Bay Farm School

200 Aughinbaugh Way

School District

Alameda Unified
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:23
Type

public

School Map for Alameda Unified School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by other on January 22, 2021

This is a great school for some but can be an incredibly toxic environment for others. Great opportunities, with access to field trips, technology, and well qualified kind teachers. I had access to technology from as young as 2nd great that has set me up well so far. The school is small and has very specific traditions that it sticks to. I noticed a lack of principal interference with student complaints and needs. Some of the more tenured teachers seem to be beyond reproach and can treat students as they please. The rules are restrictive, arbitrary, and constantly changing. Every year lunch monitors told us not to do more and more during recess. Some of these monitors were volunteers who were just lovely but others would refuse to get balls that went over fences, and prevented you from doing so. Or asked specific students they disliked to take abandoned trash all the way across the campus rather than asking students near the bins, they would play games with tired and hungry students, waiting to release them to lunch just because they could. Equally some volunteers devoted time to organize fun recess events purely out of the kindness of their hearts. Principals were completely out of touch with the middle school which was nearly ignored. I definitely don't recommend this school after 5th grade. Bay Farm is completely what you make it, if your unlucky enough to be stuck with bad teachers and staff you will have a terrible experience with no administration interference, it varies from year to year.
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2020

I can't imagine a more caring and rigorous program for middle school. I'm so pleased. The teachers and principle are weathering constantly changing situations with the onset of COVID19 and they're putting the students' learning first. I deeply appreciate the professionalism and commitment shown by everyone involved. The parent community is highly involved and respectful of the teachers and administration. We were new to this school for middle school and we couldn't be more relieved to find a good place that encourages our child's love for reading and science.
Submitted by parent on August 18, 2019

I am personally very happy and am feeling like we won a jackpot living so close to this awesome school. I only wish they offered other languages and not just Spanish as the second language.
Submitted by parent on July 09, 2018

Very good so far. Can it be better? Sure. But for a public school, it has a good amount of parents who are involved, has a good balance between allowing kids to be kids and decent academics, and more importantly, plenty of space for kids to play (there are several large yards for the 9 grades at Bay Farm). The child drop off area for parents is also superior as opposed to other schools in Alameda. It is quiet and rather low key with very limited car traffic and people. A good location for sure.
Submitted by parent on July 03, 2018

Overall we've had a very positive experience at Bay Farm. We appreciate the garden program, the integration of technology and emphasis on collaborative and healthy culture at the school. The staff are very strong and seem to work very well together as a team, which strengthens the whole school. The school will have a new principal next year, so it will be interesting to see what changes he or she will make. One hope is that technology, while encouraged now, will become a more integral and rich experience in the classrooms. Classrooms are all smart board-equipped but not used to their full capability to deliver richer immersive and interactive learning. Would be great to have additional PD/training for staff to unlock the potential of this investment.
Submitted by parent on September 06, 2016

We've had a very positive experience at this school, and appreciate the high-quality teachers, the collaboration between staff and with staff and parents, and the rich cultural offering - class plays, field trips, environmentally conscious "go green" program and technology integration.
Submitted by parent on June 28, 2016

We love the school's intimate feel and excellent staff. The teachers are great. We appreciate the k-8 environment as it lets kids stay kids a bit longer and mature at their own pace.
Submitted by other on January 30, 2016

Both our boys attended Bay Farm from kindergarten through graduation. Every teacher was caring and competent and highly approachable. Parent involvement is fantastic, with help in art, gardening, book fairs and more. A wonderful, community oriented school.
Submitted by parent on December 08, 2015

I'm a new parent of a 6th grader at the school, the teachers keep us well informed, are accessible and truly care for each student. They are nurturing and engaging with the kids -it's a delight to see. Wish my school years were this fun.
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2015

I went to ask some questions about the upcoming school year and after a few minutes discovered I was talking to the principal. She didn't have answers to any, but one, of my questions even though they were all related to the school directly, and her one answer was very snarky. She essentially talks down to you rather than to you, not a great quality in a principal. I was not impressed with her overall sour attitude towards new parents and students. She did not make us feel welcome and my child is now not excited for the first day of school because she believes all the teachers will be "like that mean lady". I also noticed that there were no teachers and very few parent volunteers present, which really made me question a lot of the other comments because community involvement was touted so much. There was also a lack of organization, communication, and efficiency in the mess of lines crowded in front of the office where everyone was. It was a really bad impression/experience and I can only hope it gets better, or we get a new principal who isn't riding such a high horse.
Submitted by parent on July 01, 2015

We feel lucky to be at this school and feel that the small community really helps promote an atmosphere of more individualized learning. Some people like to say that this school offers a private school experience in a public school setting, and in some ways this is true. The K-8 culture offers some advantages both for the younger and older kids. In particular the middle school students get more personalized attention because the class size is small enough that the teachers get to know their individual strengths and areas to focus on. The small environment also keeps the emphasis on academics and character development vs. the social politics/teen dynamics that may be more common in big middle schools.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2014

These reviews are a little misleading. Some positives - the teachers are not bad and gardening class nice - but the high test scores are directly related to the socioeconomics of the area. There is not good funding for this school. There is no art teacher and the music program is constantly in danger of being cut. Classes are overcrowded - most upper classes with 32-35 kids each. Teachers rely heavily on parent volunteers - some even ask parents to grade papers! For the privacy of other families and because parents may not be qualified, they should not be doing this. PTA meetings usually have less than 10 in attendance - and the teachers don't seem to care about the T in PTA. Because of funding issues, families are asked to donate over 300 dollars per student each year. The other fundraiser is an auction where families that bid the most get prizes and special outings - those with less money have no chance. Child supervision on the school grounds is lacking - often only 1 adult. Teachers have expressed a lack of parent volunteers, but teachers should be there to fill in at least! The academics were fine, and our experience here was not terrible. It was just not a 10.
Submitted by parent on October 23, 2013

I have a 7th grader and a kindergartner at Bay Farm... I'm halfway through what will end up being 18 years at this school! I don't mispeak when I say that... the community, the parents, are as much a part of this school as the kids, teachers and staff are. Together, this community works toward a common set of goals: Giving each student a great education, creating a safe and scintillating environment for them to learn in, and putting them on a path to success. Many of us feel as if we've stumbled upon a piece of near perfection. The principal, Mrs. Freitas, is dedicated to the betterment of the school at every turn, and the teachers and staff are absolutely fabulous. With a hugely active PTA and parent community, you just can't go wrong. I'm so thrilled my kids have this place!
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2013

We have been at Bay Farm Elementary for 3 years and are very proud to be part of this school. There is a great partnership between parents and teacher/staff. Our child is challenged and excited about class.
Submitted by teacher on October 16, 2013

Last year we celebrated our 20th Anniversary at Bay Farm School, and I couldn't be prouder of all that we have accomplished over the years! We've come a long way since we opened our doors to just over 250 students! We are now over 500 strong, with a staff who is committed to making Bay Farm a safe, fun, and challenging place to learn and grow. We have replaced overhead projectors with document cameras and smart boards, are in our second year of our K-8 implementation, continue to move forward into our 21st Century Innovative Plan, and have an Outdoor Learning Center and Go Green program that is the envy of districts near and far. Our greatest legacy, however, is our continuing relationship with our students who have grown and left us to make their way in the world. They have gone on to high school and college, are making the world a better place in their chosen fields, and, most importantly, are raising their own children to be strong, kind, and independent. They come back often to check in and to take part in school activities and celebrations. They share their memories of their experiences at Bay Farm and their goals. They remind me, day after day, why I do what I do!
Submitted by parent on October 09, 2013

Bay Farm school is wonderful. This is the first year it holds seventh grade, and it has two classes. The teachers are phenomenal and balance each other's strength. One is a Math and Science genius, while the other is an English and History buff. I have twins and one kid in each class. Both of them respect and admire their teachers. They actually enjoy learning and look forward to going to school. Of course, they love their weekends too. Just incredible how Bay Farm and their teachers created an environment in which my twins are engaged and are blossoming. When I drive up to the school each morning, I see a clean, well-kept grounds. There a true sense of safety and caring. Little safety monitors help direct all the crazy bicycle, car and people traffic. Today was "Walk to School" day, and the community had the local police also guiding traffic. They were even smiling. The children gather in the courtyard for morning announcements, and each child who has a birthday that morning is brought up while the entire school sings them a song and wish them well. Can you image how special that makes a kid feel? If only each day can be that extraordinary. Oh wait, it is at Bay Farm.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2013

BayFarm school is such a strong school due to the tight knit sense of community among children, teachers & parents. Most of us walk or ride to school and find we have a lot in common: a high value place on education, a strong sense of drive and desire for our kids to excel and be contributing members of our community. I am grateful to live in such a supportive neighborhood and participate in such a wonderful school community.
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2013

We are new to Bay Farm school and have been to others due to moving, so have a little experience in elementary schools. In terms of learning, attention to children, parent involvement, community, technology - this school is doing wonderfully! The teachers and staff are innovative and most of them seem to love what they do. We have recently changed form k-5 to k-8 and the transition is going well. The program they are developing for the middle school is fantastic so far; and AEF compliments it with extra-curriculars like band and sports. We are thrilled with Bay Farm!
Submitted by teacher on June 03, 2013

Bay Farm School is truly a community of learners! Together, our students, teachers, support professionals, and parents work tirelessly to support our academic and social goals, and provide learning opportunities that challenge our students to become independent, creative, and collaborative problem-solvers. We are implementing an Innovative Plan that infuses technology directly into our instruction so that our students can develop 21st century learning skills to be able to participate successfully in our global society. Come learn with us!
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2013

Love this school. We have had our 2 kids here at Bay Farm over 9 + years and is still loving it! The teachers (including PE and Music) are just incredible! The parents are VERY helpful and our principal is just incredible:) This school is growing better and better! We HIGHLY recommend sending your kids here!