Cragmont Elementary School

The principal's dishonesty and lack of clarity in communications with parents and other community members trickles down through teachers and staff. Teachers are for the most part very good, but lack of oversight has brought the teaching quality way down over the past few years. Students are experiencing much more bullying and lack of respect from both fellow students and, surprisingly, staff members. We couldn't keep our children there, for both our sanity and their well-being, and were fortunate to be able to transfer both to another school at the same time.
--Submitted by a parent

I have two children at Cragmont and I have been very happy with it. We have had excellent teachers and I know that it has the highest parent participation of almost any Berkeley school. I think the principal is very good. I've found her very responsive. Cragmont does have some challenges. We have the one of the biggest "learning gaps" of any school in California, so despite the great teachers, they are dealing with such diversity in the classroom that it would be hard for any one teacher to address all individual needs. I love the families and the community here. Unfortunately, there is a small but loud minority of very entitled parents who spend more time complaining than they do supporting the school/teachers. But despite the small group of nasty parents, the rest of us love the school!
--Submitted by a parent

The teachers we've had so far are attentive and caring w/the children. Great view and big open play areas.

It has a great garden program where children sample fresh (like pulled right out of the soil) vegetables and fruits, and learn to love them! They have a great dance program, art, as well as a strong academics program, with many layers of assistance for struggling students. The library is gorgeous, the whole school has a fantastic view of the San Francisco Bay, and the teachers... They are these fantastic human beings that do a job so good I can't even imagine how they do it! motivating struggling students,pushing the high achieving ones, and mediating all the interpersonal issues. I am so happy with this school!
--Submitted by a parent

I'd just like to say that Cragmont was my first choice and my son got in. So it always worth a try. My son is both gifted and Talented (determined by STARS testing) and at the same time lower incomed. So how can ther focus on 1 vs. the other when some children are both. Cragmont is a great school coming from the mother of a 5th grader, who started in kindergarten. Helping the lower income is great because a lot of them are brilliant.
--Submitted by a parent

Yes, this may be a great school, but don't be fooled. It's still the same BUSD lottery system, so if you're lucky, and you chose Cragmont as your 1st choice, you'll get in. I have heard many parents complain they did put Cragmont as their first choice and didn't get in . We all wonder if the Supreme Court judgment that schools can't have racial quotas as a means of admitting students will change things, but doubtful.
--Submitted by a parent

WOnderful School. Very involved parents. Our two kids both went there for all of elementary and the dedication to enrichment was great.
--Submitted by a parent

The teachers are very dedicated and they can provide a good classroom experience. But there are too many children in fourth and fifth grade classes. And we were disappointed in the lack of opportunities for advanced/gifted kids. The school's focus is on helping lowest-income families first.
--Submitted by a parent

Cragmont has an excellent principal and an amazing facility. The teachers are strong and dedicated. It is, however, rather large and at times overwhelming.
--Submitted by a parent

I have the most experience with the Two-Way Immersion (Spanish) program. I am impressed. I am also impressed (as is my son) with the non-in-class offerings, such as pull-out art, dance, library, sports, and music, all taught by specialists.
--Submitted by Jeff Fillingim-Selk, a parent