Aurora offers a cozy and intimate environment. The woodshop, art, music, and library classes are fabulous. There have been teacher turnover, but that's not uncommon. I have noticed teachers come in with little or no head teaching experience and camps and assistant teaching don't count. However, they
... Read more are enthusiastic, young, and hard working. It's taken the new principal some time to settle in, but I think he is making his mark to transform the school where it needs to go. He is often out of the office, sick, or on vacation during the school year. Academically, we've had to supplement based on what our friends and family's kids get at their school. My child did not know how to round his numbers, didn't know how to use a dictionary, or various language conventions...... I use to get frustrated when he would have long vowel silent e homework in 3rd grade. Read less
Posted by a parent on 04/06/09
I highly recommend Aurora! My child is in her second year at Aurora School. From the first weeks of Kindergarten when she was walking on air at the end of every day to these days in her First Grade year as she practices for the upcoming class play she has been thriving and blooming socially and academically.
... Read more Her teachers are dedicated, involved, smart and truly loving to the kids in the class. There is attention to the social environment and to values of inclusion and acceptance of difference. Talented enrichment teachers offer Art, Music, Movement, PE, Library, Woodshop, and Spanish instruction that is integrated very well with the classroom curriculum. Many families that choose Aurora are people who prioritize their child's education and want a progressive approach to teaching and learning in these early years! Read less
Posted by a parent on 03/30/08
We have been at Aurora SchooI for 6 years. We have two boys and both have been there since kindergarten. Although our two boys are very different learners, they have each thrived in the classroom. We feel the teachers know them extremely well and each have been given individualized treatment. Both
... Read more boys are appreciated for their strengths and given support where challenged. Aurora is a place where children are respected, honored, and constantly engaged. We honestly believe that Aurora does build the foundation necessary for kids to succeed as they move on in life. In addition, Aurora has been an amazing community for us as parents. The environment is open and warm, and the teachers are very accessible. Read less
Posted by a parent on 12/02/07
We have been an Aurora family for five years now, and it has been a truly wonderful experience. At each grade level our daughter has been consistently engaged in learning, and has thrived with the creative academic program at Aurora. The strong social/emotional curriculum has been a wonderful part
... Read more of the experience, too. We wanted a small elementary school for our daughter, where the teachers and staff could really know her. Now that we are looking at middle schools, we know she has the confidence and tools to excel in a larger environment. Aurora has been a great home for our family, and we will always be grateful for the strong foundation it s provided our daughter. Read less
Posted by a parent on 11/01/07
Our kid has been at Aurora for nearly 2 years. We are staying at this school because of the strong community and the focus on emotional and social development. The academic program is different from traditional schools but our kid is thriving in all areas. A well rounded education is what's important
... Read more to us. There have been turnovers with the staff but it's not unusual. Parents tend to react strongly to changes but kids are resilient. The new head of school has brought structure that is welcoming! Kids who are not ready for Kindergarten were given opportunities to work things out but oftentimes, parents involvement is crucial and perhaps a structure environment is more suitable. Aurora provides a great foundation for our kid in becoming a caring, confident and emotionally intelligent person. Read less
Posted by a parent on 05/01/07
Two of our kids went to Aurora for six years. Too many kids are not engaged in learning. Lots of kids go to tutors or specialists outside of school because they are not learning the basics or have had difficulties dealing with aspects of the school environment. There is a lot of bullying, teasing and
... Read more name-calling among the kids; which is inadequately dealt with by the teachers, and interferes with learning. Until this year, there was a warm and cohesive community atmosphere. However, that has changed under the new director, who is not parent-friendly. The theater arts program has been great, but that teacher is leaving. There are still a few talented teachers, a good after school program, and a sensitivity to GLBT families. 'Average' self-motivated well-behaved kids might do OK at Aurora. Read less
Posted by a parent on 04/29/07
If you are considering Aurora, I would recommend that you spend a lot of time observing the classroom. What we experienced was a very dull and uncreative curriculum. In addition, they are not progressive as they claim to me nor do they teach to a child's differences. Our child spent one year at Aurora
... Read more and we were very disappointed with the new head of the school and the inexperienced teachers in our child's class room. He went from being a happy kid to an anxious and stressed out kid. I would not recommend this school to anyone. Read less
Posted by a parent on 03/28/07
Aurora is a very special place- close community and dedicated staff and teachers. Aurora is a progressive school- they have an active service learning component, they are diverse, and they respect children as children (not mini-adults).
... Read moreRead less
Posted by a parent on 03/21/06
Our daughter, now in high school, attended Aurora from kindergarten through fifth grade. While the personnel has changed over time, making it hard to comment upon, I want to discuss the educational philosophy and social culture of the school. The commitment to experiential learning really stimulated
... Read more our child, who is an enthusiastic student to this day. The social culture was remarkably unpretentious, warm and welcoming, which also did wonders for our daughter, as well as our entire family. We found the teachers and the principal at the time to be very good as well. It was a very good experience for us. Read less
Posted by a parent on 03/17/06
Aurora is a small K-5 that does well in arts and music education and not too well in more academic training. The school has mixed grade classrooms, which benefits the younger grade and means the progress of upper grade students often suffers. We had two kids at Aurora and were disappointed by the degree
... Read more of academic rigor (in comparison to both public and private schools we've known). The school did a poor job of supporting struggling kids or challenging advanced students. The classroom atmosphere verges on chaotic. We saw frequent bullying and teasing tolerated by teachers and other staff, particularly on the playground. We dont recommend Aurora at all. Read less
*The resources listed are programs that the institution is staffed to support. Staffing for a program does not guarantee that it will be offered. This content is provided by the institution and may be incomplete. The institution may offer programs not listed here. Please contact the school directly for additional details.
Advanced Placement
AP classes are college-level classes offered at the high school level. Once a student completes an AP class and passes a final comprehensive examination conducted by the College Board, the student earns college credit for the course. AP classes are specific and not to be confused with other higher-level classes such as honors classes.
Before/After School
"Extended day" programs where the school day is extended before and after school to accommodate working parents. These programs should not be confused with common after school clubs or athletic activities.
Gifted and Talented
A school system may identify 10% to 15% or more of its student population as gifted and talented. A brief description of each area of giftedness or talent as defined by the Office of Gifted and Talented:
general intellectual ability or talent - high intelligence test score (usually two standard deviations above the mean), and high levels of vocabulary, memory, abstract work knowledge and abstract reasoning;
specific academic aptitude or talent in one area such as mathematics or language arts;
creative and productive thinking, the ability to produce new ideas;
leadership ability, the ability to direct individuals or groups to a common decision or action;
visual and performing arts, special talents in visual art, music, dance, drama, or other related studies;
psychomotor ability, such as practical, spatial, mechanical, and physical skills.
Vocation/Technical Curriculum
Vocational and/or technical courses offered within a comprehensive school, usually a senior high school.
Special Education Classes
A school or program within a school that provides services and training to students with moderate to severe mental and/or physical disabilities.
Adult Education Classes
Programs offering GED or equivalent courses for adults within regular schools, whether classes are held during evening or daytime schedules.
English as Second Language
English language classes for students whose first language is not English.
Oakland schools — Aurora School is located at 40 Dulwich Rd, Oakland CA 94618. 40 Dulwich Rd is in the Mountain View Cemetery neighborhood and 94618 ZIP code in Oakland, CA Aurora School is a Private school that serves grade levels K - 5.
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Test Score Ratings
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