Orinda Academy

19 Altarinda Road

Orinda, CA 94563

11 Reviews

School District
Grade

9-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on March 27, 2024

Under the current administration, this school is not one I would advise anyone to consider. The head of school lacks qualifications, having never taught or held previous headship experience. Her behavior is concerning, displaying instability and unprofessionalism. Numerous students, along with experienced teachers and staff, have departed due to her actions. She derogatorily refers to students as "mental cases" and fails to prioritize their learning. Additionally, she mocks students during staff meetings, exhibiting immature behavior unbecoming of a school administrator.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2023

Orinda Academy is a hidden gem of a small, college prep school that serves bright kids who learn differently, have anxiety or depression, and have not been supported by or been lost in larger schools. The incredible teachers are brilliant, supportive, and caring. The classes are small (8-10 students typically), and the community of students is kind and welcoming. Our 2e kid, who was suffering and shut down in middle school, thrived at OA and is on their way to an excellent liberal arts college out of state in the fall -- and we have OA to thank!
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2022

OA is a school for bright kids who need a smaller, quieter environment. In 9th grade, my daughter attended a small public charter HS in Oakland and found it overwhelming -- too loud and too chaotic. I reached out to OA mid-year and the head of school showed so much compassion; she helped us figure out the right move for her. It has to be a good fit for both the school and the student. Attending the school has continued to feel like a team effort. The teachers are so good with young people and spend a lot of time getting to know them. A student can't hide at OA, but at the same time, alone time and quiet spaces are absolutely respected. My daughter started off extremely shy and has absolutely blossomed. She finds the school incredibly social because all the grades know each other and so she can banter all day long with various people! It's an intentional community with shared experiences and a deep appreciation for everyone's individual learning styles and personal struggles. OA is not a special ed school but a place where kids can go at their own pace and won't fall between the cracks. Students with behavioral problems are not admitted. Its about a 50/50 split of students coming from each side of the tunnel.Classes are small, and robust conversations, games and laughter are prevalent! When you ask my daughter what she thinks of school as a 10th grader, she says "It's so lovely; it's actually fun to go to school!"
Submitted by parent on October 21, 2022

My son has high-functioning ASD, and public high school became a challenge for him. He was bullied not only by the students but by the administration and some teachers as well. After years of arguing with the school district, we moved him to OA. The difference was enormous. The teachers and administrators were warm, welcoming and accepting. When behavioral issues arise, they communicate in a way that makes results in a mutual level of respect between student and teacher and student and administrator. Expectations are conveyed clearly. Not only did my son make great friends, but he also enjoyed learning, and his teachers at OA are some of his fondest. He excelled at OA and was granted early admission to his #1 choice university, where he continues to thrive. OA is simply the best.
Submitted by parent on October 09, 2022

We moved to the East Bay from NYC during the pandemic to be close to grandparents. It was challenging for everyone, particularly our children, 16 and 12. We found Orinda Academy, the lovely and healing environment we needed. Our 16-year-old entered in 11th grade, made friends, and excelled academically. OA’s combination of nurture and rigor was just what we needed! The parent community is open and supportive. We also value an environment where teachers, administrators, and the entire school community know and care about our children.Our daughter is now 18 and in college and our younger one, now 14, just entered 9th grade at OA. So far so good! They are making friends and love their teachers. Our second time around and we could not be happier!
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2022

I appreciate the support of the Orinda Academy community – the faculty, staff and administration take the time to get to know the families and most importantly each individual student. They recognize that each student has their own approach to studying and learning and they work with students to accommodate their learning needs while supporting academic growth. The community provides a safe place for students to be who they are as individuals and encourages students to explore their interests. OA is focused on preparing students for their future by creating an engaging learning environment. The school has a wonderful music program with student concerts held in the winter and spring. Along with offering a variety of performing art classes, there are also visual art classes including digital photography and - recently added - introduction to graphic design.
Submitted by parent on November 19, 2021

Orinda Academy has been a fantastic experience for my son. Although not perfect, the teachers have been excellent across the board. It's a calm, caring, and supportive school. We're grateful for OA!
Submitted by student on February 08, 2021

The admin does NOT care about the student experience. Many students are allowed to say slurs on campus without any repercussions. Presentations have been made by students relaying all of the information on slurs at Orinda Academy, with NO punishment for the student saying these harmful words. This school disgusts me for how it sweeps the horrid acts that happen during school hours.
Submitted by parent on November 26, 2017

This school was a godsend. My son is bright, but has learning differences and was mightily struggling at SJND in Alameda. We moved him in 9th grade and it improved everyone's life. He's engaged, he loves school, and he's getting decent grades. The small class size, the inclusion, the tendency towards thoughtful, discussion based learning in the liberal arts classes, balanced with the usual things you'd expect in a high school just make this more balanced. I feel like my kid is working on his critical thinking skills, which will help him more later in life than a math worksheet with 500 problems. The school is very communicative and supportive. There is a fair amount of experiential/hands on learning (ie Field Trips) which I think is great. In support of the college prep atmosphere, the class schedule by necessity due to the size of the school feels like a college schedule. It's fairly diverse, too, which is a bonus. We are just delighted. Strongly recommend. Just - check it out. The nice thing about the Bay Area is that we have lots of choices. Go check this school out and see if it's the right fit for your kid. It sure was for mine.
Submitted by other on September 10, 2015

While attending Orinda Academy from 8th grade until I graduated high school in 2009, I thrived in the supportive, friendly, and educational environment. The teachers made sure that all my needs were met, and that I was always learning through my personal learning style. My peers were from all over the East Bay, and from a diverse array of backgrounds; I learned a lot from each and every one of them. I felt confident going to college, and then graduate school, based on my experiences at Orinda Academy. Most importantly, I learned how to be my own self-advocate, and that has brought me great success in communicating my educational, and now professional needs.
Submitted by other on June 07, 2014

I made a few lifetime friends at Orinda Academy and I am forever thankful for that. However, I felt as though Orinda Academy did not prepare me well enough for college and the quality of teachers was highly inconsistent. I had both terrible teachers and a few excellent teachers. One of the teachers in particular (who is still there) was sexist and chose favorites. It was clear whom he liked and didn t like. This basically meant that he would give certain students better grades. I was one of his least favorite students and he made it very well known. He actually told me, "I don't think you're going to make it in college." This comment was certainly discouraging and uncalled for. He also wrote me a TERRIBLE letter of recommendation for college. He was one of a handful of VERY problematic teachers, and unfortunately there wasn t a policy to let go of them. Fortunately, between the other good teachers at Orinda Academy and input I received from other parts of my life, I was still able to reach my full potential. I graduated from a top UC and earned good grades.