Challenger School – Berryessa

I like this lace a lot cause my daughter goes here and we very happy with this school, teacher and staff are very patient and nice.

I attended this challenger from 2^nd to 5^th grade and just graduated college. Academia-​wise, yes it is amazing at pushing your kids to their full ACADEMIC potential IF that’s the kind of child you have. I did fine and enjoyed the praise for doing well, but I watched classmates of mine every year struggle, become incredibly anxious, and get reprimanded for struggling. Don’t get me wrong, I had some great teachers that really made an effort to help the kids, but it was not Challenger’s policy to help the struggling ones — I’ve heard that this hasn’t changed. You pretty much have to get lucky with which teachers you get. Also, the number of classrooms get smaller as the grades go up (e.g. the 4^th grade class is smaller than the 5^th grade class which is smaller than the 6^th grade class) so only the top however many students get asked back every year.
Socially, there was no real focus on development of social or extracurricular skills. There’s limited art, music, and barely PE. Though when I attended, there were game days where other campuses would come and we’d compete in sports (rather fruitlessly). I drove by a few months ago and saw that they had replaced a good chunk of the basket ball court areas with classrooms. There’s no clubs — although there was a student body in the middle school.
I got pulled out after elementary school to attend a public middle school due to the financial burden. That’s when I realized that Challenger students live in an unrealistic bubble with their own rules and shielded from the world. It was a big adjustment to go into the real world where 1) not everyone was Chinese/​Korean/​Indian or some variation of asian 2) not everyone had a helicopter mom 3) kids could do worse things than get a B 4) you needed to be social with people outside of the 30 people in your grade/​class. I did stay in touch with some other challenger kids afterwards and the ones that eventually transferred to public school felt the same way. I’m pretty glad that I got pulled out when I did. After everything, I wouldn’t exactly recommend it for a kid’s overall development, but if you just want your kid to get really good at memorization and taking tests, go for it.

My daughter has been attending the pre school here. So far, our experience has been anything but great. We get to see daily feedback on what she has been doing as the carry home bags always contain samples of work that was completed during the day. We just got her fall report that goes over quite a few areas (30 odd competencies for a 3 yr old! that includes observations about learning /​skills with numbers, phonics, motor skills, social participation, responsibilities) that they are evaluating and giving useful feedback. For toddlers, there’s good outdoor play areas and multiple of them and my daughter likes it. The class’s are clean considering how many pre-​schoolers go there. The pickup/​drop off is well setup and organized.
The place is definitely not for you if you want your kid to be baby’d around as they want kids to be independent, academically sound while giving enough exposure to softer skills. For e.g. my 3 yr old has show and tell sessions every monday and I can see her looking around for things she wants to take to school to show her friends.
I was a bit surprised to see some of the negative comments and definitely don’t think it is anywhere close to fair.

My son has been going to this school through summer pre-​k and now K so far so good.
Like any other school some teachers are really good but some are so so.
Anyway, it is not as bad as other previous reviews had said honestly.

This school has been going down since Ms. Dee, Mr. Morrison and many good teachers left. When Mr. Brit left, I wondered if it has anything to do with my 2^nd grader. Over the course of the last 2 years, he had 4 different teachers. The class was out of control including bullying by 2 or 3 kids. 2 of them are children of teachers of the school. We complained to the school. The teacher dare not do anything because she probably was afraid that she’ll lose her job as she’s new and the kid’s parents are more senior teachers. After a few attempts, Mr. Brit, the elementary school principal finally got to the root of it and eventually calmed the situation down. I thought he did a fantastic job. He listened to to both sides and I never felt that he was one sided. Eventually the teacher was replaced by Ms. Mediran. She was a fantastic teacher and the second half of first grade has been my son’s best time. He was happy and enthusiastic. Mr. Brit then left after the school year was over. I heard he went to Stratford, a competing private school. Then came second grade… in mid stream his teacher left after the winter break. The problems now started. Every little thing he did he got sent to the office. We never knew anything because the teacher never communicated with us until it was already too late and was decided that they’ll give him 30 days to change his behavior. Let me see what behavior they were referring to… not bullying, not fighting, not vandalism… obviously those were probably okay. It was something like pouting or refusing to do something that he thinks is not his fault or is not fair. My son gets mad if someone takes his stuff and the teacher does nothing about it. This school does not have counsellors for situations like this. He is not perfect I must admit. Who is? So who is the one that decided to give him 30 days? It is the new elementary principal Ms. G whose son was one of the kid we complained about.
One has to draw the conclusion that this is linked to our complaining. Despite such disruptions he continues to do well. Just look at his report. His teacher is probably a «yes maam» kind of person to even voice his opinion (if he has any) regarding the school’s decision. At least that’s what I think. I don’t have a voice for sure. You complain you get targeted. You do the right thing as a teacher you are either transferred out or fired or forced to quit! If we were the reason why Mr. Brit left, I sincerely apologize. As far as I know 3 kids weren’t accepted as returning student for 3^rd grade (including my son) – all non Indian. There is one Indian parent who pulled his 2^nd grader mid year and also not enroll his 6^th grader to 7^th grade next school year not because they cannot afford it but rather feels that the school is not what it used to be and it is money not well spent! I share the same sentiment and decide not to enroll my 12-​year old to 7^th grade after spending 9 years there since preschool. I know it’s only 2 more years of middle school but it’ll be 2 years of missed enriching experience that other schools have to offer. I also know of a few 6^th graders not returning to 7^th grade because they have found better schools.
Don’t go away; I’m not done yet. …to be continued!

I just hope they would have the children teach some mannerisms and politeness to Ms Evett. She is very rude and it is very difficult for the parents to deal with her.

I thought I should share this to every parent who considers this school.
I sent my son to this campus for Summer after his first year attending strawberry park. Location is the only reason why we chose to transfer him to this campus. Otherwise, I would love to stay with Strawberry. Those teachers are great and my son learned so much in one year and they sure exceeded my expectation.
It turned out that this is a big mistake as only a first 2 weeks that my son encountered many accidents in and outside the class but the teacher did not even address or notify parents. I had complained to the principal, Minakshi Sen, who promised that it won’t happen again.
However, it only lasts a few more days before my son got another accident in which his nose got bleeding and that prompted me to withdraw him from this school and I did ask for full refund. The principal did comply but what I did not know is that she recorded my name to Challenger school’s database.
So when I try to register my younger child to another campus, I got rejected because they say «school has problem with me in the past».
I do’nt give a damn on this school anymore. One thing I regretted I did not do is to sue them at the time for neglecting and child safety violation.

I could not in all honesty give it any higher than 2 stars. I would give it one… but I believe that is not giving enough credit to the staff who are doing their best in an administration that does not care for them, nor the students.
Please keep in mind that my child has left the school four years ago — and things may have changed since then. But I really doubt that considering the downward spiral that got it into this situation in the first place.
I first moved to San Jose/​Bay area in 2003 and was enchanted by the affordable private schools — much the same way I was disenchanted by the public schools. The low tuition provided a glimmer of hope that my future children will have a good formal education, and I will not have to pay for Harker (although I am sure the price correlates to the quality of education here, I just simply cannot afford it)
My daughter was born a couple years later, and that is when the downward spiral started. Challenger let teachers go year after year and make little effort to keep the good ones who are offered positions elsewhere. The ones who do stay do so for stability and love of the students. Challenger administration believes that they have a proven program that will achieve success regardless of the student or teacher. They are wrong. As soon as the good teachers leave, the students follow.
I have made lots of friends with parents who intended their children to be lifers. But after six years, they are pulling out. There is no PE, art, music, other extra-​curricular activities that make a well-​rounded child. What Challenger calls these activities is not more than wasting time. Teachers usually let the kids run for half an hour with a ball and call it PE. Art is mail-​order projects where the students glue a cotton ball to a piece of paper and call it a snowman. Music is 15 minutes with a piano teacher (or a radio and a cd) once a week and a 10 minute skit in winter and spring. The students are required to wear uniforms at all school functions. There are never any parties or gatherings that parents can mingle.
And there are never any off-​site activities (or field trips). Officially, the administration cites lack of interest on the student part. Unoffically, we all know it is the cost of insuring a field trip. And for senior trips (8^th grade) the students bear 100% of the cost of transportation and admission. And since the parents are driving them, the school eschews any insurance liability for accidents that can occur during the day. Any parent not agreeing to come means that the students cannot go either.
And finally, the current staffing is not what I call the best. Although I am sure it is the best they can obtain at this time. Most of the lower grade teachers are parents of current students looking to enroll their child for free. And Challenger takes full advantage of this. Although teachers have degrees (not necessarily in their specified field) very few have credentials. I would also imagine that many have never been in a teaching position until then.

My son (3^rd) and daughter (1^st) have attended this and the Challenger Middlefield school. This school suffers because it is too large. Unlike the smaller Middlefield school, the kids are moved in and out of lunch, recess, etc .like cattle.