Blue Oak School

1436 Polk Street

Napa, CA 94559

33 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on December 26, 2023

Our daughter is in her 4th year at BOS and we couldn’t be happier! She loves going to school everyday and is always sharing what she’s learning. She’s very involved in the process of things, meaning it’s not just a memorization of information but a true understanding of the topics covered. We highly recommend BOS!
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2023

We have been going to this school since 2015. My child loves this school. It's safe, diverse, attentive and learning is synonymous with fun. Many families transfer here because they had bad experiences at the other schools and then the kids thrive here. Most importantly the teachers listen to the parents and want to partner with them to bring out the best in their children.
Submitted by other on June 06, 2022

I recently graduated eighth grade at Blue Oak, I went to Blue Oak for 4 years, 5th-8th, and did not have a good experience there. It started out perfectly fine, and then got worse fast. After COVID started, it got even worse, and stayed that way for the rest of my time at middle school. They didn't trust or support students at all, in many ways. For example, many students were either above or below the expected level in math or humanities (English and social studies), but there was only one learning level per grade, and students could not learn more advanced content. I was ahead in math and slightly behind in writing, but my only option was to take a separate, online class for math, and I didn't get enough help with writing. I also had multiple other classmates who weren't learning anything in math, since they already learned the content, but they didn't get to learn more advanced stuff, and just had to sit in the class and do repetitive, tedious, and boring work while other students were learning. Being behind also caused similar problems, rather than helping you learn more, they just say you did a bad job. And, the grading system makes it even worse, the scale was 1-4, where 1 and 2 were bad, 3 meant good, and 4 meant above and beyond, but their online platform, canvas, shows 3/4 as 75%, which is correct, even though the teachers say 3/4 means you did a good job. A C (75%) is definitely not equivalent to 100%. Later in 8th grade, they started creating and enforcing arbitrary and unnecessary rules, just because they could, for example, we weren't allowed to get water or go to the bathroom during lunch, and had to sit at our lunch area for 20 minutes regardless of how long it actually took to eat. I started a petition about this, and got signatures from over 75% of students there, but they decided to take this opportunity to make it even worse for us. After the petition, we were required to raise our hands and wait for a teacher to dismiss us from lunch before recess. This is acceptable for, maybe first graders, but absolutely not acceptable for eighth graders. These things may sound like a lot, but there were so many more problems that I couldn't do anything about, and staff didn't care about that made my experience there absolutely horrible. I strongly suggest not going to Blue Oak, if it was this bad for me, I doubt it's going to be any better for anyone else.
Submitted by parent on September 14, 2018

My son really enjoys going to Blue Oak. Before coming here, he was at a public school--a good school, but the class size was 30+ students! My son has difficulty with attention and focus, and in a large class he was getting lost. At Blue Oak, he is in a class with fewer than a dozen students. My son is very creative, and creativity is valued at Blue Oak School. In addition to regular school curriculum, he also learns music, drama, and mindfulness meditation. His social skills have also improved dramatically since attending this school. The teachers, students, and parents here are very nice and welcoming. Parent participation is strongly encouraged and indeed required. Don't be intimidated by the fees--they allow families to apply for indexed tuition, which is based on your ability to pay; for us, it's really quite affordable. My son is currently in 4th grade, but we will definitely be keeping him there through middle school. Highly recommended.
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2018

My son came to Blue Oak in Sixth grade and we couldn't be happier. The staff and teachers are wonderful. They really make the students feel comfortable, creating a very positive learning environment. He comes home every day with funny stories of what his teachers have done. When I ask how his day was, his response is always "great!" Or "awesome!". I highly recommend this school. Thank you Blue Oak!!
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2017

My children have grown so much since coming to Blue Oak. The experience for them, and our family, has been positive and uplifting. OUr kids love going to school everyday and even complained about the "long" summer break. We are all so grateful for the thoughtful, inviting, challenging environment that Blue Oak provides. The best part is that our children are learning how to learn and to love learning.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2017

My child has had such a positive experience in the short time he has been here. He comes home excited about what he is learning and what he has accomplished. He is proud of his work and is confident about showcasing it. The entire staff has been welcoming and there is definitely a sense of community. All the staff knows my child and greet him by name every morning.
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2017

My children have been very happy at BOS. They have found a community of learners and have made lifelong friends. They became the thoughtful, clear thinking, hard working students that I am confident will succeed in high school and beyond. The teachers at BOS were caring and interested in the children and the school community. I also have felt at home in the BOS community and have made lifelong close friends. For all of the above our entire family is very grateful.
Submitted by parent on November 16, 2016

great school - wonderful teachers! Children learn to think for themselves.
Submitted by parent on November 03, 2016

Blue Oak is a school with some growing pains, but it is a young school that is improving every day. Kids are happy, safe to be themselves and really feel supported. Instead of taking out textbooks and filling out worksheets, we have the marvelous opportunity to participate in science fairs, build rockets, and help solve worldwide problems with locally based solutions. Teachers work very hard and are committed to their students.
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2016

Is a broken school. Terrible disconnected board. Best teachers left along with many families.
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2016

Used to be great. So many families have left.
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2016

Blue Oak School has been the best decision for education our family has ever made. Our children have thrived under the care of masterful teachers who know how to properly utilize the concepts and theories of a progressive education. Blue Oak children learn how to love learning. When they move on to high school where they receive grades for the first time, they get A's because they don't know how approach learning in any other way but to actually learn the material and love doing it. Blue Oak alumni are highly successful. Blue Oak students know how to look adults in the eye when they speak to them and have opinions of their own, which they have discovered through experiential learning. They also have incredible leadership skills and love to be involved. There is not a better school in the valley.
Submitted by other on August 06, 2016

Prior to moving to Napa our child went to a progressive private school - we know what a great school looks like and Blue Oak is not even close. The teacher we had treated pupils according to how they pampered to her and was grossly ill-equipped to handle varying personalities (especially the boys). Most of the children were behind in the basic standards for their age, with many parents resorting to tutor assistance outside of school to make up for it. Now, while one could tolerate the odd "bad egg" in the teaching staff, what is intolerable is the school system that cannot identify and rectify the situation - in fact, senior staff would not even acknowledge the problem until they were 'off the record'... this is appalling and to think that none of the student families would be aware that senior staff won't act because it would compromise their livelihood: this is our children's education we're dealing with! If we talk about 'progressive teaching methods', while the school will appear different on the surface, it is far from progressive (again, I've seen truly progressive and this ain't it!). Obviously there are many children that do well, but they are of the conforming type who would do well in any school model (actually they'd probably be further ahead) - the risk is, what if there is a hiccup in their behavior or learning? With incapable teachers who seem to live in la-la land and no processes to deal with poor teacher performance, that's where this school comes unstuck. Truly disappointing.
Submitted by parent on July 19, 2016

It is true that Blue Oak has had its share of challenges. That said, my children have had a wonderful experience there. They are excellent readers. They are curious and inquisitive and not afraid to speak up. They have had quality relationships with all of their teachers. The challenges with the administration have been addressed by a dedicated board and parent body. If you are on board with a progressive education, it is an excellent school with a bright future.
Submitted by parent on July 06, 2016

I have a son and daughter who graduated from Blue Oak and another daughter who is still there. Although the administration has had its share of challenges and change over the years, the teachers are excellent and the program produces graduates who are more than ready to take on the challenges of high school.
Submitted by parent on June 02, 2015

With three kids, our hope for our children is that they develop a passion for life long learning, are self-assured, creative and overall are just well-rounded individuals. After visiting the school, meeting teachers, and talking to students, we knew that Blue Oak would serve as an ideal foundation for them to grow, gain confidence, learn and achieve. Blue Oak faculty, as well as the students and parents, have been strong allies in our children's learning process by supplementing what we do as parents with an education that goes beyond the curriculum; being supportive mentors to our children as individuals while emphasizing character, values, self-confidence and commitment to the community and world around them. I encourage anyone interested in a great education for their kids to at least visit the school and talk to the students. You'll see that any investment made with Blue Oak is a worthy one. We cannot speak highly enough about our experience and satisfaction with Blue Oak School.
Submitted by parent on April 23, 2015

A great foundation for our two girls. They learn how grow as a great, well balanced person that can think on their feet and interact well with groups while articulating their point of view. Project based learning is what works well for our family! Both girls have been going to Blue Oak since kindergarden and I couldn't be more pleased with the teachers and the Head of School!
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2015

Several years ago, I fortuitously met BOS's Director of Admissions, Barb Lundberg. I was completely intrigued by the school, and Barb took the time to answer all of my questions in perfect, tantalizing detail. We transferred our daughter in as a 2nd-semester Kinder, and we couldn't have made a more perfect decision. It's no exaggeration when I say that every day at that school has been a complete joy for our child, and for us as we watch in wonder as she develops. Our daughter was a talented little girl, but incredibly reserved and shy. The amazing staff, from K and 1st grade teachers to the pied-piper music teacher Kim Markovic, have effortlessly brought her out of her shell. She has blossomed in Spanish, cooking class, music and (!) fencing! Her reading, writing, math, public speaking and analytic skills are far beyond that of a 1st grader. She has been nurtured in a small class size (16 total) and the benefits of the individual attention is obvious. She has strong, positive bonds with every child in her class and the upper grades. Do I care that there aren't grades, tests or homework? ZIP. BOS has developed a brilliant model.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2015

Both of our children have been at Blue Oak for 2 years. Our children feel safe and comfortable and accepted. The teachers and staff really know our children, their personalities, their strengths, and their challenges. They meet the kids where they are and work with them to ensure they are engaged, interested and having fun learning. When I read my children's report cards, I am consistently struck by how thoughtful they are and how much these teachers are really paying attention and getting to know my children. I love the focus on inquiry, intellectual stimulation, community, kindness, and self knowledge, and I think my children have benefited enormously from the culture of the school. The kids absolutely love their days at school. They always come home full of new ideas. As we look ahead toward middle school, I am impressed by how well the school is transitioning the 5th graders, how the middle school teachers already know my older child and how excited my child is to transition up. I am grateful every day for the opportunity to send my kids to such a wonderful place.