Canyon School (Canyon, CA)
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Canyon School (Canyon, CA)
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Aug 2012
I currently live in Oakland and my children have always attended private
schools with financial assistance. My income will increase soon and I don't
believe the school will continue to provide assistance at the same level
with the income change - our family won't be able to afford the school
without assistance. I looked in to Oakland Unified for elementary schools
and have familiarized myself with their system but am sure I will not be
pleased if my daughter is not placed in a high scoring school. I have heard
good things about Canyon Elementary School which is in its own district and
am intrigued. Does anyone have a recommendation? Are there any
difficulties/challenges with respect to an inter-district transfer? Any
advice would be appreciated.
Considering Public if outside of Oakland
Have your children already been accepted into the school? If not, I wouldn't
bother with trying to transfer in. Canyon is a high performing school and has
been showcased nationally in books and television shows, due to this, there is a
long waiting list.
Still waiting
June 2010
We are trying to decide between Canyon School and
Montclair
Elementary. Both schools have many positive
qualities, but
I know a little more about Montclair and would
like to know
more about what it's like at Canyon so I can make
a fair
comparison.
If you have experience with either or both
schools, please
share your perspective (and your recommendation,
if you have
one). I am especially interested in the pros and
cons of
each school, and the ''insider'' perspective from
parents
and/or staff.
Thanks
I can say a few things about Canyon School, which has its strong and weak
points. Socially and emotionally it has all the pros and cons of a large family
where everyone knows each other. It's great for developing creativity in general,
and confidence in speaking and performing in particular. It is also very good for
fostering friendships and understanding between children of different ages. The
curriculum is somewhat disorganized but there are many very fun projects and
field trips. The K-1-2 class is very highly regarded, and the 3-4-5 class has
been holding its own, but the 6-7-8 class has been shaky for years and
experiences a lot of turnover of students as well as teachers. Many parents do a
lot of supplementary instruction or hire private tutors. You have to be able to be
very involved as a parent, at school or at home, to make it work well, but if you
can do that it can work very well indeed.
- Mom of a Canyon School alum
March 2007
We're considering Canyon School for our child, and would love to
hear a bit more about people's experiences there. It seems like
a really wonderful place, but I have a couple of questions:
Would a child who needs a fairly structured environment be a
good fit there? How do the children like having such a small
group peers in their immediate grade level? Finally, are the
kids generally well prepared for high school after attending
Canyon? What do you love or hate about it? Thanks for any
information.
We moved to Canyon when our son started first grade. He is now
in the final 8th grade. As a caveat, I am on the school board,
so my opinion is informed and biased. The program is structured
(broadly) as three multi-grade classrooms, K-2, 3-5, 6-8. Multi-
grade classrooms are ideal for social and educational
development. Older children mentor, and Canyon teachers
structure curriculum so it either rotates across three years or
is repeated in greater depth during each succeeding grade.
There are around 7-9 children in each grade, 20-23 per multi-
grade classroom, so teachers become familiar with each kid. They
focus on arts and math. Teachers are paid no more at Canyon
than in any other horribly under-funded California district
(hello to being at the bottom of State per-pupil funding), but
the autonomy and creativity they have at Canyon draws superior
educators. Parents from out-of-district must put in
considerable driving time delivering and picking up their child.
They tend to be generous fundraisers for the school. Not every
parent who invests time and money this way is comfortable with
the limited administrative input a public school offers to out-
of-district parents. Any small program becomes a laboratory of
personality types, but I doubt there is a crystal ball that can
guide a prospective parent vis-ŕ-vis their success or
frustration with the ever changing, but small social network.
Perhaps the biggest surprise for an education-minded parent like
myself is the 6,7,8 grade program. I doubted that such a cozy
environment could offer the curriculum needed to prepare for
high school. I set out to prove it, and discovered how ignorant
I was (unfortunately, uninformed opinion seems to guide many
educational decisions). From government think tanks to
nonprofit activists, I was told the usual middle school (or
junior high) is an American experiment (a 1950s political
reaction to Sputnik and America's ''coddled'' youth) gone wrong.
Statistically, more kids crash academically and behaviorally in
middle school than in high school. K-8 program graduates
outperform their middle school counterparts. There are competing
explanations that I won't elaborate. But 6th-8th grade girls may
benefit especially, since their social scene has little
anonymity and they remain masters of their own appearance and
choices. Canyon graduates do well in high school. To summarize,
Canyon offers structural advantages (multi-grade, K-8), attracts
good teachers, and as an independent public school district
remains intrinsically innovative. Nevertheless, the demands on
inter-district transfer parents are substantial, and they face
more formal constraints on core program influence than they
would in their own district. Now, I didn’t mention the
ecological context...
Canyon School Information
Have you talked to the Principal? When we checked into Canyon
school for the 2005 - 2006 Kindergarten year, we were 24 on the
wait-list. We wree not allowed to tour the school until we were
up higher on the list. I do know that the classes are ''combined
grade'' K-1, 2-3, 4-5 6-7-8.
My daughter is still on the list even though she is now in first
grade entering second next year. They also have a Summer Camp at
the school site ''Scamp Camp''
We would love to have the Canyon option for middle school, so we
remain on the list - moved up 3 in two years.
Canyon Fan
Our two children attended Canyon School for 4 years and we ultimately
decided to enroll them in a public school that has more professional
oversight. Although Canyon is a public school, it is run as though it
is a private affair with the primary interest being the survival of
the town. Many people will disagree with our assessment (we felt that
our opinions put our children at a clear disadvantage in the
classroom, as many of the paid employees are long term Canyon
residents, including the ''head'' tenured teacher). The school may
work beautifully for your children (the setting is lovely and the
curriculum is gentle and nature oriented) as long as you stay in your
''place'' and refrain from asking questions or making suggestions or
statements that might step on rooted toes (even ones that directly
concern your child or the professional behavior of teachers). As far
as the waiting list goes, it is a little known fact that friends and
relatives of Canyon residents get priority for enrollment. Just ask to
see a copy of the board policy and read it very carefully. I am sure
this email will generate quite a bit of support for the school (it has
many wonderful qualities) but most parents who have left the school
simply stay silent as they are on to greener pastures.
sign us,
grazing elsewhere
I spent quite a bit of time researching Canyon and almost sent
our daughter there. The wait list for out of district students
this year was 48, and we were 7th, so in a way to be offered a
spot there seemed like we'd won the lottery. I have a friend
who lives there so I spent a very pleasant half-day visiting
and volunteering there. First, the positives. It has a
beautiful environment, peaceful low-stress approach, and all
the children seemed kind and happy. I really liked the
respectful way the kids interacted with each other and with the
teachers. And the organic hot school lunch program run by a
former Bay Wolf chef is fabulous.
The negatives? The classes are very small, they take six
kindergartners a year so the K-1-2 classes are only 18-20
kids. If your kid doesn't click with their particular group
I've heard it can be difficult. I also sensed a certain
resistance to even fairly basic questions, such as when I asked
if there was any flexibility for kids to work above grade level
in any areas, since the classes were already mixed. The answer
was a firm no, and honestly I think they were offended that I
even asked, even though being able to work at your level is an
essential component of Montessori and Waldorf methods, which is
what their K-1-2 program is based on. Finally, I've heard that
the transition from Canyon into Campolinda High School can be
difficult, although on the plus side it's a chance to go to a
great high school without moving to Moraga.
We had also applied to private schools and when we got into our
first choice private school (Black Pine Circle) we decided to
do that instead. If we hadn't gotten in there however, I think
we would have tried Canyon for a few years and seen how it
worked out, since I have no doubt that it's far better than our
neighborhood school in Oakland.
an almost canyon parent
Hi there.
I grew up in Canyon, and went to Canyon School from
kindergarten all the way through eighth grade. I am now
graduating from a small liberal arts school on the East Coast
after extremely successful experiences in both high school and
college, and Canyon School remains the best educational
foundation I could possibly have hoped for. I believe our best
hope for educating children is to foster in them a sense of
wonderment, curiosity, and engagement with the world around
them—those are the things that lead to a genuine love of
learning, whatever form that learning might take. What better
thing to wish for a child than to help them find their own
lifelong love of learning? Canyon School is not for everyone.
No school will ever be a perfect fit for every child, certainly
not a school this small—but to find the right fit is the
greatest blessing. Yes, there are small town politics. There
can be some resistance to change. Your child may not adapt well
to the small class size or her particular group of peers. But
there is also the dirt and the dust motes; the clear creek full
of little, observable creatures; the grand, majestic trees.
These things should not be underestimated. Nor should singing,
or artwork, or twice-annual plays—or having every single
teacher and every single student know you for who you are. I
don’t know where else you can get that kind of attention, that
kind of specificity. And, your child might love the small peer
group and find that it gives him room to be himself, to try to
truly figure out who that is. One of the greatest things about
Canyon School is the way it promotes interaction across ages
and grade levels—kids at different stages have so much to learn
from each other. Having three grades per classroom is often
harder for the teachers than it is for the students—far from
keeping the kids confined to the few peers in “their grade” it
simply means that their friendships disregard the arbitrary
boundaries of age and grade level.
I grew up with some kids who were always restless at
Canyon School, and some, like me, who are still grateful for it
every single day—and I’m not sure you can ever know ahead of
time exactly which it will be. But we all transitioned just
fine into our high schools (a variety of them—Campolindo and
Miramonte, some small private schools and Oakland Tech) and we
all love each other still. I hope that, wherever you end up,
your child loves their school experience as much as I did.
And, by the way, those interested in Canyon School should check
out Clever Scamp Camp, a summer camp run on the school grounds
by two former Canyon School grads.
-Best Blessings, from a Canyon Critter
April 2006
Can anyone give me any current information on the K-1-2 class at
Canyon School? We're in Oakland but unimpressed with our
neighborhood ''good hills school.'' I've been told Canyon uses the
Houghton Mifflin reading curriculum ''but not in the K-1-2''
class. I know all kids are different and there's no need to rush
them, but my 5-year-old is ready and pushing to read. I'm
wondering if she'll be challenged there. How is the reading
program there for the little kids? I'm thrilled about the art
emphasis at Canyon, I know she'd love that, and I'd love her to
be in a smaller school like Canyon, but she also feels more
confident in a structured setting. Also -- I hear there's a
waiting list of 20 kindergartners! There are only about 20 kids
in the entire K-1-2 class. Should I give up, or is there actual
hope of getting her in? (Private school is not an option for
us.) Thanks very much.
my info.is 4 years ago so I hope it's changed, but a friend of
ours kindergartener was accepted by Canyon school for a transfer
into Canyon but the Oakland School district refused to approve a
transfer OUT and so they could not attend. good luck.
anon
The current information regarding Canyon School in a nutshell--is
available on the school's website, I believe the information
regarding the K-1-2 class is accurate. Despite the small size
the children in this class display a range from a little below
grade level to way above grade level, as is the case in most
classrooms. The teacher is quite experienced and gifted at
teaching a multiple grade classroom. I do know that the waiting
list has at least 20 for kindergarten, and being that they are a
public shool the only criteria they can use, is time spent on the
list, so basically you have to get in line. You can put your
child on the list for future grades if you're still interested,
although I believe there are waiting lists for every grade. If
you want more specific information, you can email me directly.
Oh, and if you're really interested, there is an open house on
May 18th in the evening.
verde
August 2004
Re: School for Visual Spatial Learner
My son (age 11) goes to Canyon Elementary School, a K-8 public
school located in woodland contiguous to Huckleberry Preserve
(Tilden Park). This is a three room redwood schoolhouse, that
offers multi-grade instruction in groups K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. The
teachers are enthusiastic, intelligent, and demanding. All of
the students get attention. Because it escapes the constraining,
knee-jerk orthodoxy of many public schools, it provides an
alternative for children with different kinds of intelligences.
Canyon Elementary was one of the first public school districts
in the east bay, back before Tilden Park existed, when people
lived in cabins on the hillsides. It has weathered attempts to
develop or eliminate it, and teachers, staff, and the local
community are fiercely proud of its independence. The small
size - there are only around 64 students in all - means parents
play a large roll in the education atmosphere. But this is not
an experimental or charter school - the school has been here
long before me, and it will continue long after my son leaves.
That means teachers and staff expect parents to respect its
idiosyncratic traditions. Likewise, this is an environment where
every student makes a large impact, so the decision to enroll
should not be taken lightly. In other words, the school is a
community, and communities need patience and support.
Many Canyon students (about half) transfer in from the Oakland
area. Parents drive half an hour each way (some car pool) to
take their children to and from school. During the first weeks
of September, there is some churning, with new transfers in and
out. Parents interested in Canyon Elementary's programs may find
the upper grades have openings at that time. For those parents
who follow educational reform issues, our K-8 structure will
strike a chord - education research highlights middle school as
the most dysfunctional segment of US education, and evidence
points to the transition out of elementary into ''junior high'' as
its weakest point. Canyon's 6,7,8 class provides an old-
fashioned environment where boys, and especially girls, breath
easy, without social pressures to grow up too fast. The 6,7,8
students learn facts, but they also learn to be themselves. If
your concern is to cram as much curriculum as possible into your
child, well ... Canyon School is concerned about character,
spirit, groundedness, and a focus on cramming often works
against those human values.
Parents and students interested in Canyon Elementary can call
its office, 925-376-4671. The Principal/Superintendent/Teacher
is Forrest Kan.
Brian
May 2004
Does anyone have any experience with the Canyon public school?
I'm especially interested in hearing from anyone who has done
the interdistrict transfer process from Oakland, and has any
advice on the process either from the Oakland side or the Canyon
side of the process.
Vali
My stepdaughter went to Canyon for the entire time available
there, which is K-8. And my stepson went there for K - 5. The only
reason he isn't still there is because his mom moved to Marin. The
K-2 and 3-5 teachers are great. They have a wonderful, creative
and open-minded approach to teaching and the environment is really
amazing. There is a new 6-8 teacher who started when my kids left
so I have no experience with him. They went through several
principals during my kids' tenure there, I don't really know why.
As far as the inter-district
transfer information, I personallay didn't handle it, but if you
wanted to call me to discuss our experience in general, I could
certainly get the scoop on transfering from my husband's ex-wife.
Susan
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