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What is diablo valley school?
At Diablo Valley School, students of all ages grow into confident, capable individuals—on their own terms. Here, young people take charge of their time, their learning, and their lives in a supportive community governed by student and staff voices alike.
Every child is different — and that’s the point
There’s no mold here. Just a lot of respect, real conversations, and room to grow
Kids choose how to spend their days
Some dive into math. Others write stories, build with Legos, explore science, cook, organize games, or just think. All of it counts.
We trust that learning is natural — and we give kids space to prove it.
Mixed-Age Community
Students aged 4 years 9 months–19 interact daily—mentoring, collaborating, playing, and solving real problems together
We run the school together
From making rules to resolving conflicts, students and staff govern the school democratically.
Kids don’t just learn about responsibility — they practice it, every day.
WHAT A DAY LOOKS LIKE AT DIABLO VALLEY SCHOOL
How Do They Learn?
At Diablo Valley School, learning is self-directed but deeply supported — students follow their interests, take initiative, and ask for classes or mentors when needed. Without tests or grades, they develop real skills and self-awareness through meaningful goals, personalized feedback, and daily engagement with the world around them.
OUR STORY
Diablo Valley School was founded in 1997 by parents looking for an alternative method of learning for their kids after being dissatisfied with traditional schooling. They decided to base the school on the Sudbury model of education, which emphasizes freedom, democracy, and community. The School has gone through many changes throughout our 28-year history and continues to evolve with the wants and needs of our community.
MEET THE STAFF
Brenan Lee Peterman
Brenan Peterman is well-versed in Sudbury culture, having graduated from Diablo Valley School in 2010.
As a staff member of DVS for the last 2 years, Brenan has successfully navigated the transition from long-standing staff to a completely new team.
He is currently the Justice Committee (JC) Clerk, financial clerk, assistant medical clerk, and assistant elections clerk, and he has served in many other roles during his time at DVS.
Prior to joining DVS, Brenan ran a thriving catering business, WestCoast Toast, and was a chef de cuisine for a top-tier hotel.
Brenan is active in his community as the founding member of several organizational chapters dedicated to encouraging benevolence and empathy and opposing injustice. Brenan is a lifelong learner.
Del [They/Them]
Del has worked with kids most of their life in a variety of formats - from teaching basic cooking and swimming classes, to dressing up as a fairy to make balloon animals at parties (with several things in between).
Taking on mentor roles has come naturally as they’ve tripped upwards into leadership positions through having the right skills and mentalities necessary for the job; further strengthened by their studies in psychology and communications.
With a passion for play and problem solving, they love working at DVS because it grants them the opportunity to provide the style of learning environment they would have greatly benefited from growing up.
Del wants to lead by example, showing the kids what it looks like to be a kind, fun, responsible, and neurodivergent adult in a world fundamentally not structured for such individuals.
Marshall Bell [They/Them]
Marshall is a DVS alumnus, having graduated in 2023 after attending the school for 7 years.
They decided to pursue becoming a staff member out of the desire to give back to the school that meant so much to them.
They are interested in drawing, 3D modeling, and voice acting, and would be happy to share what they’ve learned with any interested students.
HOW ENROLLMENT WORKS
1. Learn about our educational model
Explore the resources on this site and/or attend an Open House.
2. Admissions Visit
A chance for your family to meet with staff, tour the school, and talk through any questions.
3. Visiting Week
Your child spends a week at school to see what it’s like from the inside. We see how they engage with our environment, and they decide if it feels like a good fit.
4. Second Family Visit
This is when we discuss how the visiting week went and answer any new questions. This is not a test. It's a conversation
FAQ / You’re Wondering…
Yes — just not always in the ways you’re used to. Kids here learn because it matters to them. Reading, math, science, social skills, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, time management… it all happens. It just looks different.
If your child is sensitive, strong-willed, curious, bored in traditional settings, or just ready for something real — this might be the place they finally exhale.
They will. But first, they need to feel safe. When pressure disappears, motivation reawakens. Give them time. It’s very common for new students to take some time to adjust, as it can be strange at first for students used to a more restrictive environment to suddenly have the freedom and responsibility to plan their own day. There might be some initial boredom, but we’ve found that often, that is what gives them the initial push to start figuring out what they are passionate about and what skills they will need to pursue their interests.
We’ve found that even though we don’t have a required curriculum, we’ve never had a student fail to learn to read or write; they choose to learn those and other important skills at their own pace once they realize how useful and necessary those skills are for their interests and the world at large. The majority of our alumni have chosen to pursue higher education to further their goals and have had no issue in doing so. Not every goal requires a degree; even without one, alumni are able to pursue a fulfilling career in whichever field they are passionate about.