CORE Education Academy: Nurturing Unique Learners in Walnut Creek

Core Education Academy, situated in Walnut Creek, California, is a private, non-profit, nonsectarian school dedicated to providing a supportive and enriching learning environment for students with diverse learning styles and needs. Serving students in grades 3 through 8, the academy distinguishes itself through its commitment to individualized education, a low student-to-teacher ratio, and a focus on fostering each student's unique strengths and potential.

A Focus on Individualized Learning

CORE Education Academy is designed to focus on the authenticity, uniqueness, gifts, and strengths of every student. The academy embraces the different ways in which children learn. Its philosophy is for each child to realize their potential and learn in a fun, hands-on, and engaging manner. Recognizing that traditional educational settings may not cater to all learning styles, CORE Academy was founded to address the unmet needs of students in the Bay Area.

The school specializes in special education programs. CORE Academy provides an environment, level of support, and necessary accommodations that allow students to access learning, often when they have not been able to in other settings. The academy provides cross-curriculum support for children who are creative, gifted, dyslexic, dysgraphic, have dyscalculia, ADD, ADHD, anxiety & other specific learning differences.

Key Features and Programs

Small Class Sizes and Dedicated Staff: With a student-teacher ratio of 4:1 and a teaching staff of 20, CORE Education Academy ensures that each student receives personalized attention and support. This intimate setting allows educators to tailor their approach to meet the specific needs of every learner.
Nonprofit Status: CORE Education Academy is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit school.
Hands-on, Experiential Learning: CORE Academy is excited to provide a hands-on, experiential learning environment, with cross-curriculum support.
STEM Education: The academy provides aspects of a S.T.E.M. program, integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into its curriculum.
Focus on Strengths: Dr. Lainie and her team tap into students’ strengths (e.g., artistic abilities, creativity, out-of-the-box thinking, and problem-solving), which are often missed in other settings.
Not a Therapeutic Program: CORE Education Academy is not a therapeutic program, but an all-inclusive nonprofit private school and providing educational therapy services.
Inclusive Environment: The school fosters love, respect, and the joy of learning, creating an inclusive environment for all students.
Emphasis on Individual Growth: Throughout the history of our program, we continue to see our students grow academically, socially, and emotionally.
Not Bound by Standardized Tests: As a private institution, we focus on your child's unique way of learning. We are NOT bound to prepare for and focus on standardized tests. Standardized tests were developed for children without learning differences/disabilities. Children with any learning difference/disability will often struggle with these types of tests as this format is not a true measure of your child's intelligence or ability to understand and demonstrate grade-level concepts.

Location and Community

Core Education Academy is located in Walnut Creek, CA, in a suburban campus. The school serves 89 students from grades 3 through 8. Approximately 28% of the student body represents diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, contributing to a rich and varied learning environment.

Located near several private schools in Concord, CA, Core Education Academy is part of a network of educational options for families in the East Bay Area. These nearby schools offer a range of grade levels and student populations, providing families with choices to suit their children's unique needs.

Read also: Understanding TAMU Core Curriculum

Nearby Private Schools

866 Oak Grove Rd, Concord, CA 94518: Located 0.4 miles away, this school serves grades K-8 and has 330 students.
2351 Olivera Rd, Concord, CA 94520: Located 0.5 miles away, this school serves grades 7-12 and has 25 students.
1026 Oak Grove Rd Ste A, Concord, CA 94518: Located 0.5 miles away, this school's grade levels are inquire with school, and it has 35 students. The average class size is 22 students, and it offers 17 sports.
1130 Winton Dr, Concord, CA 94518: Located 0.7 miles away, this school serves grades 9-12 and has 1,024 students. The average class size is 23 students, and it offers 17 sports.

Tuition and Financial Information

Tuition rates align with the Walnut Creek average of $19,534 for elementary private schools. Core Education Academy is a non-profit organization. We are exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Addressing Learning Differences

CORE Academy realizes and embraces the different ways in which children learn. After realizing that so many students in the Bay Area were not being taught in a way that suited their learning styles, Miss Lainie set out to create a 3rd-8th grade that would meet the different learning styles of all children. In 2014 CORE Academy was founded.

The academy recognizes that standardized tests may not accurately reflect the abilities of students with learning differences. As a result, CORE Education Academy focuses on individualized assessment and instruction, tailoring its approach to meet each student's unique needs. The school is not bound to prepare for and focus on standardized tests.

Parent Perspectives and Success Stories

Parents of CORE Education Academy students express high levels of satisfaction with the school's ability to meet their children's needs.

Parents have shared testimonials highlighting the positive impact of CORE Academy on their children's lives:

Read also: The Common Core System

One parent shared, “To put into words how CORE has changed my son’s life, as well as my husband’s and mine, is difficult. It took our family several months to adjust to getting off the “public school ride”. Now that we are, I’m not sure how we ever lasted through the fourth grade. Our son now actually LIKES going to school, feels vastly more successful, 100% supported, and understood by his teachers. Dr. Lainie and her teachers meet him where he is in every subject and truly are RELENTLESS in their pursuit of how he learns best.”
Another parent stated, “CORE Academy has been a lifesaver for my son who always struggled with EVERYTHING in the traditional system. I knew it was time for a change when he came home telling me he was dumb and our evenings were taken over by homework and tears."
Another parent noted, “Core gives kids the building blocks to meet a child where they are (usually in crisis from a previous bad school environment) and be able to move on to the next thing. And that means everything."
One parent exclaimed, “I can't believe what a different child I have after only 2 months at CORE."

These testimonials underscore the transformative impact that CORE Education Academy can have on students who have struggled in traditional educational settings.

Dr. Lainie Barbieri's Vision

I have been working with Dr. Lainie Barbieri since 2012, prior to her opening CORE Academy, when she owned and operated Lainie’s Learning Lane. Over the past 10 years, I have had the opportunity to assess a number of Dr. Lainie’s students, including those with ADHD, dyslexia, autism, anxiety, and other neurodevelopmental and psychological disorders impacting children and their ability to access school. Dr. Lainie truly has a special gift with children, especially those who are “different thinkers.” She has profoundly changed the course of our son’s future and expanded what we believe is possible for him.

Enrolling at CORE Education Academy

CORE Education Academy currently has openings for 2nd - 8th grade students.

The school encourages interested families to schedule a free meet & greet to learn more about its programs and philosophy. Call 925.448.2152 to Schedule a FREE meet & greet

Read also: Premium Resources for Educators

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