My child graduated from Fusion Academy Berkeley. It provides 1:1 reaching, lots of variety, good teachers. It is small. It is expensive! In our case we were able to get district funding due to school refusal and anxiety. It was a great choice! They did very well and graduated on time. They were there from middle of 10th through graduation last June
Previously we had tried Holden Academy in Orinda. There were many great things about it but unfortunately there was a reasonable percentage of the kids doing a lot of drinking and drugs at the time and some bullying.
Our student had the BEST experience at St. Mary's College High School, and after having their sibling at a different HS I can say it was a night and day difference, if we could go back and do it differently both kids would have attended SMCHS - excellent administration and staff, excellent communication and so much to offer for students not just academically but also in terms of developing the whole student. I really encourage you to check them out. Good luck!
My child (now 21) went to Holden High School in Orinda. If it weren't for Holden I'm not sure they would have even graduated high school. They were refusing to go to school at all from 5th-8th grade, but they were able to attend Holden. It is very small (about 40 students total) and designed to support kids with anxiety or other conditions that make it difficult for them to succeed in regular schools. One great thing about it is that it starts at 10am, so we didn't have all the stress of trying to get them up and out in the morning. There are plusses and minuses to it academically, but our kid did get in to Brandeis so their students can get in to a selective college if that's their path.
If your child is academically strong, inquiring and wants to go to a good University/College the College Preparatory School of Oakland is smallish(400 kids) and supportive of academics, music, arts, community service etc. Sports programs are limited as they do not have a big campus but they rent tracks, tennis courts and soccer fields nearby. 58k a year (eek!)
I second the recommendation for St Mary’s College High School. Our child is a Jr there and has had very positive experiences. They have made (well, kept from middle school) some very key friendships, they have excelled academically (National Honors Society & several AP classes), have attended really interesting off-campus experiences (St Mary’s has a mandatory Enrichment Week each March; kids take a week long course either on-campus, taking day-trips in the Bay Area, or go on week-long trips within the US and abroad (these aren’t “fluff trips”—they are educational-based. My child took a trip to Mendocino, a service trip to the Blackfeet Native American Reservation in MT where they were mentors and classroom helpers at a K-8 Catholic school, and then lastly a trip to the Balkans to learn its history). As the other parent said, St Mary’s focuses on and walks the walk regarding diversity, social justice and educating the whole child. One of the many things I love about the school is students may re-take tests to raise their grades; also that a day each fall and spring are devoted to kids taking the PSAT/SAT (I’m no fan of testing, but some schools still require it, so… It also means your family won’t be “fighting” to find a spot at an SAT location (the offerings have dwindled dramatically). The only negatives about the school, from my experience, are the requirements for religion classes (at the expense of taking electives) and the small number of electives offered. Good luck!
My child is going to Orinda Academy in Orinda. He loves it! After struggling in public school with anxiety, bullying and not enough support we are very grateful to have found a school where he is thriving. He made close friends, the teachers care about every student and are always there to give support. We couldn't be happier
My kid found that Tilden Prep worked so well for them that they took classes even after graduating to give their education a more well-rounded content. They are continuing in the Summer because their teacher offered them a class that fits their greatest interest, and which will help them in their ultimate goal to be a biologist.
We have received so much admin support, especially around fitting classes and teachers and ideas for post high school endeavors and support. Over the 2 plus years attended, we have found the school to be very flexible in fitting a program to the student rather than the other way around.
We tried Orion and Mentoring Academy previously. (We found Orion to be extremely rigid and Mentoring Academy lost too much staff and mismanaged our funds, in that $2k the founder/director acknowledged was owed us was not returned despite several requests.)
Parent Replies
My child graduated from Fusion Academy Berkeley. It provides 1:1 reaching, lots of variety, good teachers. It is small. It is expensive! In our case we were able to get district funding due to school refusal and anxiety. It was a great choice! They did very well and graduated on time. They were there from middle of 10th through graduation last June
Previously we had tried Holden Academy in Orinda. There were many great things about it but unfortunately there was a reasonable percentage of the kids doing a lot of drinking and drugs at the time and some bullying.
Our student had the BEST experience at St. Mary's College High School, and after having their sibling at a different HS I can say it was a night and day difference, if we could go back and do it differently both kids would have attended SMCHS - excellent administration and staff, excellent communication and so much to offer for students not just academically but also in terms of developing the whole student. I really encourage you to check them out. Good luck!
My child (now 21) went to Holden High School in Orinda. If it weren't for Holden I'm not sure they would have even graduated high school. They were refusing to go to school at all from 5th-8th grade, but they were able to attend Holden. It is very small (about 40 students total) and designed to support kids with anxiety or other conditions that make it difficult for them to succeed in regular schools. One great thing about it is that it starts at 10am, so we didn't have all the stress of trying to get them up and out in the morning. There are plusses and minuses to it academically, but our kid did get in to Brandeis so their students can get in to a selective college if that's their path.
If your child is academically strong, inquiring and wants to go to a good University/College the College Preparatory School of Oakland is smallish(400 kids) and supportive of academics, music, arts, community service etc. Sports programs are limited as they do not have a big campus but they rent tracks, tennis courts and soccer fields nearby. 58k a year (eek!)
I second the recommendation for St Mary’s College High School. Our child is a Jr there and has had very positive experiences. They have made (well, kept from middle school) some very key friendships, they have excelled academically (National Honors Society & several AP classes), have attended really interesting off-campus experiences (St Mary’s has a mandatory Enrichment Week each March; kids take a week long course either on-campus, taking day-trips in the Bay Area, or go on week-long trips within the US and abroad (these aren’t “fluff trips”—they are educational-based. My child took a trip to Mendocino, a service trip to the Blackfeet Native American Reservation in MT where they were mentors and classroom helpers at a K-8 Catholic school, and then lastly a trip to the Balkans to learn its history).
As the other parent said, St Mary’s focuses on and walks the walk regarding diversity, social justice and educating the whole child. One of the many things I love about the school is students may re-take tests to raise their grades; also that a day each fall and spring are devoted to kids taking the PSAT/SAT (I’m no fan of testing, but some schools still require it, so… It also means your family won’t be “fighting” to find a spot at an SAT location (the offerings have dwindled dramatically).
The only negatives about the school, from my experience, are the requirements for religion classes (at the expense of taking electives) and the small number of electives offered.
Good luck!
My child is going to Orinda Academy in Orinda. He loves it! After struggling in public school with anxiety, bullying and not enough support we are very grateful to have found a school where he is thriving. He made close friends, the teachers care about every student and are always there to give support. We couldn't be happier
My kid found that Tilden Prep worked so well for them that they took classes even after graduating to give their education a more well-rounded content. They are continuing in the Summer because their teacher offered them a class that fits their greatest interest, and which will help them in their ultimate goal to be a biologist.
We have received so much admin support, especially around fitting classes and teachers and ideas for post high school endeavors and support. Over the 2 plus years attended, we have found the school to be very flexible in fitting a program to the student rather than the other way around.
We tried Orion and Mentoring Academy previously. (We found Orion to be extremely rigid and Mentoring Academy lost too much staff and mismanaged our funds, in that $2k the founder/director acknowledged was owed us was not returned despite several requests.)