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March 2009
I am trying to figure out which high school would be a good fit for my daughter.
After suffering through a disasterous 6th grade experience at Orinda Intermediate, I placed
her in a small private middle school (Seven Hills) where the kids are pretty much all kind
and
gentle and very accepting. Unfortunately, this school only goes through 8th grade and I am
wondering what high schools are known for being academically challanging, yet socially
accepting.
My daughter is a prolific writer, is passionate about animals, loves science and math, and
has a very kind heart. Unfortunately, she is not adept at reading subtle social cues and so
she is sometimes seen as a bit ''odd''.
Right now, I am looking at Athenian, Bentley, and Campolinda.
Any insights or suggestions?
Bewildered Mom
My
daughter has attended one of the schools you mention and a good
friend has a daughter at another of the other schools you mention.
Both girls are socially well-adapted, sensitive and highly
intelligent. Both girls and both mothers wish that they had
attended the local public high school because their friends in the
public high schools do not have the same problems with meanness that
they have encountered in these private schools. The public high
schools have more kids so that such a child can find some group or
friends and offer excellent education for those who wish to work for
one. The only school I have heard of recently who actively and
successfully addresses such situations is Berean Christian in Walnut
Creek, but they do not offer the same high academic standards found
at the other schools you mention.
anonymous
Our daughter graduated from Athenian two years ago and it was a
wonderful experience! She came in as a 9th grader and was a little
concerned that about half the class was continuing on from the
Athenian middle school and already knew each other (she didn't know
anyone going to Athenian). However, this was never an issue. The
faculty and staff go to great lengths to ensure that all the students
get to know one another and treat each other with respect. There is
great diversity at Athenian with students coming from as far away as
Vallejo and San Jose, the whole range of ethnic and economic groups
as well as international boarding students. My daughter has made
many lasting life-long friendships from her years at Athenian. We
moved to Moraga with the intention of taking advantage of the great
school system there but for various reasons, sent our daughter to
private schools ending with Athenian. We and she have never
regretted her going there. If you'd like to speak with me off line,
I'd be glad to give you more information, just ask the moderator for
my e-mail address. Best of luck.
Happy Athenian Mom
I'm a parent of 2
Bentley Upper School Alums and absolutely love
that school. We made it through OIS but after 1 child with 1 year
at Miramonte that was enough for us and my daughter transferred to
Bentley. My son followed 3 years later.
It's a great school - the teachers are excellent and very caring and
interested in their students. They typically have gotten alot of
kids from Seven Hills.
There have been some administration issues there but they are
definitely working on those issues. My son graduated last year and
my daughter in 2005. I'm more than happy to talk about Bentley if
you want further info.
Judy
Hi, Campolindo
has a lot to offer but I wouldn't place your daughter
there because it's not a kinder, gentler school. It's the
conventional, high achieving school in the public school treadmill
mode. I would think a smaller, alternative school would have more of
what you are looking for. Mine is not a judgemental call against
Campolindo because Campolindo is a fantastic school in many ways, it
just doesn't have what you're looking for and there's hopefully a
better fit elsewhere.
All the best to you!
Our daughter had a horrible time at OIS too, in 7th and 8th grade. We
ended up pulling her out. At the suggestion of her IEP team, we
transferred her to Marchus School in Concord. Marchus is a highly-
regarded, counseling-enriched public school for kids with emotional
or social difficulties that made regular school difficult for them. A
substantial number of kids there have difficulty picking up on social
cues. Our daughter has a fabulous teacher and access to her school
psychologist onsite whenever she needs to talk with her. She is
thriving there, regaining her confidence, and maturing well. If you
think you might be interested about whether Marchus could help your
daughter, call school psychologist Christi Norton at 925-602-3434.
You're welcome to mention I suggested you call.
The other place that might be great for her is Envision School in
downtown Oakland (15th & Webster, a business area). My daughter was
just accepted there for 9th grade and we are thrilled. It's a charter
school (free public school) and sounds like a magnet school for kids
interested in the arts and technology. My daughter is a prolific
writer, too, and loves drawing. For further info, search the BPN site
for Envision School, Google it and go to its website, and check out
parent reviews on the Great Schools website. Act quickly; there are a
few spaces left and the school is in the midst of parent information
nights. Your daughter is lucky to have you as her advocate.
Nancy
I certainly understand how harsh the social scene at Orinda
Intermediate is after sending my son to Miramonte. He now attends
Bentley Upper School which is definitely a kinder, gentler school. It
is small and the administration and teachers take the time to help
nurture healthy social dynamics.
Are you considering College Preparatory School? I understand that the
kids are really academically inclined and very good to on another. I
would definitely check that out.
High School should be more fun than it is
My two oldest daughters graduated from Campolindo high school. My
third daughter currently attends Campo. I will never forget the day
my middle daughter came home from school, about a week or two after
school had started for her as a freshman at Campo. She said ''mom, I
can't believe what happens at this school. Anyone can be friends with
anyone. Yeah, there are people who hang out with certain people but
people can be in band and be cool, people can be in sports and be cool
and people can be really smart and be cool. Everyone just mixes with
everyone no matter what group they're in. I didn't know this could
happen in high school mom.''
Enough said. We have had very good social experiences with the ''kids''
at Campo. I hope this helps
Jody
I tutor middle school and high school kids and when I posed this
question to a couple of them, I came up with St. Mary's in Berkeley
and The Urban School of San Francisco (highly recommended).
http://www.urbanschool.org/
A Bentley student did not recommend Bentley, based on your posting,
but everyone's experience is different.
Good luck.
Dusty
We are very happy with Athenian. My child sounds like your daughter.
Great at science and math, very kind, oblivious to social cues, high
achieving academically. Your daughter would find many such kids at
Athenian. The environment itself (in Mt. Diablo State Park) lends
itself to relaxing as soon as you get there. It is a small, nurturing
place where the teachers are expected to build strong relationships
with students - and they do. The science learning is very hands-on
with lots of experimentation. They are raising chickens in the
working garden that raises fruits and veggies for the school kitchen.
Many teachers live on campus. It is unlike any other school. There
are great academic offerings, but nurturing the whole child into
becoming the best person s/he can be is the focus.
Athenian Mom
I have two sons that go to Maybeck High School in Berkeley, which is
currently on Bancroft Ave across the street from the CAL campus. This
summer Maybeck is moving to a new site on College Ave (St. John's
Church). The school is one of the smallest high schools I know of
(approx 100-110 students), which creates the environment of intimacy
for both student relationships and student/teacher relationships. My
sons have flourished there emotionally, socially and academically.
There are many talented and interesting students. There are
interesting opportunities to travel during a ''special programs''
session in the spring. Right now some of the students are bicycling in
Japan; others are in the Copper Canyon, Mexico. Mine are in Hawaii
hiking and surfing. There is an emphasis on academics, the environment
and bicycling. There are no competitive sports teams, however, if that
is an interest.
lauren
March 2009
Does anyone have any direct experience with West County Community
High School in Richmond or The Envision Academy of Arts and
Technology in Oakland? I am considering alternatives to El Cerrito
High School for my daughter who will be in 9th grade next year. I'd
also welcome suggestions for other small charter high schools in the
east bay. Thanks
My son is in 9th grade at Envision
and is very happy there. The
teachers are all enthusiastic and dedicated to each student's
success. The curriculum is very motivating and project-based. It
is so small no one can fall through the cracks. Please feel free to
contact me if you have any other questions.
Jan L
We were looking for alternatives to the private schools and felt lucky
to find Envision Academy
in Oakland. You can get a good sense of the
school from their extensive website, with video of students and
teachers. The Principal is communicative and articulate, and hit all
the right notes for me: engaged learning, sophistication of course
outcomes, students working at differing levels, etc. It is spearheaded
by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with a space that is simply
gorgeous--many of the expensive private schools in the area are in
spaces that don't begin to compare. It's simply a joy to be there.
Someone wrote on one of the BPN groups that it's in a seedy area, and
I completely disagree. The light is beautiful in that part of Oakland,
and the streets are quiet there. It is an urban, not a residential
setting, so if you're squeamish about an urban school's being in an
urban area, it's not for you. But I would have no problem sending my
only son there at any hour in daylight (true of any neighborhood in
the Bay Area). My son wondered if he'd feel comfortable in classes
with so many students clearly from parts of Oakland he doesn't know,
but he came out of the classes he visited with a huge smile, he was
just delighted. This school is going to keep growing; it is a terrific
resource for Oakland families.
Mother of Private School Student
My daughter is a 9th grader at
Bay Area School of Enterprise in Alameda. It is a college
prep. charter school which focuses on community involvement,critical thinking and
empowering young people. We live in Richmond and feel that even though it is somewhat
of a commute it is worth it. There are students there from all over the East Bay. As parents
we are very happy with the school. As a student our daughter really enjoys it.
j.
My daughter has been going to Envision
since the very beginning and I
believe she would not be the excellent, motivated 11th grade student
that she is today if it wasn't for Envision. I believe this has all
come from the teachers and administrative staff who really care about
each and every student. They really do care that my child is
successful, and they are helping her get into the college she wants to
go to. This school is not easy. The curriculum is project based and if
the students haven't completed their work for their assigned projects,
they have 'Success Days' where the students stay until the work is
done. There is extra help available to kids who need it and I've seen
some amazing transformations in behavior and academics from some kids.
I've also seen kids leave because they couldn't follow the code of the
school. And being in downtown Oakland gives them opportunities they
wouldn't have at other suburb schools, like last year, classes went to
city hall and met with the mayor. This year, the 11th graders have
internships with local companies. Come and check it out.
Jenny
Jan 2009
Our daughter is looking into Marin Academy and CPS. We've read the
posts from
several years back. Does anyone have current thoughts about the pros
and cons
of each school for a North Berkeley family?
Puzzled Parents
Hi, my daughter is a freshman at
CPS (now officially College Prep) this year,
and is thrilled with it. The teachers are all fabulous, and are always willing to
spend extra time with her, be it to give help or just to chat. The kids are all
ingratiating and supportive. Though the workload is heavy, she enjoys what
she has to do. The small classes are intimate and rewarding, and she is
challenged in a way that was rare in her past education. The school is
definitely suited to a certain kind of student though, and kids who attend
must be willing to work hard. However, alongside this academic rigor, the
school offers many opportunities for fun and enjoyment. I don't know how it
compares to Marin Academy (she didn't look into the school), but she
certainly loves everything about CPS.
Hope this helps.
j
If you are in the East Bay, it makes much better sense to
go to CPS. Remember that your teen will make friends at
this school and want to hang out with them on nights and
weekends. This equals lots of driving for the parents!
I do not have a child at Marin Academy, but when I lived
in Marin County I knew many families who sent their kids
there. Having lived in both the Berkeley/Albany area as
well as Marin County (I went to high school there) I would
say that Marin county kids are definitely more privileged
and typically more affluent. Both schools are well known
for their strong academics. If I were deciding between the
two I would pick the place that seemed to have students
whose values seemed closely aligned with those of my own
family.
former marin county resident
Apply to as many private high schools that you can manage. There may be
more spaces with the changes to the economy, but for the last ten years or so
there have been more people in the Bay Area that want private education
than there are spaces. With the announced closure of many public high
schools, I expect many parents and extended families that can come up with
tuition will be applying to private schools. We applied to seven high schools
in the Bay Area, San Francisco and Marin with a nearly straight A middle
schooler, got into 1 school, waitlisted at 5. Marin Academy was the one
school that just said no. Luckily we were admitted off waitlist at one of our
favorites, and it was a life changing experience. The college admission
process was much, much easier than private high school in the Bay Area, and
I have heard that from literally dozens, and dozens of parents. Go to all the
family welcoming events and dress up.
Also consider:
St. Mary's,
Bentley,
The Athenian School,
Branson
college mom
My son is a junior at
Marin Academy,
and we live in Oakland. It has been a
fabulous experience even though there has been a lot of driving, but I have to
say it has been worth it. My impression is that MA and CPS are very different
schools. We live close to CPS, but my son never considered it because he did
not want the academic grind it is known to have. Marin Academy has been a
great fit. The kids at MA all seem to have at least one great interest - sports,
music, art, but they are strong students too. You should go to schools you
are thinking about and get a feel for the culture. Marin Academy seemed the
most interesting and had the best energy of all the schools my son applied
to, and the physical plant is beautiful.
Worth the drive
We have one daughter that went to
CPS and one that went to
Marin Academy.
Both were fabulous. We live in Berkeley and were in carpools for each school.
If your daugther/son is interested in the arts (music, drama, arts, dance,
photography, etc) as well as an academically challenging program, I would opt
for Marin Academy. Per a recent reply, there were plenty of families and
students at Marin Academy that were not wealthy and shared our values. Each
school prepared our daughters very well for college.
sm
Dec 2008
My husband has started a new job in Emeryville. My children and I will move
in
summer of 2009 to join him. We are looking in the area of Orinda, Moraga,
Lafayette
or Walnut Creek (can't afford Piedmont or Berkeley). Which High School do
you think
would be more accepting of a new student - my son will be a junior, is an
honors
student, but is very angry about moving and is quiet - I want to stay clear
of a school
that is too cliquey and less accepting of new students. Also, advice on
friendly
neighborhoods (children aged 10, 15, 17, 19) in above mentioned communities
is
welcome. My two older kids will be in college but home sometimes. Thanks!
movinggirl
You asked which high schools are best: Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga,
Walnut Creek, but ruled out Berkeley due to expense. In my
experience, Berkeley can be much, much cheaper than the first
three. Sure, there are some really expensive houses in Berkeley,
but there are also some that aren't quite so crazy. I've looked
and looked and can't find anything even vaguely affordable in
Lamorinda (and I've been looking, because their schools are so
good). Walnut Creek tends to be the most affordable of those you
mention-- but with Walnut Creek you need to be careful to get a
place in the WC school district (pretty good), but more than half
of the homes in WC are in another, not quite as good district.
-- living in Richmond (eek)
Hmmm -- you are going to get opinions all across the board here!
I will say that I am speaking from the perspective of one who
grew up in Lamorinda and has chosen to locate to Walnut Creek for
our kids because of the schools they attend. Lamorinda, by virtue
of its location, is somewhat secluded. I am sure that your son
would do fine once he got his feet wet; all of the high schools
in that area are excellent (Miramonte, Acalanes, Campolindo).
However, there is very little diversity across the board. Some,
but not much. That is not necessarily good or bad, depending on
how your family defines itself. We chose Walnut Creek as it is
much more diverse, the high school, Las Lomas, is excellent as
well, but we just like the feel more -- the community as a whole
is more accepting of differences in all aspects, there is a
larger range of socioeconomic scale, and we simply found it fit
well for us -- a tough call for you and your family, surely!
Good luck with your decision; we have not regretted ours!
burst out of the bubble
April 2007
I have some questions about east bay private high school. I have been
reading the reviews on BPN and they all sound wonderful. Our daughter
will start looking at possible high schools this year and any input
from parents of kids at area schools would be great. Our daughter is
very bright, but also loves art, sports and is very into her social
life. I gather that CPS is very strong academically from previous
postings, but how is there arts and sports program? (In fact, where
are there athletic fields for that matter!?) We live in North
Berkeley, and I like that she could take public transportation to
school on her own, but will all her friends live over in Oakland? Does
this isolate kids? I have also heard wonderful things about Marin
Academy academically, but also about their sports and arts
programs. However, I worry about the effect of the long commute on my
daughters social life as well. Can any parents comment? Will all of
her friends live over the bridge? (How do kids at MA from East Bay
deal with that?)
Or should we just bite the bullet and send her to Berkeley High?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all.
berkeleymomanddad
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
Check out Berkeley High.
After all, BHS has the most number of
AP and Honors classes than any school in the area, the
largest/most varied athletic program of any high school west of
the Mississippi, and an incredibly visual and especially
performing arts program (the jazz band of course is nationally
ranked). In addition, BHS offers more languages than many
colleges (Spanish, French, Latin, Swahili, German, and starting
next year Mandarin Chinese). With this year's implementation of
the new International High program, every student has the
opportunity to be in a community-based setting. In addition to
the IH program (where students will be able to choose to receive
an international baccalaureate degree), there is Academic Choice
(traditional, college prep), and the small schools:
Communications/Arts/Science (CAS), Community Partnership
Academy, Social Justice, and Arts/Humanity (AHA), themed and/or
somewhat non-traditional college prep. Not to mention the
amazing number of clubs, associations, and other student
activities. Yes, Berkeley High can be intimidating for some
students and for some, the independence and freedom at BHS can
be too much to handle but I truly believe that NO PRIVATE HIGH
SCHOOL IN THE BAY AREA provides more overall than BHS in terms
of academic opportunity, academic rigor, and more importantly
life experiences.
Karen
We live in N Berkeley and my older son is a sophmore at CPS.
He really likes CPS and the school is a good fit for him.
CPS's strength is academics, but they have a good arts
program. We've been to some very impressive student music and
drama performances. I've seen art shows of student work that
were also amazing. My son isn't an artist per se, but he's
been taking stagecraft this year and is really enjoying it.
While they do have sports teams, yes there is a field and they
use other facilities, I don't think the sports programs have
the strength of the arts and music programs. Kids at CPS come
from every where, not just Oakland. There are other kids who
live in N Berkeley, some come from Marin, Walnut Creek, Moraga,
etc. Kids pick a common place to meet to get together, meet
on Shattuck to go to a movie, etc. Sometimes they will go
together for burritos or pizza on College Av after school. As
a full time working parents (and I do a lot of business travel)
we really appreciate it that the CPS teachers and
administration have their act together and we spend no time
dealing with school issues.
CPS Parent
We investigated private high schools, went through the whole
application process and enrolled our daughter in a private
school for ninth grade. (She was accepted at multiple
schools.) She ultimately decided to attend a school in Marin,
and the commute was awful even though the school provided a bus
from N. Berkeley, upwards of three hours per day. She also
found that she really needed to be in a larger school
environment, having attended private school for K-8. We
finally agreed to let her transfer half way through her first
semester to Berkeley High, despite already having committed to
the tuition at the private school, and the experience has been
great for her.
Because she came in mid-year she didn't get a choice of program
or classes, but the school worked with her to get her into the
right level of classes, and she is certain she made the right
decision. She is the only Freshman in several of her classes.
So, my advice is, look into Berkeley High as a positive option,
not a last resort. Many people outside of the city find ways
to enroll their children in BHS because it is a vibrant
community with excellent academic options.
The right school for your child depends on their personality
and interests.
Happy BHS parent
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