Merryhill Elementary School - Davis

Great school. The teachers are dedicated to the students, they provide quality learning experiences for all the students. The principal guides the school in a very professional manner and is engaged with the students.
--Submitted by a parent

I'm fairly certain one or more of the negative comments below is sour grapes ax-grinding by a family who was uninvited back last year. I don't know if the teachers are credentialed or not, nor do I care. They couldn't be more gifted and caring. They inspire and motivate the kids and make them eager to learn. My son now spends his free time writing stories, something he hated before his teacher showed him how much fun it could be. On field trips, strangers notice the students' good manners and well-rounded curiosity and compliment it. The principal is a deeply caring woman who has thrown herself into making Merryhill great. She gives 100% and consequently the kids and staff do too. The kids like and respect her because they know she is always fair. When a conflict comes to her attention, she seeks impartial witnesses to get a full account and turns it into a positive learning experience. My own kids now use lessons and conflict resolving skills at home that they've learned from her. The assertion that she is "mean" is ludicrous. Her idea of fun is playing trucks and trains on the floor with the pre-k class. My kids like her so much they've even asked me to ask her to babysit! LOL!
--Submitted by a parent

Merryhill is a great value. TEACHER TO STUDENT RATIO: The best in Davis. KIDS SUPERVISED 11 HOURS DAY (AT NO EXTRA CHARGE): For working parents, this school's hours of 7AM-6PM (supervised play 7-8:30AM and then a full schedule of after school programs starting at 4:00PM), means that you don't have to stop work in the early afternoon on the crazy Davis public school schedule. You don't have to pay extra for after-school care (although you can pay for special additional classes like ballet, tennis, etc.). For a family where both parents work, this is totally worth the price. SUPERIOR EDUCATION: When kids leave Merryhill, they are usually light years ahead of their public school peers. Tuition is a fraction of what you would pay for a comparable education in a larger city like Sacramento. GREAT PEOPLE: The teachers, the principal and the parents are all great people. I have recommended it to many parents who have recognized its value.
--Submitted by a parent

am incredibly impressed with my kids' 2nd grade teacher at Merryhill. She is in fact credentialed (contrary to the prior reviewer's comment) and has 12+ years of experience. She also has experience as a former single subject math teacher, so she is really strong in math, which is not something that is common among elementary school teachers. She's also very strong in language arts and science. My kids' specialty teachers, including art, music, spanish, and PE are also super.
--Submitted by a parent

I love this school. My daughter has been taught so many successful strategies to excel in school and in life. She looks forward to school everyday. I am just so impressed by how the students treat each other and how respectful the staff are with the kids.
--Submitted by a parent

We have decided to pull our kids out of this school, the quality of the teachers is hit and miss. this school is definitely over priced, they make $ off the kids every chance they get. The not so new anymore principle does not have much to offer, in addition, I have caught the principle being mean to the students behind the parents back, and act nice and smiley in front. Leaving me with that " icky' feeling, and wonders how my kids are being treated when I am not around.
--Submitted by a parent

We pulled our kids out of Merryhill after being there for several years. The school is a revolving door for administration, one principal after another. The kids in the classroom can be major behavioral problems. Because the public schools in Davis are so strong, many of the kids who end up at Merryhill have behavioral issues and disrupt the classes for the kids who want to learn. Many of the teachers do not have teaching credentials- we were shocked to learn this. I would agree with the reviews on that. The teachers are paid less than the Davis public school teachers make, so they tend to attrack worse/weaker teachers. There is alot of homework, most of it being just busywork. My daughter's kindergarten "science" homework was tracing her foot. Really??? What does that have to do with anything? The cost is over $1000 a month, which is alot of money. You get very little for the money.
--Submitted by a parent

I had visited this school last year and I was not impressed but they had a different principal. I decided to visit the school this year again, and I was amazed at the organization and the quality of their staff. My son had attended a private school for about a month and he was not challenged and he had school until 1:45. He was beginning to show some behavioral problems which was concerning to me. After attending Merryhill for only a month, I can see the changes, he is happier, and much more respectful, and he is also more motivated in taking initiative. My son has two credentialed teachers in a classroom of 21. The lesson plans are creative, academically challenged, and developmentally appropriate. The children respect each other, and the teachers do try to customize to their learning styles. It's worth every $!
--Submitted by a parent

I disagree with the first reviewer. That may have been true in the past--I can't speak to that--but there is a new principal who is making a lot of great changes. The teachers are credentialed. The school has a great small community. The teachers are very responsive, hardworking, and open to communication. It is expensive compared to public school to be sure.
--Submitted by a parent

Many of the teachers have no teaching credentials. Because it is a private school, there is no accountability to the state. It's a 'chain' type of school, meaning that you are part of the Merryhill chain of schools. There is no sense of community here. Your child is a paycheck to them. The school is overrated and not very good. It is also expensive- at over $1000 a month, why would you pay that much when there are the excellent Davis public schools?
--Submitted by a parent