Berkeley Parents Network: Rigorous Schools

Berkeley Parents Network

Rigorous Schools

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

Academically strong and liberal private school
Seeking a traditional, somewhat conservative school
Seeking a rigorous middle school

Academically strong and liberal private school

Feb 2006

Hi everybody:
We are considering moving to Berkeley and I am looking for a private school (elementary) for my son. I would like a school where the academic program is strong and the atmosphere/families of the kids attending tend more to the liberal side. I do not want a place where people are too conservative and the kids talk a lot about money or the moms look like Barbie dolls. I am not sure I am explaining myself well...:)) Any input? Thanks in advance.
Looking for school
Recommended:

Berkwood Hedge School

Black Pine Circle

Montessori Family School

Park Day School

Seeking a traditional, somewhat conservative school

Nov 2003

We are seeking a traditional, quality, if somewhat conservative private, education for our young child. We are located in North Berkeley, but the location of the school isn't as important to us as the curriculum. We are interested in a prep environment that focuses on core subjects. What we aren't interested in is modern approaches to subjects or deviations in history or English, which is often the case with public education. We welcome all suggestions and comments. Thanks! lh

To the person who inquired about traditional conservative curriculums in private schools, these 3 come to mind from our searches last year, though we were looking for something different so I can't give personal experience

1. The Academy, I think in Berkeley, describes themselves as a rigorous, academic traditional private school.

2. The Ecole Bilangue in Emeryville follows both strict French and American curricula and seems on the conservative side in terms of structure, teaching methods, etc. Your child can attend not having had French, though they may recommend you enroll him/ her in their preschool program in Jan. to begin exposure to the language.

3. Athenian School, Danville may be a good fit, I'm pretty sure they begin in Kindergarten but not certain. CS

Seeking a rigorous middle school

Nov 2003

It seems that in Oakland and Berkeley there are great K-5 schools (both public and private) and there are great high schools (private), but I can't seem to find a great middle school in this area. Where do the kids who end up at high schools such as College Preparatory School go to middle school? I'd like to know which middle schools in Oakland or Berkeley are doing a good job of preparing kids for a rigorous high school. Thanks!

There are some great ones out there, not a dearth at all, that fully prepare kids for the rigors of a school like College Prepatory: Black Pine Circle, Bentley, Head-Royce, The Academy, Windrush, Prospect-Sierra, Tehiyah, Julia Morgan, Redwood Day, St. Paul's. I'm sure there are others I've missed. They're all having info days - check them out.
A believer in private middle school

To the parent who wrote: Where do the kids who end up at high schools such as College Preparatory School go to middle school? My son and two of his friends, all now Seniors at CPS, were well- prepared at Black Pine Circle. Colleen

For competitive, high academics for middle school, in the east bay, check out Prospect Sierra. Contact Lily Shih 232 4123 (510) or lily at prospectsierra.com

In response to the question: '' I'd like to know which middle schools in Oakland or Berkeley are doing a good job of preparing kids for a rigorous high school. '' My boys both former CPS graduates both matriculated from the Academy. The older entered the Academy during 5th grade and the younger 4th grade. Former CPS parent

In our family we have collectively attended Prospect Sierra and Windrush and King. I would have to say that in terms of ''rigor,'' meaning that your kid is ahead of the game, King has the most comprehensive English (they have something called the Writers Room) and challenging math--a lot of the King kids end up taking honors geometry at Berkeley high as eighth graders early in the morning (yikes!). The private middle schools cannot rival, I believe, what King is strong in. Our experience, as well as a lot of close friends' experiences, is that King is lot more challenging, likely because they are tethered to state and national standards, than a lot of the private middle schools. Of course, getting into King is another story and you also have to consider the psycho-social match of a school like King for your child. Some kids flourish in ''big'' while other kids ''crash.''

One of our children also attended and left CPS, feeling that while she was maintaining an A/A- average, she was ''insanely overworked.'' She is now at another well thought-of independent high school, but to quote our daughter, ''I now have a life.'' The most rigorous is not always the best, and CPS, while undeniably academic, requires an unnatural commitment to schoolwork. My child's destiny is not changed by her exodus from CPS, and she is happier. Good luck Moderation Mama

Someone asked what schools do the best job of preparing kids for College Prep. A lot of them, judging from last year's entering class (88 kids). The largest contingent came from Bentley (10), followed closely by St. Paul's (9), Julia Morgan (5), Prospect Sierra (5), Tehiyah (5), Head Royce (4), Dorris Eaton (4), Academy (4), and assorted others (like Ecole Bilingue and Pacific Academy), including about 14 kids from various public middle schools. Don't hold me strictly to these numbers but they're definitely close. Perhaps the administration can provide more detailed information if it wishes, but they're obviously looking at the kids and not the school.

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