We've been a Seven Hills family for over five years, and I truly can't speak highly enough of this incredible school. Our daughter started in 4th grade and is now thriving in 8th; our son began in Kindergarten and is currently in 4th, and both of them have grown in such distinct, beautiful ways thanks to this school's Whole Child approach. What stands out most is how deeply seen and known my kids are. Teachers and faculty don't just know their names, they know their learning styles, personalities, quirks, and strengths. There's a genuine warmth and intentionality that permeates every interaction, from the classroom to the carline. Our daughter was always more cautious and slow to warm up (nothing wrong with that!), but over time, Seven Hills helped her find her voice. She's now confidently volunteering for public speaking opportunities and participating in leadership roles like the Student Ambassador program. The Middle School program has been phenomenal and it's given her a strong academic foundation and the confidence to advocate for herself. One of her favorite subjects has been science, thanks to their incredible Middle School lab and interactive curriculum. She'll often tell us about the experiments they're doing, and it's clear she's not just learning science, she's experiencing it. One of our favorite traditions is the Buddies Program, where older and younger students are paired up for the year (think: 4th graders with Kindergartners). Watching my kids grow into both the mentee and the mentor role has been incredibly touching. They read together, do projects, and genuinely form bonds that span grades and years. We also love the family-friendly events that bring everyone together, from community dinners to beginning-of-year teacher phone calls. These touch points make us, as parents, feel like we're part of something bigger, not just dropping our kids off, but truly participating in their educational journey. The curriculum is rich and thoughtfully designed. My daughter learned about World War II in history class -- and then walked through the beaches of Normandy during the school's immersive Europe trip. It's the kind of education that sticks for a lifetime. The arts are equally valued: my son is learning ukulele in 4th grade, and my daughter is playing guitar in 8th. The annual plays, music programs, and outdoor educational trips -- it's all there. My only complaint? I just wish Seven Hills went through 12th grade. The transition out is going to be tough, not because she isn't ready, but because the bar has been set so high. After five years of academic growth, rich leadership experiences, and meaningful social-emotional development, my daughter is heading into high school capable, and deeply grounded. Honestly, I'd keep my kids here forever if I could, but alas, even magical places like this have to end at 8th grade! read more

Paid three years to realize that they don't have any learning program for kids. Reading the review I can only agree with the bad one. Presentation very well. But it's like you pay to let your kids out of your home just for playing. There is not focus of learning for kids, not a follow up to what they should achieve and what can be done. Looks like there are teachers they're just nannies over there. Make sure to know what's the school year plan before you realize it's too late for you kiddo. I understand who was disgusted to be proposed to be a teacher that actually wasn't. That's a shame somebody has to regulate all the private schools. Federal government should do something. It's everyone right to have the chance to learn in a Proper way especially when you give to them your Moneys. read more

Bad experience with this school. Unprofessional admission staff do not waste your time and money on this school especially for Asian Family. Due to time conflict, I send an email to request a different time, never received a response. The person over Zoom is not a pleasant person to talk with read more

I was a Seven Hills parents for at least 16 years. Both of my children attended school there. It was not the perfect place for my oldest who eventually went to another place for school. However, for my youngest, it was a great place for her to go from pre-school through 8th grade. Even my oldest has fond memories of her years there. She is always welcomed back on campus as if she graduated from there. I found the teachers amazing, the administration helpful and the staff excellent at keeping the spirit of the school. I often had people ask me why I was sending my child to this school when we had excellent schools in our neighborhood. It was for the varied experience, their teaching of community service and independence. The educational trips were amazing. In the later years there was Yosemite, Oregon Shakespeare festival, Washington DC, a boat in San Francisco, and Japan. There were also many day trips during the elementary years. I loved going on some of those trips. In the middle school the education prepared my daughter well for public high school. (And prepared me well to allow her to take care of her own school work.) We actually have to battle to keep her engaged because she learned so much. One of the things that Seven Hills taught her was public speaking. It was stressed in a low key way starting in kindergarten and progressed at age appropriate levels throughout middle school. It is my belief that if someone is comfortable speaking in front of people, anything is possible. Another area that impressed me a lot was the 8th grade project. The students picked out a subject, researched it, wrote about it and then gave a speech about it. This taught my daughter how to pace herself on a project, organize a long term project and complete a major research effort. She wrote a paper that rivaled a senior year high school paper. After a year in public school she has yet to write anything near as complex. The spanish taught there was first rate. My daughter entered high school with two years' credit and is now in honours Spanish in her sophomore year. She is well on her way to finishing all that public school has to offer by her junior year. Thank you Seven Hills for all of the years you nurtured my daughters and provided a community for us. I miss it very much. read more

Seven Hills is a fantastic school and we couldn't ask for anything more! This is our third year - our son started in 4th grade and is now in the 6th grade Middle School. Initially, we thought our son liked the school because it was a new experience. However, it was/is much more than that. The teachers and staff take a proactive approach to helping each student grow and thrive, believing in the educating of the "whole child." Some kids need more encouragement to take risks in sports or public speaking, while other kids need more encouragement to focus on creative writing or story telling. As an example, the school doesn't just focus on reading or memorizing US history, but the students study the events and then dress up and act out the Civil War in a variety of roles. Also, the school is very engaged and supportive of efforts to create a diverse and equity inclusive culture. Many of the families receive some financial assistance and students come from all over the East Bay representing many ethnicities and cultures. Lastly, kudos to the new head of school who is on her third year at the Seven Hills School. She has extensive educational and independent school management experience along with a strong track record working with teachers, staff, parents, and students/alums to get everyone reaching toward a common goal of creating the best school possible. I would encourage any interested parents to visit the school for a tour. read more

Does Seven Hills have people who care about kids? Check. Does Seven Hills have a progressive curriculum? Check Does it have a beautiful jaw-dropping campus? Check But schools are only as good as the faculty and administration that they employ, regardless of resources. When the headmaster recommends an administrator for hire that has been fired from his previous post at a public school for bullying--and the school board approves it...well questions need to be asked to see if Seven Hills measures up. After observing Seven Hills for several years, I know the answer. At their best, teachers and admin can be intelligent, compassionate and passionate advocates for young people, setting high standards that keep children accountable while fostering the magic of critical thinking and inquiry. At their worst, teachers and admin are insular and insecure, controlling and codependent with their students, protective of the small isolated world in which they operate. Each school, private, charter or public has a mixture of both types. But what happens when a school falls out of balance? What parameters are in place to make sure that faculty and administration are going beyond their defined roles when things get tough? What evidence is there that they are indeed just as they present themselves? The standard should be to assess what you profess. Public schools are forced to do this, private schools have rating agencies that they pay for reviews. Educating young people isn't easy work. It can be grueling and heartbreaking with no shortage of answers that seem unclear. Seven Hills may believe that they are advocates for children, but only the "right" kind of children. Don't believe for a moment the canard that with private schools, you get what you pay for. read more

My daughter attended winter camp here and she loved. She's Kindergarten level. I was skeptical, because I have negative experience with the school administration, but my daughter loved the camp and that's all that matters. read more

We love this school! I can't say enough good things about it. Seven Hills has an incredible community and my girls feel right at home. The teachers are superb and love being there. My girls have grown not just academically, but also as individuals. It is worth every penny and then some! read more

My granddaughter just finished her 2nd year at Seven Hills today and will go into 7th grade here in the fall. We couldn't be more pleased. The staff and administration is wonderful. And the parents just seem delightful and many walks of life are represented and everyone intermingles as a family. Last spring I called the middle school head master, Mr EB. on a Saturday morning to leave a voice mail about a concern I had about my granddaughter's math program, and assuming I might get an email in the next week.... when he called back within 30 minutes ( on a weekend! ) I was so shocked I forgot why I had called! I guess most importantly, my granddaughter is delightfully happy. She was very happy in her public school where she attended K-5 and it wa an adjustment to move her, but she will tell you now it was the best thing ever and what 12 year old says that! We had been told my others not familiar with the school that is was high pressure. It is not that at all. Thorough and good, but no pressure. And no competition. That is what amazes me. Each child is taught and respected where he/she is and they seem to give much support to those children who need extra help. In my most humble opinion, Seven Hills is the best! read more

We have only been here about a year or so, but so far, impressive in all aspects. We feel our kids are getting a terrific education. Any issues we have had, we've been able to raise (appropriately) and have gotten terrific response/action when needed (obviously that's part of what 'going private' allows one to do more easily). Teachers and administration seem great - and more important to me - do a good job of being complimentary to each other. The administration appears focused and results-driven (which I like) but the teachers are still caring, thoughtful, terrific at educating. That combo is tough to find at a lot of schools. Thus, overall very happy with where things are today and the direction they are taking. read more

I am very disappointed with seven hills admin and how they handle a child that doesn't fit their mold. Don't get me wrong, the teachers we have experienced in the 4 years we have been there are wonderful, caring and talented. We have found the admin staff to be very supportive and vocal about the cookie cutter high achieving students they have. Beware if your child displays any sort of developmental delay. We were fortunate to have an advocate for our child that saw the inner workings of seven hills from the staff side and was able to help us navigate the hidden agenda concerning our child. We have found the new head of lower school to be unskilled in seeing and affectively navigating the whole picture of situations or being able to discern the difference between normal play and situations of concern. What I mean by that is she hasn't displayed the skills necessary to be able to resolve conflict effectively and without making situations worse or more then they are without demeaning only one side of the issue...it kind of goes back to that old saying of it takes two to tango. We feel there is a weeding out process that our child has been run through because he doesn't fit their mold, our feelings were affirmed by their own staff member who was so distraught by how our child was being singled out, felt it was necessary to contact us on their own time to report the back room conversations and agenda. If you are confident that your child is a high achiever who will test out really well then seven hills is well equipped to help your child soar! Beautiful campus, excellent facilities, teachers are excellent. Admin is highly concerned about preserving their high academic standards and any student not fitting the mold will be strategically shown the door. This year alone in one grade level there have been three departures by students that didn't fit the mold. read more

We applied for and received admission to The Seven Hills School during our school vetting process. Decided against the school as we determined a more appropriate fit. Based on my collected information and the application process, the academics here were very much on-par with state standards. They do not "teach-up" nor does it seem like they challenge children academically. A very viable option for parents not necessarily interested in above grade level academics, but looking for a respected private school. I can agree with the other reviews that there is a "one-size fits all" mold here, and if your child doesn't quite fit in you may be given subtle hints (i.e. an ignore here and there), to carry on your interests elsewhere. Absolutely beautiful campus. read more

Amazing, Dedicated Teachers Academic Rigor Caring Support Staff Innovative Access to Curriculum read more

A great school in many regards. Excellent middle school core classes. Students will be well prepared in science, math, and english for high school! Many bright spots - and a top notch middle school facility with a huge gym, climbing wall, and a very private campus location. read more

This is our 13th year at Seven Hills School. All four of my children started during ECE (Early Childhood Education= preschool), through 8th grade. Needless to say, with four children, comes four different personalities, four different experiences. **This a general review of the factors that have went into my deliberate choice to send my kids there, year after year**. Our journey started in 2005 has included years both before and after several Administrative (and teacher) turnovers. The one golden feature that has remained consistent, is the masterful understanding of what contributes to raising a balanced, fulfilled, and thoughtful student and human. Bill Miller was a treasure at Seven Hills, and his departure hit alot of us hard, myself and kids included. Then Ms McNamara came in, and just blew through the glass ceiling. She set the bar to new heights, and continues to surprise me with her integrative leadership and inclusive, community building efforts. She understands that one of the fundamental keys to a establishing a successful village is creating opportunity for parents to connect, not only with teachers, but with other parents, too. She is intentional and thorough in her goal of seeing to it that every man, woman, and child that walks through that campus is acknowledged and appreciated. You pick any kid from Seven Hills at random, and that boy or girl will tell you it feels more like a second home (arguably, maybe even the preferred one!) It is a safe, harmonious atmosphere. Seven Hills builds on the principle of the "well rounded child", or providing an educational reach far beyond academics. In other words, connecting with the child in such a way that fosters rich interpersonal and intrapersonal development. This principle strongly aligns with that of my own: a child that feels safe, valued for who they are and as they are, is a child that will thrive intellectually. To suggest Seven Hills is a handpicked population of cookie cutter kids, is a gross misinterpretation. Yes, the school is small (an advantage to me). Some might consider it a little sheltered. But this does not exempt them from being taught a very intuitive perspective of the world and society around them. In what way could I use my privilege to be of purpose to my community? What am I inherently good at, and how might I be able to use that gift to fulfill a need in the world? Essentially, they are encouraged to think from a multi-dimensional perspective. In terms of achieving academic success, their holistic approach is appeals to every type of learner your child may be. Their integrative platform unites the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic methodologies of teaching. Every year is about building the foundation that leads into the following year(s) platform. The transition from preschool to lower school, lower to middle, and even middle school to high school, is seamless. They are fully prepared for the expectations of the following year and have the thought processing skill set to do well in it. These reviews I'm reading about Seven Hills only being great, "if your student fits the mold", couldn't be further than the truth. Those with learning differences are not left behind. They are met with compassion and assigned to a teacher in Student Support Services. Having a child who's education was supplemented in that program, I can tell you they will really take your son/daughter under their wing. They wont feel lost, neglected, or different. They will be reminded again and again, of their capacity to learn, and have tailored suggestions that will be put into practice by their teacher(s). For many of us there, it is the greatest monthly expense, but also the greatest return on investment. And since I'm onto the topic of cost, its worth noting that you don't necessarily have to have deep pockets to be treated with dignity and respect. Over the course many years there, our family went through periods of unexpected life changes. Unfortunately at times, this also included financial ones. It is difficult to be transparent, but if there is any single person I trust implicitly, it is Susanne Goldman, Head of Admissions. The Tuition Assistance Committee will take into consideration every applicant's circumstance, evaluate financial need, and do their best to offer aid that affords the opportunity for your child(ren) to (continue to) attend. Inclusivity is a not only a principle taught, but a practice they subscribe to. Just know, start to finish, age or stage, your child and family will be in great hands. read more

I'm a current student and I'm proud to be one! Seven hills is a great learning community and the teachers are creative and fun. Seven Hills makes learning awesome! My personal favorite; science :) read more

I wish we would have spent more time considering Seven Hills before choosing to enroll. On the outside, everything seemed great, but immediately there were issues. One issue I have with private schools in general is that they don't have to hold their teachers to the same standards that public schools follow, nor do they require that teachers take the same professional development courses. That's not to say teachers at Seven Hills don't have credentials, but it seemed strange to me to have a lawyer teaching kindergarten. There are a host of issues with private schools overall, and I wish I would've researched these more closely before sending our child to Seven Hills. Many of these issues are listed here: http://www.greatschools.org/general/community/discussion.gs?content=35612. We experienced some of these more than others. The most obvious ones were the lack of real community since the students come from all over the area which makes playdates difficult. At the same time we noticed cliques and bullying by groups of children who know each other outside of school, making it very difficult for some kids to be accepted. Diversity was also an issue for us. Prior to Seven Hills our child was enrolled in a very diverse and multicultural school. It was shocking to see what we felt was a lack of diversity- and focus on diversity- at Seven Hills. I got the feeling that this wasn't an issue for most other parents. Another Yelp reviewer commented about how Seven Hills handles children who don't fit their mold. Based on our experience, the teachers and staff did not respond skillfully to differences or examples of bullying. The other reviewer commented on the new(er) head of the lower school and her inability to "resolve conflict effectively and without making situations worse or more." We had an eerily similar experience. I also wish I would've read about this: http://www.sfgate.com/education/article/Teacher-s-Conduct-Is-Focus-Of-Walnut-Creek-Lawsuit-2773181.php Now our child attends public school and the differences are striking. I wonder why we waited so long. We know and live near the other students in class, so playdates are easy and we often see each other in the neighborhood. The class is diverse in a way that isn't controlled by a tightly monitored admissions process. The staff and teachers are amazing, highly trained, and love their jobs. I finally understand what a real educational community looks and feels like. So now I look back at Seven Hills and wonder: what was I thinking? I try not to dwell on the semi-elitist views and the money-can-buy-a-better-education misconception that led us down the path to choosing private school, but it's embarrassing to admit we went to Seven Hills. I just wish I had read this article describing the differences between private and public school; if I had, I think I would've thought more carefully about our decision: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/11/05/are-private-schools-better-than-public-schools-new-book-says-no/ In the end, it's my belief that choosing private school says more about the parents- their insecurities, their prejudices, and their overblown aspirations- than it actually translates into a real educational advantage. But sometimes you have to experience something firsthand to know it's true. read more

I have seen many reviews about how they handle children who do not fit their mold, and this is completely true. They act like their curriculum is excellent, but it is terrible. Their entire approach to education is all about "engaging the spirit" and not actually learning. As well, they have the misguided idea that using ipads for everything increases educational quality, while GOOD TEACHERS would do the job perfectly. Definitely not worth the tuition. The administration is completely clueless and tries to cover up any complaints. Bottom line: spend your money somewhere else and don't bother with here. read more

This school has been a wonderful place for my children. The school faculty and administration are caring and keep a close eye on the development of the whole child. My middle school student could not be getting a better education and the expressive arts program is particularly innovative and exciting to the children. Yes, private school is expensive, but when I hear about students in a supposedly excellent public school district who have English teachers that aren't fluent in English, who do not get taught grammar, or who take shop and home economics instead of academic classes, I cannot help but think the money is very well spent at Seven Hills. read more

We joined SHS last year when 2 out of our 3 children "got in." I use quotes because it's easy to get swept up in the pressure of performing well enough to be accepted by the admissions directors, when in reality it really is a reciprocal process in finding the right match between the family, community and school. In my experience it never felt like I was trying to do a song and dance to make ourselves well enough liked by the admissions team. We established a genuine relationship from the onset and it was apparent that we all were trying to figure out if we were the right match for each other. The admissions team was transparent the entire way through and kept great communication with us on the status of our individual children. Our oldest son was never granted a spot at SHS last year, however our two youngest were accepted and we made the difficult choice to split the family and attend two different schools. We had no guarantee that this split would ever end because the admissions team couldn't guarantee us a spot with any certainty ever. They could only say that they hoped it would work out. The goals and values of the school include keeping the integrity of small class sizes, and as a part of the parent community I appreciate their dedication to this model. They couldn't overfill a classroom just to make room for our son, even though we all felt like the match was right. The admissions team was very transparent. They had conversations with the administration and relayed to us the toughtful conversations they were having regarding admissions. They were working hard, but the reality of the situation was, he wasn't going to be able to attend SHS. We applied again for this school year, and the cards fell in our favor. I know the admissions team wanted us to be together as a family and I always felt they advocated heavily for us. With a year for us to get to know one another we were both able to say with great certainty that it was a good match. We now have all three of our kids at SHS. Although the process didn't roll out with the ease we were hoping for, we have so much respect for the way it needed to happen. We finally all feel like we are home and in a school where we can grow and thrive together for several years to come. The care, kindness, candor, and thoughfulness that goes into the admissions process seeps through every other aspect of the school. It's a very unique and amazing place. read more

Although our family is newer to the Seven Hills community, we have been nothing but overwhelmingly impressed by the school's current leadership, educational focus and fundamental priorities. In our view (and our experience tells us that this view is shared by the vast majority of families), the school's headmaster not only continues to emphasize the unique elements of Seven Hills whole child education, but has worked to improve and clarify and add focus to these guiding principles. We have never seen nor experienced someone who leads a school community with such dedication to children, parents and teachers, an intellect and strategic vision that is exceptional, and yet operates with true compassion and concern for those with whom she interacts. Change, whether incremental or transformative, does not always work for everyone. It's important to separate one's view of the actual changes being made from the change agent who is actively engaging the community (again, children, parents and teachers alike) to achieve consensus and continue to improve an already outstanding organization. Our children are happy, have made meaningful friendships and are thriving. Moving our children to The Seven Hills School was one of the best decisions we ever made. read more

Seven HIlls is a great school. I have a child in the lower school and another in the middle school. Their experience is similar because both are encouraged to ask a lot of questions, get involved in learning, love learning. The academics are rigorous and they are also learning how to treat others with respect. My husband and I were worried that the parent community would be kinda a monied crowd and we would not fit in. Yes, there are some families with lots of money but the common value is that a strong educational foundation will set our kids on their way. The only negative I can think of is that my neighborhood friends don't get why we go there. It is hard to put in words so I don't try very much any more. read more