The Saklan School

My son is in the 3 year old pre-​k class with Mrs. Amanda. We commute from Pittsburg to go to this amazing school – because it’s worth it! I scoured the internet, reviews, types of schools, etc before making a list of top 6 schools throughout the entire Bay Area to tour. We only wanted to apply to 2 schools after touring, and Saklan was my #1 pick. Melissa handled admissions for us, and her demeanor alone made a giant impact on us deciding to make Saklan our home. She answered all of our questions, gave us a long one-​on-​one tour of the school in the summertime, quickly answered emails, introduced us to other families and the staff, and just made us feel at home before we even applied. It was a wonderful first impression and continues to be a wonderful impression.
We loved that it was a non-​religious private school prek-​8 that offered structure, routine weeks, testing, public speaking, foreign language, math/​science, updated technology in the classrooms. Saklan does volunteer projects every week with the various grades/​classes (they just did a book drive, canned food drive, packed meals at the Contra Costa County Food Bank, volunteered at a senior center, list goes on). Another unique thing the school does is Friday Flag, which is where the entire school – parents, staff, teachers, visiting family – gather outside by the flag and put on a Show for about 30 minutes every Friday. The kids’ birthdays are celebrated, songs are sung, performances are acted out, students run for office, short essays are read that make everyone laugh out loud – you really get to see your children developing week to week, and it truly continues the sense of community. I love that every child gets public speaking skills – it was a big selling point. There’s art, socializing, fun, drama plays – Halloween was a hoot with the Haunted House the older kids put on, and everyone in the school dressed up for the costume parade! I just feel that Saklan is the perfect blend and balance of everything to nurture my son to his full potential.
Furthermore, Saklan gives a Sibling Discount – how cool is that? And everyone is accepted – GLBTQ friendly school!
The school doesn’t offer organized sports, but every local community offers sports, so that was an easy fix. Our son just plays sports in Pittsburg, and has even more friends. They do a ton of physical play – gym and playground – so I know he is getting his energy out effectively every day. I thought paying for playground time was a bit useless at first, and then I watch him interact with the various kids and notice how much he is growing in terms of social skills and learning to follow playground rules. (What’s even funnier is that his dad or I will go pick him up, the kids will all be on the playground, and random kids will say, «Hi, Jaymyn’s Dad!» or even, «Hi, Jordan!» The kids know the parents, the school is so small!) The gym teacher at Saklan is well loved, and he is always getting creative with the kids’ activities. Students are not neglected in the physical health department.
If you want a balanced life for your child, this is the go-​to place.

If I had a choice, I would rate this school more like 3.75 stars. Alas, it is impossible.
I came here in need of dire help. My attention span was low, my social skills were… nonexistent, my willingness to exceed my comfort zone was incredibly low, and I didn’t particularly like my previous school at all.
My parents, therefore, thought it would be a good idea to get me to a place where more attention to the kids who needed help would be possible. Thus, Saklan was where I went: it is a place where each grade is about 12 – 16 kids strong. It became my home, the place I initially hated, then grew to love so dearly.
But this review needs to be helpful, and I can’t go on about my personal history there forever, so here goes:
Pros:
Easy extra help from teachers because classes are so teeny
Challenging classes which force you to think creatively
In terms of the mainstream definition of «bullying,» there is none of that at Saklan and none of that in the foreseeable future.
Small classes allow you to bond very well with each member of the class, and classes below and above you.
Curriculum is (mostly) interesting and fun
Teachers are cool and your best friends, even if they need to make hard decisions for you sometimes.
People are understanding of your individual homework needs, if you’ve got after-​school programs and such. (although hmwk does need to be changed, see Cons.)
Most teachers are comfortable with letting you talk to them about personal problems, and are very helpful and understanding in that regard.
Your classmates will easily become your best friends.
Cons:
Not nearly enough homework assigned. Someone MUST say this, because it is true. Going to high school, I quickly found myself feeling completely swamped. Saklan must shape up the amount of homework they assign each night because right now, it’s simply not enough. Not by a long shot. I’m not saying they should over-​assign, but really, students could use some more homework to increase good homework habits.
Spanish program leaves something to be desired. True, I tested into a good Spanish level from Saklan, but the teacher spoke to us in English. The curriculum was intended to be completely in Spanish. I don’t know if this has changed since then, but if it has, kudos!
Drama. Not the acting kind, the gossipping-​disrespectful-​talk-​behind-​his/​her-​back kind. SO MUCH! At school, classmates are very close, but this can lead to fights that are about small things. The class is never split for long, but there are times when they are, and often there is crying. There is simply too much drama. Remember that.
The sports program is nonexistent. I myself don’t care, but if you want a more sports-​oriented private school for your child, definitely consider other places first, because Saklan is not the place.
This may seem like a low rating, but trust me, I love this school to death, with all my heart. It has truly been one of the best experiences of my life. I will always remember my classmates and come back to visit my amazing teachers. There are so many great inside jokes that everyone shares. It was an emotional ride going through Saklan, but I don’t regret any of it. All of the people have made me who I am today, and for that I could not be more thankful.
Please consider this place as a wonderful school with true potential to help your child grow in so many ways!

The Saklan is a top notch school.
My son has been attending this hidden gem for 2 years now. We only have excellent things to say about the staff and the teaching method of this wonderful school.
My son gets upset on the weekend because he does not have school. We loved all the teachers who worked with our son. Each and every one of them is loving, caring and comes across like she loves kids and her job.
I have to say Mrs. C and Ms. Amanda are amazing. I highly recommend this school for any family looking for a place for their kids to thrive.
Thank you Saklan for all the hard work, love and care you have been offering to our son.

If you’re even considering private schools, you really should visit Saklan! The teachers and staff are so enthusiastic and welcoming, and you will be able see for yourself why these reviews are so glowing. We are very pleased with the quality of academics, diversity of the student body, and philosophy of the school. There are wonderful specialists teaching art, music, science and Spanish, and P.E., and the home room teachers are fantastic. The feeling of community is strong, and the students’ joy is palpable. We love the emphasis on leadership, public speaking, and community service– just a few of the many things that make Saklan special.

We have four years of experience with both the preschool and elementary school. Preschool: Saklan has an amazing preschool program with inviting and warm classroom and outdoor environments. Very experienced, passionate and nurturing teachers, and inspiring curriculum with a wonderful balance of structure and free play. The elementary school is incredible and provides a a high level academic experience in a non competitive, creative and fun environment. The students are engaged in the classrooms and the art and music programs and other specialist classes are amazing. The teachers and staff are very welcoming and responsive to student’s and families needs. It is such a great community to be a part of.

My daughter and I were lucky enough that Saklan accepted us into their school. My daughter and I love Miss Amy (K) and the whole crew at Saklan. The entire atmosphere is like a family, very supportive and attentive– with the whole child in mind, not just academics but to the childs needs and approaching learning in away the child will get the most benefit. This goes along with respecting others and acting compassionately, giving back to the community and being a responsible person. I hope we are able to continue at Saklan… as many have said, it is a real gem of a school. We are blessed!

I cannot say enough of this school. It is truly a hidden gem. Amazing staff from the head of the school to every single teacher/​staff member. For us it is worth driving from Danville and worth paying every penny. The Saklan made a difference in our family and happiness. If our son is happy and looking forward to go to school every morning we are all happy. My son loves the music, PE, Spanish and Soccer classes.
After having a horrible experience at a private school in Walnut Creek we did an extensive research on schools in the area and decided to enroll our son at the Saklan. He is in pre-​k and cannot say enough. The teachers are amazing, you can tell how much they love their job. Very loving environment and communication with the parents is pretty strong. It is a very enthusiastic environment, you feel like every student, teacher or parents wanting to do something to make a difference. The head of the school is a very nice and smart man. We are very lucky to find the Saklan. I highly recommend it to every family.

I agree completely with the previous reviewer. My son was in the Pre-​K class with Mrs. C and is now in Kindergarten with Ms. Amy. Saklan is a hidden gem and I’m so glad that our son was able to experience Pre-​K and K with Ms. Amy.
I can’t say enough about Ms. Amy. Our son has learned so much from her and with the small class sizes, he is receiving a truly unique experience. Her curriculum is wonderful and we are often amazed by what he has learned in class.