My son started at PBA in the fall of 2018 as a 4th grader and has had a wonderful experience. He was not part of the after school program but the boys were very accepting of him and welcoming right from the beginning. The teachers are very dedicated at the school and really work with the needs of each individual student. The musical training is excellent as well.
My son actually told me that he was amazed and happy to find other friends that were like him in interests. The boys are given many wonderful performance opportunities. Even with the shelter-in-place currently happening, the teachers have found creative ways to keep the students engaged and prospering. I highly recommend this school.
Anonymous Parent
My son started at PBA this year in 3rd grade, came from OUSD. We happened to stumble on the school via a small ad in a local community paper. So if you’re reading this review, then congratulations! You are already like 8 steps ahead of where we were.
If you have a creative, sensitive, spirited boy at home, I HIGHLY recommend you look at single-gender schools. We were skeptical at first, but after tons of research and trying out multiple schools, we learned that public schools aren’t built for boys like ours. So we wanted an environment where he would thrive, not just survive.
The school? What an amazing difference! He spoke more about PBA in the first 3 days than he had in the first 3 years of K-2nd grade. The staff and boys welcomed him, and he feels like part of a larger school family, something he never felt at his other schools.
The PBA academics are differentiated, like an IEP for each boy. There is way more recess during the day (a HUGE plus for boys). The music program is literally world-class, and he’s happier, calmer, and more engaged both at school and home. Never in a million years did I think he’d be singing choral music in the shower… in Italian! Or asking me for help with his next spelling test.
There are boys enrolled from all over, from Alameda to Richmond to Walnut Creek. Speaks volumes of how strong the school is. Tuition is reasonable when compared to other private schools of similar academic and music output.
Danny G.
…If you have a boy who would like a smaller school, I’d suggest checking out Pacific Boychoir Academy (PBA). It’s a secular, private choir school (no music experience necessary) with a very intimate elementary-grade 8 day school. It’s located in the Piedmont Ave area, just up the street from Oakland Tech. The tuition for elementary is very modest compared to the bigger private schools. The boys at PBA split their time between music and academics, and have the opportunity to sing and travel around the world. The kids I met there were astonishingly poised and all-around great kids.
Anonymous Parent
We have a 13-year-old who started the 5th grade at the PBA day school (and is now in 8th) after being in the after-school program for three years. He really enjoyed the after-school program and learned a lot of music and music theory there and in the day school. He loves to sing and frequently sings around the house, or with his school mate with whom he rides to school. He is challenged by the school work and enjoys his classes which include 1.5 hours of singing every day. Three years ago they had a memorable musical experience performing with the SF Symphony with Michael Tilson Thomas conducting, one of many.
We also have a now-16-year-old who attended the after-school for two years and loved it, but then middle school happened and he got distracted there. In 8th grade by his own choice he was back in the after-school program after a two year break. He rode AC Transit to the program twice a week and really enjoyed it and enjoyed the other kids. He has been heard singing at home, alone and harmonizing with his brother.
The teaching staff is very qualified, stable, and energized. We went to the recent back-to-school night and came away impressed with the staff and grateful for the education our boy is receiving. The boys are mostly engaged and seem happy to be there. Parents of the boys, some of whom work at the school, speak highly of the PBA experience, two used the word “magical” to describe it.
Paul F.
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My son is in his second year at PBA school and I can’t speak highly enough about the school. The teachers are very dedicated and are able to tailor their teaching to the boys’ individual strengths and needs. When I look at my son’s classmates, I see how unique they are – something that is celebrated in this school environment. The staff really go above and beyond in what they offer to our boys – including supporting them in creating clubs, extra activities, plays and sports.
My son is now in the 6th grade and is blossoming academically and musically. He has been part of some remarkable performances at various venues including TED talks, the Oakland Cathedral and others. Upcoming performances this year are scheduled with the Marin Symphony and the SF Symphony. While we are huge supporters of public education, this school has been such a great fit for our son’s individual interests and strengths.
Anonymous Parent
Our experience with the PBA Day School has been excellent. Since our son joined in the fall of 2023, we’ve seen tremendous growth in a relatively short time. He has enthusiastically immersed himself in reading music and delving into music theory, all while taking on more personal responsibility. We’ve also witnessed his math sense soar, which we attribute to the comprehensive music education he’s receiving.
Going into PBA, we were already aware of the top-notch music program. What has pleasantly surprised us, though, has been the academic excellence. The director of education has played a pivotal role in fostering strong connections with each family and ensuring that every student is appropriately challenged. Her dedication to supporting each student has far exceeded our expectations.
What truly touches us is our son’s genuine love for his school. The small classroom cohort has fostered a supportive environment where every boy, despite their differences, respects and uplifts one another. Witnessing their camaraderie has been heartwarming.
PBA’s robust SEL program also deserves mention. Students are recognized for embodying specific virtues, and the SEL sessions, known as ‘town hall meetings,’ focus on building community, fostering service, and nurturing leadership skills. This commitment to character development is deeply ingrained in the school’s culture. For instance, when a bathroom flooded recently, many boys voluntarily cleaned it up during their recess time, showcasing initiative as well as a strong sense of responsibility and respect for their school.
We transitioned to PBA from a home-schooling background with zero regret. PBA genuinely felt like the perfect next step in my son’s educational journey given that the class sizes are so small, the academics are individualized, and the community is so welcoming and inclusive.
Seeing our son’s enthusiasm for school and his sense of belonging fills us with excitement. We anticipate not only exceptional musical accomplishments, but also continued personal, academic, and leadership growth in the years ahead.
Catharine David
PBA has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our son. He’s not a kid who’s hard-wired to be a musician, but he’s come to enjoy singing and — most important to his parents — he’s come to enjoy the satisfaction of working really hard for something (like performing with the SF Symphony or singing the National Anthem at a Warriors game.)
Our son is a 2e kid: Exceptionally bright, but also challenged by his ADHD. Two hours of choir in the afternoons has noticeably leveled him out. Singing is physical; it calls for executive functioning and social attunement, and he gets emotional regulation/support by journeying with his peers through the roller coaster of frustration, progress, setbacks, progress. The school was walloped by COVID (aerosol transmissions, having to wear a mask to sing) but is building back. Since COVID, we have enjoyed the academic increase in individualized attention, more “outdoor days,” and more field trips. But we also know that many of our sons’ voices are about to change, and that PBA needs an infusion of boy sopranos! 🙂 Please feel free to reach out if you’re at all curious about Pacific Boychoir Academy! We could never have guessed the gifts PBA has given our whole family. It’s a very special place.
Anonymous Parent
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My son is entering 8th grade, after 3 years of after-school and 2 years at the day school. We continue to feel it is a gift for him to be there. He has developed musically, academically and emotionally. The small environment is embracing and empowering and the teaching and music education is excellent. Can’t say enough good things.
Anonymous Parent
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