We are accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and are members of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the East Bay Independent School Association (EBISA).

Saklan enrolls about 150 students from around the East Bay, from Alameda to Clayton and from Berkeley and Pinole to San Ramon. Currently, there are 17 faculty members, 12 women and 5 men; seven hold Masters degrees, and one holds a Ph.D. Our faculty has an average teaching experience of ten years. Jonathan Martin , M.A., has been Head of School since 1999.

Saklan has a program of academic excellence and prepares students thoroughly for academic high school programs. Our test scores match or exceed those of the national independent school averages in all sections: Last year, seventy percent of our students scored at the 95th percentile or higher in one or more sections of the standardized national test of the Educational Records Bureau.

Saklan is distinguished by its small class sizes, which are capped at 16 (K-8), and currently average about 13 students per class.  Our school culture is notable for its warm and nurturning environment.  Our program also features excellent foreign language, physical education, Arts and music, and technology curricula.

At a Glance

Head of School: Jonathan Martin, BA Harvard University; MDiv. GTU; MA University of San Francisco School of Education; Head of School since 1999.

Founded: 1954

Enrollment: 154

Membership/Accreditation: National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), California Association of Independent School (CAIS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), East Bay Independent Schools Association (EBISA)

Grades: Preschool (age 3) to 8th grade

Class size: average of 13

Faculty and Staff: 32 full and part-time

Student/Teacher Ratio: 7:1

Specialists: French, Art, Physical Education and Movement, Music, Computer/ Technology, Science, and Library

Student Computers: 60 (1 per 2.5 students)

Plant: 2 acre campus with a view of the Oakland Hills, with 13 classrooms, library, administrative offices, and 3 playground areas

Financial Access: Available to families of widely varying means; based on demonstrated need.

Parent Association: Yes, meets monthly.

Extended Day: Mornings from 7 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. ; After school until 6 p.m.

Extended Day Enrichment Classes: Art, Steel Drums, Spanish, French, Instrumental Music, Gymnastics, Drama

Van Service: Saklan offers van services from Oakland, Berkeley, Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Alamo and other cities in Contra Costa. Call the office for more information (925) 376 7900.

Saklan in Action

Saklan Students come from a wide number of East Bay communities from Berkeley to Hercules to Clayton to San Ramon.

The Saklan Valley experiential learning program has students traveling from coast to coast. Quebec City, Hawaii, Washington D.C. , the Southwest, Paris , Coloma , Oregon , and New Orleans are just a few of the places our students have traveled to as a part of the curriculum at Saklan Valley School.

Annually Saklan Students in grades 1 through 6 participate in the National French Contest, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French. Each year Saklan has boasted a host of winners, with more than 100 National and State Awards earned in the last five years.  No other Bay Area Elementary school has earned more than Saklan in this time period.

Our students contribute over 1000 hours of community service each year.

The Saklan community contributes over 1000 pounds of canned foods to STAND! Against Domestic Violence each year.

Saklan Valley School faculty and staff spent approximately 500 hours in professional development this past year.

The Saklan Parent Association annually donates over 2000 hours in service to the school.

Admission to Independent High Schools

In the past five years, one or more Saklan students have been admitted to the following high schools.

Arrowsmith
Athenian
Bentley
Branson
Bishop O’Dowd
Carondelet
College Preparatory
De La Salle
East Bay Waldorf
Holy Names
Orinda Academy
St. Ignatius (SF)
St. Mary’s High School
San Domenico
Maybeck
Trinity Pawling