Oakland Hebrew Day School

Love this school and everything it has done for my kids and for our family. All three have very different personalities and educational styles and needs and OHDS has catered amazingly to them all. I've been so humbled by how well the teachers know each child and how invested they are in their success. My graduates were so well prepared for their high schools and I love that they have a such a strong sense of identity and community. The secular academics have been stellar and the language immersion program is by far the best I've experienced in any of our previous schools in the UK and on the East Coast. The immersion extends to Judaic studies in my opinion where the kids are connected with their religion, history and people in a deep, meaningful and spiritual way (no matter what their level of observance may be at home). My (now high school aged) son will forever treasure the opportunity he had to meet and form connections with Holocaust survivors. As a new family to the Bay Area we've been touched by how much of a home and community the school has become to our family.

OHDS has been such an amazing experience for us. My daughter, who started in 2nd grade with no prior knowledge of Hebrew, no formal Jewish education, and who comes from an egalitarian, Conservative Jewish family, fit in immediately. She runs around the house singing Hebrew songs, integrates ideas from Torah into every day conversations, and loves participating during Shabbat and Holidays. She has made beautiful friendships and the school has welcomed us both into their warm, supportive community. From the Hebrew immersion, to the study of mindfulness in the classroom, the integrative projects that challenge kids in science and humanities, the focus on critical reading and thinking, the unbelievable art program, and the integration of middot (personal values) throughout the curriculum, this school has exceeded our expectations and we couldn't be happier here.

Our son started Kindergarten at OHDS last fall. I have been very impressed by how well the school seems to be able to do it all: it has a strong academic program, serious Jewish studies, daily Hebrew language instruction, and a refreshing emphasis on character development. It is also very welcoming to those families who are not religious but who simply want the best possible education for their children. If you are looking into top private schools, it's definitely worth a tour of OHDS, even if the Jewish studies are not your top priority. I personally attended some well-regarded independent schools in southern California (High Point Academic, Polytechnic School) and by comparison I am very impressed with OHDS.