Cascade Canyon School

102 Marinda Drive

Fairfax, CA 94930

10 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 19, 2019

We never planned on private school, and bought a home in Ross Valley in large part because of the public schools. But after looking carefully at the local public schools and the Ross Valley Charter, we realized that those schools were fine, but not excellent. In contrast, CCS provided an alternative where the education is engaging and challenging, arts are fully integrated, small class sizes and multi-age classes mean the teachers can really teach meaningfully to each child, and the children throughout the school are very sweet and connected to each other. We have also found a wonderful group of like-minded parents who value excellent education and a sense of community. CCS is a very unique school, and one that appeals to many parents who want an outstanding education for their children, a lovely connected community, teachers who are very engaged and love teaching, and a place where kids really thrive without being drilled to death. It is also very important to us that it was much more affordable that other private school options. And since we’ve been there we’ve met many parents who have had experience with very expensive private schools, and feel that the education at CCS is much better. I do not have a basis for that comparison, but I can say that the 2/3 teacher Trevor is the most amazing teacher I’ve ever seen in my life (including in my own education through law school). In fact, watching him with the kids in the classroom (on three lengthy occasions) made my decision easy – I wanted my daughter to have what he gives those kids every day: unbounded inspiration for learning, a supportive and challenging environment, and the very best engagement for each of them to thrive. I cannot imagine a better teacher. But they may be out there, and Trevor and his wife Amanda, who is the incoming head of school, will find them and bring them if they exist. As much as I am glad my daughter has experienced kindergarten at CCS, I’m even more excited for her to be in 1st grade and beyond.
Submitted by parent on March 18, 2019

Absolutely amazing. So happy we found CCS for our son, who was not learning or having a positive experience at our local public school.
Submitted by parent on March 16, 2019

Our original plan was to have our youngest at CCS for a year, until he was ready for kindergarten at the public school. Here we are 4 years later, with all 3 of our kids there (2 in elementary and 1 in middle school) and thriving -- I'm so grateful we ended up at CCS!
Submitted by parent on March 16, 2019

Great program and both my kids have loved this school. They have a very strong sense of belonging here. They are known and valued for who they are and that builds confidence in themselves and kindness toward others. It's a treasure in Ross Valley.
Submitted by parent on March 15, 2019

My kids are 6 and 8 and both started at our local public school. My daughter did pretty well in kindergarten, and I hoped for the same when my son began the next year. He had been outgoing, confident and excited about preschool but began to regress and show signs of anxiety right away in kindergarten. It was a daily struggle at school and at home.In the last months of his kindergarten year, I found CCS and had my son do a tour morning. The tour was a success, and he started the next week. I braced for a rough transition, but instead, day by day, I saw my bright, confident, happy boy coming back. His teachers met him right where he was at- emotionally, socially, and academically. The mid-day phone calls home, the morning battles, and the bedtime tears stopped. The small class size, individualized attention, and emphasis on project based learning seem to make a huge difference for him. There's a family feel that's cultivated through all school overnight trips and on campus activities. Where at his old school he worried about being teased for wearing a character shirt, I now see him confidently interacting with kids of all grades. My experience with my son changed the way I view elementary education. I wanted my daughter to have the same experiences, so I moved her to CCS this year. I wasn't expecting a radical transformation since she was doing well in public school, but she too has blossomed. They're working on writing a book about the town of Fairfax, and she comes home thrilled to tell me who they've interviewed or what they've researched that day. I think she's much more engaged, and that coupled with the individual support has been great for her. Like many people, I moved to Marin for the public schools, but I couldn't be happier to have found Cascade Canyon School.
Submitted by parent on February 27, 2019

This school has been a gift to our entire family.
Submitted by parent on December 17, 2018

We have been with the school for three years running. My child says, "school is my happy place."The teachers are inordinately talented, sincere and earnest—as well as extremely hard-working & dedicated (as I’ve found almost all teachers). Yet here, they are a part of a group that works together to solve challenges & find opportunities to create community and learn from each other. Each brings his or her particular talents & joy, to add to the strength of the whole. Much like the kids and families. They don’t seem afraid to consider new proposals, train new staff, & meet new ideas. And, everyone has a voice; not least, the students.There is a philosophical undercurrent to the school that weaves itself into all its events and traditions. I might describe it as magical, a seed sewn by one key teacher/founder. With its small size, you would think that it’s continually challenged to keep its doors open & that the numbers would be stacked against it. But the strength and the dedication of teachers, leaders, students & families always seem to bear with this school year after year (now 35th+) and its unique identity: deep, nimble and adaptable.More than anything else, the kids there are fully and unapologetically themselves. Who could ask for more.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2018

We feel really fortunate to have found Cascade Canyon School for our daughter and enjoy being apart of the community! First off, the school is in great hands with Michelle Herron as the director. She is accessible and personally knows and cares about each child. There is a diverse, comprehensive curriculum, which in additional to the standard subjects includes art & theater, foreign language, STEAM, music, where world cultures are always embraced as well as a hands-on-learning approach. There is a focus on emotional intelligence and from the first day my daughter entered K, the teachers have worked closely with us to support her academic success.
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2014

I am so thankful to have found this school! Great teachers, a small nurturing environment, and a thoughtful focus on developing the individual potential of each child. The teachers actively communicate with parents regarding day-to-day achievements or growth areas in order to help parents partner in the learning process. Thank you CCS!
Submitted by parent on August 06, 2014

A hidden gem. Strong academics, superb engaged teachers, in-depth learning, outdoor ed, creative, rich, specialist classes, and small class sizes make this place special. Also, graduating students go on to great private and public high schools.