The first week of school, my daughter told me that what she likes about Presentation is that the…read moregirls walk down the hallway, smile, and acknowledge each other. I was so grateful to know that she felt seen - by her peers, educators, and administrators. Well, time flies, and I see now that I actually started writing this review more than a year ago. I just received an email from the school that inspired me to come back here and finally finish it! In light of the upcoming election, Presentation communicated to parents their efforts to empower our daughters to be thoughtful and empathetic young leaders. They encourage us to lift up our girls to disagree with confidence and civility. Next week, they will hold space for students to come together to respectfully dialogue and reflect on the election. Presentation does an excellent job communicating with parents and I am very thankful for that. What is most impressive to me is the way that they live out their school motto, "Not Words, but Deeds". When you read their emails, their weekly newsletters, their Mission, Vision, and Commitment, their words honestly reflect what they practice. I am hopeful, knowing that these girls are being given the tools to take out into the world to make it a better, kinder, more empathetic place.

I have two daughters at Presentation High--one just graduated in 2023, and the other is a senior…read more Both are incredibly involved in school, excelling in sports, receiving a top-tier education, and genuinely appreciating their teachers. But there's one issue that I cannot ignore anymore--THE DRESS CODE, and it's completely out of control. We know the rules. We follow the rules. My daughters have been called out on a few occasions for having a logo the size of their fist on a hoodie. I'm talking about something so minimal, it's not even worth a second thought. And yet, my senior daughter has been consistently badgered over the same minor infraction. Enough is enough! But here's the real problem that's driving me absolutely insane: the blatant hypocrisy and favoritism that's happening with the enforcement of this dress code. It's infuriating to watch. I've seen countless LGBTQ+ students walking around wearing hats, beanies, ripped pants (not on Pres Wear Wednesday), hoodies with messages that violate the dress code, and even sunglasses in class. And NOTHING happens! Why are they allowed to get away with blatant disregard for the dress code, while my child gets punished for something so petty? Now, I get it, the school might be hesitant to confront LGBTQ+ students, but that doesn't mean the rest of us should be punished for their lack of consistency. I don't care if they're scared of being accused of homophobia or transphobia--this is a school, not a social experiment. The rules are there for EVERYONE, and they need to be enforced EQUALLY. It's an utter joke to watch my daughter get an hour of detention for a small logo while others can walk around in clothes that are clearly against the dress code, and nothing happens to them. This is not just unfair--it's outrageous! It's beyond frustrating that my child is being punished for something that doesn't even affect her education, her safety, or her ability to learn. Meanwhile, students wearing entirely inappropriate clothes--pants that aren't even part of the dress code, atheist hoodies, hats, and sunglasses indoors--get to do whatever they want without consequence. This isn't just a small oversight; this is a blatant, unacceptable double standard that I am absolutely DONE with. What kind of message is Presentation sending? That the rules only apply to some students but not others? That favoritism is okay as long as it's "politically correct"? My child deserves respect. She deserves to be treated fairly, and she deserves to not be punished for something that is completely arbitrary and unfair. The rules should be applied consistently, and I will NOT stand by while this double standard continues to undermine the school's integrity.

I am a WG mom and I thank God that we have such a great school in our neighborhood. I had two sons…read moregraduate from there (WG Middle and Elementary too). The staff is kind yet TOUGH! The resources that the community contributes like "Beautification day" keep the pride level high. One of my sons was struggling really hard and lost focus, instead of giving up on him - we got so much love and support he was motivated and graduated on time thanks to many teachers and Mr. Gallegos! The sports programs ROCK (more attention to Cheerleading and the band would be good), and I was so glad to see the pride all the kids have to participate in parades "Founders Day", Mother/son & Father/daughter dances, and all kinds of crazy dress up days. PROM time in WG is taken very seriously. A family member of mine is a Principle in Contra Costa County and trust me we are blessed beyond belief for what we have as a community and school. The Prom there was a "dance" and nobody even bothered to dress up or bring a date - so I guess it was only a dance.

The campus next door looks identical; that's the middle school…read more The only respite from these sun-hit, barrack-like buildings is the small courtyard of lacy red metal tabletops and benches in a tiny oasis of shade. The outdoor pool is decent, sun-drenched and used for their swim team and coaching leased to companies like Fitter and Faster swim training. The aluminum bleachers were unforgiving: I felt every minute of the 3 hours I sat waiting. (Oof, my back!) The campus was lively even on the weekends with kids using the basketball and tennis courts. With their facilities, seems like a very sporty junior and high school.

Eh school. Ngl It was pretty good when I first got there then started to go down AFTER coming back…read moreto in person learning from covid. Istg the then underclassmen and basically class of 2025 and under is fucked lol. Some of those kids are assholes Fr. Most teachers are pretty good. Also Mr Soza is the best English teacher there, he's amazing. And Mrs. Chen is such a wonderful person, if you're interested in learning mandarin I highly recommend just going for it. The jump from mandarin 3 to AP is pretty big tho so just be careful about making the decision of wether or not to go to AP.

A lot of the students there who went to school with me there were such charming friends , but most…read moreof the staff treated me like I don't belong their and thought I was not ready for the district program... and they kept me in a program were I don't belong called the county program for kids with bad autism... and my parents try to pass them to put me in the district program but they don't want to do it becuase one of the other reasons why they didn't think I was ready for the district is becuase they thought I was to aggressive and mean which is not true and very unpleasant and unrelavent So under the circumstances I would not be in program at this school... try prospect high school it's very nicer then branham and the staff there are such a great influence and I promise you'll have a great adventure there

very very very good. very fun the teachers are super nice. and I enjoy every part of this schoolread more

sending my kids here to experience what i did the teachers…read morewere nice but some were cruel and would flirt kids. great place to learn though food i great as a 29 year with 6 upcoming 6th grades i fear they won't have fun but ill pray they will.

Update 2018: 4th year here. School improves every year. Teachers are better every year. Fewer…read moreannoying parents. Best middle school education in the country IMO. The reputation of the school as very hard is well justified. Some kids have left mid-year due to performance. Annoying parents that are still here are generally less vocal since other parents started pushing back on their crazy demands of the school...or they left to spread their cheer elsewhere (thank goodness). My son has some friends with these parent and those kids HATE their parents already as tweens...karma I guess. Update 2017: School has just gotten better and better. The Head of School (Mr. Walker) is exceptional. The worst complaint my son has is that one of his teachers is "kinda boring". There were a lot of really negative parents the first two years that complained about EVERYTHING, but many of them seemed to have left. It's really a great place to learn. It's challenging, but my son really likes it...especially having separate Chemistry, Biology, and Physics classes. Update 2016: Still happy with the school. They have continually improved on most aspects of the school. Poor performing teachers have been moved out quickly. Kid loves it. *** So far so good. The teachers are amazing and the best part of the school. There were certainly some facility issues with the new building at the start of the year but that's smoothed out now. Granted, the school is not for the academically weak. But after 5 months at the school our son really loves it. He's in a rigorous program, is challenged, AND he enjoys it. We are very lucky to have this school in our community. The downside isn't the school but all the tiger parents...never happy with anything. They put incredible pressure on the school and their kids. It's disappointing that two of the negative reviews here are from people whose kids don't attend the school. It's like walking by a restaurant and then reviewing their food! Obviously a competitor.

We applied this school. We have an interview and we waited 15 minutes until we call them and they…read morejust ask a admin to interview us randomly. The original interview is 30minutes but we only had 15 minutes in a rush. Very bad experience. How could they forget the interview

My daughter attended Cambrian Academy for the past five years, starting when we moved from Dubai to…read moreCalifornia during a time when many public and private schools were closed due to COVID. Our experience offers a comprehensive look at the school.   Academic Excellence and Curriculum: Cambrian Academy is strongly geared towards college preparation. The counselors are diligent in ensuring students complete all necessary coursework on time and provide clear academic paths. The school is known for its college readiness support, including guidance on personal essays, application timelines, and staff assistance with recommendation letters. AP classes are available, though some are offered online, which might not suit every student's learning style. While not all specialized programs or electives are available directly, the school effectively assists students in navigating and enrolling in external college courses to supplement their curriculum.   School Culture and Environment: One of the standout aspects of Cambrian Academy is its safe and supportive environment. With a small student body of around 80 students, there is virtually no bullying, and staff members like Mrs. Delgado are highly aware of the goings-on around the school, contributing to a nurturing atmosphere. The school creates a positive culture that promotes inclusivity, respect, and a strong sense of community. The focus on student well-being, including social-emotional learning, is evident and appreciated.   Teachers and Staff: The teacher-student ratio is generally favorable, allowing for more personalized attention. However, our experience with the teaching staff has been mixed. While many teachers are dedicated and skilled, there have been instances, such as a chemistry teacher leaving, where courses were subsequently taught by individuals who were not subject matter experts in that specific field.   Extracurricular Activities and Opportunities: The school offers various opportunities for clubs and activities both within the school and externally. Students can explore diverse interests and develop leadership skills through these avenues. It's important to note, however, that Cambrian Academy does not have its own sports teams.   Practical Considerations: In terms of cost, Cambrian Academy's tuition is comparable to other private schools in the area. Its small size is a defining characteristic, providing a very personal and focused educational environment, which can be a significant advantage for families seeking that type of setting.   Parent-School Communication and Involvement: Communication with the school primarily consists of daily automated emails detailing student attendance and grades. While this provides basic updates, proactive parent-teacher meetings are limited and typically occur when parents initiate contact. Building a collaborative and communicative environment between teachers and parents largely depends on individual parental outreach.   I would recommend this school to folks who need individual attention. My daughter got into many universities in the STEM area, including an offer for Pharmaceutical Science at Purdue, few bio-engineering majors at few University of California Universities, and some direct medical school options internationally.

Hi there! I'm Larry the Cucumber! And, uh... I just wanted…read moreto express my thoughts about this place I thought it'd be full of sunshine, learning, and maybe a snack or two... but instead, it was like a math-flavored nightmare. First off -- the teachers were so mean! I tried to stay positive, but they seemed allergic to happiness. Every time I smiled, they frowned so hard I thought the lights got dimmer. And boy, were they bad at teaching. I'm still not sure what I learned, but it definitely wasn't algebra. Maybe "how not to teach"? Yeah, I got an A+ in that. Also... I don't want to be rude, but their breath could knock over a watermelon. I had to hold my breath just to stay conscious during "lesson time." They were super unorganized, too! Nobody knew what we were doing -- not even them! And worst of all -- no snacks. NONE. I'm a cucumber! I need my energy! You can't do math on an empty stomach! So, yeah... if you like kindness, organization, fresh breath, snacks, and most importantly.. learning, maybe don't go here. I'm giving this place one star -- and that's only because leaving was free. -- Larry the Cucumber

For some background information, I have been in Stratford my whole life, ever since preschool. I…read morehave gone to various campuses, like Stratford School Winchester and Stratford School Los Gatos. This school was pretty "mid." I would like to say many things, but I don't have many details. But I can say there were moments when the school felt "unprepared." The campus is pretty small. The fifth graders got one "wing" that was especially for fifth grade, and some people who used to go there say it felt "tight-knit" because the campus was not big. The Stratford School Los Gatos was from about preschool to fourth grade, so most people from the Los Gatos campus came to Stratford Middle School. Lots of people I knew had strongly negative complaints about this school, but I enjoyed it. Parents thought one of the teachers was not a good teacher, but they had lots of positive things to say about the other teachers (or something like that). Actually, there were a lot of problems with this school surrounding the teachers, including how good they are or if there were enough teachers. Stratford Preparatory Blackford is one campus that some parents decided to transfer their kids to starting sixth grade. The parents didn't really like the school. My experience was pretty good, it's just that the nearby Stratford School Los Gatos just felt BETTER.

This school was the bane of my absolute existance for 4 years. The academics are stressful, and the…read moretuition is extensive for a school that places no money towards paying teachers ( and one teacher will let you know that every single day) or upgrading the campus.

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.

If your kid can tolerate bullying and feeling excluded, send your kid here. Some teachers seem to…read morejust be there for a paycheck. Teachers don't care about someone getting picked on. The school does a poor job of helping students that may not have as great study habits as initially believed to set themselves up for success. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend anyone going to this contemptible place that is called a middle school. If there's a better option than this school, send your kid other than Willow Glen Middle School.

This middle school was awesome when I went there. I recommend it. I would definitely take my kids…read morethere if we lived in San Jose , Ca.

My grandson is 10th grade now and he's been experiencing some wonderful things educationally…read more He's got good grades and exceptional skills and lots of new friends. He said he would like to finish school there

Wonderful school and community for our two children. Feel so very blessed for the experience. Tim…read morewas the BEST! Thank you all! - Warm regards from Terry, too- Valerie Houghton