Enrolling at Harding for 3rd grade
My husband and I have been growing increasingly concerned about the academics and social environment at our child's current school, a small independent school in Berkeley where they are in 2nd grade. We are at a turning point where we're trying to decide whether or not to leave them in their current school or transition them somewhere else that will have a stronger more coherent curriculum structure. We live in El Cerrito and are districted for Harding Elementary. Does anyone have any experience with 3rd grade at Harding? I understand that teachers can vary greatly but we are interested in knowing how the curriculum fairs at the school, especially in reading, writing, and math? Is it robust, with co-curricular classes like science, music, art, etc?
Thanks in advance for any advice and guidance.
Parent Replies
My children have thrived at Harding Elementary; one (now 8th grade in Korematsu Middle School) did wonderfully and enjoyed his time there (performing at or above grade level); the other (age 9 and now in 4th grade) was diagnosed with dyslexia in 3rd grade and has made awesome progress to get to grade level through Hardings intervention programs. The teachers are all great and the principal (who is retiring), just announced that they have a full compliment of teachers for the new academic year; all positions are filled. Yes they are understaffed, but everyone shows up everyday and supports one another. They have a very strong PTA community which supports performance arts and a number of other educational activities. See https://www.hardingpta.org/school-programs/.
The regular enrollment period for Harding/West Contra Costa for next fall has already closed - even if you decline later, please complete the online registration right away or Harding might not even be an option for you: https://www.wccusd.net/Page/11736
My experience as a Harding parent was over 10 years ago, and it was a wonderful K-6 time. Because our experience is dated, I want to suggest you become familiar with the CA Curriculum Frameworks, https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/allfwks.asp. These were very important to me as a parent, and specifically why I choose public school for my child, to make sure no basic academic skills were overlooked in my child's education. Besides the academics, which were very good at Harding, as well as Korematsu and El Cerrito High School, we loved that Harding has this great theater, and the school really used it well, for music, choir, and drama presentations, by and for the students. Additionally, my child enjoyed the after-school enrichment program. I think it is open to the public, not just Harding students. Here is the link of current classes: https://www.el-cerrito.org/DocumentCenter/View/9319/HASEP-Session-3-Cal…