Berkeley Parents Network: Walnut Creek Schools

Berkeley Parents Network

Walnut Creek Schools

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

Reviews of Schools

Feb 2007

I'm hoping some of you might have some reassuring comments. My son will be turning 5 this year so I took the day off yesterday to tour some of my Kindergarten options. I went to 3 public schools and 3 private schools. Two of the private schools are DOUBLE what I pay for full time preschool/daycare, but I went anyway just to see what their programs are like. Once I checked out a couple public schools (in Walnut Creek) and their after school daycares, I was really depressed. The kids at the private schools were polite, well behaved, smart, working on really interesting projects, getting a great education in music and art as well as the ''3 R's''. The kids at the public school were obnoxious, bad-mannered, running around like wild animals, etc. The after school daycare at one of the supposedly best elementary schools in Walnut Creek was so chaotic, that I could have easily grabbed 3 kids, walked them right out the gate, pushed them into a van and driven away and NO ONE would have noticed. I was horrified. To top it all off, after seeing the costs of after school care (about the SAME as I am paying for FULL TIME preschool/daycare), I am convinced we will never be able to afford to have another child. Can anyone comment on how their elementary school handles discipline? Are the kids learning ANYTHING except how to ace the state mandated tests? Is there any hope for us parents who aren't rolling in money? need a lift

My kids went to Buena Vista Elementary in WC. Not sure if that is one you looked at. My son started in 1st, my daughter in K. We loved the school and did not love the onsite childcare program. Rarely used it. If your child is in afternoon K, the onsite childcare program seems to be pretty good for before school--they only have the kindergartners and are able to attend to them well and do fun activities with them. That only works if you can pick up at 3:30 when school gets out, otherwise it is back to chaos.

Or you could look at other childcare options--there is a church sponsored childcare in the same block that picks up and drops off from Buena Vista K. Not sure if it is religious or not. there is a family day care a block away that my daughter went to pre-K and continued to go to in K before and after school. Annie's Little Farm (Ann Cohen). Not sure if she can do the drop-off and pick up, you would have to check. Some parents hired a babysitter to cover before and after school. Remember it is only during K that you will have so many hours of childcare to cover. Don't give up on public school! Good luck in finding someplace that works for you. Happy WC parent

Oct 2006

We live in Walnut Creek, but are not in the Walnut Creek school district. Our district school is awful and I will not send my daughter there when she starts Kindergarten next year. She is wait-listed for a highly academic school called Sequoyah (in Pleasant Hill). However, if she does not get in, I need to have a back-up plan in place. Does anyone have experience with inter-district transfers in Mt. Diablo Unified School District? Can your kid get kicked out if he or she is in a transfer school and space is needed for a kid who moves into the district? Lastly, any recommendations for private schools in Walnut Creek/Concord/Pleasant Hill/Lafayette would be great. Those geographical areas only please. Non-religious and religious schools are both fine--although we don't attend any church, we are believers. Also, when do we need to apply/interview, etc.?
one confused mama

I would really recommend The Seven Hills School, if you should decide to go private. We've been really happy with the academics and general culture of the school since we started 2+ years ago. Check our their website for admnissions details. It has a beautiful campus, caring teachers, and great kids. Can't say enough good things.
Happy 7 Hills Mom

our daughter has had good experiences at dorris-eaton school the past two summers. she is in public school in lafayette (at least some step up from your walnut creek district, i think, at least from conversations w/ parents whose daughters are in walnut creek; but the gradient may not be all that big). but her mom and i wanted her to get more academic stuff during the summer and she enjoys it (her favorite game at home, believe it or not, is ''playing school''). we found it a year or so ahead of where they are at equivalent grade in public school and the discipline expectations are much higher (not a problem for our girl who is not in the slightest a discipline problem, but she does better in such an environment). the summer school campus is in walnut creek, on newell avenue, just west of 680. however they have another campus in either south alamo or north danville, i think, so you have to check them out as far as geography. good luck doug

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