Emerson School

I couldn't recommend Emerson more. My son thrives in the smaller classroom with plenty of individualized attention when needed; his teachers come from diverse backgrounds and include several men, and their modeling and guidance have been SO helpful to his social-emotional learning, and he is learning (while having fun) at such a deep level it's incredible! This is the academic advantage of having a full-day program where the curriculum is coordinated across all the subjects. Finally, as a family with two working parents, I can't say enough for the value of a year-round schedule. Our son still takes plenty of days of vacation away from school, but those days happen when it's most convenient (and cost-effective) for our family, not when the school dictates we take time off. Last note: Emerson is by far the most cost-effective of all the local top-notch private schools. The quality and depth of the child's (and family's) experience that you get for the tuition is far and away the best value you can get in the Bay Area!

Our family has had an amazing experience as part of the Emerson community. We ended up at Emerson because our son was beginning to struggle in the public school, due to being bored and unchallenged academically. At first, we were unsure if we could afford to send our kids to a private school, but after meeting with the admissions person, we made the effort to apply for admissions and financial aid. We were awarded a generous amount so we enrolled our son at Emerson. This was the best decision we could have ever made. The difference we saw in our son as a result of switching to Emerson was drastic and it was felt instantly. At Emerson, they meet your child where they are academically and help them flourish in ways you never thought possible! Our son has now graduated and our younger daughter is enjoying her Emerson experience. Our two kids are very different, but both have equally benefitted from attending Emerson. I would highly recommend this school to any parent looking for a school that will help their child reach their true potential.

My son attended middle school at Emerson and it made all of the difference. He had a mild learning disability in literacy but excelled in math. He was given support to develop the tools he needed to overcome his challenges, but also the enrichment he needed to continue to advance in math and science. He entered high school with confidence and the skills he developed at Emerson allowed him to take advanced courses and do very well. Emerson faculty are excellent, and they see and know their students, giving them the personal attention all students deserve.

Emerson School was a warm, welcoming environment for both of our children. They attended from 3rd-8th grade. During the Pandemic, both remote and in-person learning went smoothly-the school truly made an effort to accommodate everyone. The teachers and staff went above and beyond. There are many opportunities to grow skills from Model UN, Robotics, Science Olympiad, summer camps, and after-school enrichment classes. Permaculture gardening, building chicken coops, class trips and cultural events are other examples. Both of our kids were well-prepared for, and doing great in high school. The librarian at Emerson is a true gem, as are the teachers and support staff.

Emerson is a wonderful school. Our children have truly benefited from the wide variety of opportunities available to them in the Lower School. Science Olympiad, Robotics First, Orchestra, Band, Choir, After School courses such as cooking, programming, sports, clubs, the list goes on. Exposure to four languages before they move on to Middle School, field trips, seniors and younger student mentoring, and caring teachers. A true Ann Arbor Gem.

Emerson has been a wonderful learning environment for my children for the past seven years, and as parents we have enjoyed the wonderful community of down-to-earth fellow parents who value education and creativity. Both my sons love their school, their teachers, and are engaged in the assignments and projects they get to do. The class sizes are small enough that every teacher has really gotten to know my children and provided them with what they need, but large enough that there is a lot of diversity and variety in friendships. In a time when I hear about recess and specials being cut back, Emerson has continued to provide ample time for playing and exploring music, art, languages, science, technology, PE, etc- Best of all, my kids have no idea that in some schools (e.g., mine growing up) it isn`t cool to be too smart or to like school too much. At Emerson, being "into" school is the norm, and cool kids get excited about science projects. (Even in middle school!!!)

We couldn't be happier with Emerson School. It is about so much more than academic excellence, which is the reason we originally chose this school. It is a caring community of educators who truly love my children, are passionate about teaching, and inspire a lifelong love of learning. Equally important, Emerson teachers build character in our children by reinforcing values that we teach at home-- respect, honesty, inclusion, cooperation, integrity, commitment, compassion, and gratitude.

The compassion and dedication of emerson school and encouraged my daughter to always believe she xan achieve anything she puts her mind too. She is challenged here but most of all happy and loves to go to school.