Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Hills Nursery School

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Having just started kindergarten with my first child, i feel like i have a new perspective on Berkeley Hills...and that is that it is even more wonderful than i realized when attending. The teachers offer wonderful, inspired learning which is age appropriate for the two rooms (younger kids in red room, older in blue). The fact that the two rooms are separate and have their own play area, each with unique playground items is a wonderful asset. The dedication of the directors to making the school a great place to start your little one off is worth mentioning. But what i miss the most is the special community the school offers. Both my child and i made long lasting friends and now being at a big public elementary school i miss that even more. BHNS is a very special place. I feel lucky to have found it and thrilled that my child stared life out with such a wonderful experience.

Parent #2
We love BHNS! Engaging, interactive, nurturing....and just plain fun. The facilities are lovely with plenty of indoor/outdoor space and the teachers are absolutely wonderful with the children and the parents. The community is fabulous. Strenghts include the nurturing teachers, engaging curriculum/activities (music, drama, art), and the play-based, emergent philosophy. I love the way the teachers interact and speak with the children - they really empower our children to be self-reliant and realize their capabilities.

Parent #3
Fabulous teachers, cozy setting, wonderful & interactive projects for the kids, strong parent network. A GREAT school.

Parent #4
The only real negative is the high cost.--$9,000 plus extras for 2006-2007 for a ten month program 9-1 5 days/week. the after school care is so expensive that parents always complain about it--$20/2 hours. The latest you can stay is 3PM. There are more vacation days than other schools--September and June are VERY short months that charge full tuition. They also take a full week off in fall and in spring and two weeks over the winter. The teachers make the school wonderful. The directors have been there for so long, they are great. The other 4 teachers have been there around 8 years each, and one new teacher started fall 2006, but seems wonderful too. It is one of the most expensive, and the tution is going up every year. The parent community is a group of really nice people, and the kids have become amazing friends to each other. Everyone tends to be well off, because of the high tution, but the atmosphere is not competitive, aggressive, or pretentious. Kids go on to a variety of private schools and public schools (especially Prospect Sierra and Kensington Hilltop.)

Parent #5
This is a great school

Parent #6
I think the school's greatest strength is the stability of its staff. The teachers are wonderful and clearly love being with the children and helping them explore their world. The teachers really focus on the socio-emotional growth of the children and I feel my daughter has greatly benefited from this focus.

Montessori? Waldorf? Play-based?

What school type is right for your child? Is one model better than another? What does the research say?

View an example from the Savvy Source guide to learn more.

Trace around your child's foot, with shoe on, on a piece of white construction paper or card stock. Have child cut out the shoe print and add a spooky face. Glue it to a popsicle stick and you have a ghost stick puppet!

Comment (3)

Share From Send A Link To Your Comments:

Take Our Expert Quiz

how is your toddler or preschooler progressing developmentally?