I highly recommend The Athenian School for a student such as your child. It is far, for sure, but they have a bus from Berkeley. It is rigorous, but not dull, since it’s experiential. Every Friday the students have a day-long cross-curricular program that leverages the learning they’ve been doing during the week. If your student is advanced in certain areas, they offer accelerated sections and 8th graders can also take upper school classes when appropriate. They also offer electives/clubs centered around the interests that you mentioned (music, drama, writing, leadership/activism). Check it out! We were very happy when our child (now 20) went there.

Athenian is an excellent school; they are who they say they are. My son is in eleventh grade and has been commuting from Berkeley to Danville for the last three years. He doesn’t regret it. Athenian provides an innovative, creative and challenging curriculum. The teachers know the students and make them feel valued and supported. The school emphasizes outdoor education and international experiences and supports these opportunities by incorporating them into the academic calendar. It is truly an amazing school.

I’ve been at Athenian for three years now, and it’s been great. The classes are interesting, and the teachers really care about us. The outdoor trips are fun and a nice break from regular schoolwork. I feel like I’m getting a well-rounded education here.

My daughter has been at Athenian since middle school, and the transformation has been incredible. The experiential learning approach has made her more confident and engaged. The outdoor education program is a highlight, offering unique opportunities that you won’t find elsewhere. The community is inclusive and supportive, and the faculty genuinely care about each student’s growth. We couldn’t be happier with our choice.

The Director of Admissions is a real jerk. We called him to talk about the admission for my child who is a gifted child and has been on the honor roll from KG through 8th grade in a very challenging private school, but had a rough year last year because of covid-related mental health issues. His response was shockingly insensitive. He basically implied that he doesn’t care about what happened last year to her medically or what her previous academic trajectory looks like. Pretty rude and insensitive.