Walden Center and School in El Cerrito, California

“The students are happy and comfortable in their skin at this arts-based, progressive school.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Walden is a wonderful environment for children's growth and learning. To call it a 'school' is a misnomer for it connotes feelings associated with standardized expectations and boxed teaching. If you are of the belief that it does take a village to raise a child, you will be delighted to see this in action at Walden. Self-confidence, acceptance, and a desire for learning and continued enrichment are only a few of the positive side effects of a Walden education. My son has grown into an independent thinker, lover of the arts, and has a strong sense of community and friendship...these are real attributes which support a healthy future for us all. Thank you, Walden!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Walden was the perfect choice for my son who is a very bright, slightly quirky learner. His teachers at every level have appreciated his strengths, made room for his interests in the classroom, and met him where he was in any areas needing support. We have been uniformly impressed with the staff and have watched them handle a few potentially difficult transitions with honesty and authenticity. This school is not a fancy place, but it makes up in heart for what it may lack in polish.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The school was a God send for my son. He learned what he needed academically in a loving environment. He grew emotionally and creatively through the help of the amazing staff. He misses Walden, but is doing very well in a public middle school.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Ah, a 'daycare' that has sent successful students towards excellent results in many public and private high school. The roster of Walden graduates who have gone on to lead successful lives, have great careers, contribute to their communities and, as an aside, graduate from some of the premier colleges in the country, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, The Claremont Schools, Berkeley, Stanford and many more. In terms of caring for and educating the whole student for a lifetime of participation and learning, there is no better school than Walden Center and School.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Walden is not a traditional 'sit at your desk - don't talk- obey - memorize' kind of school. It encourages creativity, open-mindedness, having and voicing your opinion without fear. Kids at Walden gain 'SELF-CONFIDENCE' which is something far more valuable than academics for success in life. All the graduates I've known have done very well in the career path they have chosen. I think the teachers collectively, harmoniously and successfuly run the school. Choosing Walden was one of the best things I've done for my son.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Walden has been a wonderful experience for my two daughters. One gregarious and the other slightly shy, they both are becoming very confident people and have had their creativity lovingly nurtured by the school and its wonderful teachers. Although class size is small and the friend pool can be limited, my girls have had great experiences with their peers. When times were tough they have learned great problem solving skills that will help them throughout their lives. Walden has been there not only for our kids but for the whole family and we are so glad that we chose to send our kids there even if it is a hippy school ! Love it!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This school is not a joke. The students are given freedom to be creative, but guided in solving problems together when necessary. My son is doing very well, but had some major problems adjusting to his new environment. Now after three years of attentive guidance, he is truly thriving.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We never thought we'd end up sending daughter to private school but we are SO grateful to have found Walden. Our bright child spent kindergarten in one of the better public schools and was still far from thriving. At Walden, she's excited to learn because she is genuinely interested, not because there is a trinket in a prize box awaiting her. Small class size allows teachers to tailor work for each child, those who are able work above grade level. We love how teachers identify what kids are excited about and make it a learning experience. As social issues arise teachers have been on top of them and have helped kids work things through in class meetings. Walden arts are amazing and have increased daughter's self esteem. Afterschool program on site is fun and stimulating and run by young adults who love kids. Best thing we ever did for our child!!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Walden is a gem of a school! After carefully looking at both public and private schools in Berkeley our family unanimously chose Walden. As my daughter rounds the end of her fourth year at Walden I can confidently say that the experienced, skillful and highly dedicated teachers take the time to know each child in a way that feeds their natural love of learning and sets them on a life-path of active participation in their education. I cannot say enough about the true integration of the arts into the curriculum and the incredible community at this school. If things appear unstructured on the surface, one need only to look a little deeper to see how the teachers and staff know and engage each child respectfully and individually. We love the way Walden has challenged and nurtured our child academically and socially.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This 'school' is a joke. It is basically a daycare where children are allowed to do what they want without consequences. The teachers run the school and with nobody really in charge, the lack of administrative leadership really becomes a problem.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We selected Walden for many reasons, but the two primary reasons were our desire for a small school and the fact that we really liked the kindergarten teacher and felt that our son would connect well with her. We really wanted our son to thrive in his first year at elementary school and, happily, he has. Our child feels very much at home at Walden, has made friends there, and is an enthusiastic participant in class and in the afterschool program. He looks forward to meeting weekly with his older Reading Buddy on Tuesdays and playing hockey or kickball with the big kids after school. As parents, we enjoy chatting with other parents on campus and have felt ourselves become part of the Walden family. Deciding on an elementary school was a time-consuming and high stakes endeavor, but we have been very content with our decision.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I have a child currently at Walden. While it does have a wonderful arts program - especially drama, I've found that Walden suffers from a lack of administration. If you are lucky enough to have a child that makes it through school without any problems, then Walden may work out fine for you. But if your child runs into problems with bullies, teasing, etc. don't expect the staff to address this in any significant way. I don't know if I would choose Walden again because of this. However, if your child happens to end up in a class with a group of kids that get along well together, things may go just fine for you there, and it is a sweet, creative environment.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This school is a really special place. It is a small school with small class sizes and amazing, thoughtful teachers and para-teachers. The children are respected for who they are. Learning is an adventure and a pleasure, never a chore. Prior to entering school, our boy was very anxious, and we really weren't sure how things were going to work out. Pam (the k teacher) has been gentle and supportive, and in time our worried little guy has really thrived. This is a great school for you if the thought of your special kid feeling bored all day, or sitting in some big room getting lost in the crowd, or being a 'problem' because he or she is shy/quirky/slow/fast/inquisitive/rebellious/different/, or not getting enough exercise, or not having many different parts of his or her brain stimulated every day, just makes you feel like there has to be a better way. Walden is also the lowest-cost private school we saw in the Bay area. There's not quite as much cushy stuff as some other private schools (the school doesn't feel wealthy and endowed; the facility is modest; parents do most of the maintenance and cleaning), but it abounds with love and intellect. We are so grateful and fortunate we've found it.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I'm the parent of alumni, and an alumni myself. My (now adult) children can refer directly to Walden in how they have made choices throughout their lives - both in their interests, higher education, and the kind of relationships they build with others.”
This review was posted by a other.

“Walden is a wonderful community of thoughtful, creative people who love to teach and learn. The arts are central to the curriculum: music, drama, dance, visual arts, crafts, etc. The teachers are wonderful and many have been there for a long time. They do not give grades for work completed, and teachers are free to concentrate on learning, not testing. Kids are free to focus on what interests them and mastering skills for life. The teacher collective means that all teachers take responsibility for how the school is run. They value community and they really work to live out their ideals. We feel very lucky to have this school nearby and our daughter is thriving there.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We have had two daughters go through the program at Walden, and were very happy with the school. It is a wonderful community- teachers, parents and kids. Though I had some concerns about the lack of testing while my kids were there, I found that they were well-prepared when they moved on to middle and high school. I highly recommend Walden as a place where childhood is cherished and kids love to learn.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Walden is a wonderful school, my three children attended and the one thing that was consisted was that they are all well balanced and confident students. Walden has a great sense of community and friends they keep well after the school days are over. Very supportive yet flexible and attentive when it comes to children being their own individual. Highly recommend!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Walden is a place where children are truly loved and respected for who they are as individuals and as community members in an environment that fosters independent thinking and creative process. Kids know who they are, know how to think for themselves and apply what they have learned to the broader world.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“There are some good things about this school, but the staff collective lacks direction, governance and responsibility. The staff is not responsive to important problems.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We have 2 boys in 1st and 4th grades at Walden, that have been there since Kindergarten. I liked the school from the start because I saw happy teachers that can spend most of their time focussed on the classroom. They are experienced, but not burnt out, and they teach to the students, not to an agenda. Curiousity is encouraged and developed. There are 2 hours each of music, art and drama every week, taught by separate Music, Art and Drama teachers. Both of my boys enjoy school, and are learning at or above grade level. They are also getting confident in exploring new subjects on their own, learning how to learn, and are not afraid to try out new things. Parent participation helps Walden to work, and its small size allows you to bring your unique talents to the school, if you want to.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Walden is a wonderful school with an arts emphasis. The drama and arts are just great. The staff is respectful of the children and I feel that they really get the gift of learning. It is a small school and since it is a teacher collective, parent participation is key. Socially, it can be hard due to the size and your child's temperment. Sometimes it just depends on your class. We have enjoying most of our times there.”
This review was posted by a parent.