Caliber Beta Academy

2465 Dolan Way

School District

Contra Costa County Office Of Education
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:19
Type

charter

School Map for Contra Costa County Office Of Education School District

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 April 30, 2024

Caliber does nothing when your kids are being severely bullied or harassed. They are non-compliant with IEPs and 504s. So don't even think that your child with special needs is going to get the services that they are legally required to get. Staff is constantly leaving substitute teachers know nothing and teach the kids nothing while in class. Don't even bother talking to the principles they act concerned but they are not. 10 years ago when this school first opened it was a completely different story they actually cared about the children and the education that they were receiving. They are now looked at like a $ sign. Steer clear and run far away in the opposite direction.
Submitted by other on June 01, 2023

My child has been assaulted. More than once and all they wanna do is talk about it.........yell tell me what it is.....
Submitted by parent on August 19, 2022

The staff is extremely unorganized and it's a reoccurring theme from the last campus. If you are a family with multiple drop offs in the morning make arrangements and be prepared to park off campus, get out and walk completely around the entire school to drop off/pick up your kids and return to your car. Which exacerbates that neighborhood traffic and is completely unsafe. I've witnessed car accidents in the 4 days they have been open. Absolutely lazy and unreasonable and clearly a lack of planning. Don't attempt to call or get a resolution. No one answers the phone because they could care less as long as they get paid for attendance. They had over a year to map out their systems and failed big time. The morning staff is rude and left us no alternative but to remove our kids.
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2021

My son has been attending Caliber since he was in Kindergarten, and now he is in 4th grade. I personally have had a great experience with almost all of his teachers. Although I might have had a difference of opinions with 1 or 2 teachers a couple of times, the interactions have always been respectful and professional. All the children receive free breakfast and lunch; I think for many families in this community, that is a great help. BACR offers a very affordable afterschool program in the same campus. The school has offered parenting classes, teaches kids how to handle conflict and self restrain, as well as how to support and help each other. I like most of the people working in the administration. There is one of the ladies working in the office who is very dismissive and rude. Still, you will always find that kind of person anywhere, so I try to ignore her and only deal with the other people in the office that are always nice, friendly, and helpful. Prof. Grossman takes the time to get to know most of the kids, and he is always kind and friendly with the parents. I have had a difference of opinion with him once too, but he has always been respectful and professional. Again you cannot expect a perfect school, but this school is darn close. When I have mentioned to my kid that we might have to move, and he might have to go to another school (because the bay area is becoming too expensive for my family), my child has said that he is concerned that in other schools, they might have bullies and he feels safe at Caliber. That tells you a lot about this school! If I could move and take the school with me, I would. Even if it came with that dismissive lady in the office :). The thing is, I can't move and take the school with me, so I took a second job to be able to pay the high rent and don't move my kid from a school that offers him a great education and makes him feel safe.
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2018

Great ! My daughter has been attending the Caliber Beta Academy since it opened when she was in 3rd grade she is now in the 7th grade and she loves her teachers and her curriculum. Many other schools are available to her and when I asked if she wanted to move to a new school , she said no way Mommy I love Caliber ! I trust in the great way in which they are teaching my daughter .
Submitted by parent on July 31, 2018

Our First year at Caliber has been wonderful!! My son has learned and gained an awesome experience!
Submitted by parent on November 11, 2017

At this point I am happy. Visit the school and see for yourself. You are enrolled by lottery system, so I am not sure how a lottery can use diversity...For all of the people that say the school is not diverse enough-see pass skin, it appears that our child can
Submitted by other on September 01, 2017

Management only works with parents when they are put into a corner. Leadership is run extremely poorly. They talk diversity, but the office and the student population states differently. The data does not state diversity and its clear when walking around the school if you are African American.
Submitted by student on July 24, 2017

Not good - kids need more help
Submitted by other on February 28, 2017

With the smears and backlash Caliber has faced from the district, locals, and teachers unions, I am glad they have persevered. And I am glad I kept my son enrolled, he loves going to school and has shown progress throughout the year. He is only in Kindergarten so we're new to the school but it feels like we're already part of a family for real. My son loves his teachers and makes plenty of friends. The only downfall is the facilities the school is currently in which is portables behind Kennedy High school. They offer a free after school program which can watch my son til 6pm - saving me and his mother money and more importantly stress since we both work full-time. They have an app that tracks your kids progress and posts updates/pictures like Instagram. Really innovative and I truly believe my son is getting the education he deserves, which is more than i could ask for considering where we live. I can't complain - unless I'm at a school board meetings asking the district why they haven't provided the school with a permanent facility after 3 years and couting...
Submitted by parent on June 06, 2016

My husband and I love this school. Our daughter has grown academically and socially, beyond what we ever expected. She is now wrapping up her kindergarten year and we cannot wait for the 1st grade (neither can she. She keeps asking how soon will school start after summer break!)
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2016

Teachers are great, but many have left. There is lack for communication to parents. The leaders in this school are not handling issues well. They need a system where they can account for every child. Since students are been lost within the school and no one knows where they were. Very unsafe anyone can walk in a take a child out and no one would know anything or ask you any questions. My advice would be go to school many times before making a decision. Last year was way better than this year and by the way we have 650 students in this small campus and wait we are still adding 150 more next year.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2016

The teachers are wonderful. They implement differentiated instruction really well. My 3rd grader (who has always been way above grade level) is very happy and challenged academically.
Submitted by parent on November 24, 2015

Caliber is an incredible gift to the community. Before Caliber, my children attended a typical low-performing WCCUSD school, and spent much of the day doing basic work on their own in a room full of unengaged children. I can't say enough about Caliber's commitment to providing the highest quality individualized education to meet the needs of each child, and help each child achieve his/her personal best. Their model is truly a partnership between school and families.The school is only in its second year open, and is working to accommodate its rapid growth in student enrollment. They are continually improving processes and communication, and our two kids are thriving. The enrichments offered at Caliber are far greater than can be found in other WCCUSD schools, and include a robust STEM program and effective counseling team to help students with social and emotional learning and problem solving. There are many hands-on projects that foster critical thinking skills and teamwork. The teachers are incredibly hardworking and dedicated, always coming up with interesting lesson plans, and always available to check in on student progress or concerns. Administration is experienced and very capable and though Caliber provides enough administrative support to make sure teacher & curriculum development and student growth are paramount, it performs these functions at a fraction of the cost of the WCCUSD overhead cost, leaving more funding for teachers, aides, field trips, and special programs. The after care program (currently offered at no charge), features music, dance, sports, and many other engaging activities. Sometimes my kids want to stay there even when I can pick them up earlier! They've made good friends there and are continuing to learn to build healthy friendships under the caring guidance of the school staff and strong school culture of respect. We could not be more pleased with the education our children are receiving at Caliber (and they are quite happy too)!
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2015

Caliber is a hidden gem in Richmond! Lots of emphasis on STEM (science, technology, etc.), but also cool art classes, band, etc. too. It's super-progressive-- positive discipline, restorative justice, etc. The campus is ugly-- just a bunch of portables on a concrete slab. But the teachers are great and so are the programs. Very diverse student population and lots of high needs kids. But also lots of active families from many different backgrounds.
Submitted by other on September 08, 2015

This school promises small class sizes, and yet class sizes are over 30 - even in Kindergarten and 1st grade! They attract low-income and ELL families, who do not feel empowered to share their feedback. This school is collecting a lot of state revenue, hiring a lot of administrators, but it does not seem that they are providing the best service to their students or their families. Many great teachers have left already - and this is just the second year. I'm concerned about the future of this school.
Submitted by parent on March 13, 2015

This school is not great as a matter of fact it is no better than Stege the school it sits net too. The principal makes constant excuses for a group f kids. The act is if the technology is going to make kids be better, but people do that. These kids deserve a more structure program with higher expectations. My kids no longer attend this school. I suggest finding other school.
Submitted by parent on October 17, 2014

Caliber Academy's Staff truly cares for their students. Caliber definitely upholds their slogan. Education Reimagined.
Submitted by parent on October 13, 2014

Caliber is an exciting, innovative new public charter school. It's philosophy is to provide a rigorous, personalized education to all students-- to help all students excel at their own pace, meeting their own unique educational needs. There are so many cool programs at this school-- from robotics and computer programming (even in kindergarten), to hands-on science and social studies, to lots of social and emotional learning through things like mindfulness and yoga, to quality music education at all grades, and all of this on top of really solid academics. Our two kids love going to Caliber. We have been so impressed with this new school thus far! And there's a lot of parental involvement-- the last PTA meeting was packed.