Edna Brewer reviews
This is our neighborhood middle school and for many reasons, we want to send our child there. However, I have concerns that it will not be academically challenging enough. Would any current or recent parents be willing to share their experience? Are the kids well prepared for challenging high schools? Thank you for any and all reviews!
Oct 12, 2018
Parent Replies
My daughter is the rising 8th grader in the question preceding yours (about OUSD HS options, and Maybeck or O'Dowd). She goes to Edna Brewer. It was our first choice school, it has exceeded our expectations. I have complete confidence that EB has prepared her to excel in a demanding HS. The students are organized into houses and families, and take classes in a block schedule, which allows for greater depth and focus each class period. Our daughter stared 6th grade excited, and she is still excited and motivated every day. She is an excellent, highly motivated, curious, and very intelligent student. The staff and faculty is excellent, led by Principal Layne and three wonderful Vice Principals. The educations has been uniformly of high quality, there is loads of support and enrichment for motivated, ambitious, and capable students. The music program is considered one of the best in Oakland, and the 2017-2018 small Jazz Combo (now 9th graders) won the 2018 Down Beat Magazine award of best middle school small jazz combo in the nation. The school has a strong relationship with the Cal Shakes Theater Company and Chabot Space and Science Center. There is a really good athletic program, a dedicated librarian, and many after school clubs organized by teachers, students , and interested parents (Latin ! Math Olympiad!). An "official" after-school program is run by EBAYC. The PTSA is well run, engaged with the community, and does excellent fundraising and support activities. More than any other school in OUSD, EB reflects the demographics of the entire city. If your daughter gets assigned to EB, lucky you.