Monterey Bay Charter School

MBCS is an amazingly creative school thanks to the multi-talented teachers and staff. I feel lucky to have found them as an alternative to mainstream education. Waldorf is definitely the way to go if you want your kids to think outside of the box!
—Submitted by a parent

I volunteered as a classroom helper because I am interested in becoming a teacher, and I found the curriculum and teachers to be amazing. The Waldorf-inspired curriculum is designed to slowly introduce children to "real life," rather than dumping them into it. As a result, they retain a sense of wonder about and appreciation for the world, rather than learning that "life sucks, then you die." The teachers use methods that gently but firmly teach the children excellent memorization and observation skills, so I am not surprised that their test scores are high despite the fact that the curriculum does not "teach to the test" at all. Although I do see evidence of the "clique"-y nature some parents have mentioned (especially groups of girls who can't get enough of each other, and shun anyone who looks or acts "strange"--pretty familiar from my childhood, too!) It seems less bad than at most schools I've seen. There are many military families, and even those students who were there only temporarily seemed well accepted and integrated into the classroom scene.

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

This was my daughter's first year here.Although she loved it and the teacher was very good to her, I am a single mother that works A LOT.They do not have very much understanding for these kinds of situations.This school is geared for two parent families where the mother is a stay at home mom and can afford to be at their 9 out of 10 mandatory gatherings that are during working hours.Parent involvent is mandatory, meetings are mandtory, volunteering is mandatory. I think the school is quite imiginative, but the children learn very little about real life here.Also, MBCS moves around from site to site and has no permanent home as of yet that I have been made aware of. I am going to keep my daughter there for the next school year, but will explore other avenues.
—Submitted by a parent

Both my children attended the MBCS. The school offers smaller class sizes and a wonderful staff. The teachers and staff truly care about the students. Thank you for making my daughter's middle school years memorable. I'm sorry that this is our last year there. You have taught my daughter's some very valuable lessons.
—Submitted by a parent

Parents will find nothing quite like this school anywhere in the area. Beyond the Waldorf curriculum, with its emphasis on the love of learning and the potential of every child across multiple intelligences, the community has been inspirational. Parents are highly involved, as noted in other reviews but beyond that, the teachers and the children themselves are all truly involved with one another. MBCS is proof that a solid institution transcends its mere structures; despite a somewhat gypsy existence as far as physical locations over the years, the community's coherence and dedication shine through with great consistency. Entering a classroom at this school can be a transformational event in changing your expectations about what school can be about. Understanding the different approach of the school can take a bit of work from parents -- we've all been conditioned by schools to expect something else -- but it is well worth it.
—Submitted by a parent

I love Monterey Bay Charter School because the children are encouraged to be creative and the parents are very much involved in helping and volunteering at the school

Monterey Bay Charter School takes a wonderful approach to teaching and learning, and really enable each student to become their potential.
—Submitted by a parent

I love Monterey Bay Charter School because it offers free Waldorf inspired education . The school has a strong sense of community. Teachers treat the students with respect offering them to grow as indiviuals with its unique cirriculum.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers and staff offer a truely caring and supportive environment that is developmentally appropriate and appreciates the individual child.
—Submitted by a parent

The children actually get to work with their hands and make things. I teach them to knit, crochet, and sew, work with clay.
—Submitted by a teacher