Nice campus Clean and lots of activities including the…read moretrack invitationals of which we attend! Super pretty part of Camden avenue!

DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU CAN. Deeply disappointing experience that the teaching staff, administration,…read moreand students all played a role in. The pre-pandemic experience was good but the post-pandemic experience was extremely poor. Was physically assaulted on the basis of my sexuality and administration had asked me to be as quiet about the situation to avoid controversy. Administration would constantly bother students over extremely minor things such as completing work outside during the tutorial period or sitting in a car during the lunch or snack break. (I have heard the micromanaging has gotten significantly worse after I left.) Teachers are generally mediocre or genuinely uninterested in teaching; I was interested in pursuing computer science but I found that to be challenging since in my introductory computer science course, my computer science teacher would only teach for 15 minutes during two hour block periods before spending the rest of the time playing computer games. Felt extremely uncomfortable when a teacher seemingly accidentally made a joke calling a dark-skinned student "three-fifths of a student." One teacher has had a history of predatory behavior to young women, even minors, but still continues to teach. Student culture is also poor. Being around these students will motivate you to be successful as they are very driven but there is a toxic competitive culture where students feel like they need to one-up each other in order to succeed. Lots of explicit racism towards black and hispanic people (if you are part of these demographics I highly suggest not coming here) and undertones of racism as some students only prefer being close to students of their own ethnicity / race. Leland comparatively has significantly less resources to other high schools in the area of similar academic caliber. Affluent & competitive students use outside resources such as expensive tutoring services and college counseling to fulfill their academic goals, creating a gap between students who are able to and actively use these resources and students who don't (important to consider as in the college application process, you directly compete with these students.) Leland may or may not be a place where you can succeed and thrive depending on the type of person you are. However, it will likely not be a space where you feel happy or comfortable if you do not conform to the dominant demographics of the school. If you are a parent looking to buy or rent a home in this area with the allure of the "great schools nearby" I strongly suggest you look elsewhere.

The recent issues in the middle school here are very sad. Inexperienced and power hungry…read moreadministrators are ruining an otherwise vibrant and exciting learning environment. We hope this can be corrected before the school goes further downhill.

I just have to write a recommendation for Almaden Country Day Schoo!. We have been there for 2…read moreyears and have had a GREAT experience. They came highly recommended and I was obviously looking for a school with academics as a priority. Math and Language Arts are THE integral part of the school day. I feel confident my child will be more than ready for the most prestigious high schools. One hundred percent of this year's graduating 8th graders applying to private high schools were accepted I just heard. Wow. The hands on Science program and "Maker's Space"(which teaches children coding, robotics, 3D printing, electronics, etc.) are both phenomenal and I cannot say enough about their Art, Music, P.E., Theater, Foreign Language and Library programs. The difference however, with ACDS is its focus on each child. The moment I enrolled I knew I was entering my child into knowledgeable hands under caring and dedicated teachers that would encourage his gifts as well as continuing with academic rigor. Whether it be their after school sports or enrichment programs as well as the over 40 electives in middle school, he would find "his" path. Since that day, my child has broadened both in his academic knowledge and most importantly, his self confidence. He is an 4th grader and loves his school! The tenured teachers, under an exceptional Head of School, encourage self exploration and provide the opportunity for each child individually to find their path while still adhering to curriculum. No school is perfect and I am totally aware...but they ask. In a yearly survey we are asked, How are things? How can we do better? Does your child feel challenged and accepted? Do you feel a part of your child's education and development? Do you and your child feel a part of the community? (Along with much more!) Its other accolade is their TLC program which is one of the only specialized programs of its kind in the Bay Area. It provides 4:1 ratio for children who need small group education (within perimeters) in Math, Language Arts and Social Studies while integrating for other studies into the larger classroom experience in preparation for high school. It is a supportive environment with specially trained teachers that allows children to feel confident in their learning. My child has benefitted tremendously from this program while still feeling accepted within the larger program. ACDS has intentionally planned for seamless transitions within children's daily routines. I encourage anyone interested to go to their website or an open house and see for yourself. I encourage you to talk to other parents! Several! Or even the kids (whom by the way give the open house tours.). Your school choice is a big decision I know. I was there. The more information the better so you can make the decision what is right for your child and your family. ACDS was the right choice for mine.

Horrible. The teachers were fine, but everything else is atrocious. NB: if your kid is getting…read morebullied, the school will turn a blind eye and do absolutely nothing. They cater to the people who fit their mold and that's it. I highly recommend IF you want your kids to have an education that's on par to what we received 30+ years ago.

Fantastic school with a great community, which is the thing you'll hear parents rave about most…read moreoften. We've been here 7 years and counting. If you see a negative review, click on the person's account and you may find that they like to give negative reviews. Maybe it's you and not everyone else AB, just sayin :-)

I thought this school was full of protective and kind teachers but apparently the vice principal…read moreBrian minklein is the opposite been having issues with it and now taking food from children is far to much wouldn't recommend it if teachers would acknowledge the comments from the student I'm sure they would all agree

I hate the school because they gave detention to my brother for being late 4 times, and I have an…read moreIEP program (individualized education program) because I have a hard time paying attention, and they don't extend their assignment for me, and they don't remind me to do anything!!!! Just to work, and they don't repeat it to me. and that's why I have Fs in the school

This is a pretty good school, considering I help my kids do their homework and they know it. I do…read morethink they could read the kids different tricks to memorizing and math and spelling etc. I do think the parking and pick up situation is fabulous compared to a lot of other schools I have attended myself and picked up kids from. It is located in a great neighborhood so definitely consider this school if you are new to the area!

today is the official (or unofficial) start of another exciting holiday season! since i expect to…read morechow down heartily this evening, i wanted to get a hard workout in this morning so that i can say i earned my turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. LOL! i appreciate this annual turkey trot, since it is a smaller-scale local event in san jose whose proceeds benefit the bret harte middle school booster club. participants had a choice of two events to either run, walk or "trot:": 5k or 10k. i chose the 10k so that i could have a more intense workout. the pros: -choice of bib and packet pickup the day before or the morning of (the latter was helpful for me since i live a bit far from this event). -perfect race day conditions, mid 40s and sunny at the start, low-mid 50s at the end. although it felt chilly when i first arrived, i warmed up quickly under the sun. -mostly flat course that touched los alamitos creek trail and some of the school's neighboring streets. beautiful foliage at this time of year! -correctly measured course, which is much appreciated given the number of short/long races out there. i got 6.23 miles on my garmin which is very close to the official 6.2 miles for a 10k. -free and easy parking in the school's parking lot which was also right next to the start/finish area. participants could also park along the residential streets next to the school. -race started next to leland high school's track, so we were able to warmup and cooldown before and after the race -restroooms available at both the track house and main school building -flags to mark each mile in the race, which were pretty accurate -friendly volunteers directing runners along the course and handing out water -low registration fee of $15 per adult (early-bird registration) or $20 (standard) or $25 (day of registration). cost does not include a t-shirt, which is an additional $10. i appreciated having the option of purchasing a t-shirt to save some money on the registration fee. the cons: -while it was a nice course, i did not appreciate that the second half of the 10k shared the same course as the second half of the 5k. by the time the faster 10k'ers (like myself) got to the halfway point, we had to share the very narrow trail with the 5k walkers, strollers, pets, and small children which was very frustrating since it was hard to maneuver around them and move ahead. even though i was constantly shouting "on your left, runner behind you" most of the walkers simply ignored me. it would be nice if walkers could be educated about this bit of running etiquette for the future to allow less congestion on a shared trail. -for the 10k course, there was a section that was unclear and not marked properly, so the runners in my pack were uncertain whether that was the turnaround for us or whether to continue. even though there was a volunteer standing on the course, it would have been easier, better if that volunteer had a sign that we could see from a distance to avoid confusion and stopping to ask for directions. i heard that some thought this was the turnaround point and ended up only running 5.7 miles vs the full 6.2 miles. this created some confusion and difficulty in sorting out the official results and race winners. -there weren't many refreshments at the end, just some water, coffee, and pre-cut bagels. as a frequent participant in local area races, i'm accustomed to seeing some fruit, electrolyte drink, and wider variety of post-race refreshments this was definitely a good race for families and individuals alike. it was nice to see a lot of runners dressed like turkeys or wearing turkey hats, as well as the school mascot on the course. my biggest recommendation for next year would be to split the 10k and 5k courses into completely separate courses so that the 10k runners aren't forced to slow down behind the 5k walkers in the 2nd half.

This was my first year running this event / course. For the last three years I ventured with the…read moreSJ Downtown crowds. When I learned there was smaller event and better price I decided to give it a try. Pros. Good cause, Price, Option to Buy T-shirt or not, nice trail, well marked trail and volunteers. Race time texted to me. Cons. Age Class Grouping, I didn't see any restrooms. No finishing bling. Good Parking but oor directions before and after. I didn't see anything post race for refreshments. The finishing line had runners and others just hanging around, they need to be moved on and to the side. No photos. I like getting some finishing medal but that's just me and it would take from the cause or cost us more so it's just a side note.

I have the highest praise for this school! My grandson (now a sophomore at Pioneer) attended…read moreCastillero, and now his sister is a sixth grader there. The academic program is strong, with elective classes of high interest. The Music department is outstanding! I'm so grateful that my grandson had the benefit of learning to play the cello; his sister is now doing the same. (As a retired teacher, I'm pretty savvy about what makes a quality school. I definitely put Castillero in that category.)

My friend goes there her name is Brooklyn she is probably one of the best on our girls a team…read more basketball team called cagers. Sports are very good at castillero. I highly recommend their sports.

What l saw and felt at Back to school night on Wednesday was a waste of a parent's time. How can…read moreyou get a feel for a class or a teachers that even acknowledge a parent in 13 minutes.This a horrible school. Yea parents come on out and stand on sit or on the grass for 30 minutes .

From my son being most valuable player and moving forward with new coaching the next year, all of…read moresudden being over looked. By far my son is not the best but he sure knows the game. Being a GOOD coach at high school you don't have to do much, most kids have been playing the sport already or know how to play the game. Being fair with kids and giving them a chance to show there ability will make kids. When you have your favors most likely your season is not going far. Just remember especially when you have your own kids Coaches "Treat people like you want to be treated" Rating is for sports only

Enrolling my daughter into the TK program is probably one of the best educational decisions we made…read morefor our daughter. We watched her blossom in every aspect shortly after she joined. Mrs. Krofts is so amazing. Our daughter is more confident and excited to learn than ever. The Principal stands at the entrance to greet the students in the mornings, my daughter always runs up to him to give him a hug. We've had a great experience so far. I 100% recommend the TK program if you have a kid of age. They also have a good 'Home room' program that stays open till 6pm, it's convenient and relatively cheap. Most other schools in the area offer programs that close at 5pm which is not as convenient for working parents.

We have had our son here since he was in TK and have had an overall very positive experience the…read morewhole time! He's currently in third, and while there have been hiccups (my child has ADHD, so learning is always an adventure), we've felt very nurtured in this family-like environment. The communication is clear and we never feel like we're bothering anyone if we check in. Additionally, the principal has a wild ability to know everyone by name. It REALLY adds to the family-like aspect and makes you feel like you belong.

My daughter attended from TK to 7th grade. Like other reviews, this is not an ordinary school…read more It is fundamentally not an In-N-out style magically changing your kids into whatever parents wish. Parents have to participate in all activities in order to learn skills to teach your kids and others. Definitely a good school if you care about your children's education and willing to invest your time and effort. They are not focusing on grades but on cultivating a love of learning and reading for their entire life. I know for some people this could be unacceptable. Education is not just teaching a parrot to talk. To learn how to learn: Reading, writing, logic, and math have to be consistently practiced within your family -- better not to depend solely on any school. If any school can teach your kids self-motivated learning before K-8, it's already very successful. My wife and I learned a lot every year, and those lessons are still part of our daily life. "mistake can be a beautiful oops" If you attended any public school you know how it felt when they acted like DMV. That is why we put our daughter in D2. "Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child."

We decided to withdraw from this school shortly after Labor Day Weekend. One of the main concerns…read morearose when I was showing a family member how to pick up our kindergartener -- we discovered the school building was completely unlocked at 9 PM on a Monday night following the holiday. Not only was the main entrance open, but the atrium providing access to all the kindergarten classrooms was also unsecured. That raised significant concerns about safety and building security. Additionally, we heard from multiple returning parents that teacher quality varied significantly, and there was a noticeable trend: returning families' children all seemed to end up with the most sought-after teacher. It gave the impression that there might be favoritism or uneven distribution of classroom placements. Another concern was the dynamic between some teachers and parents. It felt as though staff were hesitant to be candid, possibly out of fear of upsetting families. We were told things that didn't line up with our own observations about our child -- mostly overly positive feedback that seemed designed to reassure rather than inform. The environment gave off a sense that the school was trying hard to maintain enrollment numbers, possibly at the expense of honest communication. While we know no school is perfect, these issues were serious enough for us to feel that it wasn't the right fit for our family.