Website: http://www.envisionschools.org/

I'm working with an 8th grader who is a good kid and smart but really undisciplined, a bit spacy, and needs a lot of individual attention. The four schools his mom wants me to help learn about are: MetWest, Architecture College Prep, Life Academy, and Street Academy. Any information about any of those, good or bad, would be great! Thanks! oakland tutor

Re: Gifted 9th grader with possible AHDH
Our 14-year-old daughter is twice exceptional, too: gifted and emotionally disturbed (anxiety and depression). She was miserable in a traditional middle school due to social aggression from other girls. We pulled her out and she now is thriving at a school that values her specialness. It's the Envision Academy in Oakland, a charter school that is the quality of excellent private schools but is free because it's paid for by public funds. Envision is pioneering learning centering around projects and numerous other alternative approaches to learning. I highly recommend it. Search this site for reviews, including mine. I did have to advocate for accommodations for her giftedness. I recently donated 2 books and a CD to the school on Teaching the Gifted in a Regular Classroom. It included over a hundred sheets developed by experienced teachers that show in detail how to teach the gifted in a regular setting. These have ''primed'' the pump with her teachers, the learning specialist, the school psychologist and the principal, and they welcomed my input. It sounds like your son would fit well in this school community and thrive there too. Nancy

Re: 11th grader having a very hard time socially
You might want to check out Envision Academy in Oakland. It's a non-traditional charter school (so still a public school) with a progressive program for high-schoolers. My 14 year-old daughter had horrible experiences socially 18 months ago (shunning and ostracism) in her public middle school. She got so anxious and depressed she nearly killed herself. Suicide is a real possibility with depressed teens.She is much better now, on medication and receiving therapy.

Among the things I like about Envision is the emotional safety-net it provides teens. Onsite resources include an excellent school psychologist, Martha Manetti, twice a week and psychology graduate students available every day for therapy at no additional cost. My daughter sees one of these students for therapy each week. Martha established a great rapport with my teen and has been central to the staff's efforts to individualize her learning environment to meet her particular needs. When she has felt she's falling apart, she's been able to get immediate support from her advisor, Martha or Elisa, the intern. The school values individuality in students and welcomes parental involvement. Nancy

I just wanted to get the word out that Envision is beginning to enroll for next year. This academy has been a savior for my bright but unfocused 14 year old.There is structure and accountability, and my child (who has previously disliked middle school altogether) is excited about attending school and working towards attending college.This a great small (Bill and Melinda Gates funded) charter school. Contact Rick Gaston @ http://www.envisionacademy.org/
lpj

Re: Oakland Public High Schools - for a regular student?
Your child really needs to be in a smaller school like any one of the charter schools in Oakland. The class size is smaller and the teachers are dedicated to teaching and don't have to deal as much with classroom management because of the ground rules each school has. BPN lists all the schools. My daughter is a senior at Envision Academy, and was a B and C student in middle school. She has been an A and B student at Envision. Oakland Charter and Lighthouse are 2 more to check out. Check them all out.

You're right, not everyone is an honor student, but no one deserves to be herded into a school of 2000 to 3000 people. Would you go and work for a company where you had to change desks every hour and move at the same time as 2000 other people. Of course you wouldn't. Then why do we make our children do this? OK you can have the soapbox back. Jenny

I am looking for a charter school for my son. I'm looking for any feedback about Envision Academy in Oakland from current families. Is it academically challenging? Are the teachers well prepared? Is it safe? How large are classes? Are there enough extra curricular activities? etc. Rochelle

Re: A Kinder, Gentler High School???
Our daughter had a horrible time at OIS too, in 7th and 8th grade. We ended up pulling her out ... 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

Re: Charter high schools in east bay
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

Re: Oakland Tech for a Smart but Shy Boy
I would like to suggest Envision Academy of Arts and Technology in Oakland for your son. My son, who also came from a small middle school, just started in ninth grade and loves the low- key, hands-on approach. Class sizes are small (I think they cap them at 22 per class) so kids don't fall through the cracks. There is a big emphasis on digital media and project- oriented learning. Their website is: http://www.envisionacademy.org/home.html. Feel free to contact me, or the principal Rick Gaston at rick@envisionacademy.org.

Re: Choosing between Oakland Tech and private high schools
Consider a charter school for your son. The Oakland charter high schools have smaller class size than both Oakland Tech and the private schools. Your son can get the individual attention he needs to advance in all subjects. He won't be another face in the crowd, in physical danger (a friend's child was ''jumped'' on his first week at Tech), and you can save your money for college. My daughter attends Envision Academy - which we are thrilled with, but I know others who are happy with Lighthouse and Native American. Due to Oakland's foresight with the small schools initiative, there are many more small public high schools to choose from than in other communities. But look around now. Schools fill up early. Jenny

Re: Seeking small charter high school
Envision Academy (formerly Urban Renaissance) is the best charter school I have found so far. My daughter has been going there since they opened in September. Since they have a small student:faculty ratio, they have the time to work individually with the kids who need it. They work with the parents and district on IEP requirements. In addition, they offer a challenging curriculum no matter what the abilities of the child are. My daughter went from getting C's and D's in middle school to A's and high B's the first quarter at Urban (Envision). The only drawback to me is the location. They have a great building, but the walk to BART is a little seedy. Thankfully they walk in groups and there have been no problems. Check it out. Go to http://www.envisionschools.org/page.php?page_id=103 or Call Alcine at 510-596-8901
Jenny

Re: Independent study or intern schools for bored 14-year-old
To the parent who asked about independent study for her 14 year old: Check out Urban Renaissance on Stanford near the Oakland/Berkeley border. The school just opened with 70 students, all 9th graders. My son is there and I am impressed with the staff and the quality of the young people. Urban is a charter school under the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation that is using project based learning while building community. Good luck!

Hello, my name is Alcine Mumby, and I am the Co-Principal of Urban Renaissance Arts and Tech High School in Oakland. Urban is a new free public college preparatory charter high school that will open in August 2006 with a freshman class of 125.

Many of you may still be trying to decide which high school to send your student. You DO have a choice.

I want to tell you a little about the academia of Urban Renaissance and our outlook on education. Urban is based on a nationally recognized and award-winning model for secondary education. The model consists of three core values that Urban seeks to embody: rigor, relevance and relationships.

Rigor: Urban will have a rigorous academic curriculum that will use art and technology to engage students in their learning. All Urban students take college prep classes and all Urban faculty have high expectations for student work. In fact, all students are supported to meet or exceed UC/SCU requirements for admission.

Relevance: Learning will be contextual, active and authentic. Core activities will be integrated and interdisciplinary.

Relationships: With fewer than 25 students per class, the school will provide a highly personalized environment to challenge students. All students are supported by an advisory team and meet with superb college counselors (with very low student-counselor ratio). We also encourage stong parent participation in the Urban community.

Urban still has spaces available for our incoming 9th grade class (you can find an application form on on website www.envisionschools.org). I would be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have. Feel free to contact me at alcine[at]envisionschools.org

Alcine Mumby