Sonder Creek Academy

860 Bancroft Court

Walnut Creek, CA 94598

16 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 18, 2025

We love Sonder Creek! Our son (and our family) was warmly welcomed a year and a half ago and we’ve had a very positive experience from day one. The teachers are so engaged, they definitely know each child, their strengths, and their growth areas. The staff are kind, caring, and very cool people developing our students into smart, critical thinkers. The school-wide Science Fair last year was so impressive- these teachers really bring the best out of the kids! And the hot meals are a definite favorite!
Submitted by principal on February 17, 2025

I am thrilled to share my overwhelmingly positive experience with Sonder Creek Academy. As a new member of the team this year, I can confidently say that this school is exceptional. The dedication and passion that the teachers demonstrate towards student learning is inspiring. What truly distinguishes Sonder Creek is the personalized attention and rigor each student receives. The teachers take the time to understand each child's unique learning style, strengths, and needs. They go above and beyond to challenge and guide students with remarkable detail. This sounds over the top but it's true: Sonder Creek is more than just a small private school; it's a community where every student is valued, understood, and encouraged to reach their full potential. I'm also impressed by the range of special and after-school classes we offer, including Robotics, Odyssey of the Mind, Mandarin, Pre-AP Classes, Newspaper, Coding, Art, Chess, and more.The combination of professional expertise, individualized attention, and an unwavering commitment to each student's success makes SCA a true gem in the East Bay. I am incredibly proud and grateful to be part of this team.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2025

SCA is a fantastic place for my kids and all students to grow academically and personally. The dedicated teachers create a nurturing and engaging learning environment that fosters curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning. The school emphasizes a growth mindset, encouraging students to embrace challenges and develop critical thinking skills. With a strong focus on both academics and character development, SCA provided my boys a well-rounded education that prepares students for future success. Highly recommended!
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2025

Our daughter has been attending Sonder Creek Academy for 4 years now. We are very happy with the school. We feel each child at school gets individual attention and is supported by the teachers to excel academically. We would recommend Sonder Creek Academy.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2025

Excellent academic focus. Very safe environment. This is a close-knit community where administrators, teachers, students, and parents participate together in creating amazing school experience. We don't regret a single day our daughter has been in SCA. We joined SCA since its inception right after COVID. Thank you Sonder Creek Academy.
Submitted by parent on February 11, 2025

Sonder is a fantastic school if you are looking for a school with personalized teaching. The class size is small and the staff are attentive. They aren't a religious school so the won't force religion to your child. They are also very reasonable in price. They aren't overpriced like Athenian and Bentley. They offer child care for before school and after school so for the price it is a great school!
Submitted by parent on February 04, 2025

The academics of this school are top-notch! However, what makes this school so special is the incredible community culture they work to create. Teachers are responsive to children's needs and understand that some days are just off days for kiddos. The kids are kind to each other and create special bonds, and the parents have made a wonderful community with each other. The middle school kids are incredibly kind to the lower grades and readily include them whenever they have the chance (something I feel is unique). They create a space where each child can thrive and pursue their passions, with support from every staff member. Truly a school focused on the whole person of their students.
Submitted by parent on February 03, 2025

Excellent academics. Warm, caring environment. Students are very respectful and great friends.
Submitted by parent on February 03, 2025

Excellent learning environment. A few words used to describe SCA: enriching, safe and positive growth environment, well-rounded curriculum that keeps expanding, exceptional staff that care about the students, wonderful parents and students - It's a family.
Submitted by parent on February 02, 2025

We have been at Sonder Creek Academy since its inception and we love it so much! The staff is kind and helpful and our children are thriving here.
Submitted by parent on February 02, 2025

Our kids have thrived at Sonder! They have always felt supported and have developed excellent social skills in addition to the solid academics. The small class sizes and flexibility in groupings have really benefited our kids as well.
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2025

Sonder Creek Academy is a private school that offers a well-rounded educational experience for JK-8th grade students. As a parent, I love the nurturing and caring environment that the staff has built around this entire school. After touring multiple private schools in the area, we picked Sonder Creek Academy due to it's academics, low classroom numbers (22 students or less), nonreligious, STEM, Mandarin/Spanish, and a diverse student body. This school will provide your child with a fun and engaging learning environment, competitive curriculum (accelerated/AP classes in middle school), social & emotional resource support teacher for all grades, Mandarin or Spanish for all grades, and Engineering and Robotics for all grades. There's an early and late bird pickup option for parents (additional fee). School hours are from 8am-4pm everyday. Their delicious and healthy lunch menu is full of robust flavors! My child is a picky eater but she loves all the different lunch dishes. She comes home raving about lunch. I believe the ethnic food has opened my child to trying new dishes. The recipes are also shared out to parents, so we can try it at home as well. The menu covers a lot of ethnic food from spinach paneer with basmati rice, salmon onigri with miso soup, pulled pork sandwich, to Japanese chicken curry with sauté bok choy. All the lunches are prepped and cooked at the school. So, we know it's all fresh and cooked daily.This school does a great job having multiple events throughout the school year to get families to mingle. I always tell friends that we have met so many wonderful families through this school. If you're looking for a wonderful school for your kid(s) feel free to reach out to the school for a tour. You will absolutely love it!
Submitted by parent on January 31, 2025

What makes SCA truly exceptional is its strong sense of community. Students aren’t just classmates—they’re part of a supportive and nurturing environment where they look out for one another. This spirit of connection extends beyond the students to the parents as well. I can confidently say that some of my closest friendships have formed through the Sonder parent community.Equally important is the collective experience of SCA’s educators. The teachers bring a depth of knowledge and a shared commitment to academic excellence that challenges and inspires students. They create an environment where curiosity is encouraged, critical thinking is developed, and a love of learning is cultivated. The balance of rigorous academics and genuine care ensures that students are both supported and pushed to reach their full potential.SCA isn’t just a school—it’s a place where children thrive, families connect, and educators work together to shape the next generation.
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2025

Sonder Creek has absolutely been the best school for my child. We were looking at a wide variety of schools (public, non religious private, and religious private) to see what would be the best fit and I can tell you from the moment we reached out with interest, to the tour, to our child having his first 1/2 day visit there, we knew this was his school. Staff is knowledgeable and knows my child to a depth that truly sets him up for success. It also makes me feel comfortable that they are doing everything in their power to help my child succeed and thrive. I love that they allow him to excel academically (even past his grade level) as well as support him with challenging subjects (teachers stay current with where he's at and are skilled at providing support very quickly if the child needs it while also keeping parents in the loop so we can help when needed too) while allowing him to stay with his grade level of peers so he’s not only being cultivated in the classroom, but also learning to be social amongst peers his age. A big concern of mine was coming out of covid, my child wanted to so desperately make friends, but I know sometimes kids show no mercy. At Sonder Creek, overall it's been way over my expectations. Very involved parents, attentive staff that keeps you in the loop, and students who are open to connecting to one another. My child has loved the STEM programs at school (especially the after school robotics class) as well as learning both Mandrin and Spanish (coming from an English speaking household, it’s been amazing seeing him now speak another language which we will continue to encourage moving forward). He also is asking to do the after school Art program and this is coming from a child who started off barely wanting to hold a pencil correctly. The community here is so special and you get to see that when everyone comes together. This was our first year we participated in Trunk or Treat with his school and it was such a blast; we will be doing it again next year. The international potluck is a family favorite to attend (combo of incredible foods from all over as well as mini performances from the language programs with the students is so darn adorable) and the Christmas Concert is absolutely precious.Sonder Creek is our child's school and we cannot recommend it enough.
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2025

We joined Sonder Creek when it opened the year of the Pandemic. At a time when we felt like we had limited options to continue our kid's education, and no one seemed to have a good plan to respond to the changing conditions of the Pandemic, Sonder Creek, in our opinion, came out on top of the choices. Our kid received individual attention that we believe now contributed to a very succesful re-integration into in-person learning. Sonder has exceeded our expectations; our kid feels supported, challenged, inspired. The program has evolved in unique and creative ways. The STEM curriculum, Mentor Program, Positive Psychology, Spanish and small class format have been especially impactful, fostering a love for learning and connecting with the Teachers with curiosity and a real thirst to learn. We’ve been impressed by how real-world skills are integrated into the Math curriculum, and that critical thinking is fostered from a very young age.Sonder Creek’s sense of community is equal to none. The partnership between parents, teachers and the rest of the staff and this has become a highlight of our child’s school experience. Regular events, like cultural celebrations, field trips and the Holiday Show bring families together and strengthen connections. Every year, we look forward to Trunk or Treat :)The teachers at Sonder Creek are truly extraordinary—dedicated, approachable, and deeply invested in their students’ success. They take the time to understand each child’s needs and learning style, making education a personalized and joyful experience.Sonder Creek Academy has had a profound impact on our child’s growth, confidence, and happiness. She has blossomed into a self-assured, curious scholar who genuinely looks forward to school every day. We wholeheartedly recommend Sonder Creek Academy to families seeking a school that nurtures academic excellence alongside emotional and social well-being. It’s more than a school—it’s a community that feels like home.
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2025

As a parent, I liked Sonder Creek Academy for its focus on academics (as opposed to athletics, arts, etc). We currently have a child for her 4th year with the school and another one in Junior Kindergarten. The teachers really do deliver on this promise for focus on academics. With that said, I'm also impressed with the school's handling of students emotional well being. Our child hit a rough period when their her friend's family moved to a different city and I know her teachers and the staff helped her through it. She has never complained of bullying and she's the type of kid who'd tell even if not directed at her. If your family is also looking for focus on academics, Sonder Creek Academy is a solid choice. Ask admissions director for a look into the average test scores - they are impressive.
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2025

Sonder Creek Academy has provided our children everything we were looking for to support their growth and education. From the small class sizes, hands-on learning opportunities, and extra-curriculars (foreign language, STEM and emotional intelligence courses) to the caring staff, diverse student population, and close-knit community feel, our kids have never been happier.