303 Vista Heights Rd
El Cerrito, CA 94530

This school is terrible. The new principal is not truthful. They are understaffed. The athletics programs are run by a bunch of unprofessional semi literate jokers. Don’t let your kids go to this school.

We've been happy with our kid's experience at Madera. No school is perfect, but this one has a lot of great things going for it.1. The teachers we've had have been wonderful and caring. My kid has learned a lot and enjoys showing up for class every day.2. The community funds a lot of enrichment programs, like gardening class, music class, field trips, and special assemblies - along with classroom supplies and extra reading support.3. Principal Ranch genuinely cares about the school, teachers, and students. I was surprised/impressed at how much he cares about getting students' opinions on things that impact their experience there.4. I see a lot of family involvement - there are so many parents in the community who help out with substitute teaching when needed, spend time in the classroom, and also help outside of the classroom (for things like school cleanup projects).5. There's a great after school program that's conveniently on campus, and there are several enrichment programs offered throughout the year (chess, art, science, improv, sports, you name it).

This lovely campus belies the deep, systemic failures now infecting public education in our golden state. In an effort for equity, not equality, the campus staff have attempted to ensure students fail equally: overcrowded classes, no academic challenges, barely homework, removal of gifted programs, no theatre arts, theft a constant companion. And for dessert, most restrooms are shut down due to vandalism. Infuriating as a parent, a tax payer, and a citizen.