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We are applying to Kindergarten at Head Royce this year, and I have heard mixed reviews about the school. I am curious about all aspects of the school, of course, but I am specifically wondering about the financial diversity at the school. We are a family that is somewhere in the middle, and I worry that our kids will feel intimidated by the huge wealth of some of the other students. Is this an issue? Or are there other issues I should consider? I would also love to hear about all the great things going on there :) Thanks!! proactively curious
We would probably be considered quite comfortable in most parts of the US, But to send our kids to H-R (even on financial aid) requires a lot of sacrifice and makes us feel rather poor. But is soooooo worth it! Head-Royce has been an incredibly rich academic experience for my kids (no pun intended). The high school, especially, is amazing: smart and dedicated teaching staff and low student/teacher ratios. For the most part your kid's classmates will be high achieving, interesting, hard- working students who are also well-rounded. It is a friendly place.
My kids tell me H-R kids think the H-R high school is best, followed by the middle school and then the elementary school. So their recommendation is to send your child someplace else for elementary school and then apply to Head-Royce for middle or high school. Some kids who start in K want to try something else by the time they hit high school, so they leave and go to BHS, BOD, etc... missing out on the best H-R has to offer. Of course there are a handful of ''lifers'' graduating every year too.
Head-Royce's elitist snobby reputation is very undeserved, in our experience. Happy being part of Head-Royce's economic diversity
Regarding financial diversity, we had the exact same concerns, and in this regard, Head-Royce was a pleasant surprise. Two things stand out. First, Head-Royce has a good financial aid program that helps to make private school affordable for a wide range of families. Second, and just as important, is that money is far from the center of life at the school. The main reason, I think, is that the school goes out of its way to find families who, even if they are fortunate enough to be financially successful, have a healthy sense of where money belongs in the large scheme of things. In fact, the school environment is such that no one really knows (nor is it important to anyone to find out) each other's financial standings. And at the ground level, my kids have never come home discussing the material wealth of their friends, only how much fun they are having learning and playing with them -- a source of happy relief for me. Indeed, what the school community does share, is a deep love for their kids and a commitment to continually making the school a better place for it's kids to grow and learn -- this can be through donations, but it can also be through spending time helping kids in and out of the classroom. Everyone's contributions, in whatever form, are appreciated.
The second part of your question asked about great things going on at Head-Royce -- and there are so many! Since I don't want to inundate BPN, I will try to be brief. Foremost, I think the teachers at Head-Royce are fantastic. They not only teach academic skills in creative and effective ways, they are also extremely caring and take the time to get to know your kids. Both my kids are on the shy side, and when we started our journey at Head-Royce, I worried about whether they would disappear in a crowd of overachieving, outspoken kids. No such thing. Since kindergarten, my third grade daughter's teachers have been encouraging her to speak up, take risks, and share her talents -- and they do so by making her feel that what she has to say is important. Today, my daughter, who loves to write (and those writing skills were very much nurtured by her teachers at Head-Royce), enjoys reading her poems out loud in class, taking on speaking roles in class plays, and raising her hand -- even for those difficult questions where ''I might be wrong, but at least I'll try.''
My son, who is currently a kindergartener, is also shy (I guess it runs in the family!), and during our first conference, his teacher had many insightful observations about him. I was really surprised that she understood him so well in a few short weeks. And she said, ''Well, I talk to him, and I listen to him -- I mean, really listen to him. He has a lot to say. He's a deep thinker, but you have to ask questions, and listen.'' I was really touched by that -- kindergarten is a busy place, but my son's teacher took the time to listen and to find out what made my son tick. Armed with that knowledge, my son's teacher created a nurturing environment for him, where today, he has many friends, loves school, raises his hand, loves to read, and looks forward to the ''project of the day.''
In addition to it's great teachers, Head-Royce also has a wonderful education philosophy. First, Head-Royce does embody academic excellence -- children start learning how to write early on -- kindergarteners keep a weekly journal, and it is amazing to see how their writing develops from a few words at the beginning of the year to several sentences by the middle of the year. By third grade, children are writing a wide range of compositions -- poems, book reports, research projects. Math is also taught both in traditional ways and through math games, puzzles, and math problems that require ''outside the box'' type thinking. But Head-Royce is more than just excellent academic skills. Throughout their teachings, Head-Royce teachers instill in the kids a sense of curiosity, desire to learn more, willingness to push themselves to do better, and most importantly, the ability to cope with mistakes and failures on initial attempts -- the so-called ''exercising of the disappointment muscle'' as some teachers call it. Indeed, our lower school head insisted that Head-Royce be a place where kids would not be afraid to make mistakes, because making mistakes is how one learns.
Head-Royce's education also embraces what they call the ''whole child.'' Kids are exposed to a rich program of music, dance, art, gardening, and athletics. One of my favorite events is the ''May Dances'' in the spring. Every class puts on a dance show, and our music faculty (which is phenomenal) manages to create new dances from different cultures and societies every year! And of course, there is the cute factor too -- last year's kindergarteners put on a really good swing dance :-). Gardening has also become an integral part of Head-Royce. You may have heard that Head-Royce is committed to being a ''Green School.'' In constructing it's new facilities, the school very carefully chose construction that have lead it to being certified as a green business. In the classroom, kids learn about waste reduction, recycling, pollution prevention, caring for nature, and energy conservation. Having a garden that the kids care for, brings them closer to the nature that they are trying to protect (and as a side benefit, according to my kids, kale can taste good! Especially when it comes from the school garden).
In addition to activities that promote kids to think about being ''green,'' community service is taught and encouraged even at the youngest age. Kindergarteners make trips throughout the year to a senior citizen's home to visit, put on shows, and play games and chat with the residents. All grades collect wish list items during the holidays to gift to needy families. And citizenship is taught at every opportunity to kids, reminding kids of their privileges and the ability they have to improve the lives of others less fortunate. And alongside citizenship, kids are taught compassion toward everyone -- including each other. Starting in kindergarten, there is an emphasis on kindness and learning how to be a ''good friend.'' And our kids have reaped the fruits of these teachings -- they both have made wonderful, good friends at Head-Royce.
Finally, I want to say that the Head-Royce community is one of the warmest, kindest, friendliest communities I've been lucky enough to be a part of. We have met so many families that have become good friends, and have simply fallen in love with the kids in both of our kids' classes. Corny as it may sound, there are so many nice people at Head-Royce -- in the parent community, in the kids' classroom, in the administration -- it is a very welcoming community. And a quick note on diversity -- Head-Royce strives and I believe has succeeded in creating a student body that is diverse racially, culturally, financially, and personality-wise. A quick glance at the classroom reveals the diverse yet complementary nature of the students, which I am confident is the reason why you hear so many parents and kids say ''wow, I love the kids in my class.'' Happy Head-Royce parent
My daughter is a student in the lower school at Head-Royce and we love it. I think the school gets a bad rap because of its location, tuition and the reputation of being a school for the lwealthyn. I'm sure that Head-Royce is well aware of its reputation and they admit a variety of students. Yes, some of them are from wealthy families and some aren't. The people that start these types of rumors usually do not have children who are students at the school. It's a very warm and nurturing community where everyone works together to achieve a common goal and that is to educate young minds. Everyone that I have come in contact with has been very nice. Remember, there are rich families whose children attend public schools too, so therems no getting around the rich thing. The only way you can see if a student has a wealthy family would be if a classmate has a birthday party or a play date. Otherwise the so-called rumored wealth isn't flaunted, at least not in the lower school. Maybe another Head-Royce parent has a different opinion than mine. Imm telling you what Imve experienced since my daughter has been a student there.
The only way you can feel at ease will be to tour the school. and ask any and every question imaginable. You can even ask about the lwealthn issue that you think could be a problem. After all, you are spending your money and you have to be comfortable with your decision.
I hope I answered your questions. Please check out some of the BPN posts about Head-Royce. Most of them provide accurate information about the school. Good luck with your search. Head-Royce Parent
Re: Which Private High School?
I have had two children in HRS for high school, one graduating
last June; a few yrs earlier I had another at CPS. CPS is
indeed a fine school: strong academics and great teachers. HRS
also offers plenty of academic challenges, especially in
science, and every year graduates very competitive students.
The student body is more diverse academicaly at HRS, which
results in more choice within the subjects and greater
sensitivity to individuals but all the courses are intense and
the students work hard. I thought both the faculty and staff
were quite dedicated. Both of my HRS students (as well as my CPS
student) have proven themselves well prepared for college
courses. Socially,both of my HRS students arrived in upper
school grades and had no difficulty finding a comfortable place
on campus; at CPS everyone is ''new'' but at HRS students come in
not only at 9th grade but also all through middle school, so the
flux is continual. New kids seem pretty popular as they stir
the student mix around. There are surely cliques in both
places, with slightly different compositions (nerds, jocks,
artsy students, socialites, academic overachievers etc) but
everyone finds a good place. It sort of seems that as HRS
continues to grow more diverse, the older aura of ''rich kids on
the hill'' is antiquated. At CPS, it was my experience that
there is great reliance on the students to make decisions, to
take responsibility and to mature quickly, all good goals, but
applied across the board. At HRS, i felt there was more choice
for students, and more support for students with different
strengths on both ends of the scale. HRS was for us a kinder,
gentler place and a great fit for my kids. In my mind, the two
schools are competitive in mission but with different approaches
to education. E.S.
Re: Looking for a good K-8 school
If you are looking for a K-8 program, I highly recommend and hope
you will take a look at Head-Royce School (although FYI,
Head-Royce is technically a K-12 school -- Lower School comprises
of K-5, Middle School comprises of 6-8, and High School comprises
of 9-12). I have two children there -- one, a daughter in third
grade, the other, a son in kindergarten. My kids have different
personalities, but both love school and are thriving. They come
home every day rattling off their latest adventures in the
science lab, in music class, doing messy art, growing tomatoes,
figuring out math games, and writing poems. Head-Royce is truly
a special school.
There are several reasons why we like Head-Royce so much. First, the teachers are phenomenal. At every parent-teacher conference, I've always been impressed by how deeply the teachers understand our kids and help them overcome whatever challenges they face. An example is my daughter. She entered Head-Royce as a shy child who was very nervous about raising her hand in class. Her teachers gently encouraged her to speak up. And when they realized my daughter had a passion for writing, they encouraged her to share her work with the class. One day, my daughter did share her work -- telling me that stories are written to be heard. Her story was greeted with such enthusiasm from her fellow classmates and teachers, it made her realize that she could speak up without being afraid. Afterward, her teacher even wrote her a kind and touching card congratulating her on a job well done. It was a moving experience for me to see my shy child take such an intellectual and emotional risk, and even more moving knowing the support she received from her teachers and friends.
This leads me to my next point. Head-Royce is a place that encourages intellectual risk-taking. Our Lower School Head once said that Lower School is a place where kids should be free to ask questions, to be curious, and not to be stopped from learning for fear of making a mistake. And I have really seen this in action. My daughter is happy about raising her hand every day -- and when I asked her if she only answered questions she knew for sure was right, she said no. She tried answering the hard questions too, ones she was not sure about. Testing her theories was part of learning, and if she got the answer wrong -- well, she was taught, that was one step closer to being right. Indeed, kids are encouraged early on to express their ideas. In first grade, for example, kids keep an ''opinion journal'' where they can express their opinion on a variety of issues, ranging from recycling to the latest field trip to eating green vegetables for dinner. By the time these kids graduate from Lower School, they have received lots of writing experience and have developed a good sense for oral and written communication.
Another quick word on the academics. Head-Royce has an excellent academic program. In all facets of their teaching, Head-Royce teachers, while teaching all the fundamentals the kids need to learn, go beyond to encourage ''outside the box'' critical thinking. Math is learned not merely through computation worksheets, but through math games, logic puzzles, and being ''banker'' for the class simulation of a town.
Another point I truly admire about Head-Royce is its insistence that compassion and respect be nurtured early on in the classroom. Starting in kindergarten, teachers discuss what it means to be a good friend, how to be a good listener to other people's ideas, how to respectfully disagree, and ways to express appreciation towards one another. I have actually noticed my little boy saying, with much greater frequency, things like -- ''thank you for making me snack, Mommy -- you are always so nice to me'' -- since he began kindergarten. The kids are also taught to be socially aware. Service learning is a part of every grade, and social issues are taught in class. One of the issues being emphasized this year is what it means to ''go green.'' Recycling, creating edible gardens (and the school has a wonderful garden!), and minimizing waste -- all these have become such an integral part of our kids' thinking. My son is the enthusiastic recycling guru in our household, and my daughter reminds us to save water. And on an administrative note, the school does take environmental issues seriously. For example, when expanding its campus, Head-Royce committed to building ''green'' structures.
I wanted to share one final observation about the Head-Royce community. It is a wonderfully warm and receptive community on all fronts -- from the teachers, to the administrators, to the children, to the parents. Indeed, the families that we have had the fortune of becoming friends with have all been some of the most supportive, generous, and thoughtful people we have ever met. And the kids -- well, I fell in love with my daughter's class because all the kids were just... well... so nice. They encourage each other, appreciate each other, and are so earnest and thoughtful about learning. I thought I would never find a comparable class. Then I met my son's kindergarten class and fell in love again.
Well, as you can tell, I am a big fan of Head-Royce and could probably go on more about why I feel it's a special school -- but I have gone on for so long already! So, to sum up, I do believe that the combination of intellectual stimulation, citizenship, compassion, and community make Head-Royce a uniquely wonderful school. I encourage you to take a look at their website: http://www.headroyce.org/. I hope this helps! Happy Head-Royce parent
Re: CPS vs. Head Royce
We were in your same place a year ago. Fortunately, our son was accepted at both CPS and HRS and he chose HRS. He just finished 9th grade and it's been a great experience for him academically and socially. We were concerned that at HRS he'd be a new kid in a sea of ''lifers'' but he fit in easily and had friends there already and has made new ones. We also heard rumors of HRS parents being snobs but we haven't experienced it at all (and i do occasional volunteer work so i interact with other parents). In fact, the HRS parents i've encountered have been polite, kind, and helpful. One even turned me on to the preschool my youngest child will be attending in September. My kid said he did not choose CPS because it seemed rigid, overly structured and not as focused on his ''whole person'' as he believed HRS would be. He's happy at HRS and we're pleased he chose it. Hope that helps. Good luck. What a great choice u get to make!
Re: Private high school for N.Berkeley kids?
If you are looking for quality sports facilities for a high school you
might consider Head
Royce in Oakland. It is located near the mormon temple off of Hwy 13.
My son is going
there for middle school. While we have yet to experience the school, I
can say the
campus boasts beautiful sports facilities and we were very impressed
with the classes
we observed. They also have a strong drama and art program to go along
with
academics.
Terri
We are now looking for private high schools. I have read
the old postings. I would appreciate any info concerning
amout of homework per night at Head Royce, CPS, Bentley
High, and Lick in the high school. Also, I have heard some
of the schools are extremely stressful to the poiont of
making the kids unhappy or depressed. Any input would be
greatly appreciated.
Thankful Parent
I should add that there are other factors to consider since this is a somewhat subjective assessment. First, my daughters came from a middle school with an emphasis on academics and a sizeable homework load. Second, they are not involved in team sports that require a heavy practice schedule. Finally, their commute to school is fairly short, so there is less exhaustion during those homework hours. Incidentally, HR appears sensitive to the issue of homework overload and conducted a parent survey on that topic a few years ago. Feel free to contact me directly if you have more questions, and good luck with your search, Laura
I have to make a decision about private vs. public school for my
soon-to-be kindergartener. We live in Berkeley.
In the event we go for private, we are seriously considering Head
Royce. The academic reviews are great. I would like to hear
from parents/students about the social environment of the school.
Specifically,
1. the use and availability of drugs. Previous responses are
silent as to this subject.
2. elitism. are there cliques based on socio economic class?
is there a lot of pressure to dress a certain way, drive a
certain car, have certain gadgets, have a certain type of
birthday party, live is particular neighborhoods, etc? I know my
daughter is one to succumb to such pressures and I want to know
whether this is a huge concern.
3. any issues concerning bullying (not just aggressive stuff,
emotional stuff, too)? if so, how does the school handle this?
I would also like someone to address the academic load in middle
and high school. I appreciate the academic challenge HR offers
to its students, however, is it over the top? Are students able
to cope with the challenge or is it so overwhelming and stressful
so as to take away from the enjoyment of school? Anyone leave HR
for this reason?
Are there a lot of hidden costs? field trips, after school care,
tennis lessons, other electives, etc. in addition to the tuition?
what are some big ones?
is there a sibling discount?
are siblings guaranteed admission?
Lastly, if someone could address the entrance process. How does
one get in? What is the competition like? What are the
admissions people looking for? How important is the preschool
one attends? What should we expect at the 'interview?' etc.
Thank you, kindly.
Anon
Hi, as we consider kindergarten choices in the next year I have some questions about Head Royce not covered by postings in the archives. From older kids I know I have seen it to be a warm and lively school, but one that puts very stringent demands on kids even at a young age. (I have heard of 3rd and 4th graders having panic attacks about homework levels.) Our preschooler is very bright, and I'm not really worried about whether he'd be 'up to it', but I'd be eager to hear from other parents of kids in the Lower School (which I know will have a new Head as of next year) about their experiences. Do people feel their children are getting a well-rounded education, valuing the creativity and individuality of the child? Or is it really one long grinding journey toward the Ivy League education parents are hoping for at the end of the line?! We are eager to have our child challenged, and love what we have seen of the music and sports programs at the school, but are interested in allowing our child to thrive as the imaginative and curious person he is. Any comments much appreciated, thanks. anon
I would still appreciate some more views on Head Royce. My son loves the
school. We were a bit concerned
about some things.
1. Do they not make the current HR middle school students
pass the entrance test ISEE to the same level for acceptance
into the high school?
2 The student newspaper focused quite a bit on religious
discrimination felt by some of the kids. Is this that big a
problem?
3. More drugs than usual?
I really don't know enough to address questions #2 and #3. In the hypothetical situation of an instance of religious intolerance I have to assume that the administration and faculty would step in fairly aggressively to deal with the problem and educate the students on the issue. As for more drugs than usual, as the parent of a Junior I sure hope that's not the case and haven't heard any fact or rumor to substantiate this notion.
You didn't ask, but I'll volunteer my own opinion that H-R offers a terrific high school program: outstanding faculty,and a very nice balance between academics and elective subjects. Best of luck to you and your 8th grader. laura
My son went to Bentley and then Head Royce. He loved Head Royce which he transferred to in high school (Bentley at that time had no high school). We were very pleased with the school and the teachers and were somewhat let down when my daughter decided to go to CPS instead of Head Royce. However she has been at CPS for 2 years and both she and her parents love the school. I had thought and heard that it was too academically strict, but she copes well with the homework. The teachers take a very personal and active interest in the individual student and the parents are great. Stella
There have been a few rough years - but this is to be expected as out kids grow and change. Many of our concerns have been addressed - such as the middle school head- where the new director is fabulous. Another was their implmentation of their committment to diversity - which is improving significantly - but still needs work. We have had extraordinary experiences with teachers - to the point of awesome, love the small classes and extensive on-site resources. The cost is high - but you get a very big bang for your buck.
The Lower school (K-5) is the best I have seen - great compassion, insightful teaching staff, emphasis on community, and making acedemics a pleasure. We are strong advocates of the school's philospohy to balance academics, the arts and athletics, and appreciate how both have been integrated into the curriculum from Day 1.
If you were to ask our son in 9th grade - he would say he is ready to move on to Berkeley High. He wants to be in larger - more diverse environment with new people. We are glad he fells this way!! - and we are dicussing it. Meanwhile he is taking Physics, Russian and Chinese History, English, Photography, Jazz Band, Honors Geometry, Spanish, is on the Basketball team and still has time for computer games and goofing around. We think the High School at Head Royce is terrific and might give him the structure he needs to focus and excel. Socially, it is hard for him to be in the same school for 12 years. The decision will be a balance of what is right for him- it will not be because we are unhappy with Head Royce, but because it is time for him to make a change.
If you were to ask our son in 4th grade - he would tell you he LOVES everything about it. We see him ''dancing through life - learning amazing personal skills - including social consciousness, self-reliance and self-motivation. Basics are so well in place now, he could go anywhere.
Renee
We're considering Head-Royce for high school. I'd love to hear about the experience of other families who've had students there.. particularly feedback about the quality of education, competetive atmosphere between the students, snobbery, encouragement of creativity, etc. Thanks! a curious mom
We couldn't be happier about the educational program: outstanding faculty, great individual attention given to students,detailed report cards that really tell you something about your child,etc. I am not sure what you mean specifically by ''encouragement of creativity''; all I can say is that the program strongly encourages students to pursue not just one but two electives in the arts,and that while challenging, the classroom/homework load doesn't seem overly intense.
By all means don't hesitate to email me directly if you have more questions about the school and my daughter's experience there. Best of luck dealing with the high school admission game, Laura
I have a child at Head-Royce and I think I should correct what is a significant error in this post. HR does have a GUARANTEED sibling preference. Siblings are considered (along with children of faculty and those from traditionally disadvantaged minority groups) before other children who don't fit those categories. As long as a sib is found to be qualified (ie, can do the work) that sib will be admitted. If the child has a late summer birthday and the school feels she would benefit from another year in preK or preschool, admission will be postponed for a year. However, my daughter's class is replete with August, July, June birthdays. My daughter has an October 31 birthday and is definitely one of the older children in the class.
Also, I have found that the reputation the school has for having "well-to-do" families is somewhat inaccurate. While there are certainly plenty of kids from "two-lawyer" families, there are also lots of kids who receive financial aid, children of artists, writers, sports-trainers, therapists, academics, ethno-musicologists, tropical fish store owners, research scientists (and I'm just thinking of the families in my daughter's class).
Furthermore -- as to drawing primarily from Piedmont/Montclair -- I've also not found this to be so. There may be families from Piedmont in Sophie's class, but I've never met them. There are many Oakland families, many Berkeley -- including North Berkeley (there's a bus), even the odd Fremont family. The draw is very broad. I've noticed that all the local schools have these very elaborate "reputations" that, in my experience with Head Royce at least, are not particularly accurate. When we were looking into schools we never imagined we'd send out daughter to Head Royce. It blew us away, however. And we're very happy with our decision. AW
From: a dad in the EECS department
We have all three of our kids at Head-Royce School. We placed our first their because she wasn't being challenged by the public school she attended. They all love the school.
Let me refer you to their web-site. http://www.hrs.pvt.k12.ca.us/
Applications were due on January 20. This may explain the lack of responsiveness from the admissions staff. I seem to remember a sort of closed mouth attitude until our first was admitted. Addmission are very competitive, and require testing and letters of recommendation. The results of this years addmissions will be announced on March 15.
Families from all over the east bay send their children to Head-Royce. We live in Hayward, I know others in Dublin, Lafyette, El Cerrito, Berkeley, Oakland, Orinda, San Leandro, even Antioch. Many are putting their children through at great personal cost - driving old cars and living in small homes or appartments. Certainly some come from Piedmont and Montclaire and Orinda and extreme affluence.
I know a couple of other faculty and staff members at UCB who send their children. It is a strong community, I've had nothing but pleasant, helpful interactions with the parents. I'm particularly impressed walking through the school on an average day by the politeness of the students. The faculty have been very friendly and helpful.
The students get a lot of homework-- 30-40 minutes per subject per day (says the policy - we experience quite a bit more at times) in middle and high school. The Elementary students are supposed to be able to dispatch theirs in a couple of hours (our results vary) with no weekend homework for elementary.
The facilities are good, class sizes small-- 18 in elemetary 15 in middle and high. Sports is part of the program with tennis, swimming, volleyball, basketball, soccer, rugby, cross-country, baseball, etc. (no football- no marching band). Many types of after $chool program$ are avaiable. This is a VERY liberal education. They still have an affirmative action program. This is a k-12 school which features two 18 student classes k-5 and 15-18 students per class 6-12, with only 75 students at each grade 6-12.
Admissions are very selective. Tuition is steep. Profile of Head-Royce School
An independent, coeducational, college-preparatory, K-12 school that strives to inspire in its students a lifelong love of learning, a desire for academic excellence, a respect for diversity, and encourages constructive and responsible citizenship.
Founded: In 1887 as the Anna Head School for Girls; incorporated not-for-profit in 1957
Enrollment: 735 students
Faculty: 96 including full and part-time members
Average class size: 15
Student/faculty ratio: 10:1
Facilities: six structures on a fourteen acre campus, including a gym, swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts, soccer field and baseball/softball diamond
Tuition: $8,600 to $12,775; additional fees for books, elective arts classes, class trips, and tennis lessons
School year: September 2, 1997 to June 12, 1998
Accredited by: The Western Association of Schools and Colleges; California Association of Independent Schools
Head of School: Paul D. Chapman, B.A. Yale University, M.A. and Ph.D. Stanford University
We are considering Head Royce for Kindergarden. While there seems to be no question about the academics, we are more concerned about the social scene, particularly as she gets older. I have concerns about her being in an environment of predominantly smart privledged kids-- snobbery, materialism, competition--both academic and social. I have heard second hand of people being disatsified with the social enviromnent and even pulling their kids out. I'd appreciate any comments of parents from kids at all ages. Thanks.
don't want my kid to become a snob
It is very hard in Junior High and High School if you can't dress in the right clothes. It's hard when all of your friends live in mansions and vacation in Europe over the winter holiday. I ended up feeling very embarassed of my family, my house, my vacations, my clothes - and consequently desperately wished to be wealthy. I remember at one point begging my mother to get a maid (if you can believe it!) My main goal in life upon graduation was to make a lot money and it took quite a few years before I came to terms with my issues surrounding money and realized that happiness doesn't always go hand in hand with wealth.
I got an AMAZING academic education at Head Royce - better than my college education in fact. But, I think that ideally a school is both academically rigorous and allows students to meet a variety of kids from all sorts of backgrounds. When I was there, that wasn't really the case.
If you child does end up going to Head Royce and is not from the kind of wealth that is prevalent there, then I would try to make sure that this is a topic that is discussed a lot at home and that there are other social opportunities outside of school for you child to meet other kinds of kids. Good luck wiser now...
The reality is that all private schools have a large contingent of more affluent families - they cost alot!! The pressures that come from this (where your friends go on vacation, what gifts they get at the holidays, etc) is not unique to Head Royce - it is going to be an issue for you and your family at any private school. Acknowledging and rejoicing in our differences is part of the mission and curiculum at Head Royce, and we feel they ''walk the talk.'' Very few families have left the school that we know of - and those who did had unique and complex reasons. Lack of racial/ ethnic diversity is a problem for all the private schools and no matter what the others say - they are all very similar. They all need to do better. The tone about social and material things is set by the administrators and teachers - and by what you project to your kids yourself.
I have applied for my son to attend Kindergarten at Redwood Day, St. Paul's and Head Royce. I wondered if parents with experience in these schools' aftercare programs have anything to say about them. Thank you! -prospective mom
Re: Summer Camp with daily swimming
Hey folks summer is upon us and if you are a busy working parent
like me looking for a great summer program for your kids I have
news for you! My son has been attending Head Royce Summer School
going on his third summer. We love the program and while it
costs a little more than some it is definately well worth the
money. The program offers academics, creative courses, sports,
and swimming. The combination keeps the kids interested and
excited about attending. For me my greatest pleasure is knowing
that my son is in a safe place, where the adults and youth
couselors keep the best interest of the children at heart and
behave in line with that philosophy. We are going back again
this summer and are filled with excited anticipation. Hope to
see you there.
nk
We have sent our oldest child to Head Royce for 3 summers and our youngest for 1 summer but will not be sending them again. In the past we have liked the program because they have a great swim hour every day, it is convenient, runs for 6 weeks and my son had creative teachers. The aftercare is expensive and only OK, but the sports choices are great. Last year both my kids had a bad experience. The 3rd grade class was not creative and the kids did worksheets all summer, not art or creative projects. When I suggested a more challenging math program because he could already do subtraction, the teacher said she didn't want him to forget it. My son's first grade class was frequently out of control and the kids were always in timeout and the creative activities were taken away as punishment. I talked to the teacher and things were better for a week. I tried to talk to the administrators and left 3 phone calls but didn't get a response. It is a very expensive program and my expectations were higher. My kids begged me not to send them again. AB S
We were just made aware of the Head Royce Summer Enrichment Program. We haven't seen any postings about this program. We would appreciate hearing anything you may know about this program. Thank you. Carlo
I am looking for a camp with an academic component for my going into second grade daughter. She is bright, but a little on the young side, and needs some help with reading/writing skills. I'd prefer something that is not terribly competitive, still has some traditional camp stuff going on (swimming, sports and the like). I've looked on the website, and I see Head-Royce school has a program... Would that be too competitive for a child looking to refine first grade skills rather than get a headstart on second grade skills? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Worried Mom
She did not find the school work academically challenging; rather, it was a continuation of things she had learned that school year, which was just what we were looking for. Some of the teachers are on the HR staff and some are from other schools. My daughter had a HR teacher the first year and a teacher from the Pleasant Hill school district last year. Both teachers were good. There is plenty of opportunity to take extra activities such as tennis.
I really like the HR program because it is extremely well staffed and well organized. The facilities are very nice. The program is a little pricey: about $850 for the 6-week course from 8:30 to noon, but when you consider that they swim every day, it is reasonable, since we would have had to pay for separate swimming lessons last year. There is an after-care program for an extra cost, that is also well-run. They are very flexible about how much time you spend at the after care.
If you are concerned about how the program would suit your daughter, I would suggest calling the summer program office and leaving a detailed message. When I have had questions in the past, they have been very good about calling me back. Lastly, it would be a good idea to sign up for the program soon, since I understand the early grades fill up quickly. Good luck. Charlotte
We went to Head Royce for the Algebra program. We didn't do it in-Lieu of, but it gave my son a huge amount of confidence when taking algebra in 8th Grade. It's only a 6 week program and the cost was pretty reasonable. Also, there is a bus from (64) from Berkeley Bart that takes them about 3 blocks away from the school. -- Elizabeth
Last updated: Apr 22, 2009
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