Walden Center And School

2446 McKinley Avenue

Berkeley, CA 94703

42 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-6
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on December 07, 2024

We love Walden! Our neurodiverse, gender neutral 4th grader started at Walden in the 3rd grade and it has been such a wonderful place for us to land after a very challenging school search. Walden's collective model means that everyone on staff is fully committed to the succesful running of the school and success of all of the students. I can ask any staff member for help and they're willing to offer support. Walden is a small, close knit community. There are lots of ways to get involved and find support- such as the neurodiverse families group and the PEACE Committee (Peace, Equity, Activism, Conversation, Education for: justice, liberation, agency, anti-bias). My child loves Walden- they feel safe and welcome there. They love the curriculum and often come home excited to share different art projects they've worked on. They are making great progress in their reading, writing and math skills, while also engaging in rich arts, science and social students content. The school does an amazing job of communication, so we get regular updates on what they're learning and photos of their day, which is a great way to have a lens into their world. There are so many amazing enrichment activities and events throughout the year - from field trips (including overnights for the older grades) to spirit week to Ruby Bridges walk to school day to arts week to science week to assemblies. It truly amazes me what this small, but very mighty, community is able to create for our children. I'm so grateful!
Submitted by parent on April 30, 2024

Walden is an open and affirming school that is focused on fostering a love of learning, curiosity about the world, and meeting children where they are as they grow and learn. My child is in kindergarten at Walden, and is neurodivergent. We've had wonderful support and encouragement from teachers and staff at Walden, and they've really accepted our kid in the community. With the smaller class size (this year roughly 13 students in kindergarten with one teacher and some assistants), it's nice to see how well the kids know each other and look out for each other. Our kid loves being at school, where she gets to be herself, engage with friends, play, learn, make art, and she especially loves Spanish class. The lower group (TK and K class) has a magical space on campus, in a small house, which has space for circle time, an arts and crafts area, two rooms for imaginitive play, building with blocks, project tables, etc... The front porch has the cubbies and is often the gathering place for lunch. Our kid loves playing outdoors with other kids of all ages around the campus of the school - the interaction between grades is really neat to see. We also love that kids at Walden have Spanish, Sign Language, Art, Music, and Drama/movement classes 1-2 times every week. We've found the community to be very welcome, with lots of opportunity to be involved and to get to know other families at the school. The teachers and staff are excellent, and my kindergartner already knows the Lower Middle Group (1st grade) teacher well, and adores her. The consistency of having so many teachers who she will interact with again and again throughout her time at Walden is invaluable - Art, Spanish, Sign Language, Drama/movement, Music teachers, for example. This also plays out in the age groupings, as 2nd and 3rd grade are together, as are 4-6th grades. So those teachers remain consistent across two-three years instead of just one. It's so nice to be part of a school community where children are valued and staff loves their jobs. We look forward to being members of this community for years to come.
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2022

As public school supporters, the decision to move our child from a Berkeley public school to an independent one was not easy. However, this was a case of our child needing more support, different types of support than public school could easily provide--particularly the adult attention that is so much easier with fewer children in the classroom. We found Walden and we haven't looked back. I often describe this school as both a life-saver and a miracle because of how much it changed our child's and our family's life. Prior to Walden, we were struggling every day to get our child to go to school, to stay at school, and to enjoy learning. Now, our child chooses to be dropped off early and picked up late. The teachers are phenomenally supportive of our child's particular needs and they've provided the additional time and resources he needs. The way the teaching staff work together to understand each child is remarkable and shows how much they care. I can't say enough about the teachers. They are smart, experienced, caring, upbeat and FUN. The emphasis on the arts is spectacular and has brought out our child's interests in all types of learning tremendously. We love this school and only wish it went through eighth grade.
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2022

Our 15 year old went to Walden and now our 8 year old is there. It is above all a place where kids get to be kids, exploring their curiosity in both arts and academics, and really get to play! We love that it is small enough that the kids can be more self directed and supported, seen for who they are and supported in who they are becoming.
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2021

Our daughter is now a fourth-grader at Walden and it's been the perfect school for her creative, expressive personality. The school has a stellar arts program that offers the kids multiple classes in art, music, and drama each week. The school is small, with about 80 children total and around 12 kids to a class. 2nd and 3rd grade, and 4th, 5th, and 6th grades are combined into groups (middle and upper) that let the kids mingle and mentor each other, with breakouts for grade-specific lessons. The program combines personalized, no-grade academics with strong progressive social values and the arts. The drama program in particular is off the charts, with a year-end performance that upper groupers rehearse and work toward all year. If your child has a creative side that you want to nurture, and a socially progressive side you want to encourage, this is a great school for them. The school has also done fantastic during the COVID crisis, finding the right balance between safety, education, and social growth, and was able to safely open for in-person learning as soon as the state allowed it in October, 2020.
Submitted by other on December 11, 2020

I have two children at Walden. In addition to the daily lessons from their primary classroom teacher(s), the kids get lessons in Spanish, music, art, and drama/movement. In kindergarten and first grade, the kids also learn sign language. Both of my children love the amount of outside play they get at Walden. At Walden outdoor play and free play present yet more learning opportunities for the children, sometimes presenting opportunities to guide them through peaceful conflict resolution strategies, where they are encouraged to voice their feelings, listen to others' perspectives, and brainstorm ways to resolve disputes in a way that feels most fair to everyone. Science lessons are inquiry driven, so that the kids are learning about topics that actually interest them. The children explore numbers and math at grade-appropriate levels. They quickly learn to embrace that there are multiple strategies available to reach the right answer, which allows them to adopt the one they best understand. At Walden, the goal is to foster the joy of learning, not just to learn for the sake of learning. Social justice issues are tackled head-on using age-appropriate language, which helps us have meaningful discussions about social justice issues (racial equality, homelessness, climate change, pay equity, etc.) at home. But, most importantly, Walden has provided our whole family with a strong sense of community. Due to the small, intimate feel of the school, we have gotten to personally know all of the teachers and staff at Walden and we know the majority of the children and many of their parents/guardians. Despite not being able to physically be around the other families this year (COVID -19), many families have proactively sought out ways to stay connected, whether through virtual playdates for the kids or virtual support sessions for the parents. Our family loves Walden and we think you and your child(ren) will love it, too!
Submitted by parent on December 10, 2020

Walden is an amazing community! My daughter is in 5th grade and has been there since kindergarten. Our son is now at Walden in kindergarten. Walden's teachers are so amazing. They are kind, and develop a solid level of trust with the kids, which allows the kids to really learn, grow and take academic risks. The campus is sweet and has tons of plants and trees and grass for the kids to play on. Outdoor time is incorporated into the school day. The drama, art and Spanish classes occur several times a week, and are excellent. We have found real friendships with the students and parents at Walden. The school also focuses on social justice learning and helps the students see themselves as responsible citizens in our global family.
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2018

Excellent. We can't wait for our second child to reach school age so we can send him here.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2018

This school is a mixed bag. If your child wants a consistent arts experience it might be a good fit for your family. Keep your eyes open and trust your intuition.
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2018

I am a parent of first grader. My wife and I looked at many different schools before choosing Walden. We have been delighted with our choice and, more importantly, so has our daughter. Often times "going to school tomorrow" is what she is most looking forward to.The Walden learning experience isn't just based in theory, but a living, breathing experience for the children. Differences in background and learning style are appreciated. My daughter, who is already artistically inclined, thrives in the art, music and drama classes. Social justice is a real topic at Walden. The teachers seem employ teaching theories that inspire learning from the inside. Whether it's science, reading, math or social studies, my daughter's internal drive to learn is nurtured. We couldn't be happier.
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2018

My daughter has thrived at Walden. She comes home excited about learning, often trying out science experiments and asking about authors and artists that she heard about at school. When she had to miss a day of school due to illness, she was heartbroken! She truly loves school and we 100% owe that to the thoughtfulness and warm environment of Walden. Kids are free to be themselves and are supported wherever they are at. We are thankful to be part of this amazing school community!
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2018

Our experience has been excellent. Both of my kids are very happy at Walden and I'm thrilled that we found it (after our older daughter had a very rough kindergarten year elsewhere). It's a special place. If I were a prospective parent, I would want to know a few things about Walden: 1 - There is a big emphasis on the arts. But this is not "instead of" academics! One is not at the expense of the other. They are connected and used together to help children learn in different ways. I consider Walden a strong academic school .. the arts and academics combined have helped my two - very different - children thrive. 2 - Walden is a collective. Leadership looks different here than in more traditional institutions. If you are uncomfortable with collective decision-making or not having a single "leader" (like a principal), you may find this challenging. But if you like the idea of a school that actually lives by its ideals and believes that bringing together people and their ideas leads to more powerful outcomes, you'll like this model. 3 - Walden is a tight-knit community. We have become close friends with many of the other parents. And our kids trust all the teachers (of all grades and all subjects). You can talk to pretty much anyone about anything. The cooperative nature of the school (parents, teachers, and a very small staff run just about everything) means that we spend time together and get to know each other better than other schools I've known. 4 - It's a small school. There are around 90 students total (K-6th) and that's it. We love that for lots of reasons (small classes, we know almost everybody, etc). But some kids or parents may prefer a larger school. Overall, I would highly recommend Walden and look forward to our remaining years here! I would also encourage anyone considering Walden to talk to current parents to understand if it's a good fit for you / your kids.
Submitted by parent on April 09, 2017

The academics leave a lot to be desired. Many children have to get tutored to prepare for junior high school. While grades are not the absolute means of judging the academic performance of a child, they do give the student and their parents an idea of how they are doing academically. At Walden, there are no grades. That is all fine and well, however, they fail to show just how well a child is doing. I have no clue where my child stands academically. "Your child is doing great, good, or ok." is not enough. How great, how poorly? I don't know. The teachers show us our child's work. Cool. I did that with her at home. I know what she did and how well it was done, but how does it compare? I don't know. Guess I'll find out later when my child is in a different school. That being said, I think my child is doing fine, I know this only because I am involved making sure that the homework is completed and done well.
Submitted by parent on January 30, 2014

We have been really happy with our experience at Walden. Our son came from a pre-school where there was little room for him to be himself. He is a kinesthetic learner and needs to move around constantly in order to absorb information. Teachers at Walden recognize students' different learning styles and embrace their student's individual strengths and needs. Our son couldn't be happier at school; the teachers at Walden get him and he feels respected. The balance of a solid academic curriculum and a rich arts program has been perfect for him.
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2014

Our family couldn't be happier being part of the Walden community. After having been at Walden, both of our kids went on to private middle schools, then Berkeley High where they thrived. If you are searching for a school that values your child for who he/she is, where your child will know every teacher and student at school, and where your child will learn math, writing and reading, PLUS dance, music, and art, check out Walden. Beyond the arts and academics, the kids learn how to think creatively, work in groups, and respect their classmates. Walden is a wonderful place for all types of families too, as the community is diverse in terms of family structure, socio-economics, and ethnicity. I highly recommend it!
Submitted by parent on January 19, 2014

Our experience was awful. We selected Walden because our five-year old had difficulty in our public school, and Walden came up on searches for "spirited", "strong-willed boys". The Lower Grade Teacher determined very early on that our son didn't fit in. We were informed that he required a full-time "shadow" that we would have to pay for. We could not afford someone full-time, but proposed having his former "manny" come in part-time, even as a temporary solution. Walden does not have a school head. Decisions are made by committee. They are bad about communication. And while they gave us a hard deadline for providing the "shadow" (late October), they were lax in responding to our e-mails, all of which served to figure out a solution. In the end, they rejected anything we proposed. Even after having met our son in the interview process, and accepting him, they decided, in under six weeks, that they didn't want him there. Walden claims to support individuality, but if your child is not a cookie-cutter example of what they want, there will be problems. Their lack of compassion and small bureaucracy were disheartening. Only the drama teacher showed flexibility and understanding.
Submitted by parent on November 01, 2013

Do you view your children as much more than letters, numbers, and test scores? Do you consider them special, and must be treated as intelligent, multi-faceted human beings? Do you believe your children s emotions, thoughts, and curiosity ought to respected and nurtured? Do you believe your children should be encouraged to be their authentic selves, but are also given the tools to learn and grow from mistakes? ... To be concise, when it comes to education for your children, do you want it all? If you answer yes, then, Walden is the right school! Our two children attend Walden, which is a diverse community that embraces a developmental model of education, which engages the whole child as a unique individual. On top of its academic excellence, the integrated arts curriculum makes learning a multi-sensory, thought provoking, and lasting experience; the Respect for All curriculum proactively addresses social development issues, so that kids become equipped to manage the increasingly complex social mores as they grow. Please come for a visit: observe the kids, chat with parents, and talk to the teachers. It will give you a clearer sense of all that Walden has to offer.
Submitted by other on October 31, 2013

As a private music teacher, I see students from across a wide range of schools in the East Bay. This is what I notice about Walden students: they come with surprisingly deep educations in music and dance, and they bring both confidence and active learning to their lessons. They see me as a ally, as a resource and they come to me without "teacher fear" - there is no emotional hurdle get over in order to establish a student/teacher relationship. Walden students truly are different, regardless of learning styles or personalities. I've seen many of my students transition to public and private middle schools, and sometimes that transition is rough. When there is difficulty, it seems to be disappointment in the new school, a sense of sadness that their Walden days are over.
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2013

We chose Walden for our son because we value creativity, curiosity, independent thinking, and a love of learning for the intrinsic pleasure of learning--all of which Walden fosters in its students. The vibrant, close-knit (and quirky) community of teachers, parents, and children brims with creativity, warmth, and caring. I can't think of a better community to help us raise our son! Most importantly, our son loves school and is thriving in this environment! We are very pleased with both the arts programs and the academics. I'm a bit flummoxed by the negative reviews below. Walden's math curriculum is rich and deep and draws strongly on--but is not limited to--Making Math Real, which is a structured, multi-sensory program that builds strong conceptual understanding and reaches a variety of learners. The writing assignments my son receives in class and as homework are thoughtful, creative, inspiring, and challenging, and he has developed a strong love of reading and talking about books, while at Walden. He has been deeply engaged by the rich and varied science curriculum, since Kindergarten, and he loves that the teachers involve the students in choosing what to study.
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2013

We had no intention of sending our daughter to private school, but when the time came, we took the plunge and couldn't be happier with our choice of Walden. It has been a near-seamless transition from her experience at a Waldorf preschool. We continue to live with my husband's 4-hour, round-trip commute because we love this school and this community so much.