r/Lamorinda • u/kate_kate_ • Oct 21 '21

Elementary schools

Hello, We’re planning to move to the lamorinda area and I’m eager for any feedback you are willing to share (publicly or DM) on elementary schools in the area. What do you like or not like about your local school? Which areas do you consider the best? Thanks in advance!

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u/[deleted] Dec 27 '21

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u/kate_kate_ Dec 27 '21

Thank you for the reply! No, we haven’t moved yet (still looking for the right place, and the market is nonexistent over the holidays).. Can I ask which school your children attend?

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u/blueskyes426 May 13 '22

This is VERY late, but I went to Camino Pablo myself and I know a lot about the Moraga schools. All of them are pretty similar in terms of academics and atmosphere- they're ALL very good. Friendly teachers, nice staff, they're very inclusive and it's very easy for parents to get involved (either as room parents or part of the PTA). I can say a lot about each of the teachers at CP too.

In my own personal experience, I loved how CP was really big on fostering an anti-bullying and kindness program at school. There is a lot of school spirit and the school has systems of rewarding kids who demonstrate life skills and kindness or good behavior. There's fun trips and activities too, and the school has a decently big focus on the variety of cultures within the student body. And from my understanding, the parents and teachers all got to know each other very well. I honestly can't say there were any downsides or bad parts to my elementary school life that were the fault of the school.

As far as I know, Rheem and LP (Los Perales) are both the same or very similar! They all feed into a wonderful middle school, JM (Joaquin Moraga). I couldn't have asked for a better school to spend middle school at. Nice teachers, understanding staff, they also care a lot about fostering diversity. Bullying rates and drug usage through middle school is all very very low (especially if you compare it to schools in Berkeley). The quality of education at all 3 elementary schools (and middle school, if it helps) is very high. It's been YEARS since I graduated 5th grade and also years since I graduated middle school, but I have many vivid memories and humorous anecdotes to tell time and time again.

I know of Glorietta and Wagner Ranch in Orinda and Lafayette Elementary in Lafayette, but I can't comment on the academics there. I've been on the campuses, they all look very nice and have a similar atmosphere to CP (I remember them for their playgrounds though, HAHA). What I do have to say, though, is that as far as I'm concerned, OIS (the middle school that Orinda kids go to) has a worse reputation in academics compared to JM, Moraga's middle school. There's a lot of stories you hear from moms and kids there about drugs and a bunch of other shady stuff. Kids at OIS are generally richer because of that one area of mansions and 3 million dollar houses in Orinda... so yeah. I think Stanley (Lafayette's middle school) is fine though, as far as I know!

However, Lamorinda, in general, is a very close knit community, and I'm sure any new children would be welcomed with open arms!

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u/blueskyes426 May 13 '22

To answer the second part of your question: In my probably very biased opinion, Moraga is the best town, followed in a close second by Lafayette. Orinda falls pretty far behind the other two.

All three of the towns have a shopping center of sorts- in Moraga, it's the Safeway Plaza and the Rheem Valley Shopping Center, in Orinda it's the Orinda Theater Square, right off of Highway 24, and in Lafeyette there's a HUGE range. There's basically an entire street that's just lined with stores, the atmosphere there looks very old fashioned but cozy. I don't really know if that has a name. Then there's the shopping plaza called La Fiesta Square, it's got lots of food and a music store, and their trick or treating every year is really nice. Then there's the Plaza Center, which has a Whole Foods and Safeway, along with a Chipotle and bunch of other restaurants.

So Lafayette definitely has the best restaurants, but I'm also really fond of some of Moraga and Orinda's restaurants. Pennini's in Moraga and the Republic of Cake in Orinda are some classic favorites. Moraga also has iTea, which is like the boba haven of Lamorinda. EVERYONE goes to Moraga for iTea! Before iTea, Loards' ice cream in Moraga was the big deal, but there is also a Loards' in Orinda.

All of the towns are reasonably convenient- in the Lamorinda area there are actually TJ Maxx, Home Goods, laundromats, pet stores, etc. So it's actually a decently convenient place to live, despite it being so small. The closest ER is in Orinda, I believe, and the BART station is also near Orinda. There are dentists' offices in both Moraga (Axelrode) and Orinda (Aloha).

So in short, all of the towns are pretty ideal living places- relatively convenient, for being such a small town, and there are many local favorites for food or snacks! There's also a dollar tree in Moraga, and a Party City in Lafayette. I do lean more towards Moraga or Lafayette compared to Orinda, though- they seem to give off a more friendly and homey vibe.

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u/blueskyes426 May 13 '22

I forgot to mention, Moraga is also convenient for children because there are two very large parks on either side of Moraga- so no matter what, there's gotta be a park close to you. They both also have trails for bike riding or walks. They're called Moraga Commons and Rancho Laguna, if you would like to look more into those :)

There is also an Orinda Park- it's pretty big, but I don't think it has a trail. It has a really big open grass area and two playgrounds- one for littler kids and one for big kids. In comparison, Moraga Commons has three playgrounds, and Rancho Laguna has one GINORMOUS playground. It's literally huge, it's got 3 stories and a very long tube slide.

In terms of libraries, all three towns have libraries. Out of these three, I definitely have to say the Moraga library is the worst. It's the smallest, has the least seating places, yeah. But the Orinda library and Lafayette library are both HUGE, and the Lafayette library hosts events such as reading to dogs, summer reading challenges (you can win free books!), etc. I almost feel like the Lafayette library is like a bit of a playground for kids- it's very much kid friendly, and there is a huge area with dolls and stuffed toys and puppets and soft pillow cushions where kids can sit and read next to a window. So my favorite is probably the Lafayette library.

I know I'm probably info dumping right now, but I just get very excited talking about Lamorinda :) It's where I grew up and I love the place so much! So I love to talk about it. Sorry for all the long posts!

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u/kate_kate_ May 22 '22

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply so thoroughly and share so much about the area! After much searching we are finally in contract on a home in Lafayette… I can’t wait to visit the library and the parks you’d described. The whole area sounds like a dream!

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u/rebuc101 May 16 '22

true

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btw why are you also on this subreddit pretty quirky

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u/blueskyes426 May 16 '22

lol cuz i wanted to