Berkeley Parents Network: Middle Schools

Berkeley Parents Network

Middle Schools

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > K-12 Schools > Middle Schools

Note: These are schools that have middle school grades only. See the index for schools that include grades 6-8 in addition to other grades.

Public Middle School Reviews

Albany Middle School
Edna Brewer Middle School Oakland
King Middle School Berkeley
Longfellow Middle School Berkeley
Willard Middle School Berkeley
Bret Harte Middle School Oakland
Montera Jr. High Oakland
Manzanita Middle School Richmond
Portola Middle School El Cerrito

Private Middle School Reviews
(Some of these schools are K-8 but have a separate middle school)

Archway School 5-8 (N. Berkeley)
The Athenian School 6-8 (Danville)
Community School of the East Bay 7-8 (Berkeley)
East Bay Waldorf School K-8 (El Sobrante)
Julia Morgan School for Girls 6-8 (Mills College)
Redwood Day School 6-8 (Oakland)
The Springstone School 6-8
St. Paul's Episcopal School 6-8 (Oakland)
Windrush School 6-8 El Cerrito

Advice from Parents

Private middle school for arts and sports?
Rigorous Middle Schools
Middle schooler not challenged academically
Middle School Math
Middle School Science
Smart student miserable in middle school

Private middle school for arts and sports?

Feb 2007

My daughter(10) loves the arts(drawing) and sports(track), is very good at both and is getting much encouragement by teachers and coaches to pursue further in these areas. She also benefits personnaly from both. The sport helps her self-esteem,is a great outlet for her energy and brings her much fun. The art is a great way for her to relax or work through her emotions. She currently goes to a public school (4th grade) where the focus is on math, english and testing. There is no support for her desire to do art or sport. She is not a top performer in terms of grades, but she does not have a learning disability and the potential to be on top of her class has been recognized by all of her teachers.

I am considering finding a private school where there is more of a balance between academic achievement and support for arts and sports. I also think that she would be doing better academically if she was given a more rounded education instead of constant pressure to test well. Can anyone recommend a private school where she could start in the 5th grade and does not have to be a A+ student? Since my daughter is African American I would also prefer a more diverse school. Thank You so much for taking the time to reply. anonymous

Catholic schools have great athletic programs year 'round, inlcuding track and field and cross country. Also, they seldom focus on testing. I'm not sure how much art is done - I think that varies from school to school. If you live in Berkeley, Albany or El Cerrito, you might want to check out the School of the Madeleine at St Mary Magdelene's. It is diverse with respect to ethnicity and religion. Anon

Might I suggest Beacon? It sounds like a great fit for your daughter. They provide a fabulous developmental foundation for all academics; they take their time and can afford to do so because it is year-round. They have 240 instructional days vs. 180 in public or other independent schools, and for the same tuition as other independent schools. They take great pains to make sure each step is mastered before the child goes on to the next step. By 7th grade kids on average test 2 grades above averages. They have a big arts program too. You would not get the sports there; she would have to pursue track in another venue. But she could go to 4th-8th grade there and then go on to high school. Happy Beacon mom

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