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Teacher quality
Principal leadership
Parent involvement
Our two daughters truly loved their experiences at Beach Elementary. The school is build around a strong core of dedicated and talented educators with detailed knowledge of current pedagogy surrounding literacy. Parent involvement is a key element to the school's success with adult volunteers offering a variety of support at all grade levels. These two elements compensate for a lack of leadership and vision from the current administration. Echoing a comment from another posting, the principal avoids conflict by telling parents what they want to hear. Unfortunately, she failed to follow through on promises on several occasions. However, despite the current principal's shortcomings and inability to articulate a genuine vision beyond test scores, test scores and test scores the staff and families more than make up for her weaknesses. Your children will be in very good hands.
—Submitted by a parent
I went to Beach School for 6 years, some of the best years of my life. Its a wonderful school with great teachers, staff, and students. Defintely five stars! :)
We are very happy with our school, the teachers, the office staff, the after-school program, the community and the parents who so heartily give of themselves to help all our children have a committed and safe environment for learning and developing relationships and to be life-long learners. The children are placed above all else at Beach Elementary.
—Submitted by a parent
This school is too concerned about meeting state minimum standards. They are always crying about how little money they have or how they can't do something because of money. There is no gifted program for k-3 and the differential learning program is very poor. The principal is very weak and has no imagination when it comes to serving students. She is also wishy-washy, telling you one thing in a parent meeting and then not following through, or making a new decision that she doesn't communicate to you until you follow through. We moved to Piedmont for the 'outstanding' schools. Instead we pulled our kids out of the school and sent them to nearby private schools with clear, and achievable standards. If you have a kid who can excel, stay away from this school, save money, move to Montclair and send your kid to a day school
—Submitted by a parent
Excellent academics and extracurricular activities. Smallest of the 3 Piedmont elementary schools which are absolutely excellent.
—Submitted by a parent
Our child has attended Beach School for 5 years K-4 and is due to start 5th grade this fall. We have nothing but positive comments about the school, its teachers, principal and learning environment. The level of parent involvement high, the availability of music, art and extracurricular activities are numerous and most importantly the caring and expertise of the teachers and staff make our child's experience and excitement about learning a joy.
—Submitted by a parent
We have two daughters, currently in 3rd and 1st grade. We have been very pleased with the school. The school community is very strong, with a high degree of parent participation. Our children love going to school and are learning much more sophisticated material than I did at their age. Both girls were reading chapter books in 1st grade. Our 3rd grader is becoming quite adept at fractions and decimals, writes a strong paragraph, and is enraptured with science. In a school with such impressive test scores, there would be a natural fear that the school only teaches to the test, but this has not been our experience. The school seems to cultivate learning for learning's sake, and also focuses on a child's ability to speak publicly. The arts are well supported. The Beach review is a wonderful opportunity for singing, there's a strong orchestral program in the higher grades.
—Submitted by Dan Phillips, a parent
We have a son who is in his first year at Beach, in Kindergarten, and we cannot say enough good things about the school. He has learned so much this year, and the teachers have been amazing. The parents seem really involved - both in the classroom and in the school. We are especially impressed with the principal, who always makes herself available for us.
—Submitted by a parent
Beach School is a small community school with a strong partnership between staff and parents and a focus on meeting the needs of all students. Academic performance scores are high! Parent interests are respected, staff is experienced, school environment if warm and welcoming.
Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.
The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.
The API reflects year-over-year schools performance based on STAR test score results from spring 2012.
The state average for English Language Arts was 58% in 2012.
62 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Math was 64% in 2012.
62 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
The state average for English Language Arts was 48% in 2012.
58 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Math was 69% in 2012.
58 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
The state average for English Language Arts was 67% in 2012.
42 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Math was 71% in 2012.
42 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
The state average for English Language Arts was 63% in 2012.
50 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Math was 65% in 2012.
50 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Science was 60% in 2012.
52 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
| All Students | 95% |
| Females | 100% |
| Males | 91% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Other Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 100% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 95% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 95% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 98% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | 92% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 96% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
| All Students | 92% |
| Females | 93% |
| Males | 91% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Other Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 92% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 92% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 91% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 92% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | 92% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 93% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
| All Students | 87% |
| Females | 93% |
| Males | 81% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 84% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 86% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 91% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 86% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | 71% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 93% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
| All Students | 95% |
| Females | 96% |
| Males | 94% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 97% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 95% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 96% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 95% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | 86% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 98% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
| All Students | 100% |
| Females | 100% |
| Males | 100% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 100% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 100% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 100% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 100% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 100% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
| All Students | 93% |
| Females | 90% |
| Males | 95% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 89% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 93% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 95% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 93% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 97% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
| All Students | 98% |
| Females | 94% |
| Males | 100% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Samoan | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 97% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 98% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 100% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 98% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | 100% |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 100% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
| All Students | 98% |
| Females | 100% |
| Males | 97% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Samoan | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 100% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 98% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 100% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 98% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | 100% |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 100% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
| All Students | 94% |
| Females | 94% |
| Males | 94% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Samoan | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 93% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 94% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 100% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 94% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | 100% |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | 73% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | 100% |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
All students
Female
Male
All students
White (not Hispanic)
All students
Non-economically disadvantaged
Students with no reported disability
Fluent-English proficient and English only
Gifted and talented
Parent education - college graduate
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate
All students
| Ethnicity | This school | State average | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 58% | 28% | ||
| Multiple or No Response | 19% | 3% | ||
| Asian | 15% | 8% | ||
| African American | 4% | 7% | ||
| Hispanic or Latino | 3% | 49% | ||
| Filipino | 1% | 3% | ||
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0% | 1% | ||
| Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| English language learners 1 | 6% | N/A | 24% |
| Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 2 | 0% | N/A | 52% |
| Language | This school | State average | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandarin (Putonghua) | 35% | 1% | ||
| Cantonese | 29% | 2% | ||
| Spanish | 12% | 85% | ||
| Farsi (Persian) | 6% | 0% | ||
| French | 6% | 0% | ||
| German | 6% | 0% | ||
| Tongan | 6% | 0% |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average class size | 20 | N/A | 25 |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average years teaching in district | 11 | N/A | 11 |
| Average years teaching | 15 | N/A | 13 |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full credential | 100% | N/A | 96% |
| Emergency credential or waiver | 0% | N/A | 2% |
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100 Lake Ave
Piedmont,
CA 94611
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Phone: (510) 594-2666
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