Maya Lin School

825 Taylor Avenue

School District

Alameda Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:20
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 parent on December 12, 2021

We have had two children come through Maya Lin School over the last 7 years. The arts-integrated curriculum is an incredibly clever and intuitive way to include neuro-atypical learners in the educational process. One of our children has a learning disability and his learning style is being supported—Instead of arguing about going to school like he used to, he looks forward to going every day. The after care options are incredible and we have felt very supported as part of the community.
Submitted by parent on July 30, 2017

My daughter is going into first grade and my son is going into kindergarten at Maya Lin. We have had a stellar experience with the school thus far and quite frankly are a bit surprised that it doesn't have a higher rating. While I can't speak to test scores yet, I can speak to the dedication, drive and community spirit of the faculty and parent community. The arts-centered elements are thoughtful and progressive while still being grounded in classic education. We feel fortunate to be here.
Submitted by parent on July 22, 2015

It's a private school education at a local public school. Alameda has great school options, but this is what sets Maya Lin School apart from other schools. We've been here for 4 years and our kids are thriving. Maya Lin School is the 1st Arts Integration Elementary School in Alameda County. It's philosophy is a whole child approach Lifelong skills are taught/talked about daily.The principal, teachers & staff are wonderful & very committed to the kids. Turnover rate is extremely low.Most teachers/ staff have been here since it opened 4 years ago and were hired based on their experience & commitment to building a thriving Arts magnet school. What this translates to is a stable and thriving community for kids.There's 2 classes per grade and 25 kids per classroom from grades K- 5th, comparable to a private school ratio as most schools have 32 kids per grade after 2nd grade. It's diverse & a true melting pot.Our school collaborates w/ MOCHA. A MOCHA instructor works on arts integration w/ teachers & has a weekly art class w/ the kids.Kids get weekly Spanish instruction(language, dance, cultural lessons, cooking).There's a community garden & instructor who uses the outdoor classroom to creates a deeper learning of STEM. Afterschool programs that fits the Arts model, Alameda Arts & AMP, a free music program (violin, choir,percussion).We wanted our kids at a school where teachers were not "teaching to the test" or doing timed tests. We're not anti- tests, but wanted to be at a school that took a whole child approach not just teaching for the highest test scores. I came for a parent tour before Maya Lin School opened & remember hearing about their goal to create an environment for deeper learning. We've been here from the beginning and the school has really worked meticulously towards that goal to have all the teachers get to a point where the art integration would become an organic process for the teachers & students and I feel like they are almost there. The arts integration approach works well for Common Core learning and curriculum.The parent community is involved and connected. There's a active PTA, Facebook group. School events are well attended & fun. Assemblies included, Kaiser foundation plays on health and nutrition, Symphony conductor visits, Author readings, East Bay Region Parks.
Submitted by parent on January 25, 2015

Maya Lin is a great school for many reasons, starting with an experienced principal and dedicated teachers. The arts-integration, inquiry-based teaching style is great for the kids; they learn important things in ways that are reinforced across the senses. The facilities are good too. The Maya Lin community is enthusiastic and strong, which makes a big difference at any school.
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2015

Maya Lin is an incredible place. There are 9 languages spoken at home in my kid's 25 kid-classroom with many ethnicities and races represented. Parents bring all kinds of experiences to enrich the school as painters, printers, dancers, musicians, beat box performers, new immigrants, educators, nurses, hairdressers, techies, chefs. Every family is so unique here, with amazing skills and stories. Art is everywhere--in storybooks kids wrote and illustrated, in the garden's painted signs in the cardboard violins children made and on display. Art lines the halls and fills the classrooms during school and after. Alameda Arts and Alameda Music Project enrich kids in percussion, violin, choir, and arts and crafts after school. The principal, most of the teachers and support staff at Maya Lin are extraordinarily good. All the teachers are competent. Grades loop k1,2-3,4-5. Classes are limited to 25. Beyond the k-5 teachers, there are music, Spanish, ESL, reading, TK, physical education and special ED teachers here. Teachers get good professional development, but could use even more. Kindness and caring are the feelings that pervade the school. So grateful to be here.