This school is an absolutely gem. My child transferred here from a public school at the beginning of this year. After having two extremely difficult years in a public school system, where my child went from happy and thirsty to learn, to nearly hating school, we knew we needed a change. From the first conversation with Mel, to watching their open house video and hearing their viewpoint on learning, we instantly felt this could be the environment that our child needed. As a Licensed Marriage, Family and Child Therapist, I am consistently reminded the importance of a safe and nurturing learning environment for the overall well-being of a child. The Saklan School understand the importance of children feeling safe and connected in order to learn and grow. Today's parent-teacher conference confirmed everything that we had thought this school would be. My child is absolutely thriving. His teacher doesn't just tolerate his "all in" nature, she encourages and celebrates it, while pushing him to be his best self. The small class sizes allow for each kiddo to feel seen and be known, and project-based learning gets them excited. We absolutely adore this school. Yes, it is a big financial investment, but we are already seeing the return in his growth and joy, and it is also having a huge impact on our entire family's quality of life. We're so thankful for The Saklan School. read more

We gave the Walnut Creek public school system a try then decided to send our 1st grader to Saklan. It's been two months and we've seen a huge change in his attitude towards learning. You cannot beat the small class size and the personalized attention your child will get. We've noticed a renewed love of learning, more confidence and comfort in his skin. My husband and I believe that investing early in his education, creative expression and social emotional development will give him a leg up in life and a strong sense of self. We also love Saklan's project based, hands on approach to learning. Focusing on the whole child is difficult to do when there are 23-30 kids in a classroom. In fact, studies show that learning outcomes diminish when there are more than 18 students in a classroom. When our son comes home excited about something he learned/experienced or tells us how much he loves to read, this warms our hearts because his teachers are getting through to him. We also love that he's learning a foreign language early (Spanish); you many not get that in public school. The public school system is a one size fits all mold. Everything is about meeting benchmarks/assessments and keeping the test scores high without looking at the whole child. At Saklan you have the luxury of knowing that your child's education is flexible enough to both challenge and support them where it's needed. We are thrilled with our decision to invest in our son's education at Saklan. read more

We are beyond thrilled with Saklan's quality and well-rounded education. Living in a great school district (Moraga) makes decisions like attending private school ever so much more difficult, but Saklan is an easy choice. Beyond academics, Saklan excels at social emotional awareness, inclusivity, compassion, creativity and courage. Additionally, the STEM science program and the music/theater program are the best available in this area by leaps and bounds. The administration are professionals who care. The faculty are always acquiring new state of the art skills. The leadership, David O'Connell, transformed the school into a vibrant and inspiring community of engaged parents, kind students and thorough faculty. I believe education is the ONLY guarenteed return of investment. Saklan definitely has been amazing for our entire family the past three years our two children have been attending. read more

The Saklan School offers a transformative educational experience, focusing on the whole child as an individual, project based learning, and a nurturing environment, with incredible teachers, and small class sizes. As a former public school teacher, in a Bay Area school rated a 10, I knew that the high rating was only representative of the best of a very low bar. I wanted something more for my own children. I wanted them to be excited for school, to develop a love of learning, to be seen as an individual, and cared for and nurtured at the highest level while away from home. My daughter started at Saklan last year and next year my other daughter will begin at the school. We could not be more pleased with the education, staff, and overall experience. Saklan focuses on hands-on, experiential, differentiated, child interest lead, project based learning. Project based learning is an enormous effort on the part of the instructor, but so beneficial for all learners. Saklan tackles this beautifully. The public school system that has 20-30+ children per teacher, sitting in desks all day, without individualized learning, with too many worksheets, and drill and kill to the state testing is dated and mediocre at its best. If you have the opportunity for your child to attend Saklan run at the opportunity! It is the best investment you can make for your child and family! read more

The Saklan School is amazing. Not only their curriculum is very good and well balanced but also the teachers and the other parents are great. The school has also been absolutely phenomenal in handling the pandemic and keeping everyone safe and informed, while allowing for our children to safely return to class. read more

Saklan is a school that weaves their message of "Think creatively, act compassionately, and live courageously" throughout the day while stressing the importance of education. The teachers are successful within their approach of education and always manage to go above and beyond with creativity, innovative projects while providing support to parents and their students. The Saklan staff has created a family that my daughter is so happy to visit everyday. Saklan has been a gift to our family after leaving the public school district and we are so thankful to have found Saklan. read more

There is so much that I love about Saklan. The feeling of community is very strong. The entire school gathers weekly for Friday Flag. There are class presentations, words of wisdom shared by students of all ages, a birthday song (with everyone identified by name), and a closing song. It is all presided over by a student, from the 3 year-old Owlets to the teenaged 8th graders. At our final one before the shelter-in-place, as the entire community (students, staff, teachers, parents) sang "This Little Light of Mine", I looked down at one of my lights, my Owlet. He was so shy when we started. He wouldn't talk to new people at all. I worried about him, how he would adjust to being at school, being around new friends and away from his parents and his sister (down the hall in kindergarten). For his sister, I wanted to ensure an education suited to her unique needs. We found that at Saklan. The small class sizes enable the dedicated teaching staff to provide one-on-one attention, while also including her in the regular classroom group. And she has opportunities to interact with older kids as well, making friends across grades. Her curiosity, enthusiasm and outgoing nature are nurtured at Saklan. Searching for a school, I hoped to find a place where the kids would engage in activities and have fun, and happen to be learning along the way. My kids are still too young to be sure that's the case, but it's the feeling I get at Saklan. What really blew me away though, is the social-emotional focus. These kids have amazing bonds with their teachers, especially striking in middle school. Every time I get to hear Ms. Kim talk about her middle schoolers, I am so grateful to have found a woman so totally invested in these kids! They learn to be kind to each other, and to themselves, to be self-sufficient, hard workers, and the pride of exceeding your own expectations of yourself. As I looked down at my Owlet during that final Friday Flag, I watched him with his "light" (finger) up in the air, singing along with the rest of his community. He has truly shined at Saklan. He talks to everyone now, students, staff, other parents. I've had people I don't know come tell me stories about him! I couldn't have believed he would grow into this kid just 8 months ago. I was so overcome by the scene, I couldn't sing myself. I love Saklan. I love being with these people. And I didn't want it to end. Now as we shelter-in-place, we all miss Saklan. It is clear that the teachers genuinely love and miss these kids! They have done a great job of trying to stay connected, and keep learning going, through this unprecedented challenge. But my kids are young, and the teachers are being realistic. I talk to the them about my specific kids, about how they're feeling and what the goals are. That it's not as important to get all the work done, as long as the love of learning continues. I don't know how they could do distance learning any better than they are. But bottom line, my whole family loves and misses Saklan very much and can't wait to come back in person! read more

All three of our children attended Saklan, and one is a sophomore in HS now. Saklan provides a unique combination of a rigorous hands-on curriculum and incredible teachers who can truly connect and understand each student and create meaningful learning experiences. The music and performing arts program are beyond what you can find in most schools (public or private) and instills a high level of creative expression and confidence. We found that the opportunities to present, lead, and collaborate with other students helped build a level of compassion and self-awareness which we feel is so important beyond academic learning. The community at Saklan is connected and supportive. It has been a home for our children where they've grown, been supported, and learned and to become successful students who love learning and genuinely care about others. read more

Our family ADORES the Saklan School! It is a hidden gem just minutes from our home in Lafayette. Every day our 5th grade son can't wait to go to school. Because of the small class size, amazing faculty and project-based curriculum, he has a true love for learning. The school manages to balance strong academics with a culture of empathy and community service. A typical Saklan student is confident, curious and incredibly compassionate. We have wonderful public schools in Lafayette, but chose Saklan to provide a more nurturing, academically stimulating and creative environment for our son. read more

Saklan has been a tremendously helpful and rich experience for our children. They have been a part of the Saklan curriculum since pre-school and we have seen them grow academically and personally. They are very curious, insightful, outspoken, polite, empathetic, confident and creative. As parents we cannot be more thrilled with the staff, curriculum, and community. Everyone has been supportive, insightful and most importantly thoughtful about our views and desires. This school truly partners with their families and it shows. We can not recommend them enough. We love them so much we have managed to get our extended family to attend and look forward to many years of being a Saklan parent! read more

Saklan is an all around wonderful school. It feels like a big family with how nurturing the environment is while also providing academic excellence. They have a growth mindset culture. They live their motto - "Think Creatively. Act Compassionately. Live Courageously." read more

The Saklan is a top notch school. My son has been attending this hidden gem for 2 years now. We only have excellent things to say about the staff and the teaching method of this wonderful school. My son gets upset on the weekend because he does not have school. We loved all the teachers who worked with our son. Each and every one of them is loving, caring and comes across like she loves kids and her job. I have to say Mrs. C and Ms. Amanda are amazing. I highly recommend this school for any family looking for a place for their kids to thrive. Thank you Saklan for all the hard work, love and care you have been offering to our son. read more

Saklan is an amazing private school. They serve Preschool (3-4 year olds) through 8th grade. They offer gym, music, science, math, technology, foreign language, recess, community service, public speaking, after school and summer programs, strong in arts, literature, creativity, environmental causes, parent support. The school is small and the atmosphere is inclusive. The school and staff are GLBTQ friendly. This is a non-religious school. The school offers transportation for affordable costs. After touring 5 private schools throughout the entire Bay Area, we felt extremely confident that Saklan truly offered everything we wanted in a balanced, supportive, authentic environment. read more

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Our family loves Saklan! Saklan is a gem for parents and children. Our son is a 6th grader and we feel so fortunate to be part of the Saklan community during this important time in his life. The Saklan administrators, teachers and staff are passionate about the school, their role in education and the subjects they teach. They are active in helping raise our children. Their passion and commitment is infectious. Students feel seen, heard, held, loved, and inspired. Students are supported daily in their academic and social-emotional growth, encouraged to embrace curiosity, take care of themselves, and define their role in cultivating a kind, caring, respectful community. Our son is embracing middle school at Saklan. He is engaging actively and deeply with the people and world around him and growing beautifully into his teenage self. We all couldn't be happier! read more

I can't say enough amazing things about Saklan. Our daughter attended for 7th and 8th grade and was welcomed from day one. The teachers were outstanding and made learning fun and meaningful. The trips to Hawaii and DC were well organized and tied into the curriculum in all subject areas. Everyone is accepting of other students. The only downside to the school is that there's no high school! Our daughter would have wanted to remain there forever. But she was very well prepared for high school. read more

We moved our 2nd grader over here this year from public school and we have been so happy. It is like the light switch has been turned back on in our son. This school fosters kindness, compassion, creativity and really tailors classes to what individual children need. With such small class sizes, the teachers can actually teach! The children actually learn! It is not just worksheet after worksheet. They take community service seriously, academics AND the personality of the child. We know that the emphasis on social emotional learning is working as bullying doesn't seem to be any kind of an issue where it was in public school. Thus far our experience has been stellar. I highly recommend! read more

We are new to the Saklan Community and so far it's been an amazing experience for our 4th grader. I chose to use the word community as the school feels like a family of like minded parents who believe in educating the whole child with a strong integration of music and art into their weekly curriculum. Settling into Saklan, we are impressed with the caring attention from the classroom teachers, the amazing speciality programs such as music/art, and the zero tolerance for bullying on their safe campus. The kids in all of the grades quickly get to know each other and watch out for one another. Highly recommend and we hear that middle school is also a fantastic experience. Happy we joined Saklan before waiting until middle school. read more

All three of our daughters love Saklan! Equally important is that both their parents think they are getting a world class education. The Saklan community is amazing. I would call it a big family. Incredible teachers. Absolutely fantastic music, arts, science and PE. Nothing compares in Lamorinda (Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda). read more

My son attended pre-Kindergarten here and we are sad that the pandemic has prevented him from finishing out the year. Nevertheless, he was immediately comfortable joining Saklan after moving from another area. He enjoyed his main teachers, speciality teachers (PE, music, and Spanish) and always had nice things to say and never complained about going to school. We liked that he had exposure to not only preK curriculum but PE, music and Spanish and the day ran from 815-2 with option to extend the day via extended care and enrichment activities. We have no regrets about choosing saklan! read more

The Saklan School is a wonderful school. Each student is welcomed like a member of the family and taught the importance of academic excellence and what it means to be a valuable member of society. The class sizes are small and the teachers are incredibly supportive. We consider ourselves very lucky to have found Saklan. read more

It's been a good school and good fit for my daughter. She gets more individual attention, flexibility, and understanding from the teachers than she would at a public school. It's a nice community. If you are considering private school, it's definitely worth checking out. read more

I cannot say enough of this school. It is truly a hidden gem. Amazing staff from the head of the school to every single teacher/staff member. For us it is worth driving from Danville and worth paying every penny. The Saklan made a difference in our family and happiness. If our son is happy and looking forward to go to school every morning we are all happy. My son loves the music, PE, Spanish and Soccer classes. After having a horrible experience at a private school in Walnut Creek we did an extensive research on schools in the area and decided to enroll our son at the Saklan. He is in pre-k and cannot say enough. The teachers are amazing, you can tell how much they love their job. Very loving environment and communication with the parents is pretty strong. It is a very enthusiastic environment, you feel like every student, teacher or parents wanting to do something to make a difference. The head of the school is a very nice and smart man. We are very lucky to find the Saklan. I highly recommend it to every family. read more

My daughter and I were lucky enough that Saklan accepted us into their school. My daughter and I love Miss Amy (K) and the whole crew at Saklan. The entire atmosphere is like a family, very supportive and attentive- with the whole child in mind, not just academics but to the childs needs and approaching learning in away the child will get the most benefit. This goes along with respecting others and acting compassionately, giving back to the community and being a responsible person. I hope we are able to continue at Saklan...as many have said, it is a real gem of a school. We are blessed! read more

I agree completely with the previous reviewer. My son was in the Pre-K class with Mrs. C and is now in Kindergarten with Ms. Amy. Saklan is a hidden gem and I'm so glad that our son was able to experience Pre-K and K with Ms. Amy. I can't say enough about Ms. Amy. Our son has learned so much from her and with the small class sizes, he is receiving a truly unique experience. Her curriculum is wonderful and we are often amazed by what he has learned in class. read more

My son is currently in 7th grade at Saklan Valley School in Moraga. We live in Montclair and it is a 15 minute drive door to door over the Pinehurst route. In addition, my daughter will be in 6th grade next year. If you are interested in a small and supportive middle school program that is also very strong academically, then I would suggest looking into Saklan. My son has excellent grades but more importantly, he has learned to be self-motivated and actually loves learning. The middle school teachers are absolutely amazing. They are talented, dedicated and accessible to the students and to the parents. We have watched the program encourage the very best in our son both academically and socially. He is a strong student and a good person. Our daughter had several options to move elsewhere for her upcoming middle school years but we chose to remain at Saklan so that she could also experience the strong community and top notch education. She also wanted to stay to become an 8th grade family group leader and to work with the teachers she has been waiting years to have. Saklan is a pre-school-8th grade independent school. The mix of ages in the school (not in the classroom) has been nothing but positive for our children. When they were younger, our children had role models and they were always so amazed when the ''big kids'' knew their names and sang happy birthday to them. Now, as older students in the program, they have the opportunity to be the role models. This is a school with small class sizes where learning is ''cool'' and being a good person is rewarded. This is a place where your child can focus on what is important and not be teased or treated badly for being smart. In addition, the setting is quiet and safe and the families are open and inviting. read more

There are a few good people & qualities about this school. On the most part they make lots of promises, though follow through is not there. The teachers are teaching with outdated teaching methods. I highly recommend families to stay clear of this school. Initial appearances are deceiving! read more

I cannot say enough positive things about this school or about the experience my daughter, now in first grade (we started at Saklan last year when our daughter was in Kindergarten), has had. There are so many aspects of Saklan that stand out for me but without question the most important are: 1) My child's relationship with her teachers - Owing to small class sizes, every single one of my daughter's teachers knows her personality and strengths and weaknesses. They work to encourage her strengths, both academically and socially, and support her growth in appropriate and positive ways. Her classroom and speciality teachers have always been willing to answer my questions, share experiences and address the very occasional concern. I genuinely feel that the Saklan faculty and staff have a solid relationship with both my family and my child. 2) The curriculum - More so than ever with a new head, Saklan is focusing on developing a project-based curriculum. As a friend of mine put it, Saklan embraces a "learn it, see it, live it" way of teaching. As an example, my daughter's class had a unit on penguins. So she got to do everything from look up facts to share with her class, to write stories about penguins, to trying to waddle around the classroom with her friends as they tried to hold "penguin eggs" on their feet. 3) The social-emotional - A strong social-emotional curriculum weaves throughout everything Saklan does. From a middle-school history teacher who encourages his students to look at history from a variety of viewpoints, to "family groups" where older students get the opportunity to lead lessons for younger groups, to having kids define and explore concepts such as "perseverance" and "inclusion," Saklan works to create students who understand the importance of relationships and how to constructively work through differences and times of strife. Also as a parent I genuinely feel that I am a part of the Saklan community. I know parents in a variety of grades and feel that the school actively seeks input from their community and looks to incorporate our thoughts and ideas. Now if Saklan would just start a high school... read more

I am sure it is a great school from pre-k till elementary but things turn in the middle school. We pulled our child from middle school halfway through, just like some other parents. Do your due diligence on the school, especially on the Head of school, Dean of middle school and Sam Prestianni (core teacher for middle school and he writes recommendations!!!). Some weird chemistry or joint-venture between the 3 where they are playing good cop and the bad cop; heard from other past and present parents that they did the same bad cop good cop with them also... Just do your homework carefully beforehand. read more

If I had a choice, I would rate this school more like 3.75 stars. Alas, it is impossible. I came here in need of dire help. My attention span was low, my social skills were... nonexistent, my willingness to exceed my comfort zone was incredibly low, and I didn't particularly like my previous school at all. My parents, therefore, thought it would be a good idea to get me to a place where more attention to the kids who needed help would be possible. Thus, Saklan was where I went: it is a place where each grade is about 12-16 kids strong. It became my home, the place I initially hated, then grew to love so dearly. But this review needs to be helpful, and I can't go on about my personal history there forever, so here goes: Pros: Easy extra help from teachers because classes are so teeny Challenging classes which force you to think creatively In terms of the mainstream definition of "bullying," there is none of that at Saklan and none of that in the foreseeable future. Small classes allow you to bond very well with each member of the class, and classes below and above you. Curriculum is (mostly) interesting and fun Teachers are cool and your best friends, even if they need to make hard decisions for you sometimes. People are understanding of your individual homework needs, if you've got after-school programs and such. (although hmwk does need to be changed, see Cons.) Most teachers are comfortable with letting you talk to them about personal problems, and are very helpful and understanding in that regard. Your classmates will easily become your best friends. Cons: Not nearly enough homework assigned. Someone MUST say this, because it is true. Going to high school, I quickly found myself feeling completely swamped. Saklan must shape up the amount of homework they assign each night because right now, it's simply not enough. Not by a long shot. I'm not saying they should over-assign, but really, students could use some more homework to increase good homework habits. Spanish program leaves something to be desired. True, I tested into a good Spanish level from Saklan, but the teacher spoke to us in English. The curriculum was intended to be completely in Spanish. I don't know if this has changed since then, but if it has, kudos! Drama. Not the acting kind, the gossipping-disrespectful-talk-behind-his/her-back kind. SO MUCH! At school, classmates are very close, but this can lead to fights that are about small things.The class is never split for long, but there are times when they are, and often there is crying. There is simply too much drama. Remember that. The sports program is nonexistent. I myself don't care, but if you want a more sports-oriented private school for your child, definitely consider other places first, because Saklan is not the place. This may seem like a low rating, but trust me, I love this school to death, with all my heart. It has truly been one of the best experiences of my life. I will always remember my classmates and come back to visit my amazing teachers. There are so many great inside jokes that everyone shares. It was an emotional ride going through Saklan, but I don't regret any of it. All of the people have made me who I am today, and for that I could not be more thankful. Please consider this place as a wonderful school with true potential to help your child grow in so many ways! read more

I removed both of my children from the school before the school year even ended. I was not the only family to leave the school for a better experience. read more

Here's an update: our son is now is second grade, and Saklan continues to impress us all of the time. The level of challenge his teachers provide him is just perfect. With the small class sizes, he's really known as a learner and both nurtured and pushed with a perfect balance. I love the emphasis on public speaking-- a number of times a year the kids present and give speeches to their families and the school about what they are learning, projects, etc. We're grateful that he gets regular physical activity in PE, has art and music, too. Most of all, we just continue to thank our stars that our child is learning how to think carefully, ask great questions, love learning, study science, build model houses of cultures from around the world, answer complex reading analysis questions, wrestle with challenging math problems, etc. One real example of a difference he gets with the depth of a Saklan education is this: while most schools will ask kids to memorize spelling words, Saklan teacher do this, but then they have kids read passages to search for spelling errors and correct them. As a teacher myself, I know that this is a much higher order challenge that really assesses whether a child understands what s/he has learned; it also is the best way for them to cement their knowledge. What a gem of a school Saklan is! read more

The school does an amazing job of living it's core values of Think Creatively, Act Compassionately, and Live Courageously. I've never seen a better holistic approach to the student as a whole person in developing academic skills, social/emotional growth, public speaking/presentation skills, verbal and written communication skills, and a sense of personal empowerment balanced with a sense of community and empathy for others. The small class sizes and the interaction and mentoring between classes truly offers a sense of community throughout the school. I am amazed that my kindergartner is taking Science Lab, Art, Music, and Spanish classes as part of the normal curriculum. I continue to be impressed every time I attend a school event or listen to my child proudly display her "Friday Folder" of highlights from the week. It's amazing seeing her thrive and I give great credit to the school's teachers and culture... read more

If you're even considering private schools, you really should visit Saklan! The teachers and staff are so enthusiastic and welcoming, and you will be able see for yourself why these reviews are so glowing. We are very pleased with the quality of academics, diversity of the student body, and philosophy of the school. There are wonderful specialists teaching art, music, science and Spanish, and P.E., and the home room teachers are fantastic. The feeling of community is strong, and the students' joy is palpable. We love the emphasis on leadership, public speaking, and community service-- just a few of the many things that make Saklan special. read more

My home is Austin, TX but I am visiting my darling family in Pleasant Hill, CA and my granddaughter attends first grade at the Saklan School. I had the pleasure of visiting her school today, taken on a tour by one of their staff members and I must say that as a former school teacher in NYC, I was extremely impressed by this nurturing and warm environment which welcomes my granddaughter each day. My heart is warmed knowing that she is in a class of only ten children where each child is not only learning academics but that they are being taught respect and compassion for others. The staff that I met seemed dedicated, showing a true love of their profession and the children they teach. Seeing her come home happy and enthusiastic about her day makes my heart soar!! Kudos and thumbs way for The Saklan School!!! read more