Mentoring Academy

5951 College Avenue

Oakland, CA 94618

7 Reviews

School District
Grade

8-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 14, 2023

Our son is a freshman in his first year at MA, and he loves it. The teaching is very hands-on, cameraderie strong, and there are many trips and special events.
Submitted by parent on February 12, 2023

Our ASD teen suffered through (private) middle school where they were bullied by the other students. The teachers were unable to understand their specific mix of high intelligence and slow processing speed, and did not follow any of the recommendations from the learning specialist. They ended middle school demotivated and depressed. After being so badly burned by middle school, we were skeptical regarding Mentoring Academy's claims to focus on each individual student and tailor learning for them. But they walk their talk: Our kid gets 1-1 support when needed and the school is integrated in our kid's support network, always open to have a conversation and adjust course. Our kid no longer feels stupid, and comes home sharing interesting learnings and insights. Plus - and many parents will be able to relate - the school is until 5pm, so that homework is actually done in school with the teacher present! The daily homework fights in middle school were detrimental to our family life. Now we don't have to worry about it anymore and kiddo can spend their time after school according to their interests. If you have a kid that doesn't seem to fit into "regular school" - get in touch with Mentoring Academy - they might be the relief you are looking for.
Submitted by other on March 30, 2022

This school has been the place we wish we had known about from the beginning. Our child is now thriving in a school that meets the student where they are, learns about them as much as the students learn about the teachers and staff. When the needs and abilities of the students are matched by the teachers enthusiasm and knowledge, students thrive. Our child certainly has. The school supports and welcomes students with differences in learning. The school challenges students to do their best and learn how to learn and be excited about learning. Check them out.
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2022

Mentoring Academy is the perfect environment for learning and understanding subjects fully. My son has been transformed since going there. Fully enthused with his studies and bubbling with new information everyday . The teachers/mentors are kind and patient and able to accommodate each student allowing the the time and space needed to understand and learn. I genuinely wish I'd gone there as a high-school student.
Submitted by parent on August 11, 2021

Mentoring Academy is a truly unique learning environment that takes individualized learning very seriously. Relationships between staff and students set the foundation for a collaborative journey driven as much by the student. My son is thriving there.
Submitted by other on September 12, 2020

negative. The head of school is more concerned with his own ego and maintaining a very male environment. It is not a healthy place for students to grow and learn.
Submitted by parent on January 19, 2016

After enrolling our son in two private high schools in two years, we were consistently told that our son was bright and well-behaved, but undisciplined in his work habits. No matter how hard we worked with him to accommodate the school's expectations, we found that our efforts were not reciprocated by the schools. So, it was like a ray of light when we found the Mentoring Academy. From the first time we walked into the school for the interview with the headmaster, it was clear that the school was all about the student, because the headmaster spoke with our son for the most part of it, and asked him insightful questions. But when he said that he key to a successful teacher/student relationship is when the teacher determines that their time is worth investing in the student, I knew we found the right place. Mentoring Academy is a small school that reminds me of a schoolhouse. It is a wonderful community of smart and engaging students, and enthusiastic and caring teachers. Because the school is very small, students get the individual attention they need in weaker subjects, and the chance to blaze through the subject in which they excel. The result is a thorough knowledge of all subjects to graduate high school. They are prepared to enter most colleges, if not all, of their choice. In addition, the school plans many wonderful excursions to places both near and far (as in abroad), and there are plenty of opportunities for students to pursue their interests in independent projects and volunteering, and get credit for them as well. Lastly, school hours run from 9:00AM to 5:30PM, so almost all homework is completed at school, leaving the student free to pursue personal interests when outside of school. As a parents, our biggest fear was after such negative experiences at the previous schools, he would become indifferent to school. However, Mentoring Academy, because of how the school is organized, allows him to pursue his interests as far as he wants to take them. It has been such a joy to see our son bloom again with confidence and curiosity about the world. We knew it was always there, but it was the great teachers and the relationships developed at the Mentoring Academy that was able to coax it out and get him to flourish.