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Windrush School

1800 Elm St, El Cerrito, CA, 94530-0945 -

School Notes Overview:

Windrush enrolls 250+ students from diverse backgrounds in Kindergarten–8th grade on a 4-acre campus in the East San Francisco Bay area. The progressive curriculum enables graduates to navigate life-in all its varied complexity-with humor, optimism and determination. A learning-by-doing approach instills a lifelong love of learning in students. Our outstanding faculty consistently assesses teaching methods and student abilities to ensure students succeed academically and personally. Our students master academic and intellectual skills and develop a sense of who they are as learners and individuals. They are taught to use information critically and creatively. They also respect themselves and others while having compassion for their community, humanity and the world. Spanish, art and physical education are taught in all grades. Computer, music, drama and service learning enrich the curriculum. Tuition: K-5: $16,620, Middle School: $19,070. Tuition assistance, after school care and summer programs available. David Bond is Admissions Director, Ilana Kaufman is Head of School. ...

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School Overview:

	Windrush School
School Membership(s)	Institute for Independent Education National Association of Independent Schools
Religious Affiliation	Nonsectarian
Grades Offered	Grades Kindergarten - 8
Year Founded	1976
County	Contra Costa County, CA
Student Body
Total Students	258 students
Student Body Type	Co-ed
	This School	(CA) School Avg.
% Students of Color	51%	40%
Students by Grade
	Kind - 28 students
	Grade 1 - 22 students
	Grade 2 - 22 students
	Grade 3 - 20 students
	Grade 4 - 26 students
	Grade 5 - 22 students
	Grade 6 - 30 students
	Grade 7 - 44 students
	Grade 8 - 44 students
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers	27 teachers
Average Class Size	18
	This School	(CA) School Avg.
Teacher : Student Ratio	n/a	* Ntl. Public School Avg. » 1:16
School Days in Calendar Year	175 days	180 days
Hours in School Day for Students	7 hours	6 hours
Finances and Admission
Admission Deadline	None / Rolling
Head of School	Ilana Kaufman
Admissions Director	David Bond
Admissions Associate	Sherry Liu

School Notes:

Windrush School emphasizes academic learning through progressive principles in education. The stated purpose of the school is to nudge every child's mind, while nurturing their hearts, bodies and spirits. Windrush students develop mastery of academic and intellectual skills along with a sense of who they are as learners and individuals. A Windrush education enables graduates to navigate educational, community and life experiences with determination, optimism, humor and grace. Windrush School is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). A dedicated community of families and educators established Windrush School in 1976 as a school built upon a love of learning, academic excellence and Progressive Education principles. Originally a primary school, the Board of Directors added a middle school (Grades 6-8) in 1989 in response to growing interest. Our curriculum and programs encourage development of students' intellectual, social and emotional selves. Windrush students excel as scholars and citizens through curricular integration that emphasizes: • Rigorous, interdisciplinary learning focused on integrated and thematic units  • Strong emphasis on problem solving and critical thinking  • Group work and development of social skills  • Understanding and action as learning methods opposed to rote knowledge  • Collaborative and cooperative learning projects  • Community service and service learning projects   • Learning-by-doing and hands-on projects, experiential education  • Education for social responsibility and democracy  • Scope of studies determined by looking forward and determining what skills will be needed in future society  • Evaluations of child's projects and productions in addition to standardized and formal testing Enrollment has increased steadily since its early years, and Windrush has expanded by constructing a new LEED certified building, which houses the K-8 Library and Middle School. The first of its kind in El Cerrito, the building reflects a fundamental Windrush principle-respect and responsibility for self, others and the world.
Profile last updated: 05/05/2009

In the News:

Arts Calendar (The Berkeley Daily Planet)
posted on October 8, 2009 at 07:31:15 pm
The East Bay's Independent Newspaper for berkeley albany oakland emeryville kensington piedmont el cerrito richmond montclair
Get Out: Enjoy music at El Cerrito Free Folk Festival (Contra Costa Times)
posted on October 8, 2009 at 08:17:29 am
Highlighting an outdoor event the week of Oct. 5
Summer Quest puts students on track for success (The Piedmonter)
posted on August 14, 2009 at 03:40:58 am
Walk onto the Holy Names High School campus in Oakland this summer and you'll find a handful of sixth graders — wearing surgical masks, gloves and goggles — carefully dissecting animal organs with scalpels.
NEWS/COMMUNITY BRIEFS (El Cerrito Journal)
posted on May 21, 2009 at 05:07:31 pm
Albany and El Cerrito will hold a joint, citywide garage sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Dozens of homes in the two cities will take part in the sale.
school notes (El Cerrito Journal)
posted on April 18, 2009 at 08:06:45 pm
Windrush school welcomes speaker on sustainability and social justice: Jakada Imani, an activist striving to end urban violence by providing alternatives to crime and incarceration, will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Windrush School, 1800 Elm St. Jakada, who is the executive director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, will focus on sustainability and social justice for his free talk.

View all past news stories

School Zip Statistics:

About This Zipcode (94530)	School Zip (94530)	(CA) State Average
Population (Approximate)	23,121 people	33,864,644 people
% (age 25+) w/College Degree	62%	32%
Population Average Age	43 years old	33 years old
Average Household size	2.3 persons	2.8 persons
Median Household Income	$56,905	$51,306
Avg. # of Rooms in Household	5.1 rooms	4.8 rooms
Median Age of Housing Structure	54 years old	41 years old
	View housing listings in 94530
Median Value of Housing Unit Zipcode (94530) What's a Zindex? Subject to Zillow Terms of Use
% Owning / % Renting	61% / 39%	55% / 45%