Aurora School

Aurora is a treasure. Our daughter has been there for four years, and we're delighted not only with the education she's receiving but also with the broader school community. We love the fact that it's truly an elementary school (K-5, instead of K-8 or K-12), because the entire education and culture can really cater to children of that age. The mixed grade classrooms have been invaluable because they've given our daughter the chance to cultivate meaningful relationships with a broad range of children, instead of confining her to six years with the same group. Academically, Aurora consistently fosters critical thinking and curiosity -- with teachers who are thoughtful and dedicated, and students who truly enjoy learning. Obviously this is a personal decision, and not every school works for every student or family. But Aurora children seem happy and inclusive, and develop interesting minds and empathetic hearts. We recommend it without reservation. -Current parent at Aurora
—Submitted by a parent

Aurora joins a rigorous academic K-5 model with a progressive approach to learning and education. The teachers are exemplary--leaders in the classroom, but also skilled at collaborative efforts with other classroom teachers and specialists in art, music, etc. We have been very happy with the academic challenge afforded our daughter, but also with the comprehensive focus on social emotional learning, collaboration and teamwork, and art, music, and theater.
—Submitted by a parent

My two children went to Aurora. Aurora academics has always been of concern to some Aurora parents. I'm here to tell you the Aurora kids do really well in middle school, high school, and attend very selective colleges. Our kids were just everyday kids at Aurora, nothing special, but both were accepted to every middle school where we applied. We chose St. Paul's where our kids thrived -- there was no catch up necessary. The Aurora kids were 8th grade presidents about half the time. Our son and 2 of his Aurora classmates attended College Prep.Other Aurora classmates attended Head Royce, Julia Morgan, Redwood Day, Lick Wilmerding, College Prep, Head Royce, Athenian, Oakland Tech engineering program, and Bishop O'Dowd. Our kids did well and had a great time, but they are not straight A students. They fall between B+ and A-. However, many of their Aurora classmates did become straight A students. Colleges attended include Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, NYU, Swarthmore, Sarah Lawrence, Cornell, Carleton, Cal Arts, Cal Poly, Columbia, and University of Pennsylvania. So be vigilant, prepare your kids to thrive as adults, but don't worry about Aurora's academics. Christopher Reesor
—Submitted by a parent

While my daughter will only be a first grader next year, I feel that Aurora is a perfect fit for her. She is quiet and slow to warm in new environments and she has thrived at Aurora socially, emotionally, and academically. All problems are addressed with thoughtful consideration and the K-1 teaching staff is top notch and very collaborative. I also personally love the head of school. She is a teachers' principal - focused on the teachers' development and how best to support them, which is very critical to me. Check it out!
—Submitted by a parent

Aurora was a great warm and fuzzy school. When I pulled my daughter out after 3rd grade, she has the opportunity to actually learn some academics. I was never one to complain as some of the other parents, but I look back and can understand all the 'talk' about offering differentiated instruction without any type of tests. Informal assessment are hunky dorie, but it would be nice to get a test here or there to mix it up. My daughter remembers the great songs, stories, and plays from her time at Aurora, but she didn't know how to round numbers, long subtraction, multiplying two digit numbers, etc. Stuff she needed to master by the time she got into 4th grade. I felt she learned more math in 2nd grade. I agree with another posting, she received the same long vowel spelling words in 3rd as she did in 2nd.
—Submitted by a parent

Aurora offers a cozy and intimate environment. The woodshop, art, music, and library classes are fabulous. There have been teacher turnover, but that's not uncommon. I have noticed teachers come in with little or no head teaching experience and camps and assistant teaching don't count. However, they are enthusiastic, young, and hard working. It's taken the new principal some time to settle in, but I think he is making his mark to transform the school where it needs to go. He is often out of the office, sick, or on vacation during the school year. Academically, we've had to supplement based on what our friends and family's kids get at their school. My child did not know how to round his numbers, didn't know how to use a dictionary, or various language conventions...... I use to get frustrated when he would have long vowel silent e homework in 3rd grade.
—Submitted by a parent

I highly recommend Aurora! My child is in her second year at Aurora School. From the first weeks of Kindergarten when she was walking on air at the end of every day to these days in her First Grade year as she practices for the upcoming class play she has been thriving and blooming socially and academically. Her teachers are dedicated, involved, smart and truly loving to the kids in the class. There is attention to the social environment and to values of inclusion and acceptance of difference. Talented enrichment teachers offer Art, Music, Movement, PE, Library, Woodshop, and Spanish instruction that is integrated very well with the classroom curriculum. Many families that choose Aurora are people who prioritize their child's education and want a progressive approach to teaching and learning in these early years!
—Submitted by a parent

We have been at Aurora SchooI for 6 years. We have two boys and both have been there since kindergarten. Although our two boys are very different learners, they have each thrived in the classroom. We feel the teachers know them extremely well and each have been given individualized treatment. Both boys are appreciated for their strengths and given support where challenged. Aurora is a place where children are respected, honored, and constantly engaged. We honestly believe that Aurora does build the foundation necessary for kids to succeed as they move on in life. In addition, Aurora has been an amazing community for us as parents. The environment is open and warm, and the teachers are very accessible.
—Submitted by a parent

We have been an Aurora family for five years now, and it has been a truly wonderful experience. At each grade level our daughter has been consistently engaged in learning, and has thrived with the creative academic program at Aurora. The strong social/emotional curriculum has been a wonderful part of the experience, too. We wanted a small elementary school for our daughter, where the teachers and staff could really know her. Now that we are looking at middle schools, we know she has the confidence and tools to excel in a larger environment. Aurora has been a great home for our family, and we will always be grateful for the strong foundation it s provided our daughter.
—Submitted by a parent

Our kid has been at Aurora for nearly 2 years. We are staying at this school because of the strong community and the focus on emotional and social development. The academic program is different from traditional schools but our kid is thriving in all areas. A well rounded education is what's important to us. There have been turnovers with the staff but it's not unusual. Parents tend to react strongly to changes but kids are resilient. The new head of school has brought structure that is welcoming! Kids who are not ready for Kindergarten were given opportunities to work things out but oftentimes, parents involvement is crucial and perhaps a structure environment is more suitable. Aurora provides a great foundation for our kid in becoming a caring, confident and emotionally intelligent person.
—Submitted by a parent

Two of our kids went to Aurora for six years. Too many kids are not engaged in learning. Lots of kids go to tutors or specialists outside of school because they are not learning the basics or have had difficulties dealing with aspects of the school environment. There is a lot of bullying, teasing and name-calling among the kids; which is inadequately dealt with by the teachers, and interferes with learning. Until this year, there was a warm and cohesive community atmosphere. However, that has changed under the new director, who is not parent-friendly. The theater arts program has been great, but that teacher is leaving. There are still a few talented teachers, a good after school program, and a sensitivity to GLBT families. 'Average' self-motivated well-behaved kids might do OK at Aurora.
—Submitted by a parent

If you are considering Aurora, I would recommend that you spend a lot of time observing the classroom. What we experienced was a very dull and uncreative curriculum. In addition, they are not progressive as they claim to me nor do they teach to a child's differences. Our child spent one year at Aurora and we were very disappointed with the new head of the school and the inexperienced teachers in our child's class room. He went from being a happy kid to an anxious and stressed out kid. I would not recommend this school to anyone.
—Submitted by a parent

Aurora is a very special place- close community and dedicated staff and teachers. Aurora is a progressive school- they have an active service learning component, they are diverse, and they respect children as children (not mini-adults).
—Submitted by a parent

Our daughter, now in high school, attended Aurora from kindergarten through fifth grade. While the personnel has changed over time, making it hard to comment upon, I want to discuss the educational philosophy and social culture of the school. The commitment to experiential learning really stimulated our child, who is an enthusiastic student to this day. The social culture was remarkably unpretentious, warm and welcoming, which also did wonders for our daughter, as well as our entire family. We found the teachers and the principal at the time to be very good as well. It was a very good experience for us.
—Submitted by a parent

Aurora is a small K-5 that does well in arts and music education and not too well in more academic training. The school has mixed grade classrooms, which benefits the younger grade and means the progress of upper grade students often suffers. We had two kids at Aurora and were disappointed by the degree of academic rigor (in comparison to both public and private schools we've known). The school did a poor job of supporting struggling kids or challenging advanced students. The classroom atmosphere verges on chaotic. We saw frequent bullying and teasing tolerated by teachers and other staff, particularly on the playground. We dont recommend Aurora at all.
—Submitted by a parent

I wasn't sure if we needed a private school, now I can't imagine a world without Aurora. We love it. The school involves the whole familiy in its community. The curriculum is perfect -- and my somewhat shy son (the boy who would on occasion hide under the table at pre-school) has truly blossomed. In additon to learning math and reading (so much fun to watch in a five year old)he has even made his stage debut, something I thought I might never see! The school adapts to the pace of the child and helps provide tons of support. Academically, the school is terrific, but it is the enrichment that is above and beyond anything that I could have imagined. They have a full time shop teacher, art teacher, librarian, music teacher, and let's face it, I want to go to school there it is so fun.
—Submitted by Kelly Wilson, a parent