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Beacon Elementary School reviews

Re: School for socially anxious 9-year-old with ADHD

Re: Race to Nowhere - Questioning Public Schools
Yes, there is a school that does not stress out children with too much homework and rote learning. That school is Beacon Day School.

As an administrator and parent of a 7th grader, I can tell you that our goal is for every student to be successful and that doens't mean they all need to have straight A's. Our curriculum is designed to have students work in pace groups (these are fluid) until the skill has been mastered.

The Elementary School is year-round with a continuous progress education model and we do NOT assign homework until Upper Elementary. Even then the homework is somehting that the student can do independently. Our Middle School operates on an extended year with block scheduling. Students are not stressed out with hours of homework. They can actually enjoy outside activities such as scout meetings and sports practices without worrying that they are behind with their homework.

I too saw the film last week. Although much of it was hard to watch, I am very thankful that my daughter is being educated in a school that does pay attention to homework load and is more focused on making sure students love to learn. In fact, Beacon is mentioned in Sara Bennett's book ''The Case Against Homework''. Sara was one of the experts interviewed for the film.

Please call me in the Admissions Office at 510-437-2311 if you would like to learn more about Beacon Day School. abaroni@beaconday.org

Re: Elementary schools where African American boys thrive
My African American son is absolutely thriving at Beacon Day School! Beacon is a fabulous school where ALL children are treated with kindness and respect. The entire faculty and staff continuously works hard to create an environment where every child is nurtured and challenged to be their best selves.

When I drop my son off in the morning, he joyously runs into the building. When I pick him up in the afternoon, it's the best part of my day. Besides seeing my son, it's great to see all the other kids. I'm continually amazed at how the kindness and respect shown to the kids by the faculty and staff continues to be on display as the kids interact with one another.

My son previously attended another private school in Oakland where, sadly, AA children (especially boys) were treated horribly. I'm thankful every single day that we were lucky enough to find Beacon. I'd encourage you to pay a visit and see for yourself. Beacon Mom

We live in Alameda and currently have a child enrolled in kindergarten at an Alameda public school. Our child is doing well but we are not sure if it is a good match for us, and are considering Beacon for 1st grade.

Our main concerns with our public school revolve around the lack of supervision of children at lunch and recess which is not only unsafe but has enabled a culture of bullying to develop unchecked. Also the nearly total emphasis on academics (reading and writing, math) at the expense of other subjects or interests. In addition there has been a heavy reliance on worksheets and other ''traditional'' methods of teaching that have not seemed to change since I was in kindergarten 30+ years ago; there seems to be little room or desire for change or more progressive ways of educating.

I would love to hear from any Beacon parents that may have made a switch from public schools for similar reasons. Also anyone that can advise us on whether or not Beacon would be a good choice for us considering our concerns with our present school. Thank you for your time! parent

In the public school, his time was spent studying for the test. Math and reading, math and reading.... and the homework was geared exactly for the test, and was way too much, IMHO. The public school after school program was not bad, but I thought it could have had a higher teacher/student ratio. And no P.E.-- I found that shameful.

Our family is THRILLED with Beacon. There are so many reasons we love it:

1) My son now loves to learn. He's reading everything he can get his hands on;

2) there is no room for bullying--it's a community, and they work really hard at maintaining that;

3) the afterschool care program is nicely structured--there is obviously a lot of work that goes in to deciding which after-school class your child is in, and it's well-organized (but the kids still have options!);

4)It's obvious that the teachers and staff are HAPPY to work there!;

5) It's a year-round school--12 weeks a year for which I don't have to find a camp! And we can take vacations when it works for our family. (Plus no stupid Ski Week! Arrrgh!).

6) No homework 'til the 5th grade. I never realized how wonderful this would be--I have time to actually PLAY with my kid, and have him cook dinner with me, etc... Happy Beacon Family

Re: Middle school for bright active shy boy
You should consider Beacon Day School for your middle school son. Beacon is a small school with many fine features. The students are challenged academically and go on to the finest high schools. There are sports teams, instruction in the arts (dance, music and fine art) for every student and a staff that really understands the needs of middle school kids. Contact the Admissions Office at (510) 437-2311. They are holding an open house on Nov. 19th at 9 a.m. Middle School Mom

Re: Looking for a good K-8 school
If you are looking for a K-8 grade school in Oakland, please consider Beacon Day School. Beacon has been educating children for 26 years by teaching teaching them how to learn now what to learn.

My daughter is now a 6th grader who loves school. In fact, she tells me this daily. All students at Beacon are given opportunities daily to be successful so that they will continue to take risks in learning. Every student receives hundreds of hours of arts instruction that is part of the year round curriculum. Families can take vacations when it is convenient for them.

Please call Admissions at (510) 437-2311 to learn more about this wonderfully diverse school where students love to come to school. Happy parent of a happy 6th grader

Re: Archway School Homework, Flexibility?
You should consider Beacon Day School's middle school program for your daughter. The Academic Mastery component of the curriculum prepares its students well for high school and beyond. Students are expected to acheive mastery in all skill levels.

More importantly this curriculum was designed with adolescents in mind and the Block Scheduling component allows for more time on task. Homework is given but is age appropriate and coordinated by a team of teachers. The emphasis on learning skills and mastery is taught by the teachers during school time.

My daughter is a current Beacon 5th grader and we are so fortunate that her all important middle school years will be spent here. A Happy Beacon Mom

I have been encouraged to look at Beacon for next year for my child, for reasons that I won't go into now. Does anyone have feedback on their experience in the last couple of years that you would think might be helpful? searching for the right place...

Re: Lonely 2nd grader is the only African American in her class
Have you looked at Beacon Day School? A private school in Oakland. It's extremely diverse, lots of African American students as well as teachers. Your daughter might feel much more comfortable there! http://www.beaconschools.org/ Ellen

Re: Private middle school that will be challenging for daughter
I would look at Beacon in Oakland. It is small and very solid. Not as glitzy as other schools with big campuses, but a great place for a middle schooler to be. Socially comfortable, and small enough where every student is fully known. anon

We're trying to make a decision for our 9 year old regarding schools. Has anyone had experience, good or bad, with Beacon Day School in Oakland? Our daughter has a learning disability, dyxlexic type, so we are trying to figure out if this would be a good fit. Thanks. Judi

We've looked at past postings on Beacon Day School, but most of them are several years old. Does anyone have recent or current experience with this school? Our child will be entering 5th grade, and it's been suggested that we look here. Specificially, we are looking for thoughts on:
- quality of teaching
- thoughts on the year-round program and how it has/hans't worked for you
- does anyone have experience with a child who learns differently there
- what are the highlights and lowlights of this education
- any experience with the middle school experience?
- what are the social experiences like?
And any other feelings would be appreciated. E.

Re: Private middle school for arts and sports?
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

We just started Beacon School this year. It is fantastic. What a dramatic change from our public school. It is warm and friendly and the educational structure is based on research, not the latest trends. It is developmental so kids are able to work where they need to be. They get computer, music, dance, art, motor and some Spanish. The classes are small and the teachers are excellent. They don't rush the kids thru like our public school. No homework til 5th grade has been a godsend to our household. The kids test 2 grade levels above norm at 4th grade. They test below grade level before that point because they let the kids develop the way they should rather than cramming stuff down their throats. But it pays off later. Also they teach great social skills and self-confidence. Can't say enough.&nbs p; Don't let the semi-industrial setting put you off. If you can't afford it apply for a scholarship. Oh, also, it is very diverse and reflects the community at large in every way - racially, economically, academically, family structure. They are trying to build up the middle school so get in now while you still can.
Happy Beacon parent.

Re: Oakland Elementary school for possible learning delays
Beacon Day School not only systematically nurtures social and emotional development but has staff members who are well trained in understanding learning differences. Beacon's prgoram is based on the knowledge that children have varying learning styles and that children of similar ages often learn at different paces. Often times a child's learning difference is discovered during Beacon's assessment process which is brought to the parent's attention immediately.To learn more contact Alexandra Baroni in admissions at (510) 437-2311. Weekly tours are now being conducted for the 2006-07 school year. A parent of a 3rd grader

We are looking into the elementary program at Beacon in Oakland. I have read the reviews but there are not many recent ones. Specifically, I am concerned about the ''no homework'' policy that they have. Can anyone speak to the quality of their academic program? How inclusive are they of children with differences, such as learning disabilities? I would appreciate positive and negative info, as our time is running out to make a decision on which schools to apply to this year. east bay mom

First, the homework issue. As a year-round school, Beacon is in session 48 weeks a year. There is plenty of time to learn/teach. We love it that the afternoons/evenings are for family, play and other activities. We love not nagging, reminding, and fighting over homework. At her school last year each girl was pushed to be at least one grade level above her age in math. Our daughter was at the top of her class, always finishing her work first. At the end of kindergarten she completed 1st grade math. When we got to Beacon, her teacher, who is wonderfully warm and perceptive, immediately realized that although she is fast, she really doesn't have the basic concept of numbers and that she was adding by counting her fingers (under the table at the old school, since they weren't allowed to do that...) Her teacher then had her work with manipulatives to help her have a strong foundation of numbers up to ten, even though she was doing way more ''advanced'' math last year. Our daughter is learning a lot, but with ease rather than pressure. School is about the whole child: math, reading/writing, as well as, and just as important- dance, music, art. Our daughter's creativity and joy of the arts has mushroomed this year.

We find Beacon to be extremely individualized. The class is divided into three pace groups- groups that are constantly changing based on on-going assessments that the teacher performs. Flex teachers are full-time employees of the school and they know the children and the children know them. Between the classroom teacher and the flex teacher there is plenty of individualized attention to the kids' learning needs. Thelma, Beacon's Executive Director, is a treasure. She has amazing insight to kids, knows each and every child in the school (of apprx. 250 students!) and is extremely accessible. E-mails are answered within hours, and any concerns are addressed with compassion, understanding and kindness. Beacon staff is enthusiastic and caring and they are there to work with families- both parents and children. There are many children with different needs at Beacon and Thelma will be the one to assess your child. If she determines that Beacon is the right environment for your child, you can rest assured that it will be just so- whatever your child's needs might be.

The diversity at Beacon is amazing: kids with all kinds of needs, kids of all races-truly, kids with gay parents, kids that are raised by grandparents, adopted kids, kids with guardians of all economic classes, and mostly- very content kids.

I wish you luck in your search and hope that you will decide to join the Beacon community. NF

I was reading the general Q and A in the November Schools Issue and I would like to recommend Beacon School in Oakland. I would like to comment on is whether it is possible to more from public school to private school in a grade other than K or 6th. At Beacon, we do take students at all grades as long as we have space and we feel that we can meet the studnet's needs here. We have had many families successfully transition at 3rd or 4th grade. Beacon School is aware that a new school can be a hard transition for many students and we will work with the family to make it as smooth as possible.

To learn more about Beacon School, please phone us at (510) 437-2311 to arrange a tour or attend an open house. Beacon School is located on the Oakland waterfront, south of Jack London Square. We are accessible from highway 880 and city streets. abaroni at beaconschools.org

Oct 2003

Yes -- Beacon Day School in Oakland. It is an extremely diverse school in every which way. The diversity extends to both students and teachers. Beacon has a preschool, elementary school, and middle school. Contact Alex Baroni at 437-2311 or admissions at beaconschools.org. I have 2 children at Beacon -- one in Kindergarten and one in 5th Grade. If you want to talk about my experience, email me. Linda

May 2003

RE: Elementary Schools with Pre-K Programs
I suggest checking out Beacon Day School. My son has been at Beacon for about 18 months in the pre-k program and is moving to their kindergarten in September. They work with kids whose birthdays fall in the September-December time-frame. I've seen them move pre-schoolers into kindergarten in January as well as make adjustments to the pre-school curriculum where appropriate.

What I like best beyond the basics (good teachers, safe): True diversity - economic, racial, religious, same-sex parents, single parents, ''traditional'' families,.... Year-round school, no scrambling for summer camp. *Real* child-centered curriculum, they do understand how kids develop and learn and they teach to this, not to test scores. ''After-care'' is covered by better qualified staff than what I've seen elsewhere and they group kids by age, kindergarteners aren't on the playground with 6th graders, etc...

Things I don't like so much: The playground (it is adequate, but there is much room for improvement). The pre-school feels at times like it comes in second to the day school (K-8th grade), pre-school communication in particular has not always been timely. I'd like to see more ''outside'' classes for after-care, (my kid wants to play T-ball, soccer, karate, etc...) even if they are extra cost.

Bottom line, my son has thrived at Beacon. Beacon works particularly well for full-time working parents, but anyone looking at East Bay private schools should check it out. Happy Beacon Parent

I have 3 children (baby, 5 and 8) and thus I am very interested in finding a school that might be terrific for our whole family someday. Specificlly, has anyone had any experiences recently with this school - including the preschool, dayschool and highschool? My 8 year old has some mild physical disabilities which can make finding the right school for him difficult. We need a school that individualizes education, offers a strong arts curriculum, welcomes diversity and offers innovative programs to benefit all types of learners. elizmckoy

They seem to do a very good job academically, grouping kids by ability rather than age. Each child focuses on a subject till they have the proper level of mastery to move on to the next level, how ever long or short that takes. It strikes me as a good approach for kids with a wide range of ability levels. They also stress the arts, with every child having music, art and dance every week, at every grade level.

Diversity is another reason we chose Beacon. Our boys are both black, while we are a pair of gay while males. We wanted a school that makes diversity and tolerance a central part of the curriculum.

Beyond the academic and social aspects, there were several practical advantages. The school is truly year round - they have only a few weeks off a year, and they offer full early and after care, so we can drop off at 8 and pick up at 6. The fact that we don't have to plan for (and pay for) supplemental care every summer was a big plus for us. They also offer after some after school programs - we did piano lessons this year. Another nice factor - with the longer school year and longer school day, they don't give homework till the sixth grade. peter

Beacon School has year round enrollment, and we are seriously considering sending our daughter there next year. I would love any feedback on the school.