Monterey Bay Charter School

My three children loved the school. It is very "artsy" and eco-friendly. Parents are huge supporters and help teach and guide the children. One parent was on the water conservation board and shared all of her learned information. We had regular field trips. My seventh grade daughter spent a week camping in Big Sur, My third grader, went to spend a week at an organic farm. We rode a bus to a bakery and made bread. The kids learn by hands on projects. While I loved how they incorporated language and writing in everything, I felt the math was a little lackluster. Not a traditional school - kids are very much in charge of their education and learn how to incorporate learning in life.
--Submitted by a parent

Can't say enough good about this school. My son was previously at a MPUSD school then a local Catholic school and neither can compare with MBCS. The academics here are at least as good if not better. I have seen no discipline problems but neither is their discipline for discipline's sake. My son hated school until he got here. Now he loves it and is learning well. I have no idea what the parent above is referencing regarding the adminstration and any sort of favoritism. I haven't seen that at all.
--Submitted by a parent

I am so impressed with this school! The teachers are so caring and responsive to my children and to me, my children are happy and excited to go to school each day and they come home singing songs they've learned and recited long poems that their classes recite each day. The curriculum is so rich and interesting - I wish I could go to this school too! I like that the school focuses on educating the whole child rather than making academics everything. My son has a learning disability and is getting extra help - but he's still doing well and his latest STAR test results were very good considering his learning challenges. I highly recommend this school!
--Submitted by a parent

I am so glad we are part of this community, because the school is more than a school, it is a community. The staff and faculty are caring and work hard. The children enjoy learning and I love how they hold the Waldorf traditions and still meet and exceed state standards. There is handwork, music, Spanish, games, technology and much more. It is a great well rounded education!
--Submitted by a parent

The school is great but it is hard when you stay with the same teacher for years because if you don't like them you will have to leave the school unless you get a new teacher witch has happened to my friends.

Unfortunate when a schools leadership has no idea how to truly administer, or to lead. This school has great potential but its administration is stuck and running the school right into the ground. The teachers are wonderful for the most part. The hands on education and waldorf inspiration inspires the children to enjoy their lessons. The future of this school depends on removal of the buddy-system thriving in the administration office.
--Submitted by a parent

We pulled our son out of a troubled class at Bayview elementary at the end of 4th grade and have never looked back. Two man items: the admin staff. Heavens, I serve as chair of a commitee and see the result of these folks work every month trying to keeping the school solvent and operating. I cannot imagine a more dedicated staff. 2 **Academics: Each of the four years the school has been chartered through the County, the school's API score, which reflects student proficiency in language, history, math, and science, has risen. The latest STAR test score went up to 850, a significant increase over last year's score of
--Submitted by a parent

At MBCS the teachers are very dedicated, the administration is mediocre. Because the school budget is a shoestring, it can be difficult to meet the extremely high expectations of parent involvement if you live out of the area, a single parent, work, and can not be as constantly on site as the locals. In my daughter's class last year there was plenty of drama from over involved parents who are cliquish, prone to squabbles, and power struggles, that were expressed in seemingly constant seething emails (to everyone) that became very tiresome. The teacher finally cried "STOP"! in a very nice Waldorf way. My son's class was at times led by the parents while the teacher seemed to step back. I want the teachers to lead not the parents. With MBCS expectations of extreme parent involvement, it becomes it's own negative, EXTREME PARENT INVOLVEMENT! I participate as I can then go home.
--Submitted by a parent

I find myself concerned about some of the parents who are strongly Waldorf-ites who I also see tending to be extremely protective and limiting of their children's experiences whether it be by any media influences or even other children who are media savvy- as if it would seriously damage or steal their innocence. I'm not advocating throwing the kids out to the wolves, however I fear that parent overprotective behaviors in this day and age can come back and bite the parent years later when their older children finally have a taste of freedom. I've seen it happen. I really like the Waldorf ideas, and I think it is also important to stay current, real, and allow kids to experience and learn to "deal" with some things that may be tough, after all, that's real life learning!
--Submitted by a parent

This school seemed ok at first and the Waldorf method sounded interesting but it was disappointing. The students remain with the same teacher from kindergarden through eight grade and that is problamatic. If your child starts at a later grade they will be the "outsider" in the children's already established "clicks". Some of the students have parents who work at the school and these children will get special treatment because of this, even to the point of the school's "Chair" ( that is what they call the principal) not taking any disciplinary action in order to protect them and keep up the school's reputation. The principal " talks the talk" but lacks leadership skills and doesn't follow school's policies. Bullying is an issue as well. I also found this is not actual Waldorf but rather Waldorf inspired. The American Waldorf Association does not endorse this school. Don't send your kids there!
--Submitted by a parent