Oakland, California
A new world requires a new way of learning.
Pear Tree is a social justice Montessori school where children learn to think deeply, question boldly, and build community — from preschool through 5th grade.
90%
of students exceed literacy benchmarks
80%
of families receive financial aid
95%
students of color
Education for liberation.
While only 22% of Black and Latino students nationally reach proficiency in literacy, 90% of Pear Tree students exceed benchmarks. We prove every day that when children see themselves reflected in their education, they thrive.
Our decolonial Montessori curriculum centers Black, Indigenous, and students of color — not as an afterthought, but as the foundation of everything we teach.
Our Story
Our Programs
From first steps to fifth grade, children grow through hands-on Montessori learning infused with social justice, nature, and the arts.
Preschool
Ages 2+ · Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Our Dragonfly and Butterfly classrooms immerse young learners in Montessori's Practical Life, Sensory, and Cultural Studies, with nature-based exploration woven into every day.
Learn more →Elementary (TK–5)
Ages 4–11 · Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Across Hummingbird, Falcon, and Dolphin classrooms, students develop through project-based learning, design thinking, and a curriculum that centers their histories and communities.
Learn more →"My child in 4th grade is doing middle school math and voraciously reading middle grade novels."
What makes Pear Tree different
Peer-Reviewed
Featured in the London Review of Education for our decolonial curriculum approach. Research-backed, not just aspirational.
No Family Turned Away
80% of families receive financial aid. We believe every child deserves a liberatory education, regardless of ability to pay.
Community-Driven
From the Black Heritage Month Showcase to community potlucks, our families don't just attend — they build the school together.
Academic Excellence Through Four Pillars
PTCS supports young people in becoming producers of academic and cultural content and critical thinkers of cultural and academic consumption.
Social Justice & Civic Engagement
An historical-based curriculum engaging a deep sense of self and connection to ancestral contributions in mathematics, literature, philosophy, sciences and the arts.
Cultural Art Enrichments
Expressive arts rooted in the traditions of the students we serve — deepening connections, addressing historical trauma, and supporting agency through creation and performance.
Rigorous Academics
Montessori-aligned content to deepen independence, strengthen writing, engage with mathematics as creative expression, and navigate the sciences with wonder and awe.
Social & Emotional Learning
Intentional curriculum to deepen peer community, knowledge of self, emotional literacy, and the ability to navigate social dynamics with thoughtfulness and intention.
"You go talk to kindergartners or first-grade kids, you find a class full of science enthusiasts. Something terrible has happened between kindergarten and 12th grade."
At Pear Tree, we protect that spark. Our children graduate curious, confident, and ready to change the world.
Join our community.
Whether you're looking for a school that sees your child, or you want to invest in education that transforms — there's a place for you here.