FAQs

List of 21 frequently asked questions.

• Q: Where are you located?

  We are located on 4 acres in a residential neighborhood located in the heart of Oakland, between the Dimond and Glenview districts.

• Q: What time does the school day start and end?

  Kindergarten begins at 8:25 a.m. and ends at 2:50 p.m. Families may drop off between 8:10-8:25 a.m. and pick up before 3:15 p.m. Children at school after 3:15 p.m. will be walked into the extended care program and start their after-school fun!
  
  1st-5th grade begins at 8:25 a.m. and ends at 3:10 p.m. with after-school until 6:00 p.m.
  
  Middle School begins at 8:35 a.m. and ends at 3:40 p.m. with after-school office hours, play rehearsal, and athletics practice/games through the late afternoon. 
  
  All grade levels are welcome to participate in the extended care program up until 6:00 p.m.

• Q: When does the school year begin and end?

  We typically begin school during the last week of August. We have a two-week break in December, a week-long break in February, and a week-long break in mid-spring. We usually end the school year in the second week of June. Please visit our calendar page for more detailed information.

• Q: What is the average class size?

  Our class size is typically close to 18-20 students per classroom in Kindergarten-8th grade and 22 students per classroom (6th-8th). In grades K-5, there are two classrooms per grade. We enroll approximately a third of the 6th-grade class new each year as our Middle School expands to three sections per grade level.

  
  Each K-2 classroom is taught by a lead teacher and a full-time associate teacher. In grades 3-5, lead teachers are supported by team teachers. In grades 6-8, each classroom is taught by one teacher. 

• Q: How racially and culturally diverse is the Redwood Day community?

  Approximately 55% of Redwood Day families identify as having students of color, including African American, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Asian, Native American, Middle Eastern, Latino/Hispanic American, and multiracial backgrounds. Our faculty members also reflect the diversity of the Bay Area. 
  
  

  We make sure that children and families not only see themselves reflected in their community but also experience a diverse curriculum that weaves complexity and diverse perspectives through subject matter. We know that children learn best when they feel connected, respected, and supportively stretched in their communities.

• Q: How old is Redwood Day?

  We have proudly educated East Bay children for over 50 years! The School was founded in 1963 with a dozen children and a few dedicated teachers. In 1994, we purchased and moved to our permanent home on Sheffield Avenue in Oakland and have gradually expanded the buildings on our campus, ensuring that our facilities are leading-edge.

• Q: Where do your graduates attend high school?

  Our alumni go on to attend many Bay Area independent, religious, and public schools. Our eighth-grade students are typically offered admission by their first choice schools. High school admissions officers and faculty recognize Redwood Day graduates as innovative, kind, capable, self-aware, and community-minded individuals. Please see our High School & Beyond page for more information and a matriculation list.

• Q: Where do Redwood Day families live?

  Our families live all over the East Bay area. While about 70% of Redwood Day families live in Oakland (particularly in Rockridge, Crocker Highlands, Glenview, Montclair, and Grand Lake neighborhoods), we also have many families from Berkeley, Alameda, San Leandro, Piedmont, Hayward, El Cerrito, Richmond, Albany, and Contra Costa county. Families often organize carpools and get-togethers in their neighborhoods.

• Q: Does Redwood Day offer extended child care? Do you have after-school classes? What do you do during the holidays or teacher in-service days for parents who work outside of the home?

  Morning Care from 7:45 - 8:30 a.m. is included in tuition and is offered in the Helen Dittmer Library for grades K-5 and in the gym for Middle School students (from 7:45-8:10).

   

  The after-school program (Extended Care) is offered from 3 - 6 p.m. each school day as well as on conference and inservice days when regular classes are not in session.

   

  The Lower School program is called X-Care. We offer a variety of options, including art clubs, high school test prep, chess, paper making, art, music, and choir, as well as lots of play time. Middle School students participate in X-Plus, specifically designed for their age group. A Study Hall opportunity is available as part of both X-Care and X-Plus.

  
  A variety of after-school enrichment classes are also offered for an additional fee. These classes have included: Capoeira, steel drums, filmmaking, Aikido, dance, guitar, world music, and much more!

• Q: Does Redwood Day have an age “cut-off” for Kindergarten?

  Students must turn five no later than September 1 of their kindergarten year.

   

  Each child applying to Redwood Day is assessed to determine developmental readiness. By using our in-house assessment, which includes Gesell developmental tools, academic projects, and observation of social activity, we consider developmental readiness, social and academic cohort groups, and the appropriate class placement for each child.

• Q: Does Redwood Day have a sibling policy?

  We offer a priority admissions process to children of current Redwood Day students, siblings of alumni, and children of our faculty and staff. Priority admissions applications are due in early fall and priority admissions decisions are communicated to families just before the December winter break. 

• Q: Does Redwood Day offer tuition assistance?

  Financial diversity is so important to us. Our need-based tuition assistance program is intended to make the School accessible to a wide variety of families. Approximately 24% of students receive tuition assistance in the form of grants that range from a thousand dollars to 95% of tuition. Please visit our tuition assistance page for more information about this program.

• Q: Does Redwood Day offer any world languages? If so, when do you begin?

  Spanish and Mandarin are offered from kindergarten through eighth grade. In Kindergarten-1st grade, students take Spanish for half of the year and Mandarin for half of the year. Beginning in 2nd grade, students will take either Spanish or Mandarin through 8th grade. In the Lower School, students have their World Language class multiple times each week. In the Middle School, Spanish and Mandarin are core classes. Our graduates typically place into second-year Spanish classes in high school.

• Q: What does Redwood Day do for physical education? Do you have a sports program? When does it start?

  We offer a variety of sports through our physical education classes - dance, martial arts, kick-boxing, soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, badminton, and a collection of collaborative team building games. K-4th grade students attend P.E. two times a week and 5th-8th grades attend P.E. three times each week.

   

  Team sports and interscholastic competition are offered at the Middle School level. We are proud that 75% of our students participate in these athletic teams. Our seasonal sports include flag football, soccer, cross country, basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and track & field. We participate in a league with other similar-sized independent schools and nearby public schools. Please visit the Athletics page for more information.
  
  For our younger athletes in grades 3-5, we offer our MicroSports Academy sessions, an intramural and skill development program designed to give developmentally appropriate sports opportunities for our lower school students.

• Q: What is the Redwood Day homework policy?

  Homework begins in first grade and is given to complement the work being done in class. Assignments on Monday–Thursday are the norm. Kindergartners may be asked to show their parents and guardians what they have been working on in class. First- and second-graders receive 10-20 minutes of homework per night which relates to the current curriculum. Third through fifth graders may receive between 30–60 minutes of homework. Sixth- through eighth-graders receive between 60–120 minutes of homework (20 minutes for each core class in a given day). 7th and 8th grade students may have homework over the weekend. Homework done over the weekend allows students to work on long-term projects or review work for the following week. Students are expected to bring their homework planners with them to all of their classes.

• Q: What has been the Redwood Day faculty/administrative turnover in the past five years?

  Our faculty, staff, and specialists have been with us from 1 to 25 years with an average tenure of about seven years. They enjoy a wonderful and supportive work environment and tend to stay with us a long time!
  
  When we have teaching and administrative positions open, we have many applicants as we conduct local, national, and international searches to make sure that the very best person for the position, school, and community is hired.

• Q: How often do students have music, art, and drama classes at Redwood Day?

  Visual and performing arts are integral parts of our program and every child participates!

   

  Kindergarten-4th grade meet every week with both music and art teachers. They perform multiple times each year in all-school or divisional music productions, and display their work in divisional art shows. Students in grades 5-8 meet for a double period of art, two periods of music, and a period of drama each week.

   

  Middle School students perform in two all-school or divisional productions and also present a divisional art show. Chorus, orchestra, rock bands, jazz band, and string ensemble are offered in the early morning or in after-school programs throughout the year.

   

  We have 4 annual drama productions that include a 4th-5th grade musical, 6th grade one-act plays, a Middle School play, and a Middle School musical. The music and drama instructors design and work with faculty to produce these programs.

• Q: Does Redwood Day offer a lunch program?

  Yes! Students can either bring their own lunches or order lunch through an outside lunch provider, Flo's Friendly Foods. Families sign up online in advance and have many different healthy and eco-conscious hot and cold lunch choices each day.
  
  We have microwaves available for middle school students to use. We also have hot water available to the students. We do not have vending machines on campus.
  
  Students in the after-school program have the opportunity to prepare (and eat!) healthy snacks each day.

• Q: Do you provide transportation to Redwood Day?

  We do not offer transportation to Redwood Day. We encourage carpools and offer an online mapping tool to families so that carpools can be set up from the start. Parents and guardians may give written permission for their child(ren) to take the bus, ride a bike, or walk to school.

• Q: What field trips and outdoor education programs do students participate in?

  All classes plan field trips throughout the year related to their course of study. Students in grades 4-8 attend three- to five-day outdoor education programs that are integrated with the science, environmental, social justice, and social emotional aspects of our curriculum. Outdoor education trips are included in our tuition.

   

  The programs are generally as follows:

  • Fourth grade to Exploring New Horizons Camp at Pigeon Point
  • Fifth grade to Exploring New Horizons Camp in Loma Mar
  • Sixth grade to Pinnacles National Park
  • Seventh grade to the Santa Cruz Mountains
  • Eighth grade to Catalina Island in Southern California

  Locations are subject to change.

• Q: Is Redwood Day affiliated with any other schools?

  We are not affiliated with any other independent schools and have no religious affiliations. We are a member of and accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). We are also a member of the Educational Records Bureau (ERB), People of Color in Independent Schools of Northern California (POCIS), and the Bay Area Director of Admissions (BADA).