Berkeley Parents Network: East Contra Costa County School Districts

Berkeley Parents Network

East Contra Costa County School Districts

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > K-12 Schools > East Contra Costa County School Districts > East Contra Costa County School Districts

Reviews of Schools

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Feb 2009

We are looking to move out of El Cerrito and private schools to the Orinda area to go to public school. We'd love to hear from people who are in Orinda schools now. We're concerned about being in a school that's too competitive for our middle schooler, since she struggles academically. We're also concerned about no diversity and about being too far from the Berkeley area. We were originally hoping to rent in Berkeley, but there's so much more available and at a better price in Orinda. Thanks for your advice! concerned parent

Glorietta is a great elementary school in orinda as are all of the schools on an academic level and they have the resources to help struggling kids unlike most public schools, this is due to the massive parent support financially. My child is now in school in Lafayette and as in orinda there is very little diversity. My children are half black half white and my son is one of four African Americans in his school and one of maybe twenty non whites. We came from a very diverse school in Oakland and there was a trade off , diversity for education. I suggest classes and camps outside lamorinda to balance it out. Good luck!

I thought I would post a reply despite living in Lafayette. Lafayette is further from Berkeley than Orinda, yet I feel completely connected to Berkeley. We are 2 stops away from Rockridge via BART and my husband and I often do datenights in Berkeley painlessly. I am a Berkeley transplant myself and love the schools here. I believe that what makes our schools great in Lamorinda, despite California's current budget challenges, is that families are 100% behind their children with regards to education. We make annual monetary contributions to our schools, but they are small when compared to private school tuition. Families are willing to contribute in so many ways in the schools and sports and the children here know that education is an important stepping stone for them in their lives. You will pay a bit more for a home here in Lamorinda, but there are positives beyond the schools. The summer weather is great for swimming (kids love that), the organized sports are fun for families, you will feel safe and secure living in Orinda and I believe there is less congestion day to day here. All of these things add to my family's quality of life. Lamorinda is different than Berkeley but great too

We recently moved to Lafayette after many years living in Berkeley and Oakland. We looked at both Orinda and Lafayette and ended up deciding both the Lafayette neighborhoods and schools were a better match for our family. My impression from both friends and realtors with kids in the Orinda system is that the Orinda schools are more competitive and intense than some of the Lafayette schools. Our daughter is at Springhill school and thus far we've been very pleased with it. She was at an excellent private school in Berkeley but I haven't found the education to be as different as one might imagine. They have art, music, science, computers, p.e. and optional Spanish, and I've actually found that they do a better job at differentiating instruction to help kids working at different levels than even her private school did. I also think they do a better job at handling issues like social bullying. Diversity is obviously an weak spot compared to Berkeley public schools, although there are a few African American and Hispanic families and lots of Asian families at her school. It's probably not that different diversity wise than her private school in Berkeley. Springhill also is one of the better places to be if you have a kids with ADD or other special needs. Burton Valley has a special GATE program with separate advanced classes in 4th and 5th grade, although kids from all over the district are eligible if they qualify. I really like the Reliez Valley/Springhill area, but it's a bit more rural feeling than downtown Lafayette or Burton Valley, so it all depends on your preferences. If definitely doesn't feel as funky and progressive as Berkeley, but there are lots of other Prius driving families and a nice farmers market. I have to admit it's nice not to get our car broken into on a weekly basis and to feel fine letting our daughter play with other kids in the neighborhood without constant adult supervision. happy Lafayette parent

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