Bay Farm Elementary School

Our daughter is about to finish her 4th year at Bay Farm (3rd grade) & we have been extremely pleased with the school & its teachers. We often thought about moving to the East Bay for more space but kept comparing Lamorinda scores & feel the quality of education here combined with the diversity and easy lifestyle & commute can't be beat. We have opted to stay to give our son who is entering K next year the same experience. This past year Measure A was passed ensuring class sizes stay small at Bay Farm & extra-curricular activities remain extremely enriching. This is a hidden gem of a school.
--Submitted by a parent

Our daughter just finished kindergarten at Bay Farm and it was a wonderful year. The teachers are dynamic and caring, and the parents are involved. The mornings are like a Norman Rockwell painting as most kids live close enough to walk to school. We'll often see our daughter's friends around town as well - we really feel like we are now part of a community. Go Bay Farm!
--Submitted by a parent

My sons came in behind when they started at Bay Farm School due to going from a traditional school schedule to year round schedule. Within 2 months the staff at Bay Farm had them both up to grade level in both reading and math. The 6th grade class was the best experience for my oldest. It prepared him for middle school very well. In fact many of the subjects he learned in history have actually provided the foundation for more indepth learning in honors classes now that he is a freshman. The parents and PTA are all very involved and financially support the school in a big way. This was one of the best communities we have lived in and as a military family we have lived in several places since our children have been school age.
--Submitted by Dawnette Johnson, a parent

There's a high level of achievement and parent involvement at this school. Teachers are excellent. In particular, Joni Reynolds, the 6th grade teacher, has such heart, intelligence, energy and infectious enthusiasm that she is a valuable role model not only for her students, but also for their parents.
--Submitted by a parent

Three of my children went through Bay Farm Elementary. My youngest started in the Kindergarten and is now attending fourth grade. We moved into this area so our children can attend Bay Farm Elementary. The biggest asset of the school success is its parents. The parents of the students are heavily involved in school operations and activities. The students are aware their parents are in close contacts with the teachers. My daughter wants to go to school everyday to meet her friends and to learn. If you are interested to attend bay Farm, you must move into the proper zoned neighborhoods. You will also be willing to be involved with your children's education and activities. As long as you participate in the children's activities, you will find out that Bay Farm Elementary offers academic achievements as good as any private school. It is an example of public school that works.
--Submitted by a parent

This is our first year at Bay Farm and I am very pleased with my kindergarteners progress. Bay Farm teachers are not afraid to push the kids to the limits. My daughter is being challenged and she is loving it.
--Submitted by Jennifer J, a parent

One of the best elementary schools in the bay area!
--Submitted by a parent

Bay Farm has a strong academic program with a lot of great teachers and a very experienced principal. There are lots of extracurricular activities and incredible amount of parent involvement.
--Submitted by a parent

Bay Farm is a great school. I often compare notes with friends whose children attend private schools and I often find that the Bay Farm education is superior. The parent group is incredibly active and the PTA makes a huge financial contribution to the school paying for things like a computer in every classroom and field trips for all the grade levels. As with all schools, it is not uncommon to have one year where you don't like the teacher as well as other years, but the overall experience is terriffic and the test scores demonstrate this. I do think this can be a really tough environment for a student who is struggling academically. Because so many students are at grade level, the very small number who are not really feel isolated, I think. In other groups, they'd have a peer group. One note of caution to parents moving into the Bay Farm area. The school is very full and there are no funds to expand, even using portable classrooms. As a result, if you move into the district in the late summer, you may find the school can't accept your child for the coming school year because a particular grade level may be completely full. If you are new to the school, get your enrollment paperwork in ASAP (including immunizations and any physical exam requirements.) They date stamp when the application is complete and the last students in are the first diverted to other schools.