Daniel Island School

2365 Daniel Island Drive

School District

Berkeley 01
Grade

PK, K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
Type

public

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 September 12, 2023

We have had at least one child in this school for the past 14 years and have had a great experience for each of our three children. The teachers are amazing and truly care about the children and their education! Parents on the whole are very engaged and supportive which also helps. Our children went on to a challenging academic high school and were well prepared after going through Daniel Island School. We are sad that this is our last year at Daniel Island School and we feel blessed to have had this school for our children!
Submitted by student on September 12, 2023

I'm currently in eighth grade at this school and it's a great school. The teachers motivate me to learn and I look forward to coming to Daniel Island School each day. Five stars, but bullying awareness could be better.
Submitted by other on September 16, 2022

Having worked in six different schools in BCSD and after over 35 years of education, I can easily say that the leadership, support staff, teachers and parents are deeply committed to the personal growth and success of every student. Evidence of high expectations, concern for the students' social-emotional well-being, and the drive to ensure that every child meets and exceeds their goals is present in the actions and service of every employee. They care deeply about the community and strive to make each day one filled with energy, positivity and success. The children are absolutely adorable, so well-mannered and demonstrate respect for themselves and others. Wonderful environment for learning!
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2022

Teachers are mostly great. Principal Leigh is terrible, however, and was put in place thanks to nepotism. The biggest issue with the school is actually the parents who are about as entitled as they come and think any little thing is 'bullying', but judging the school based on teacher quality, it is a good school.
Submitted by parent on November 30, 2021

This school is really bad, myself do not struggle with bullying but I see it all the time and the teachers don't do anything about it. TEACHERS STEP YOUR GAME UP
Submitted by parent on November 30, 2021

This school dose not teach the students how lucky that have it everyone is snobby and rude
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2021

We love the school. Our two kids are very happy with the teachers and school environment. The teachers are very helpful and friendly.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2020

Us as expatriates weren‘t sure how the move from Europe would impact our kids. Communication was great so far, and the kids love going to school here.
Submitted by other on December 28, 2019

When I went here, from about 2009 to 2016, it was an amazing experience despite a few frustrating issues, I really enjoyed it and was so upset to leave. Most teachers were great with the exception of about 5 in the 7 years I went, and some bullying did occur, but overall, I really enjoyed it and wouldn't change the fact that I went. It was an amazing place to go to school and really helped me build confidence, build character, and values of my own. I made some great friends, DI was a lovely place to grow up.
Submitted by parent on September 04, 2019

A great school. My 2 children love it and the teachers have been very helpful. They have made alot of new friends and just love it. Moving to Daniel Island 2 years ago was the best thing we ever did and this school has been a great influence on our two children! Thank you Daniel Island School!
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2018

Verypoor communication between school and parents. Very poor response and system in place for bullying and other issues between children.
Submitted by parent on June 03, 2018

This school seems to be filled with unintelligent people. The teachers are always trying to control the students and the principals are jokes that try to get kids in trouble for no reason. I don’t see how the principal, Kori Brown, could be any worse.
Submitted by parent on November 29, 2015

Last year (2014-2015) was the first year my son had attended school. Being military, we homeschooled from preschool through 4th grade. My husband deployed last year and I could not manage homeschooling by myself. We decided to send our son to Daniel Island School. He was bullied the entire year, both physically and verbally by different children. I must say, his teachers and guidance counselor were wonderful. We had a great communicative relationship. I would report to them and they would report to me. The issue was the bullying reporting system. I suppose "minor" infractions were taken care of by the teachers, next in line by the guidance counselor, then egregious infractions went to the vice principle. There was a breakdown in communication amongst these levels. The vice principle had no idea my son had been bullied the entire year when a child who had bullied him multiple times was finally sent to see her in the spring. Reports from the teachers and guidance counselor did not reach her desk if they had been "taken care of." At the end of the year, I had a meeting with Mrs. French, all three of his teachers and his guidance counselor because of how hideous he had been treated and how the reporting system did not service him well. There were days he did not want to go to school and would cry and beg not to go. Fortunately, we moved, but I would not have sent him back regardless. I believe changes to the reporting system have taken place because of how horribly my son was treated. I've read the comments of how other children have not been bullied, but unfortunately, it does happen and it's terrible. If you start at DI in kindergarten, yay for you, you're in. If not, well, I guess you don't fit into the DI mold, especially if you aren't into sports, cheerleading, etc. I know of other students who withdrew from DI for bullying. Just know that the bullies are alive and well at DIS and some of the parents couldn't care less.
Submitted by parent on November 09, 2015

I have three kids attending DI. All three started at kindergarten. My 7th grader has always been a small guy. He is also a certified band geek and makes good grades. He has never been bullied.My 3rd grader has special needs. His teachers meet with me regularly to discuss his learning goals. He has come along way in the past few years and I couldn't be more proud of him. He has always been a happy kid and has never been bullied. My youngest is in K-5 and she always comes home singing songs about manners and enjoys working with educational apps. Her reading skills are improving daily. Again, no bullies.This has just been our personal experience at DI and I would do it all over again.
Submitted by other on March 15, 2015

Part2: Another troubling issue would be; the band and strings program. I experienced the lack of instructions, and a feeling of hatred towards my instrument. As a result of the lack of instruction, the number of students participating in the band went from about 40, to 7. 100% of that problem being the instructor. He tries to manipulate kids into staying in his band for the next year, as most implore parents to drop out. He also advocates you to sell rotten fruit as a "fundraising" to go on field trips to places like Disney Land and Carrowinds, which never once took place. After taking private lessons on my instrument, i realized there is so much more to music than dreaded practicing and under instruction. The guy can't even explain how to play basic rhythms, let alone provide the support and positive reinforcement to become a well established musician. Daniel Island school is a prime example of why kids like myself have to come up with reasons to wake up in the morning just to be treated like 1st graders under the instruction of uneducated, insolent "teachers"
Submitted by other on March 02, 2015

I have been a student at Daniel Island School since about second grade and now I am in eighth grade. Despite how hard as they try, and how peaceful it seems, almost everyone gets bullied someway or another. And we do have the guidance consoler to go to, but all she does is bring more people then it need to be in it. Then, you get into trouble for telling. Also, the Spanish class absolutely sucks. And not because its hard, but because a person that grew up in a Hispanic speaking home said herself that the class was teaching the wrong stuff. Finally, the food in unbearable in the cafeteria. I mean I once found a rubber band & hair in my mashed potatoes. And, whenever they serve some kind of melted cheese, they literally have to beat the spoon to get it on the plate. I mean, melted cheese is sticky, but not that sticky. Bottom line, it might look like a pretty school on the outside but on the inside is something that you would consider homeschooling as an option before that. Thank you for the time and I hope I have saved your child from what I've endured.
Submitted by parent on January 28, 2015

Our daughter has went there since 2nd grade and now she's in 7th grade. We withdrew her today due to bullying on and off the whole time she's been going there. I would report it and my daughter sent a message in the bully box and still no change. We are wanting our daughter to get the best education she can. If you don't fit in with the DI crowd, this is not the school for you or your kids.
Submitted by parent on August 17, 2014

Daniel Island School is super impressive. We moved here a year ago from the northeast and was concerned about attending a public school. The staff is lovely. The school is beautiful and clean. I cannot say enough about this educational gem for my children. A community school that continues to strive for higher education.
Submitted by parent on April 24, 2014

One of my children has attended here 5th-7th grade and my other child has gone here for Kindergarten -1st. I was very concerned about reading the bullying reviews but this school has been completely anti-bully since we arrived. They address it, have speakers, and prevention and it has never been a problem. The teachers are great at communicating, parents are involved, there is ample opportunity to be involved. The AR program is the only disappointment as it became non-existent this year. But they have other reading incentives and a Beta Club (my childs group has not done anything special for Beta yet though) Love the front office staff and teachers!
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2014

This school is terrible the 8th grade teacher team is terrible they got my son on trouble many times when he was the victim. And the teachers acted like it wasn't there fault but it was all there fault!!! It's terrible the person who bulled my son got away free but my son got in trouble when he acted in self defense against the kid who was hurting him. Guess they don't know about the stand your ground law. This school sucks!!!