[nina93013]

Hi,

My DH has a job offer to relocate either to the Santa Cruz or the Berkeley/Oakland area. I am really hoping some of you local moms can give me the inside scoop on the local schools (ds would be starting kindergarten there). I would like to know if the regular public schools are "good" in the traditional sense of teaching academic things and being safe, but what I REALLY want to find out is if there is anything in these cities (either public or private) that is more "alternative" like along the model of a free school, democratic school, experiential/ecological education etc. We're *not* looking for Waldorf or Montessori. We've visited Santa Cruz and found some charter schools that looked kind of promising (Monarch). Anyway, I would appreciate it so much if you could help me out with any information.

Nina

 

[cchrissyy]

try here
http://parents.berkeley.edu/recommend/schools/
(some reveiws are old but it's the best berkeley reviewing resource anyway, IMO!)

I'm not in that loop (homeschooler) but I get the idea that parents get lots of choice in berkeley schools- I think rather than being assigned to the closest school, you get a cluster of nearby choices. But I haven't been plugged in, I just overheard something like that

good luck!

 

[scoobers]

Santa Cruz is AWESOME. It would be a great place to grow up as a kid. I lived there for about 10 years. I'm in Monterey now and I love it here too but I do miss SC.

There is what looks to be a good Montessori there which goes all the way to HS. Here's the link http://www.scms.org/

I don't think the public schools are all that great but one of the country's top rated High Schoold, Pacific Collegiate, is in Santa Cruz.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12551652/

Anyway, I know a lot about the various neighborhoods if you do decide to move feel free to PM me for more info.

p.s. The one big downside to SC is the traffic. HWY 1 is a nightmare through SC during commute hours. IMHO it's the worst road in the SF Bay area.

Best of luck!

 

[jkpmomtoboys]

I don't know if you are restricted to those areas, but we go to a fabulous Sudbury-like, alternative school-within-a-school at our local public elementary school in Pleasanton. Pretty democratic, multi-age and we were the founding school of the International Go Green Movement, so pretty ecologically aware as well...just a thought.

 

[tinawind]

There are 3 or 4 Sudbury-type schools around the greater SF Bay area, don't know if any are close enough to be workable for you.

(from list at http://www.sudval.org/07_othe_01.html )

Cedarwood Sudbury School
2545 Warburton Ave.,
Santa Clara, California 95051
PH 408/296-2072
[email protected]
http://cedarwoodsudbury.org/

 

[kazmir]

My DD is in a public school in Santa Cruz County. We really like it cause it is very small, only 3 kinders and 3 1st grades, and the parents are very involved. Each public school is different and some are great in a not so great district (like ours). If you are interested there is a website for Santa Cruz Schools:

http://www.santacruz.k12.ca.us/schools/index.html

It lists all the schools. We are in Pajaro Valley USD and DD goes to 1st grade at Valencia.

Good luck in your search!

 

[nina93013]

Thanks to everyone who posted here with info. We're still trying to figure out which city we will be in, but it sounds like either area would have lots of good options. Thanks so much for the inside scoop!