Schools in Orinda, CA

“Review #095 - 2020 My son attended Miramonte HS for all four years so I'm sure he has no way of comparing it to other high schools since all his cousins make fun of him for being "privileged". I went to Richmond High School for four years--so as a mother, I'd never want to send my child to anywhere that I felt uncomfortable with. My son has mentioned that he liked most of his teachers, minus a few that he wished he never had to be in their classes. Academic-wise, Orinda is known for having some of the best schools; but I have to admit that most parents that send their kids to Orinda schools are a little pretentious. They believe that their kids are "privileged" so they try to be accepting of "under privileged" kids and allow them into the schools even when they don't live in our neighborhood. I appreciate their so called "kindness", but I worked my butt off as a parent to get out of Richmond (one of the worse neighborhoods in California) just so I can own a home in Orinda--not so someone can feel sorry for me for being from the hood, but I digress. My son's social distancing graduation on June 1st, 2020, definitely had me in tears because all the staff members did a wonderful job of putting everything together even though it wasn't easy going through the pandemic. Overall, I'm still undecided as to whether I want my 4-year old to attend Orinda schools.”

“Both of my children have been very happy at TOPS. I always describe it as exactly the kind of childhood we dream of providing our children: messy, free-spirited, playful. We were new to the area and seeking a school where we could meet other families with children the same age, which is why we sought out a parent-participation program. We've met a lot of friends through TOPS and continue to meet new families all the time. I will add that I've become laundry expert :) There's a big emphasis on social-emotional development, which is what preschool is all about!”