRS! read more

Having my children attend the Renaissance School has transformed my expectations about what education really can and should be. When we originally enrolled our son in the preschool classroom, we intended to stay only as long as the kindergarten year. Now that we're here, we can't imagine going anywhere else. The individual approach to education inspires a love of learning in every child in the classroom, meeting each individual on his or her own terms and inspiring them to reach their fullest potential. And although the academic results are incredible, the non-competitive, nurturing environment is 100% in-line with true Montessori principles. A strong sense of community and respect is readily apparent during even a brief classroom visit. Huge added bonuses are seeing your child become competent in multiple languages, and enjoy the fruits of an arts and music program that is fully integrated into a holistic approach to education. You really can't do better! read more