Claremont Middle School

I have two kids at Claremont, in 8th and 6th grades.  They are very different kids, one is type-A competitive overachiever, the other is an underperforming mostly likes to goof-around-type.  CMS has been great for both of them.  The achiever has been challenged, and the underachiever has been forced to learn how to stay organized and on task.  And that’s just academics.  Socially the school’s also been great, and they both enjoyed music and sports.  It’s our neighborhood school so they just walk to and from i the morning, so easy, no commutingso it was a simple choice for us.  My kids don’t have IEPs, but I have friends whose kids do and overall they have been very happy with the school as well.

I am a former, current, and future Claremont parent.  My oldest kids are very serious about their studies, and they have each had great experiences. I am delighted by the decision we made to have them attend Claremont and I am excited for my third child to start next year.  My older two made big strides toward independence in 6th grade, because they could get to and from school and friends' houses on their own.  They LOVED their teachers.  They felt part of a tight-knit, caring community and they now find themselves well prepared for high school.  I value being part of a truly diverse - economically, socially, and ethnically - school that serves all students.  We have been able to teach and live our values by standing on the front lines defending a bedrock democratic institution (public school system) that forms a bulwark against the income inequality and segregation that threatens our democracy AND our kids got to have an enriching, enjoyable, challenging middle school experience.  So great!  (I am not dealing with an IEP, but I hear that the small size of the school (~450) makes navigating that process a personalized and manageable experience.  The counselors, Vice Principal (Watson), and Principal (Mayer) are effective and committed people).

Claremont Middle School parent reviews: https://www.greatschools.org/california/oakland/195-Claremont-Middle-School/#ReviewsThe school now is ranking a 5 out of 10, and gets 4 out of 5 stars from parents. Edna Brewer may be the only higher ranking public middle school at a 6 out of 10 (I’m not including Hillcrest since it’s more of an elementary school with a teeny middle school), so Claremont has come a long way from being a 2 out of 10 only five years ago! The last negative review I saw on the site dates back to 2012 (be sure to note the dates of the comments!). The school is a vibrant and friendly place, the kids are happy to be there, the teachers are dedicated, and the staff are excellent. Jonathan Mayer took the helm as Principal 5 years ago (former principal of Chabot Elementary), and has done wonders for bringing discipline and high standards to the school, and hiring good teaching staff. Both my kids are there and are happy and performing well, like their classmates, and love many of their teachers, and are preparing well for high school!

I've got one kid who graduated from Claremont, another still there, and yet another who will enroll there in a couple years. I think it's great. We come from a near-perfect elementary school and Claremont is not near-perfect, but it is lovely. My eldest was far more supported academically at Claremont than he is at Tech, so I find it ironic that so many people pay for private middle school and then are happy to send their kids to Tech. In my experience, Claremont is the better school (although Tech is fine for most kids).  Claremont is small enough that it feels easy to come up with and implement school-wide solutions, but big enough that both of my kids (my eldest especially!) have made really excellent friendships at Claremont, that then carry on at Tech.  The academics are good, and advanced math is offered to 8th graders, which both of my kids took advantage of.  Science is probably the strongest program at Claremont, 6-8. Both of my kids have adored their science teachers, all three years.  Claremont has made great strides in reading as well; the most recent newsletter notes that nearly 75% of students are reading at grade level! Kids who start off at Claremont markedly below grade level are improving by leaps and bounds. That's what I mean about it being small enough that school-wide programs can be implemented relatively easily. The school made a concerted effort in this area and found success. There's also art, music, sports teams, math club, and devoted teachers who vacation together!  My feeling is that close to all of the teachers love being at Claremont.  I think you mean IEP when you say IP, and I can't speak to that specifically, although as I mentioned earlier, I felt that my son was supported by his Claremont teachers through his various struggles in school.  I think you and your child will be happy at Claremont.