Prospect Sierra School

My children love this school, and at the end of each day, they do not want to leave!This is a well-resourced, beautiful school perched at the top of the El Cerrito Hills. The school culture, which has become our home culture, is one of overt and active kindness. My children learn in an environment of safety and celebration of difference, and from my perspective, the school's administrators actively seek to build community wherever possible, and the faculty actively work to remove all barriers to learning.

Prospect Sierra is a truly exceptional elementary school (K-4 at lower and 5-8 at upper) that fosters a welcoming and vibrant community where diversity is celebrated both among students and faculty. There is a strong emphasis on emotional intelligence woven throughout their curriculum which feels balanced with their focus on academics.The faculty is beyond exceptional and what sets Prospect Sierra apart. The teachers and administration are all dedicated educators that embody PS's commitment to leading with respect and joy and creating an environment that fosters a love for learning.Prospect Sierra has a very well-rounded enrichment curriculum that creates a rich and engaging learning experience. Specialty classes include drama, music, art, Co-Lab, and Spanish to name a few. The campus and the physical spaces including the classrooms and enrichment rooms are also beautiful.We could not recommend Propsect Sierra highly enough!

Prospect Sierra Schoolblue checkmarkPrivateEL CERRITO, CAprofile headerAdd To ListPrivate SchoolProspect Sierra SchoolThis school has been claimed by the school or a school representative.grade AOverall GradePrivatePK, K-8EL CERRITO, CARating 4.45 out of 5 11 reviewsBack to Profile HomeVisit School's WebsiteProspect Sierra School ReviewsRating 4.45 out of 5 11 reviewsRating 5 out of 5 Excellent8 reviews (73%)Rating 4 out of 5 Very Good1 reviews (9%)Rating 3 out of 5 Average1 reviews (9%)Rating 2 out of 5 Poor1 reviews (9%)Rating 1 out of 5 Terrible0 reviews (0%)Rating 5 out of 5 Prior to our two kids attending Prospect Sierra School, my k-college public school education had me scratching me head about the value of an Independent School. Boy, did my eyes get opened FAST. PSS provided excellence across the board: Academics, Administration, Community, Cohort. Greatest gift we couldn't have given our children, AND our family. The small community also made for great accountability and engagement. I went in to it not appreciating how great it would also be to have our kids' education unlinked to the annual budget and union fights and ever evolvin government's take on curriculum. Yes, we were extremely fortunate to have this option; AND tuition assistance IS available.

8 years of Growth and ExcellenceAs a parent of an 8th grader, I'm happy to share my gratitude for the exceptional education and nurturing environment at Prospect Sierra. From the moment our kid entered 1st grade and was promptly brought up to speed on reading and writing, we knew we’d made the right decision.PS is not just a school but a vibrant community committed to fostering holistic growth in its students. The hands-on learning experiences and project-based assignments have ignited a genuine passion for creativity and critical thought in my kid.The emphasis on social and emotional learning ensures that students not only excel academically but also develop essential life skills, including empathy, resilience, and effective communication.The genuine care for each student offers a nurturing atmosphere and the small class sizes allow for personalized attention.The open lines of communication between the school and families, regular updates, parent-teacher conferences, and involvement opportunities keep us all connected.The generous flexible tuition opportunities allowed our family to stay at the school for 8 years.Prospect Sierra did especially well providing structure, guidance and community during the extra-challenging and often scary times of the COVID pandemic and I’ll always be grateful for that.

My daughter attended the middle school 6-8th grades in 2019-2022 from having attended independent and public elementary schools. What makes Prospect Sierra truly unique among all the schools is the intentionality and thoughtfulness that permeates all aspects of the school, with the best interest of the student always anchoring all decisions. A key strength are the stellar teachers with long tenures and very low turnover. In terms of curriculum, humanities, world languages, science, and arts (especially drama and visual arts) are outstanding. The only area of improvement is math, where the advanced math learners may not be challenged as the school has dropped the dual track in favor of a single track. If your child falls into this category, I would still highly recommend PS, perhaps just supplement with enrichment courses like Berkeley Math Circle or UC Berkeley's ATDP program. Overall, my daughter is thriving academically and socially in high school and I attribute much of her success to the strong foundation she gained at PS, most notably her growth mindset, life skills, critical thinking and academics.