Which Middle School?
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Which Middle School for STEM?
April 2015
Take money/cost off the table. If you had a child who you want to be challenged/guided in all areas related to STEM, what middle school in the bay area would you choose and why? A school that's diverse in terms of students and teachers would be an added plus. Curious 4th grade mom
I'm guessing a Silicon Valley school. I talked to a kid from there once and they had all kinds of electives. That was a while ago, and was Palo Alto, but if you are taking cost off the table I would look into that. My kid's middle school has few electives but does a good job with math, English, and social studies, science, and PE, and we are pleased with it. So much of middle school is just getting organized and growing up a little. anon
I highly recommend Black Pine Circle School! My daughter is currently in 2nd grade at BPC. We couldn't be happier. The science and math in the lower school are great, and only get better in the middle school. The teachers are amazing. The kids are regularly competing in and winning math and science competitions, and were even invited to the White House last summer. They have interesting visitors and speakers on a regular basis- they recently had a parent that works at a solar company come and give a demonstration, and they had a guy from Pixar give a talk about how he uses math to make movies. BPC even offered a coding class after school that my daughter took. It was taught by the director of technology with help from some of the eighth grade students. BPC is also in the process of raising funds to build a new science and technology building that will have room for kids to do science experiments and even a maker space where the school's four 3D printers will be housed. The head of school, John Carlstroem is amazing, and was a marine biologist before he became an educator. Torrie
There is a new STEM Charter school in Oakland called East Bay Innovation Academy. It certainly has generated a lot of positive buzz for a newly opened school. I don't have any first hand knowledge about it but know several families whose children started in the fall. It certainly seems worth checking out..... following this one
Hmmm...As the parent of a now high school student, I found 6th grade very focused on social studies and basic math reinforcement in preparation for upcoming Algebra/pre-Algebra. The state science curriculum is mostly earth-science for 6th grade. Note these are the public school standards, but the many private schools with which I am familiar follow the same basic standards. But, for example, a student can most definitely use engineering as examples in a report on ancient civilizations. That is one of the cool things about the 6th grade emphasis on ancient civilizations is that it allows for in depth exploration into whatever the student is interested.
Lab science starts in the 7th grade, same for public and private, but not all schools are created equal, even within different public and private schools, regarding how much time is spent in the lab.
I'd be interested to hear what others say, because I found that the biggest lessons of middle school are writing and time management. By the way, the state curriculum on middle school is found here: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/grlevelcurriculum.asp
Mom who appreciated the variety of middle school
My son had excellent science instruction at Willard Middle School in Berkeley. He loved it and was well prepared for and enthusiastic about high school biology and chemistry. I credit the teachers at Willard.
Desperately seeking Middle School recommendations
March 2015
Help!!!! Our family are relocating to the East Bay Area from New Zealand in late summer and I am currently undergoing the trauma of a school search for my youngest son who will go into Grade 7 this fall. He is an average 11 year old boy, of average intelligence - not dumb but not highly academic either. As he does have a tendency to lose focus if left to his own devices we have decided that public schools may not be the best option so are looking at private middle schools. Typically ( for us!) the relocation decision was confirmed about a week after the deadlines for most schools so our options now seem to be pretty limited. I would be keen to hear from people who have experience ( both positive and negative) of private middle schools in the East Bay Area.
My impression so far is that many of the schools seem to be academic hothouses and give the impression of being incredibly picky when selecting children. Are these schools really so difficult to get into? And how many should we be looking at to give ourselves a fighting chance of a '' yes''? Whilst we absolutely want to ensure that our son gets the best education possible, it mustn't come at the expense of happiness.
At the moment we are wading through prep material for the ISEE exam - daunting enough given he is coming from a different curriculum but right now we don't even have a list of schools for them to send results to. I can't even begin the search for a home until we have this piece ironed out. I know I might be looking for the Holy Grail but any advice on schools that may still have places, that allow kids to be themselves ( within the bounds of discipline!) but still focus on helping them be the best they can be? Melanie
Hi Desperate, You should definitely check out the Athenian School in Danville. My son is having a fabulous sixth grade year this year so our kids would be classmates next year. The school is rigorous, but not a pressure cooker. We came to the school through the regular admissions process, but a couple of moms told me their kids had completed it from a distance because they hadn't moved here yet and I think they even were admitted well after the deadline. Athenian has a good number of international students in the high school and American students who have lived overseas so there is a global perspective the kids bring, which I like. Less so in the middle school, of course, but my son does happen to have a friend who most recently lived in New Zealand! Really, it is starting to sound more and more like a perfect fit for your son. Feel free to get my contact info from the moderator if you want to talk more. Happy Athenian Mom
Hi and welcome,
Yes, the private school scene in the East Bay Area is daunting. I have enrolled two kids in middle and high schools in the East Bay. There are some differences among the schools. Also, some schools rarely/never have openings for 7th grade. Those that do, however, may find your international roots a bonus for their class. Here is a thumbnail sketch of the the middle schools I know well:
Academic oriented: Head-Royce, Bentley, The Academy These are schools that prize academics and your kid will feel it. As to the first 2 schools which are larger, they have historical reputations as “rich" schools though they have tried to diversify. (There are nice non-snooty parents at these schools too, but in our experience, also a lot of privileged, competitive kids.) You will need high ISEE scores. Head-Royce rarely has any openings.
Progressive: St. Paul's Episcopal, Park Day, Redwood Day, Athenian, Black Pine Circle Good academics, inclusive communities, diverse parents and students. I know that Park Day and Redwood Day have had openings for 7th grade after the deadline before. Can't go wrong with any of these.
One thing to keep in mind. Head-Royce, Bentley and Athenian each have high schools which means you don't have to go through this hellish process twice (you get preference at the high school level). My children applied & went to different high schools, which was great for each of them but was very much like applying to college. You could find the admissions director name on line and e-mail about whether they have 7th grade openings, and that you're moving from New Zealand. The admissions directors each are wonderful/warm at these schools.
Others in our community may respond about their favorite public school and urge you to go that route, and there are some really good ones, but we found that private worked better for us. Esp. for middle school. Good luck! It will all work out
Your description of your son sounds exactly like my son! My son is currently in 7th grade. When we had to make a middle school decision, I posted to this forum asking about private middle schools for average students and someone recommended East Bay School for Boys, Park Day, and one other small school in Berkeley that I don't remember the name of. We ended up NOT applying to any private schools and enrolled him in our neighborhood middle school in Oakland and it has been just fine. His friends get straight A's, while he gets all A's and B's, but he gets the work done, and does not seem to be overly distracted in class (despite being in a distracting environment). So I'm giving you two pieces of info--the names of some private schools that could work for your son, and also insight as to how public school could also be a very viable option for boys like ours. Good luck--sounds very stressful to do this from afar. Mom of 3
The Academy is a 45-year old K-8 school in the heart of Berkeley's Elmwood district. Following a bumpy period of decline, the school has been revitalized, and now operates as a not-for-profit 501c(3) organization with a Board of Trustees and a new Head of School. Buzz Heinrich has more than 30 years of experience in five different Independent schools. He was the Head at Prospect Sierra from 1990-2007. The school offers ''A Classical Education in a Nurturing Environment.'' With a class size of no more than 12, the learning is focused, Socratic and deep. In middle School (grades 6-8) , the structure moves from a homeroom base to a departmental, modular day with the following subjects: Math, English, Latin, Science, History, Physical Education, Art, and French. John Lynch, the Academic Director at Oakland's Pacific Boys Choir School for the past five years, will become the Upper School Dean in July. For many years, the school has enjoyed an outstanding reputation for its talented teachers and inspired academics. Graduates of The Academy attend the finest East Bay independent schools as well as the IB program at Berkeley High. For those seeking an in-depth learning experience in a school with a string sense of community, The Academy is worth a visit. www.theacademyschool.org. Sharon C., Parent and Academy Board Member
Quiet girl - public v. private middle school?
Nov 2014
It must be that time of year again, when parents start questioning public v. private....So here I go. My daughter is in 5th grade at a Berkeley public school. We really didn't even consider private school when she was entering kindergarten. There have been many wonderful things about her public school - very involved parent community, a lot of really great and interesting kids, and some wonderful teachers.
But I am watching as my daughter becomes more quiet, withdrawn, and frankly kind of disengaged with school. She is not one who raises her hand or takes up space. She is definitely an observer. It isn't a capacity thing -- my daughter has always gotten all 3s and 4s on her report card, and continues to do so. But her teacher reports that she hardly raises her hand, and when called on, does not seem to be paying attention. This is from a teacher who is considered one of the best in the school.
The only thing that seems to excite her about school these days are when she is working on a big project that allows for a lot of creativity (like her current project to develop a timeline about her life and world events). She is a very creative kid who spends many happy hours at home writing stories and drawing.
As we think about middle school, I am just worried that this quietness and lack of engagement in school will worsen. I am thinking that now may be the time to consider private school.
We are in the Willard zone, so our choices would be Longfellow or Willard. So I'd love to hear from parents with girls like mine, about what your experience has been like if you chose to stay in public school. If you chose the private school route, did you find a school that worked well for your quiet, creative girl?
Financial aid is a whole 'nother question, but from what I see in the BPN archives, it is best to go ahead and apply and see what you might get. Thanks for any thoughts! anon
Prospect Sierra! My daughter has been there since 3rd grade (now in middle school) and I have seen every kind of kid--quiet, shy, boisterous, bookworm, party animal!--find a happy home. Kids are kind and welcoming. Teachers are extremely attentive to each and every child. Huge numbers of kids get very involved with the school drama and sports programs and that helps them make new friends. It also sounds like PS would be a great fit academically: the kids do a lot of project based learning. I saw my daughter become passionate about doing research. I think the school gets better every year! Berkeley mom
From the ''sounds similar'' angle... We have a relatively quiet, creative, bookish, observant 6th grade girl, who, while never disengaged in class, was liable to float somewhat and could easily have been less than sufficiently noticed and challenged to excel (in areas where she is naturally strong) and develop (in areas where she naturally is not) in a larger classroom/school environment.
So we went with the smaller, private option and our daughter is very happily settled at The Berkeley School on University. The 6th grade has two lovely, lively and learned classroom teachers, and the curriculum is rich, engaging and allows for creativity in student work. There's no just getting by and not participating for any student - the teachers are too on it! The school has a warm, welcoming community--staff, teachers and parents-and much attention is paid to the social-emotional well being of the kids. EC mom
Your post reminded me of my girl a few years ago. She did well enough in school that no one paid too much attention when she started to not only disengage, but feel like it wasn't worth it to make the effort. Her teachers never quite knew why she played by herself most days. Nothing terrible happened, but nothing great did either. We saw her self-confidence plummet.
That all changed once she started at The Crowden School in Berkeley. The program integrates a chamber music curriculum with a full academic program. The students must work cooperatively and are actively engaged in the creative process and problem-solving whether rehearsing an ensemble piece, running a food drive, going over math homework, or designing background scenery for a performance. The academic program makes my daughter want to know and do more, and music has opened up an entire new world for her.
She entered the 5th grade with only a half year of lessons under her belt. The progress she has made with two hours of daily music instruction has been beyond anything I imagined for her. But the true difference is in her confidence. She takes leadership roles, speaks her mind, and feels safe to be herself. I consider her to be a fairly typical kid entering into the middle school years with all usual complaints about homework and a healthy dose of girl drama. But no matter what challenges she faces, she feels like the school has her back. She knows that teachers see her and she loves her classmates on good days and bad. I highly recommend taking a tour of the school to see both the music and academic classes. Since you mentioned it, they do have a financial aid process and if this is the right place for your daughter, you should go for it. Quiet Mouse Singing Now
Middle School for boy into history/philosophy
June 2013
My 5th-grade son is very interested in history, philosophy, and chemistry. I don't think that he is getting adequately stimulated in public school so we are considering private school. He could probably use a higher level class environment at this point. He's very low key and gets along well with others. He is very strong in math. Suggestions? We live in El Cerrito. Thank you very much. His Mom
Check out Black Pine Circle in Berkeley.
Black Pine Circle School in Berkeley sounds like it might be a good fit for your son. BPC is very strong in many areas, including history. They offer an 8th grade Philosophy class and 7th graders learn to ''map the world''. You also said your son is interested in Chemistry and strong in Math. BPC has an award-winning math team and a great hands-on science program. They even have a 3-D printer that students get to tinker with (think ''Maker Faire'' type activities). - parent of 2 BPC graduates
Yes, there is very little social science or lab science up to 5th grade in the state curriculum. In 6th grade, however, the curriculum extensively studies ancient civilizations, and more so when they get to 7th grade; 8th grade is US History.
I recommend attending an info night a Portola or making an appointment to speak to the 7th grade math, history and science teachers. You should come out surprisingly impressed. 7th grade advanced science at Portola is very good, with lots of time in the lab and hands-on work (chemistry, however, is not a big part of the 7th grade curriculum so he won't get much of that at any school, public or private). 7th grade history is a ton of work, studying ancient civiliazations, current events, and teen social issues; your son may be surprised that he can experience history and philosophy overload. At Portola, 7th grade advanced math is very structured with a lot of homework, and it gives an excellent foundation for Algebra I and II, Geometry, and the math required for high school Chemistry. There is also a placement test for students wishing to skip into 8th grade math. good luck
What language for middle school?
May 2013
My daughter's new middle school offers Spanish, French, Mandarin and Latin. I believe that the Spanish and French classes will include students who have taken the language through elementary school, but Latin & Mandarin are new to middle school. When she first looked at the school, she was very excited about Latin, which I think is a terrific (if difficult) language to learn, and I think it would help in terms of being able to understand much of the basis of our language. I probably would have taken it if it had been offered. My husband keeps pushing Spanish, which I also think is a great language to learn, with more opportunities to use it. The catch is that if she signs up for Latin, she's stuck for the next 3 years. I think she may be able to switch if she takes Spanish or French (though I may be wrong about that too)
Here's the question(s). Which language would you take, if you had the option? Or which would you advise your child to take? And why? Should she be taking Spanish now, before she's too far behind other kids, and so she'll be able to use it in the future? Which of the high schools offer Latin or Mandarin? I assume they all offer Spanish or French? We're probably looking at private high school: Bishop O'Dowd, St. Mary's, Head Royce, Bentley, College Prep. DO you know what those schools offer? Thanks for the feedback!
I would let your daughter choose. I think it's great that she's excited about Latin! Language lover who took Spanish, French AND German in HS
hello- to answer part of your question St Mary's is relatively small and offers only French & Spanish. Their Spanish 1 is good for total beginners. 3 years of Latin would be a fantastic background for easily picking up new vocabulary in Spanish (or many other languages) later. I don't know what the other private schools have, but bigger public schools can often offer more choices: Berkeley High has Mandarin and maybe Latin. El Cerrito High has Japanese- and maybe Latin. She could potentially continue Latin through summer program ATDP or a private school in Albany (I forget the name) which lets you take single courses outside of being enrolled elsewhere. anon.
How to decide which middle school?
Feb 2013
We are in the process of choosing a middle school for our son. I'd love to hear how other people make this decision. I've been talking with his teachers, visiting different schools, considering the tuition and possibly moving, reading books... I still don't know. My son just wants to go where his friends are going, but they're headed to a variety of places. How do you know what will be a good fit for your child until he's there already? Middle School Angst
Middle school is a big scary decision, and a lot of things may figure into it. We're in the first year of our middle school experience, and I'm still wondering if I've made the right decision. However, here's what I've learned thus far -- and none of this occurred to me before we got here:
1) I think one of the main purposes of middle school is to teach kids ''the rules'' of high school, in an atmosphere very like high school, but where grades don't matter in the long term (i.e. college selection). My son is very much a routine based kid -- and having several different teachers, with different routines (some have worksheets, some have homework notebooks, some have daily homework, some have occasional projects. etc.) has been a surprisingly difficult adjustment. We've had some poor grades just because assignments (completed and in his backpack) didn't get turned in; we've had a few last-minute slapped-together projects because he forgot to write down the due date. I also understand that this is very typical of sixth grade boys. So, we're working on the skills he needs to do well in multiple classes with multiple teachers. I am extremely glad he is not learning these lessons in high school!
2) My son went from a small, rather sheltered elementary school, to a large, pretty diverse middle school, and it's been a bit of a shock to him. He's still learning to cope with the behavior differences, the swearing and yelling in the hall between classes, the sheer number of kids here and the inevitable noise and jostling. Not overt bullying, more just sensory overload. It's surprisingly hard on him, and I'm really glad we're not making this adjustment for the first time at Berkeley High or Oakland Tech or some such.
So my advice would be this -- try to let your kid out into the big wide world to the extent that you can. Don't choose a small, sheltered private middle school unless your child has a real need (e.g. extreme sensitivity, serious ADHD or other learning difference, etc.). Pick someplace reasonably large and diverse, and make sure that the kids change classes and teachers throughout the course of the day. They'll have to learn these lessons sometime; let middle school be practice for high school, while the grades don't count. If they learn these skills now, they will have more options later. learning along with my kid
We looked at lots of middle schools (actually over both 4th and 5th grade, as we looked at public and private schools and thought about moving to another district). We had our daughter visit the schools we were most interested in when she was in 5th grade. Talk to lots of parents, read BPN reviews. See where your kid feels most comfortable and finally trust your gut, and know that if it doesn't work out you can change schools-even as early as the middle of 6th grade.
Choosing a middle school for our son was a similar experience - lots of research and also lots of angst about what the right decision is. There are number of very viable options out there to consider all of which have their own 'personality' or approach. For our son, we tried hard to consider his needs in middle school, but also the tool kit we'd like for him to have when entering high school. Our son is a balanced personality that can flow pretty easily between academics and the social scene he is in. We felt strongly that an environment that really focused on the convergence of academics, social involvement, cultural awareness and self awareness was key for him. Redwood Day School was our gut instinct when thinking about a fit for our son. We took multiple visits to other schools as well before committing and in the end, the balanced approach for our son we found at Redwood Day has proven to be such a great experience for him and for us.
I know that this process is a little gut wrenching at times, but you are doing the right thing by doing the research and asking the questions. But at the end of the day you know your child and have the best sense of how they may evolve, so trying to consider both the short term transition and the longer view of how middle school will prepare them to move forward is key. trust your instincts. Tamara
Private School for Quirky Middle-High Schooler
Feb 2013
I am looking for a private middle/high school in the Oakland/Berkeley/Contra Costa area that would be suitable for my quirky 7th grade son. He is intelligent and hardworking, though not an exceptional student (mostly Bs). He needs small classes and a good deal of personal attention. His strengths are in language arts and less so in math and science. Mostly, however, he has been unhappy and felt excluded from the social scene at his public school, which emphasizes sports and affluence. A school environment that accommodates different learning styles, and embraces, or at least tolerates differences, plus is affordable, would be ideal. Thanks in advance for any ideas. Concerned mom
I would encourage you to look at Contra Costa Jewish Day School in Lafayette. The school sounds like exactly what you are looking for. Don't know if you're Jewish, but the school has also had quite a few non-Jewish families. The middle school is very strong academically, very small classes, and lots of individual attention. Plenty of ''normal'' kids and ''quirky'' kids and they all seem to accept each other. The school promotes a culture of kindness and inclusion. Also, they have flexible tuition/financial aid which can make the school very affordable. We have been extremely happy with our experience there. Middle School Mom
Hi Concerned Mom! Saw your post and would like to recommend our son's school, The Berkeley School on University. We've been there since preschool and are pleased with how middle school is going thus far (my son is in 7th). What I really like about TBS' middle school program is that the classes are small and the attention from teachers is very individualized...my son has had more difficulty with language arts, and my husband and I have gotten very on-point feedback about this from his humanities teacher and practical suggestions for my son that he has actually taken and has improved (mostly participating in class, taking more time to clarify his thoughts about a particular book, etc). The school prioritizes a safe social environment...lots of discussion about bullying and why it's not helpful...and effective, gentle tracking of the kids' social interactions, as well as great parent support (I've attended at least one evening workshop on parenting kids in the digital age that was really helpful). TBS also places strong emphasis on different learning styles. Hope this helps. Kate
Hello 'Concerned Mom', I am the admissions director at Orinda Academy and I encourage you to check out our website, www.orindaacademy.org. We are a small college-prep, middle school and high school in Orinda. We have a unique middle school program that sounds like it would be a good fit for your 7th grade son. We have small class sizes, an average 7:1 student to teacher ratio. About 50% of our population has a mild to moderate learning difference, so our staff is experienced in helping students that need additional support and accommodations in the classroom. Our teachers utilize engaging teaching methods that benefit all learners. We also have a very inclusive environment where the students are accepting of 'quirky' kids and different learning styles. Please call or email me if you would like to learn more about our school or come in for a visit. You son can also come in and do a half day shadow visit in our middle school. Thank you, Laurel
Hi, Sorry your son's having a hard time - middle school sucks for a lot of kids. We were in your position at the end of Elementary school and looked at many private schools, as well as several of our local public schools.
I'll try to keep this objective so you don't dismiss my opinion, but believe me, it comes from research and experience: Private Schools are businesses. For all of their endless yapping about academic excellence, nurturing environments, Socratic learning and commitment to diversity - they are businesses. Private schools use their interview and orientation process to weed out any kid who looks even remotely like they will need more than average attention. Depending on what you mean by 'quirky' it's likely they may not be interested in your son.
They are looking for nice docile kids with solid academics that they can lift up a grade or two, so that the kid's happy parents will run around telling everyone what a great school they attend - that's free advertising. The level of sports-madness in different private schools varies a lot, but you will absolutely not be avoiding the affluence issue by going private.
If your son is already in 7th grade I would seriously consider toughing it out, at least through middle school. Kids who are not totally average stick out MORE in private schools. The social scene seems turbulent in all middle schools - long-standing friendships dissolving and new ones forming, along with the exciting hormonal drama.
We ended up going to our local public middle school. Judging by our kids peer group I don't think the academic or social outcome would have been much different if we had gone private. Interestingly, two different friends have moaned about how unresponsive their private schools have been when they have raised concerns about academic issues. We would also have been about $70k poorer if we had gone private.
Only you can decide what is best for your child, but when you look at private schools be very clear what you're getting into - it's a business transaction. Is the school genuinely offering a better experience than your public options? Maybe, maybe not. Best of luck. Public School Parent
Have I got a school for you! Both of my kids have been happy, accepted and well-educated at Archway School , in Berkeley. It has everything you're looking for: small classes, warm and accepting environment, personal attention, and, yes, as private schools go, reasonably affordable. I think it is that rare find -- a middle school program with solid academics but where the kids feel supported, accepted by their peers and with teachers who know them as human beings and individuals. Academically, the small size allows the teachers to offer challenges appropriate to each kid -- a kid with a particular interest in an area can get the chance to do some amazing things either as part of, or outside of, the usual curriculum. For a small school, it also serves a diverse population of kids. For many families it's been a place where they felt welcomed after having a hard time finding a good fit for their kids elsewhere.
It does not, alas, offer high school. (My older daughter, currently in her junior year in high school, wistfully said when she was figuring out where to go that she wished there were an Archway high school.) But it might be a good place for your son to spend the eighth grade year while you figure out what of the many many possibilities for high school would work best. Website: www.archwayschool.org, phone 510-849-4747 Kathy
Good middle school for boys
Nov 2012
Hello BPN Community. I am looking for a good middle school for my intelligent, curious, affable 5th grade boy. On paper the East Bay School for Boys is a perfect fit, but I'm not sure the reality there has caught up to their ultimate mission. (I think it will one day be a great school, but for me there are still a few too many rough edges.) My son has attended a perfectly fine public elementary school in Berkeley, and has had several exceptional teachers and a couple that weren't so good. His public middle school is King, and while I'm sure he would be fine there (my daughter graduated from King 3 years ago, so I have some experience with it) I would love to find a fresh, scintillating, progressive (hands-on? project based?) curriculum for these critical middle school years. I would love for him to be in an environment that nurtured his social and emotional intelligence, and gave him a break from what can be a deadening traditional public school curriculum. It doesn't have to be an all boys school. Any ideas? I would also love to hear from people whose sons have been successful at the East Bay School for Boys or at King. Thank you
Look at the Redwood Day School . I have two boys at RDS and specifically chose the school after doing a lot of reading about how far schools have tilted towards grils over the past 30 years (which frankly, they needed to do...though now that I am the mother of two boys, I can see how they have over tilted). Mom of 2 smart boys
You just described Park Day School exactly. My son is there now, we entered in 6th grade and I can safely say that the school provides precisely the environment you described. It has been a great experience for us and my son is thriving! Maggie
In your post you asked for parents who's sons were successful at the East Bay School for Boys and I am one of those parents so I felt inclined to share. When my son was ready to enter 6th grade I thought that he would be fine at another local school however the experience was far less than ideal for him and I felt like he needed an environment that was more hands on and project based, with an updated approach to technology and education, where he was thoughtfully engaged and encouraged to shine and to excel. I'm sure he would have been ok at another school but I wanted him to be more than ok. I wanted him to thrive and to feel confident and courageous while nurtured and guided to be an upstanding citizen. EBSB's mission is to empower the engaged, thoughtful, and courageous men of tomorrow and I wholeheartedly feel that they do just that. I've witnessed my son excel in Math and Language Arts and become incredibly engaged in his interactive online textbook for his World Cultures class. For the first time, he's excited about research and preparing his class presentations. In addition, he's made all kinds of new friends and is super excited to go to school each day. Not only that, EBSB moved into a new beautiful and centrally located facility. If you have any questions at all about their program I encourage you to contact the administration and get a list of parent references. Most of the parents that I know who have son's there will testify that it's the absolute best place around for them and are really very happy. Also, you may want to attend their next open house on December 6th. I hope this helps. Proud EBSB Parent
My eldest son went to The Berkeley School and my youngest son is currently enrolled there in the middle school. I highly recommend this school. It's truly warm and caring with a diverse community of students from all backgrounds. My sons really thrived, both intellectually and emotionally, in the vibrant and supportive classes. The teachers are devoted to helping all their students learn to their full potential. Check it out -- they offer tours throughout the year so that you can visit and see if The Berkeley School is a good fit for your child. I know how difficult it can be to find the right school and I wish you the best in finding one for your son! Lillian
Middle School with Small Class Size
Feb 2012
My kid is in public school and will enter 6th grade next August. I am looking for a middle school for her. She is struggling in school this year. She has mild / controlled ADD. Her school is an excellent public school but very academic and the class size is now over 30 students. My child started really struggling with the academics this year. Her grades dropped in 5th grade versus 4th grade (she used to get B+ and A- average and now in 5th grade she is getting C average and even some Ds). The school gives lots of homework every weekday which takes her twice as long to do as it should. She does not do any after school activities anymore and her self esteem is declining fast. I am so worried about middle school and high school. I am looking for a school with small class size and average academics but I do not seem to find one. Is there such a school (public or private)? I know that there are many academic private schools with small class size for highly achieving kids and small class size schools for kids with disabilities. Neither of these fit my child. I am looking for a mainstream school with challenging academics but not too hard. I am willing to pay for private school and commute to Berkeley, Lamorinda, Walnut Creek or even Danville/San Ramon. Can someone recommend such a school or it just does not exist.
There are many private middle schools in the area with small class sizes. There is a wide range of schools in terms of who they look for as students and what their approach is. I'd start at the EBISA (East Bay Independent School Association) website: ebisaca.org. It provides links to all its member schools, which is most if not all east bay secular schools. Then I'd start by looking at each school's website, and visit the ones you are interested in. Some might have openings now if you want to make a mid-year change.
You should consider looking into the middle school program at Montessori Family School in El Cerrito. It's a small class size and the kids are encouraged to learn and develop in the directions that are right for them. In the high-speed bay area, MFS provides a welcome respite for kids to be kids during this critical time. Laura
Middle schools with different philosophies
Feb 2012
We are going through the 'middle school crazies' and I wondered about our potential choices. We are looking at two different schools with two different philosophies. One is Beacon Day school - relaxed, small, block scheduling, less homework and mastery of a subject before moving on. The other Head Royce - more academic, exciting curriculum, fast paced, rigorous, more homework. If you have had any experience of either school, how did it work out? Did the different approaches end up being a good or not so good thing. How important was the homework thing for instance? Our son is creative, quiet, sensitive, loves reading etc. I'd love to hear from parents who have been through all this and can let me in on your golden nuggets of wisdom!! We are also interested in North Oakland Charter school. Cheers. Parent of a soon to be middle schooler
I have a student in the upper school at NOCCS and it in no way can compare with Beacon or Head Royce! NOCCS kids and families are great, but the upper school program is still new and they have yet to find their rhythm. Depending on which school your child is coming from, this could be a huge disappointment or business as usual.
Are there classmates going to Beacon or Head Royce? That's a huge bonus. The social needs of kids at this age are an important consideration.
While you are touring the various schools pay close attention to where the kids look the happiest and most engaged. Good luck!
Did you look into the East Bay Waldorf School? They have a wonderful middle school. The teachers are dedicated and the holistic curriculum is dynamic, interesting and alive. My daughter will be a sixth grader next year and loves her teacher and the school. She is challenged but the curriculum which really addresses her creative side. She draws, paints and acts out the subject matter on a daily basis. The campus is beyond beautiful, the natural setting and huge play fields are really wonderful. The students hike around the neighboring Wildcat Canyon Reserve and study both German and Spanish, music, movement, science, math, composition, history, practical and fine arts. In middle school they will learn metal forging, copper working, physics, chemistry, Shakespeare, woodworking, history from ancient Rome to current times, and so much more. You should really look into the East Bay Waldorf School. EBWS Mom and loving it!
Under its new administration St. Jerome's in El Cerrito is modifying its junior high philosophy and creating a bit of a school within a school. Next year the 6th, 7th and 8th graders will rotate among three classrooms (currently the 7th and 8th rotate among two classrooms). As the parent of a current 8th and 6th grader -- we are excited for the future. St. Jerome's is small and welcoming and the kids are very caring towards each other. The environment feels much safer than the public options and the cost (registration and tuition around $7k for one child, $11.5K for two and $16.5K for three or more) is much better than the independent school options. The school will be holding a junior high information night soon -- check their website for details.
We love the school (we have been there for 7 years and have a 1st and 3rd grader also) and know that they have room for junior high students. SJCS Parent
Where does your middle-schooler go to school?
Jan 2012
I am trying to get a head start on the whole middle school issue (my daughter is currently in fourth grade at an Oakland charter elementary school which I love) and I am already feeling totally frustrated by the options I am seeing. So I thought I would put it out to the community.... Where does your middle schooler go to school? At this point I am interested in any public or private (but not religiously affiliated) school in oakland/emeryville/berkeley. Thanks for any info you can pass on. Mara
All three of my kids went to MLK Middle School in Berkeley and loved it. They got good academic preparation for Berkeley High, made lots of friends, and participated in after school activities. There is a lot going on at King for lots of different types of kids. Check it out. happy in BUSD
Go to the EBISA fairs next fall. They are announced in the BPN newsletter. Also check out the schools in the BPN website. There are lots of private middle schools in Oakland and nearby, both K-8, and 6-8 (Julia Morgan School for Girls, and the East Bay School for Boys), and K-12. Some people also go to the Oakland School for the Arts (public, but you have to audition). anon
Hi, my daughter will be attending 6th grade at Escuela Bilingue Internacional . It is a Spanish/English bilingual international school that offers the International Baccalaureate curriculum. The children also learn Mandarin as a third language. Students wanting to enroll however must have grade level proficiency in Spanish. This is the first year they will have middle school. My daughter has been at the school since Kindergarten and our daughter is happy and loves school. The kids in her class get along really well and the school addresses concerns quickly and thoroughly. If your child speaks Spanish you should definitely come and check it out. We are having an information session about Middle School this Saturday at 10:30am. at 4550 San Pablo Ave. in Emeryville. Liza
Our son goes to Willard Middle School in Berkeley. He is in the 6th grade and absolutely loves it. The teachers are dedicated and talented. The music/drama program is amazing. The sports program is fantastic and growing. They have gardening/cooking, plenty of field trips, after school enrichment classes and access to computers. A very nice library and librarian. They have P.E. every day and a sweet, well-supervised campus. The principal is very connected with the kids and seems to have a great rapport with his teaching staff. He didn't know very many kids as he came from out of district but quickly connected with other 6th graders during the first week of school. Berkeley Parent
My middle-schooler, a boy who was having social difficulties in BUSD, has been very happy at Black Pine Circle School. BPC is strong in academics, but we have especially appreciated the staff focus on promoting kind interactions between kids. About half the 6th graders are usually new to BPC, with the other half attending since elementary school. Very pleased with BPC
Middle School for son with advanced math & science
Oct 2011
We are beginning to look at middle schools for our son. We are wanting private middle school that will support his advanced math and science.
He is currently taking Algebra as a fifth grader and he he is taking human anatomy astronomy and chemistry as a fifth grader.
He is a mature student who works well with other students as well as adults. His elementary school has him switching classes several times a day so that will not be a difficult transition.
Any Suggestions? Are middle schools all the same?
Since we were in a very good district, we tried public kindergarten for our daughter after 3 years of preschool at our Temple. K was fine so we continued there to first grade. This school's API rating is in the 900s. We volunteered to ''help out'' at math time once a week and what we saw caused us to look for a private school for our child - and she started in third grade at Bentley School , K-8, which is located at the bottom of Hiller Highlands (Oakland/Berkeley border). No school is perfect but we got the main thing we were looking for - a school to challenge our daughter academically. She continued there through middle school (6, 7, 8). The classes are small which can be good, and can be bad!
Then we made the mistake of deciding to send her to the local public, very highly rated high school, for 9th grade. After a month it became clear that in fact Bentley K-8 school does prepare students 1-2 years ahead of the public schools academically. She was bored and not challenged at all. We quickly fixed that mistake and sent her to Bentley High school after about a month at the public high school.
In summary, Bentley K-8 school teaches 1-2 years ahead of the public schools, so if your child is not challenged and likes academics, I would highly recommend Bentley, and the high school seems great so far! (Bentley high school is in Lafayette). Anon
You should look at The Athenian School out in Danville. They place kids in math based on ability, not by grade level. They are a 6-12 school, and definitely have 6th graders in Advanced Algebra, Geometry and higher. I don't know how they will address his ability in science, but you could discuss that with the school. There is a bus that has stops in Berkeley and Oakland, so you don't have to drive out there every day. It's an amazing school in many ways, their math placement policy is only one great aspect. Athenian Parent
Our academically advanced and intellectually motivated kid has been very happy at Black Pine Circle Middle School. It you have a kid who likes working hard, is motivated, and would enjoy being surrounded by a lot of very bright and motivated kids, it is a great fit. The only complaint I hear about the school is that the kids are expected to do a lot of work. That being said, the work is interesting, the teachers are really tremendous, and the work pays off in what the kids gain intellectually. BPC parent
The Athenian School in Danville assigns kids to math classes based on their ability rather than their grade level. It is has grades 6-12, so there should be lots of flexibility for him.
I'd like to recommend The Berkeley School (formerly Berkeley Montessori School) for your son.
Both of our boys were quite engaged math and science students, as well as accomplished classical musicians (something about that math/music connection seems very real to me), and we found the school a wonderful nest of nurturing, with structure, a good social environment, and plenty of room for individual growth as well as group learning and group projects.
My boys went to TBS from preschool through grade 8. The academics prepared them extremely well for any high school they wanted to attend, and the environment, which I treasured dearly, and believe is equally important, allowed them to remain safely inside of childhood for just a tiny bit longer -- avoiding the over-sexual-ized, over-consumer-ized and media-blitzed reality of life -- for just a couple more years.
One son graduated from The College Preparatory School and the other from Lick-Wilmderding High School (very much their choices). One just graduated from UCLA with his degree Chemical Engineering (just because it ''sounded interesting'') and was recruited by Google where he now works (nothing at all to do with ChemE, he's followed his passion for technology). Our other son is a bio-medical engineering major at UC Davis, where he has discovered philosophy and viticulture. Therefore, I'd say they were both well-prepared for whatever step came next in their lives. (Really, with very little help from us - two parents who are liberal arts graduates who can barely solve an algebraic equation). Both of them could have gone to private/very expensive Ivy League colleges, and both, with our encouragement, chose University of California campuses, for which our bank accounts shall be eternally grateful.
I look back on all the school choices for the boys and I have the most nostalgia for TBS and what a wonderful place it was for our kids and our family. It was a sweet time with so much learning, growing, and happiness.
What more could you want? One Lucky Mama
Creative Welcoming School for 6th Grader?
March 2008
We're looking for a new school for my son who is currently in 5th grade. It has become evident he needs a more creative, progressive, open school and classroom group. This is the type of kid who would rather write a song or ride a unicycle than play soccer. Academically, he is an A and B student, with no major learning differences. I have read all the recommendations in the archives and we are looking at places like Waldorf, Archway, Black Pine Circle and Park Day. I realize the class he would go in with has a lot to do with it and his shadow visits would give us a lot of info. Does anyone have any other places to recommend or advice/experience to offer on the schools we're investigating? Joan
The Academy , on Benvenue in Berkeley, may be the school you are looking for. The school is small, one class of 16 students max per grade, academically high-achieving - in fact, hands down the best academics in the East Bay - and full of interesting children with all sorts of off-beat interests. In our experience the smaller student population is one of the school's greatest assets - it means that individual personalities are embraced by teachers and students. We ourselves were looking for a school where our 'different' child could stay different - thanks goodness for The Academy!!! love our school
I believe that NOCCS is a creative & welcoming school for 6 grade. juli
Joan, Have you considered visiting the Pacific Boychoir Academy in Oakland? A middle school for boys in grades 4-8, the academic curriculum is designed specifically for boys, applying approaches such as Levin's ''One Mind at a Time'' and Gurian's ''Minds of Boys.'' The boys not only graduate and move onto schools such as College Preparatory School, Bishop O'Dowd, Athenian and Bentley, but they become some of the word's best singers for their age. For more information you can visit http://www.pacificboychoir.org/academics.html Best wishes, Fernando
Beacon Day School in Oakland is exactly that. The middle school is small and expertly run. The head of school and teachers all know exactly where each child is; the social environment is considered quite important and everyone is welcomed with open arms. The kids seem happy and open and engaged. They might be full for next year already but you could get on their waiting list. Parent of happy elementary student
Private middle school for arts and sports?
Feb 2007
My daughter(10) loves the arts(drawing) and sports(track), is very good at both and is getting much encouragement by teachers and coaches to pursue further in these areas. She also benefits personnaly from both. The sport helps her self-esteem,is a great outlet for her energy and brings her much fun. The art is a great way for her to relax or work through her emotions. She currently goes to a public school (4th grade) where the focus is on math, english and testing. There is no support for her desire to do art or sport. She is not a top performer in terms of grades, but she does not have a learning disability and the potential to be on top of her class has been recognized by all of her teachers.
I am considering finding a private school where there is more of a balance between academic achievement and support for arts and sports. I also think that she would be doing better academically if she was given a more rounded education instead of constant pressure to test well. Can anyone recommend a private school where she could start in the 5th grade and does not have to be a A+ student? Since my daughter is African American I would also prefer a more diverse school. Thank You so much for taking the time to reply. anonymous
Catholic schools have great athletic programs year 'round, inlcuding track and field and cross country. Also, they seldom focus on testing. I'm not sure how much art is done - I think that varies from school to school. If you live in Berkeley, Albany or El Cerrito, you might want to check out the School of the Madeleine at St Mary Magdelene's. It is diverse with respect to ethnicity and religion. Anon
Might I suggest Beacon ? It sounds like a great fit for your daughter. They provide a fabulous developmental foundation for all academics; they take their time and can afford to do so because it is year-round. They have 240 instructional days vs. 180 in public or other independent schools, and for the same tuition as other independent schools. They take great pains to make sure each step is mastered before the child goes on to the next step. By 7th grade kids on average test 2 grades above averages. They have a big arts program too. You would not get the sports there; she would have to pursue track in another venue. But she could go to 4th-8th grade there and then go on to high school. Happy Beacon mom
Finding a school mid-year for daughter who was suspended
Feb 2004
My duaghter has been suspended from her middle school and the school district will not place her in another school in the district. She has been placed in an alternative school called Diablo Day School. We have heard that this school is for students with sever problems and my daughter does not fit that category. Since it is late in the year, we are having a hard time find an Independent school that will accept her. Any advice on schools that will be willing to take her, or other options?
Running Out of Options
To the parent of the middle school girl who was suspended and can't attend another school in her district -- You don't mention where you live, but you might try North Bay Orinda School (it's across the street from the old JFK University campus).
Dear Running Out of Options...
There are always more options! Some, however, may require thinking outside of the box and beyond the obvious. Any suggestions that I would have would depend on having more details about your daughter's situation.
What happened to create this situation? Was she just suspended (as your posting states) or actually expelled from the district? What district do you live in? How far are you willing to commute? How much can you afford? Are you open to boarding school or homeschool options? What are your daughter's needs and interests?
Quickly, there are two middle schools in the East Bay that are often a bit more flexible in taking in new students. I can not say that they have space right now, but they would be worth checking out...Community School of the East Bay and East Bay School for Music and the Arts. Both are small independent middle schools.
Should you require further information about alternative programs, please be in touch.
Wanda
Children's Learning Center in Alameda is a private school that handles kids with a variety of issues. They have two sites: elementary and a combined middle/high school. Talk to Gus Psara, the director, at 769-7100, about whether it's a good match for your daughter and whether they have any openings now. Good luck. Nancy
Maybe Prospect Sierra? There seemed to be some scope for "coloring outside the lines" there (I have a recent grad) but of course as I'm sure you realize, almost all schools have to have structure. You might want to tour a few to get more granular about what you're looking for.
My kiddo has anxiety issues and we found Aurora School to be a warm and kind environment. My kid (and we) loved going to school and we miss Aurora very much. Aurora is very strong on social emotional curriculum. Academics are engaging and individualized. School meets each child where they are at.
Of course, schools need structure but Aurora is very accepting of children’s different needs. I never got a sense that the school is educating future workers / cogs in a machine. I feel that Aurora excels at helping kids find their voice and be comfortable in their own skin, loving and accepting who they are while fostering empathy for others.
My anxious child has graduated Aurora but we look back and feel that it was a wonderful and nurturing environment where my kid discovered so many things. We joined Aurora in 3rd grade and families join in 4th or even 5th. We have also seen families join in mid-year. Making friends is easy. The current 4/5 teachers are incredible! My kid said, by far, their 4/5 teacher was the best teacher they have ever had and they think they will ever have!
Aurora has a very unique project based middle school program.
I second the recommendation for Aurora. The school prioritize cultivating a lifelong love of learning. They are also extremely good at meeting kids where they are. Some of this may be a function of the mixed grade structure. For example, my daughter's K-1 class has kids ranging from almost 5 to almost 8 so they have a lot of practice serving kids in a wide spectrum. It's a warm environment where everyone knows your kid almost immediately. There have been multiple families that moved from other schools mid-year or at the end of a year and the kids did great adjusting.
We picked Park Day School because we were seeking a similar philosophy to what you describe. So far it’s going great, although admittedly, we are new this year and it’s only been a few weeks. But from having met several school alumni throughout the school selection process, that was the vibe I got - they seemed so down to earth, self-assured, and well adjusted (and that was what stood out about them - not their academic accolades). On the whole it seems the school emphasizes meeting kids where they are.
You might want to check out Crestmont School. It is a small K-8 co-op and has a very community-minded and unique approach to education. I like the innovative project-based curriculum, the many hands-on community events, the dedicated teachers, the creative activities (tinkering at recess, peace bench, multi-grade bonding, flea markets) and the neighborhood-style after school program. A common thing I hear from other parents is their kid feels really seen here. Also, the kids are allowed to move and be in their bodies, they regularly have lessons outside, and they take monthly field trips.
My daughter went to Park Day school (K-8) and I feel it was great for socio-emotional development (I am a psychologist). It felt family like, but large enough at the same time. For HS , we moved to Albany, and Albany HS as pleasantly surprised me in this regard as well, especially given the reputation that I had heard.
Hi I would look into berkwood hedge. The school has been around a long time and is very dedicated to wellbeing and meets students where they are at. If you want academics they definitely have it but their focus on the holistic child is unparalleled. We have a 1st and 3rd grader there and every day they are excited to go to school and I honestly cannot imagine them being anywhere else. The teachers know everyone in the school and the parent community is very tight. Just go to a community meeting on a wednesday and you’ll see
Take a look at Walden Center & School! My kiddo started there in kindergarten. I was looking for a school where he would have a sense of self-direction and education flowing from his own curiosity, and where people respected and nurtured the unique possibilities of every human being, rather than being caught up in ranking and evaluation. I was impressed by someone’s comment that “everyone who went to Walden is doing what they came on this Earth to do.” And I knew my kiddo in particular would not do well with the sort of rules that are imposed just to reduce the chaos of taking care of lots of kids (e.g., sit at the lunch table only facing forward).
This is our third year at Walden, and it has lived up to my hopes. The school is very small, around 12 per class. The teachers and staff know every kid, and they are kind and dedicated and skilled. Kids know people in other grades and move freely around most of campus at recess and lunch. The school celebrates differences and individual initiative and creativity--really the opposite of training kids for an assembly line! There is time at recess and lunch to come up with creative games and endeavors (I think I remember a newspaper, a salon?) and those are celebrated. At the end of the year, teachers solicit ideas for units from the kids they’ll have next, so they get to see their own questions reflected in the curriculum. Walden also has an arts focus, so kids have visual art, drama, and music classes each twice a week, all of which my kiddo enjoys. In Spring the upper group (grades 4-6) puts on a play. At graduation last year, I was so impressed by the depth with which the teachers talked about individual kids; it made me feel that Walden teachers give kids the amazing gift of being truly seen.
Anyway, take a look! Walden is K-6 at present, but a committee is working toward the goal of adding 7-8 in 2026.
We had very similar concerns, and did some investigating and found Prisma, which serves kids from 4th-12th grade. We've tried multiple schools, and Prisma has by far been the best fit for our bright, sensitive middle schooler. It's not quite homeschool, not quite online school; the kids are placed into cohorts with a mentor coach, who is a credentialed teacher. They have about 1.5 hours of cohort meetings M-Th, as well as daily math. The rest of the time is asynchronous and spent exploring a 6 week-long learning cycle. Kids don't get grades, but earn badges and get detailed feedback from their mentor coach. The best thing is each cycle, the kid gets to choose how they want to engage with the cycle theme, and produce something that they then present to their cohort and family. It's been amazing for our student, and we fully intend for them to continue with Prisma through high school. I've had reservations about "social emotional development" language, but the kids I've seen at Prisma really do learn how to support and advocate for themselves and each other, and they're given the freedom to pursue their curiosity. The school is accredited and also meets all Common Core, NGSS, etc. standards, and I've been impressed by how often the faculty solicits and incorporates feedback. They also make all their teaching materials available to parents. We're no longer in the Bay Area, but I think there are at least a few Prisma families in the East Bay, and a greater number between Oakland/SF/San Jose. There are in-person get-togethers, and also travel opportunities for Prisma kids/families in the US and abroad.
I resonate very much with what you wrote. I wanted to reply to say that I wonder if you have considered looking at school as “the real world” and seeing an advantage to helping your kids grow into their best, happiest selves while also being in real-world school. I have twin 12-year-olds who attend a large public middle school. Most of the other kids have phones (and stare at them all day) - my kids don’t have them and don’t want them. Lots of kids are crazy overcommitted in afterschool activities - my kids aren’t - by their own choosing, because they see the effect it has. My daughter told me a story day before yesterday about a class exercise the teacher did asking if you would rather be “the worst player on the best team” or “the best player on the worst team.” Only she and one other kid chose to be the worst players, because they thought they would learn more. I’m not saying all this to brag on my kids, but to say that I think if you raise your kids to love themselves, trust themselves, and stay true to themselves, their mental health can thrive in any school. And also they will be strong enough to know that they are “outside of the norm” and feel just fine about that.
My kids attended an OUSD public school for K-5 that sounds an awful lot like what you describe... lots of lip service paid of "social emotional development" and "community" but just not enough adults in the building to do anything but prison-style crowd control. Uuuuuuuugh.
We wound up choosing Prospect Sierra for them for grades 6-8, and it definitely has an approach that is more aligned with what you're describing. Like in OUSD, there are lots of deeply caring and thoughtful educators at the school, but unlike in OUSD, they had institutional support and freedom to implement policies that truly build community and honor the uniqueness of each kid. And there is just a smaller kid-to-adult ratio that allows for everyone to get to know the kids much better. One example that comes to mind... the 7th grade science teacher has a philosophy that kids need to learn science, but it's OK if it takes them a few tries or they can't quite do it on her proposed timeline. She does not punish kids for turning in things late as long as they communicate about it. And kids are allowed to re-do any assignment they want as many times as they want until they achieve their desired level of mastery. My now-high schooler learned plenty in that class but got to be free of academic anxiety while learning. It was great. My child is now an honors student on an accelerated pace in science at a highly regarded local private high school. So there was no conflict between those policies and "academic rigor," as far as I can tell.
Lots more similar examples at Prospect... check it out! It's a very sweet, smart school run by some very thoughtful people. Love that place.
I love what you wrote and it resonates with the experiences and values of our family/kids. We moved out of the and are suburbs. This goes here are supposed to be. We are supposedly in a school district of choice, but still feels like what you are describing.
My experience is 30-50 years old, and from the east coast. I went to a Waldorf school, where the overall spiritual health of the child was paramount. My skills happened to be academic, which wasn't super stressed, and it worked out very well for me. As for my son, he went to Montessori for 6 years, in a school whose motto was "follow the child". Academics were not stressed, no grades were given, and he still managed to succeed quite well academically. These two methodologies require teachers trained in them for them to be any good. We were lucky and got excellent schools.
We have been very happy with Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley. I feel like my kids avoided getting indoctrinated or "soul crushed" in the way you described and I have always found the culture to be a nice balance of high expectations matched with meeting the kids where they are. I think there is maybe something about the multi-cultural/bilingual situation that has drawn families with diverse aspirations for their kids - of course some parents hope for Stanford but I hear you, that's not what I was after and I haven't felt alone in that at EB. They have been adding more entry points for non-french speakers in case it wasn't on your radar because of the french language. When our oldest started (who's in HS now) there weren't as many onramps into the school but things have changed.
Hi Anne,
I am a therapist in public schools in Oakland and understand your concern that children are first and foremost being taught to comply. Class size and behavioral issues in those classes really forces teachers to focus more on discipline than SEL concerns. My son is currently at Berkwood Hedge in Berkeley and we couldn't be happier with how the school prioritizes our child's wellbeing. We were turned on to the school by a preschool teacher who thought it would be a good fit for our shy and sensitive son. We loved that the curriculum is unit based with the kids taking a deep dive into a wide range of subjects each year. There is a lovely balance of art and music and language. And this year the school added wood shop to the weekly specials the kids rotate through. I can't say enough about the quality of the teachers and the creativity used to draw the kids into learning. My kid loves going to school every day and feels like he's a part of a community. I can see that many of the values that we hold as a family are reinforced at school which feels so important as the kids are there all day long! Feel free to contact me directly if you'd like to talk more.
This wouldn't work for your middle school needs, but Walden Center & School in central Berkeley goes through 6th grade, and is absolutely what you're looking for otherwise. The school focuses strongly on socioemotional learning and community building within the entire school (within classes, across grades, and among teachers and parents too - they really walk the talk!). The school is run by a teacher collective on a consensus basis (they've been doing this for 65+ years, so they know how to have it work really well), and that lays the groundwork for the rest of the school community to embrace a similar approach to managing relationships with others. Classroom rules are discussed and decided on by consensus by the students and teachers at the start of every year, and the teachers devote time during morning classroom circles to proactively discuss how to advocate for themselves with others, communicate with kindness, be a good friend, etc. They also, of course, discuss issues that they see coming up in the classroom with that particular set of kids.
Most of the curriculum pulls on this thread as well - for example, my older kid's 2nd grade class last year had a set of projects on the theme of accessibility - they read about the Paralympics and the athletes who participate in it, studied whether the school grounds meet accessibility guidelines, and then worked on pretend "Client Briefs" where they designed homes to meet the needs of different individuals (e.g. what would someone with an electric wheelchair and a service dog need - an appropriate sized garage for their van, a backyard for the dog, electric plug points for the wheelchair, etc.). These projects involved lots of grade-level appropriate math, reading, social studies, engineering, etc - all while connecting to real issues that the kids see in their community. Right now my 1st grader is working on a lot of phonetics (which the teacher makes so fun for the kids somehow! maybe via magic) AND she's coming home talking about how while our family doesn't celebrate Hanukkah (we celebrate Christmas), some of her classmates do, and the way they share about their celebrations is a Window into seeing another person's life, and how that sharing is an important gift that someone can give you. And that there are things within the celebration of Hanukkah that Mirrors things our family does during our winter holidays (e.g. lighting candles), and how cool is that? (all direct quotes from my very chatty 6 yo who is already excited for the winder holidays! :D) I really love the Window/Mirror language that they use to ground these topics with the younger kids.
Finally, the school also has a strong arts focus, which allows for kids to shine in different ways than they might in more academic classes, and helps build the school & classroom communities. There are dedicated teachers for visual arts, music, drama & movement, and Spanish (all kids get two periods of all four every week). I think these classes really help back all of the socioemotional learning - for example, they work on improv in drama (building more skills each year), which includes ideals like figuring out how to "yes and" the ideas that your classmate throw out, and how to care for each other as an ensemble.
Anyway, sorry for the book, but I truly believe that Walden is doing an incredible job in this area with their school philosophy and curriculum, and I highly encourage you to explore it as an option. My kids love going to school.
Crestmont School in the Richmond Hills checks all your boxes! There are many reviews of the school on BPN already, I encourage you to have a look. My son attended K-4th and had a wonderful experience. They are truly child centered and care deeply about the social emotional growth of the kids. Projects and class work are creative and meaningful, no “teaching to the test”.
https://www.crestmontschool.org
We enrolled our daughter at Crowden School in Berkeley as she was starting the 4th grade. We had an unpleasant experience in a public school setting; there were nearly 40 kids in her classroom, she received almost no attention from faculty, and bullying had started to rear its ugly head. Crowden has been an entirely positive situation. The classes are small, the faculty and staff know every single kid in every grade, and the curriculum has been substantial in quality but not overwhelming, with teachers emphasizing critical thinking rather than hours of busywork and homework. My very sensitive kid has flourished here; she learned more in her first year there than the sum of all her years at the previous one, and is being challenged daily without being overwhelmed and frustrated. Her art skills have grown substantially, and her cello playing has become quite listenable. She has developed a friend group made up of very sweet kids and knows all the kids in the school. I would highly recommend taking a tour.
We looked at Aurora School, Berkwood Hedge, and Park Day School (listed in alphabetically order, not in our preference) carefully and chose one. All of them have a middle school. Park Day's middle school program has been around longer. Aurora's and Berkwood Hedge's middle school program is newer. Aurora and Berkwood middle schools join together to form a team for after school sports. I think all three are excellent schools that allow kids to be kids, explore their own interests, and develop empathy, kindness, and creativity. I feel that the small size and excellent adult to child ratio are what allow these schools to practice what they preach (social emotional, community, progressive education).
We switched from public school to one of these schools and never looked back. We really wanted to find a place for our kid to be happy, change their outlook about school, and have fun. After the switch, our kid changed from "I hate school" to "I love school".
Like you, we don't care if our kid goes to Harvard or whatever. Our kid is turning out to be academic, but completely by choice, and has been able to go into subject matters while also receiving advanced and differentiated instruction in math. There is absolutely no pressure to perform academically. We have never asked about homework. There is no letter grade and very minimal homework for upper grades. We joined in the upper grade, so we don't know what it's like in the lower grades but if the upper grade homework level is any indication, I imagine there's no homework in the lower grades except reading.
I encourage you to look into these schools. All of them offer financial aid, if that's a concern.
I'd also look at St. Paul's in Oakland (which isn't a religious school, name notwithstanding!) They've long had a focus on scaffolding kids' social-emotional skills, but this year they've added a team of four staff members focused specifically on community wellness, student life, community-engaged learning, and diversity, equity, and belonging who are partnering with the school's mental health team to support both kids and adults on campus. It's a new model so still TBD how it will shape the student experience, but the staff who moved into the new roles have been leading that work at the school for many years. The educational approach leans progressive (e.g., cross-disciplinary group projects, hands-on learning in nearby parks, student-led conferences, etc.) and kids are asked to take ownership of their own learning, especially as they get into upper elementary and middle school. We've been happy with the balance there between academic rigor and kids' wellbeing.
We love Aurora, and feel that it would be an excellent fit for what you are seeking. We've found Aurora to be a place that encourages independent thinking, honors individual differences, and balances academics with the arts. Each grade explores a theme (e.g. power), and the lessons are taught in an interdisciplinary and integrated way. This allows the teachers to go deep on certain topics, and the students to make meaningful connections across curricular areas. The kids at Aurora value kindness, differences, collaboration, creativity, goofiness, innovation, intelligence, etc...meaning that whoever you are, there is a place for you to be celebrated, and it all goes way beyond compliance or cookie cutter education. You can reach out for my information if you’d like to ask specific questions.
If you have a daughter I highly recommend looking at Julia Morgan School for Girls for middle school. I have a child who is intelligent and inquisitive but also found our local (highly rated) public schools to be designed to crush that curiosity rather than encourage it. Also, I felt their lipservice to social emotional development and inclusive community was just that. We looked at many schools for middle school (Park Day, Head Royce, Redwood Day, Aurora, several others, our local public and charters...) and felt Julia Morgan was the best for the academic and social development and environment we were looking for, as well as encouraging intellectual curiosity and growth. We felt it was the one school that maintained the academic rigor we wanted but not in a homogeneous, competitive, or "teach to the test" way. We have been so happy with the school, the teachers, the way the "get" my kid and push her to grow and do her best work for her (not grade based but recognizing her strengths and pushing her to excel in those areas, not just do enough to get good grades). They encourage her to take risks, speak up in class, and stretch beyond her comfort zone (but gently). For example in 6th grade they each write (and publish) a novel, and spend a week on Peace Games (their version of Model UN) which my daughter loved. In music they are learning to compose music (among other things) and she is now working on a song she is composing for class. The STEAM class and projects are awesome, and the art she has produced in art class is byond what I would have ever imagined. I've also been impressed with how well the teachers know and care about the students personally, and how they really walk the walk on school culture and inclusion. They really do a lot of groundwork to cultivate the culture (multiple days of orientation focused on building community before academics start). It also helps that it's only middle school, so your child won't be entering a school where majority of the students have been together since kindergarten, and the entire staff is really focused on what students at that age need. We liked components of many other schools but often seemed we had to choose between a school that fostered creativity and social emotional growth and inclusive community vs strong academic growth and challenge. Julia Morgan was the only one we found that we thought was good at all of the pieces. Some other options that I can't speak to from personal experience might be worth looking at: Prospect Sierra, Black Pine Circle, Aurora, East Bay School for Boys, Park Day (Aurora, East Bay School for Boys, and Park Day stronger on the social/emotional and inclusive community/safe space, Black Pine Circle and Prospect Sierra stronger on more challenging academics)
I know you're asking about schools that would be a good fit, but it can be helpful to also know where to NOT look too. Our family picked Redwood Day for many of the reasons you described. We were disappointed by the culture, which we felt paid lip service towards social emotional development and community, but did not deliver. The academics were simultaneously not challenging for our child and "talked up" by the teachers and administration in ways that felt self-important and disconnected from reality. Resolving challenges with the administration and teachers was difficult. We, along with 1/4 of our grade, left the school after our experience last year. Now that we have experience with another elementary school, we see the problems at Redwood Day more clearly. It can be hard to figure out whether schools are being honest and reflective about their program and culture, which makes picking a school difficult. I hope this information is helpful in your search!