RDS :: Learning at RDS :: Our Program

The Mission of Redwood Day School is to cultivate an intimate, diverse community where children develop inquisitive minds, build confidence in their individual gifts, and contribute as responsible members of society.

The History of our School has been one of enormous growth and change. Since 1963, we have transformed from a tiny school of 12 students into the thriving community we are today. We believe strongly in our mission and are leaders in the new direction of education in the East Bay.

School Profile: Redwood Day School, an independent, coeducational, K-8 lower and middle school, is located in Oakland, California, approximately thirteen miles east of San Francisco. In fall of 2009, we will begin our expansion to a K-12 school with the start of an upper school. We are a nonprofit corporation directed by a board of trustees.

Accreditation: Redwood Day School is accredited through the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). We are members of the CAIS and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). We are actively involved in the People of Color in Independent Schools Program (POCIS).

Campus & Facilities: Redwood Day has been located on Sheffield Avenue since 1994. We own our campus, located on a 3.5 acre site nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood. We are proud of our spacious classrooms, small and large gymnasiums, two multi-purpose rooms, a library, computer lab, and several large outdoor playing areas. We are immediate neighbors to homes, an EBMUD reservoir, and a city park.

Enrollment: Redwood Day School’s enrollment for the 2008-2009 academic year is approximately 370 students. Between our classroom teachers, full-time interns, and specialist teachers, we offer an academic student-teacher ratio of nine-to-one. Our average class size is 20 students; the maximum class size is 22 students.

Student Body: We are committed to enrolling students of diverse geographic, economic, religious, ethnic and racial backgrounds. In our admission process, we strive to build a diverse learning community that includes all of these factors as well as a breadth of learning styles. Almost 40% of RDS students enrolled for the 2008-2009 school year self-identify as students of color.

Academic Program: We offer a rigorous core academic program that is project-based, developmental, and enriched with regular specialist classes. Lower school specialist classes include studio art, music, physical education, technology, library, and Spanish. Our on-staff naturalist and cooking teacher work with the classroom teachers to integrate gardening and cooking into the core curriculum.

At the middle school level, we maintain the rigor and breadth of the lower school curriculum while also integrating advisory groups, drama, dance, activity groups, and such optional activities as interscholastic sports, musical groups, and student council.

Service Learning: Redwood Day School is committed to helping our students learn to contribute as responsible world citizens and members of society through our service-learning program.

Our service-learning coordinator works with each teacher to incorporate service-learning projects into the classroom curriculum. Service-learning projects often meld into a school-wide project in which all classes participate in different, age and curriculum appropriate, ways.

Redwood Day School has participated in the Good Cents for Oakland service learning program each year. Other service learning projects vary greatly from year to year.

Interscholastic Athletics: Middle school is a time when students are testing and expanding the limits of their cognitive, social and physical abilities. The athletic field is a wonderful place to bring all of these developing abilities together. At RDS, students can pursue athletics in our After-School Sports Program. Student athletes of all levels of experience are welcome on our co-ed soccer, cross-country, flag football, track, and volleyball teams and the boys' and girls' basketball teams.

Technology Program: Redwood Day School's technology program is integrated throughout the curriculum with weekly computer classes for grades K-5 and laptops used on a regular basis in classrooms from 4th grade on.

Assembly Program: As a regular part of the program, Redwood Day students and faculty gather for a weekly assembly, generally held on Wednesdays at 10:50 a.m. Assemblies include class performances, invited guests that represent a diverse group of performers and speakers, school announcements, recognitions through honoring, and enrichment programs.