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Terra has felt like San Francisco's best kept secret for our family. The biggest thing we noticed early on was how much our son genuinely looks forward to going to school. He comes home excited to talk about what he learned, what he built, and what he explored that day, which gave us confidence that we made the right choice.We visited a few public and private schools with a strong Mandarin immersion program. What stood out with Terra over time was how balanced the learning feels, both inside and outside the classroom. Academically, he has grown steadily in both English and Mandarin, and at the same time we have seen real growth in confidence, independence, and how he works through challenges.The outdoor program has been especially meaningful for him. Spending time learning outside each week has clearly shaped how he approaches learning. He often comes home talking about things he created or discovered in nature, and those experiences seem to stick with him in a way that traditional classroom lessons sometimes do not.The small class size has made a big difference for our family. His teachers really know him as an individual, including both his strengths and the areas where he needs more guidance. That level of attention has helped him grow academically and emotionally without feeling pressured to fit into a single mold.We have also appreciated how involved the parent community is. It feels collaborative, and communication between families and the school is very open. The after-school enrichment classes like engineering, cooking, and art have been another highlight because they give him more ways to explore interests he might not otherwise try.Terra is a smaller school, but for us that has created a strong sense of connection and support. Most importantly, our son feels happy, challenged, and excited to learn, which is ultimately what we were hoping to find in a school.

My son started in Kindergarten at Terra Schools and I have loved our experience. I've decided to switch my younger son from his current pre-school to Terra Schools' pre-school program as well because of how strong I've found it to be. When I went through the Kindergarten application process, I toured a ton of schools across public, charter, and private (independent and parochial). I am the type of person that likes to dig deep and understand all of my options. The reason I ended up choosing to attend Terra is because:- Outdoor Nature: We came from a nature based pre-school and I saw the benefits of being able to regularly play outside. It was tough to find an elementary school that offered dedicated time in nature. Elementary grades at Terra have Earth Ed one full day per week, and pre-school has two full days. Earth Ed is led by Dylan, who has decades of experience and holds a PHD in environmental studies. He's great with the students. They love him.- Strong Academics: I asked every school I toured about differentiated learning, and they all gave an answer. However, Terra was the only one where the logistics made sense to me. They have banded classes for subjects like math and reading, which means that for those subjects, my son is grouped with students that are at the same level as him, not based on his grade or age. For example, he is in Kindergarten but he is in the 1st grade math group. - Quality of Teachers: The teachers go through a rigorous process before they are hired full time. They are highly qualified. They are also loving and caring. My son is excited to run to his teacher every morning (which was not the case at his prior schools).- Language Immersion: We are in the mandarin immersion program, but my son is naturally exposed to some Spanish as well and has enjoyed picking up some of the language. It's unique to be able to give him a multilingual experience in a fun, low pressure way. - Parent Community: There are multiple opportunities to connect with each other including coffee meetups, PTA meetings, mom's/dad's nights, and WhatsApp groups. I have met many awesome families at Terra that I now call my friends. My son is thriving here. I have seen noticeable improvements in his academic progress, his self confidence and his ability to advocate for himself.

My daughter transferred into the Terra Spanish preschool program last fall, and I can honestly say she is thriving. At her former preschool, she was anxious and quiet-often stoic and apprehensive about going to school. Every morning she would try to make deals with us about when we would come pick her up.Within a week at Terra, all of that school anxiety was gone. She now looks forward to going to school and is often a little disappointed when we arrive to pick her up at the end of the day.Our family has a rule in life: to follow our intuition and lean into the people and places that feel right to us. Terra has been exactly that. The teachers and administration, the parents and children, are kind, honest, and deeply collaborative. Together, they create a school environment that feels truly special and nurturing.We feel incredibly grateful to have found Terra and we're excited to continue into the TK/Kindergarten program next Fall!

Our daughter has attended Terra since April 2024, including Preschool, Kindergarten, and summer camps, and we couldn't be happier with our experience. We're really proud to be a Terra family. The school places a strong emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence, and it truly shows in the way the children learn and grow. The staff are incredibly dedicated and do an amazing job partnering with parents. They're committed to building an inclusive, supportive environment and are always willing to work with families through both school-related and personal challenges. What initially drew us to Terra was the language immersion program, along with the focus on experiential learning and community engagement. These elements have given our daughter opportunities to thrive, develop a sense of responsibility, and feel meaningfully connected to the work around her. We also love the small class sizes, which allow teachers to give each child individual attention and build strong one-on-one relationships with students. Our daughter's teacher sends out thoughtful weekly newsletters detailing what the class has been learning across subjects, which makes it easy for us to support her learning at home. The school also holds three parent-teacher conferences each year, giving us regular opportunities to check in on her progress and address any concerns along the way. One of the most special aspects of Terra is the close-knit community. The school year starts with a camping trip that brings families together in a fun, relaxed way, and throughout the year there's an active parent WhatsApp group that makes it easy to connect, plan playdates, and attend social gatherings. Terra truly feels like a community, not just a school, and we're so grateful to be part of it.

Terra Marin School is worth writing a review for. The staff of teachers are caring and genuine. The care and attention they give each student and their needs by far exceed any of our expectations. Wendy and her staff will do their best to accommodate each student's learning profile and needs. This is one of those schools where a parent can drop off their kids and feel at ease knowing they're being held, understood, and heard.