Duck's Nest on Telegraph
Community SubscriberOakland, CA
- This preschool was previously on Broadway where it was called Duck's Nest School of Arts and Sciences
- Also see Duck's Nest Berkeley and Duck's Nest Oakland on 41st St.
Parent Q&A
Parent Reviews
Parents, please Sign in to post a review on this page.My mixed race kiddo had a great experience at Duck’s Nest Telegraph. I would guess it averages about 20-30% Black/mixed kids, depending on the class (in our class of 20 last year, I think there were 4 or 5 Black or mixed kids; the year before it was a much smaller cohort due to Covid, and I think it was 4 kids out of 10). My kid is also gender expansive and the school was extremely supportive on that front- one of the directors has personal experience with a gender expansive family member, and the school does trainings with Gender Spectrum, so that was another huge benefit for us.
We have had a wonderful experience at Duck's Nest. The environment and the teachers are superb. I can confirm that enrollment is difficult, perhaps flexibility on days and part-time can increase your chances. Feel free to contact me directly if you have specific questions on the school.
Regarding your concerns around naptime, I can also confirm that other families struggle with this - especially through the transition of dropping naps! Prior to enrolling in pre-school, I'd advise you to research state regulation as well as school policies around offering undistracted rest (nap) time.
Our son has attended Duck's Nest (Arts and Sciences, Rockridge/Broadway campus) for the past 7 months and we could not be happier. The staff is incredibly nurturing and creative, and the facilities are very homey and welcoming. Our son has matured a great deal during his time there, and he just loves being at school!
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Duck's Nest School of Arts and Sciences
Oct 2013
I cannot imagine a better preschool than Duck's Nest (Broadway campus). The teachers (especially Ms. Lilia) are wonderful, warm, and truly gifted in their ability to understand, appreciate, and relate to children. While many schools say that they focus on social and emotional development, the teachers at Duck's Nest are really skillful in helping children grow in these areas and develop compassion and self confidence. The school's approach of observing the kids and building ''lessons'' around their interests seemed to be a great fit for our high energy, ''spirited'' son. I was always impressed with the range of fun, engaging, and creative projects the teachers came up with. It seemed that every morning there was something new and interesting set up for the kids to explore. The classrooms and outdoor space are very well designed and provide a creative environment for kids to play, learn, rest, and get some energy out. Finally, the school did a lot (i.e. holiday celebrations, field trips, picnics, etc.) to foster a sense of community among the families. It is really a magical place! I will always be grateful for all that Duck's Nest did for my son and our family. Happy Duck's Nest parent
Feedback on Duck's Nest Arts and Sciences Preschool
Feb 2013
I am looking for comments/feedback about Duck's Nest Arts and Sciences Preschool on Broadway. I love the preschool my 3 year old is at right now, but they do not have room in their afternoon program. So, I am looking for a great preschool for him next year that he can stay until 3 or 3:30. I would like one near his sister's elementary school so the Broadway location works great for us. The most recent postings are from 2007. What's happening lately? Does anyone know? Thanks so much! Nervous mom who hates to leave current school
Our child graduated from Duck's Nest in 2011. We had a mixed experience. It is a warm, friendly, and loving place. There was only one teacher there (Lilia, who is fantastic) who seemed to really ''get" childrens' creativity. My child made a lot of artwork that seemed designed to please the parents - a little dish with the child's name spelled out in letters, clearly adult-directed artwork. It also, while small, ended up being too big for our kid, who was 3.5 at the beginning. The entire school is the functioning unit, rather than a smaller cohort, because the kids flow from one room to the next, so it took him a lot longer to establish close relationships than it had in a previous more intimate setting. There are a lot of adults around -- student teachers mostly -- which also added to the lack of intimacy for us. Good things about it: the teachers are all very loving and sweet. The school values their families a lot and they take care of the community. They are very flexible about different families' needs and shifts in scheduling, that sort of thing. The teachers and director all clearly love children and are really passionate about their work. My kid loved his friends there and I think it's a great place for older kids, 4 and 5 year olds. Definitely prepares kids for kindergarten with lots of school-ish skills. Anon
We transitioned our Son from the Piedmont Duck's Nest to the Arts and Sciences location this year. We LOVE the Duck's Nest Preschool Group. They are super supportive and truly nurture the children. We moved him to the Arts and Sciences campus because our Son was in need of a smaller, more controlled environment. There are 3 main teachers that are wonderful with additional support staff. I do have to say that they have higher expectations out of the children such as ''writing'' their names (AKA tracing) in their check in book, greeting or addressing everyone when they arrive, and other preschool prep. They are also good at instilling proper manners such as how to politely ask or interrupt for requests. From my perspective, most of the children attend from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This leaves a smaller group in the afternoon, great for the remaining children. Due to this, there is only one of the main teachers remaining for the late afternoon pick up and of course support staff. This can prove to be a challenge if you wish to receive regular feedback on your child's daily activities but the school is willing to work with your needs as I receive weekly status calls from his main teacher to fill this void. They are working on their communication with the parents and have created a Google group account to keep parents up to date. I also feel that the school is well maintained and clean. All in all I feel that they are doing a good job. Kimberly
Our child is African American and goes to Duck's Nest Berkeley. We've been very happy there even though there are a small number of Black kids. The anti-bias curriculum is good. That being said, I'm pretty sure you're correct that the Telegraph location would be visually more representative. Feel free to contact me directly if you want more info.
Hi! We are also a same-sex black family with a black child who goes to Duck's Nest Telegraph and we have been very happy -- the student body (and also the teachers) are pretty diverse, and we've found the teachers and administrators to be wonderful. Feel free to message me if you'd like to chat more about our experience.
Just wanted to say thanks for asking here, I'm trying to decide between Duck's Nest and Aquatic Park School right now, and the lack of diversity at Duck's Nest is my biggest concern right now too. I hope you've been able to make your decision and are feeling good about your choice!