Seeking a Private School (We Live in Concord)

Hi!

I have a couple of recommendations for you although you may already know about them. The first is Bentley School. The lower school is in Berkeley but the Upper School is in lafayette (they are also planning on moving the middle school to lafayette in a few years). I assume they have a bus that goes onto the Berkeley campus from the East Bay. My kids have attended the Upper School and the teachers are wonderful. They also are addressing the issue of learning disabilities, even at the Upper School.

other options include Doris Eaton (a bit more formal probably) and Seven Hills which lots of my sons's friends attended and everybody loved it.

Hope that helps.

J. F.

Try Palmer School (Preschool through 8th grade) in Walnut Creek off of Jones Road. My daughter attended the school from Preschool through 5th, and her self esteem rose tremendously!! They work with kids of all ability levels but focus on self confidence, love, and academics. This is a family run school and academically my daughter did very well there.

Hi Cathy,
I know what you're going through. My son, now 20 yrs old, has a learning disability and the general ed classes were too big and too fast for him to learn in. It's great you're seeking private school at this age...his self esteen for the next four years is critical.
I recommend you call Dr. Paul Melmed in Lafayette (Learning Psychologist) and ask him to refer you to a school that would best suit your son's needs or ask your pediatrician for a referral. Interview the schools and ask to visit the classrooms. Ask for a trial visit for a couple of days...this will help your son feel like he has some say in the decision making process. It takes at least 3 days for them to get a true picture of the whole campus.
There is a Montessori based school in Concord near the BART station, but I don't remember the name. You may also check with an advocate to learn about your son's rights and he may be eligible for private school tuition. Do you have an I.E.P? If not, ask for one. Just make sure you speak with a professional outside the school district that will know exactly what you are entitled to.
I wish you the very best and congratulations on going with your instincts.
A.

I don't have personal experience, but I have had friend's send their kids to Tabernacle in Concord. Most of the kids I knew that went there are in college now. I do know one that takes the bus from Antioch to Concord to attend. Everyone I know seems to really like the school. It is a Christian school and I have no idea if they help those with learning disabilities. It's worth looking into if you are in Concord already.

I live in Concord also. There is Northcreek Academy in Walnut Creek (off of Ygnacio) and it is a Christian School. Not sure what your faith is. I belong to that church, but my kids do not attend the academy. We homeschool--have you ever considered that? I know there has been a huge homeschooling debate, but we belong to Horizons which is based in Pleasant Hill. So, we are actual part of the MDUSD and they provide us with all the materials and we meet with a teacher twice a month. Many parents choose this route when they have children with disabilities (big and small!) This is our third year and of course it has it's challenges, but it has big rewards too! :-) Just a thought! Best wishes to your family!

I have a 10 year old also. I would highly recommend Walnut creek christian academy. If this is your faith. It is a wonderfuol school very supportive and he has 10 kids in his class so he gets lots of attention. My son has auditory processing disorder, so large classes were not working for him. He is thriving now and is an A student.

I.

Cathy:

Not sure where in Concord you are but we live near the Kohl's on the Pleasant Hill/Concord border. Two of our boys attend Contra Costa Christian which is on the border of Walnut Creek and Concord. Our kindergartener has a speech delay which we have been unable to get therapy assistance with in the public school system. The teachers at Contra Costa Christian have given our son a lot of individual attention and assistance in making sure that he is on track in his learning, socialization and developmental skills. they have even created different tools to assist him. We have been thrilled with their interest in his success while also challenging him in the classroom in order to help build his self esteem.

Hi Cathy,
Have you thought of homeschooling him? Horizons Home Study is a wonderful program that the Mt. Diablo School Dist. has offered for many years. You are assigned to a teacher who is a resource for you, get to choose your own curriculum, set your own goals, have access to all the stuff a regular teacher has (manipulatives, educational videos, field trips etc.)The teacher will meet with you every two weeks to bring you supplies or resources, and assist you towards your goals. Parents get together and co-teach subjects, kids really enjoy learning at their own pace.

Just a thought.

D.

You mentioned that your son has a mild learning disability Have you checked into a 504 plan? My son has ADHD and the plan has helped him out tremendously. He has specialized seating and is able to take more time on tests if he needs to. His teacher stays after class with him on Mondays & Tuesdays to go over his homework and offers help if he needs it. As a result his self esteem has increased.