Ring Mountain Day School

The last review is quite humorous considering that the head of school retired in December. We have an excellent interim head, who has years of experience pole vaulting schools into the future. Our 8th graders placed into their 1st and 2nd choices for high school. When parents write 1 star reviews, they are typically not change makers, but complainers, who cannot accept that their children may not do well in our school. Ring Mountain caters to students who want to learn and thrive in a nurturing environment. Our parent community allows anyone and everyone to be involved. The more involved you are as a parent, the more fun you will have.
--Submitted by a parent

I liked this school very much for one of my children, but I could not agree to send my other child here. The head of school put her son in charge of the school, and then she left without notice or explanation. Unfortunately her son has no experience as an assistant head of school. He failed to complete college and has no teaching experience. He refuses to speak with parents, answer questions or work with other faculty members. His continued presence is a great disappointment for anyone associated with the school and it is difficult to understand why the tuition payment is justified. I chose this school because I liked the teachers but I have been very disappointed in the leadership of the school. How can an assistant head of school with such a dubious background and flimsy amount of experience be in any kind of leadership position in any school? As long as he is in charge, I cannot recommend this school.
--Submitted by a parent

This is one of the Bay Area's best kept little secrets. The school is small and nuturing and promotes creativity and independent thought. With the small class size, my child is getting twice the amount of attention she would be getting in the upscale S.F. private schools at a comparitively reasonable price. The school bus is an added plus so I don't have to spend an hour a day traversing the Golden Gate Bridge to take my daughter to school. We love, love, love Ring Mountain.
--Submitted by a parent

How do I begin to sing the praises of this school? The building is warm and inviting. The classrooms are large, bright, cheery, stimulating, and well equipped. The teachers, head, and parents have come together to create a very supportive community. The kids are safe and cared for by the entire staff. To top it all off, my child is getting an excellent education!
--Submitted by a parent

Finding the right school for your child is such a challenge. Thank God we found Ring Mountain. It has met and even exceeded all of expectations. And our expectations were considerable. The Head and teachers know and understand kids. I can't begin to express what a comfort it is to have place our son in this school.
--Submitted by a parent

My child is receiving an outstandingly great education. The intellectual tone of the school is first rate. It is challenging, but not more than my child can handle. I am very confident she will be well prepared for an academically challenging high school.
--Submitted by a parent

I am torn. Ring Mountain has provided a wonderful, safe environment for my son. Thanks to the small classroom sizes and dedicated teachers he has made tremendous progress over the three years he's been there. He feels safe and connected, and is fully engaged academically, and for this we are very very grateful. This said I am frustrated, perplexed and disappointed with the head of school. She fails to inspire or engage me as a parent, and is dismissive of any idea that is not her own. Her failure to proactively address the teacher turn over and her decision to promote her family members concerned me enough that I opted not to put my daughter at the school. This decision pains me as I think it really is a special place. If you have a sensitive, quirky kid---maybe shy or nerdy or challenged socially---Ring Mountain could be the place for him or her, well worth the trade offs. But if you've got an outgoing independent kid who makes friends easily and for whom life seems to come easily you may be better off at another school.
--Submitted by a parent

We have 2 kids at Ring Mountain. We move a lot due to my husbands work and this is my childrens 4th school. We are now in our 3rd year at Ring Mountain and we LOVE it. We where warmly welcomed and the teachers and the staff where very helpfull to help the kids adjust to the new school and country. The theachers are amazing and the head of the school is very dedicated and involved. I do not agree AT ALL with the former post about her mismanagement!!! We have to leave again at the end of this school year and I am allready sad. I as a parent will mis the very warm and close community and my kids say they will miss EVERYTHING. But I am comforted by the idea that my kids will do great in their next school just because they spent the last 3 years at Ring Mountain.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter loves Ring Mountain. The teachers are great. They work hard each day to create a safe, challenging and nurturing evironment. We feel grateful to be part of such an awesome school.
--Submitted by a parent

We have been at Ring Mountain for five years, starting in third grade and our child is now in 8th grade. Ring Mountain is a truly wonderful school and my child has had an amazing experience. I love all of her teachers, they are all supportive and challenge her to do better. Ring Mountain is amazing and we will be very sad to be leaving.
--Submitted by a parent