The children are marvelously guided to follow their curiosity and do meaningful projects like study…read morechange makers in society. I have worked with many schools and never seen such attentive care for children and teens by teachers. It's a joy to see!

This is a review for Synapse's TK program. My son has been in Teacher Mickey & Teacher Natasha's…read moreclass for a year this year. My son's TK experience has been truly above and beyond what we wanted for early childhood education. All the great activities that foster joyful learning, all the field trips, events that bring the community together have been so beautifully thought out and planned, we had no idea this kind of education was even possible for little kids. We were grateful each day when we sent my son to school, because we trusted that he would be well taken care of and have a good time. It meant a lot to us as parents. The teachers cared so much about students' happiness, well-being, and materials they were learning. They truly, genuinely cared, and all the parents of TK students could feel it. Throughout the year, we were constantly impressed by the teachers' willingness to go above and beyond. These teachers are not ordinary teachers who rely on easier field trips or simpler projects. They take kids to the most interesting and enriching places on their field trips, places such as ice skating rinks, beaches, ponds where you can catch tadpoles, senior centers, pumpkin patches, cactus garden, etc. Their creativity and willingness to get messy were also truly inspiring. The TK class built an awe-inspiring life-size whale shark together and had so much fun celebrating Holi. The TK class cooked great lunches and sold them to parents as well. The teachers went an extra mile, even though it meant so much more work for themselves, because they have a genuine passion for sprinkling curiosity and exploration in their students. We also deeply appreciated how they created so many opportunities to recognize diverse cultures and bring families together for events like Diwali and Lunar New Year. They were extra careful to include all of the countries' traditions, which gave my son a sense of belonging and harbored a pride in his heritage. We are immensely grateful and feel incredibly honored that my son had such thoughtful, dedicated, and innovative teachers like them. Knowing he was in their care gave us immense peace of mind. And this review is not just about TK teachers at Synapse. Everyone we met at Synapse has been genuinely nice and down to earth. All the teachers, staff, students and parents formed such a warm, wonderful community.

Great campus by the looks of it. I like the animal that's symbolic for the place, panthers rock…read more The teachers seem to really care here and the parkings great.

The preschool program for this school is unrealistic of what 3-5 year olds should be. Our 4-5 year…read moreold went here. As he was navigating who he was as a person, the school would constantly send him home if he was not immediately obedient. He was referred by the preschool director to multiple psychologists who all said he was a "normal age appropriate child". We are dealing with financial debt and continued counseling to help my son rebuild his confidence and trying to help him want to go to school again. We had to transfer schools in hopes he would be happy again. That said, the upper educational grades (6-8) is fantastic. The teachers are engaging and supportive. The sports program is also wonderful. If you want to put your kids here, i would recommend starting them after 1st grade and skip the preschool program.

My 4-year-old had an accident while at PBS. He required 8 stitches in his face. I was saddened by…read morethe accident and the school's response. We made the decision to leave mid-year.

Incredible faculty and educational experience! We've had our two children at PBS for 3 years now,…read moreand have appreciated the partnership and community. They did a great job with COVID, and I always appreciate how thoughtfully major decisions are communicated. My kids enjoy school and love learning, and are challenged in the classroom and (more importantly to me) appreciate the focus on social-emotional skills as a complement to the academics.

I loved this school! I went there in the 1950s and yes it is true, as a couple of reviews said, you…read moredon't have to wear shoes and it's true it didn't prepare me for what "real" elementary schools were like. After happily running wild and free and sometimes, often actually barefoot, and getting dirty, and being taught how to use a jig saw and making a puzzle with it at age 6 by Woody the shop teacher and lying on the radiant heated floors listening to our teacher Mary Catherine read to us about Ishi and Sir Francis Drake and the Straits of Magellan! Plus gathering acorns and making corn meal mush, and trampolining on the king size trampoline on the deck of the big building and running wild through the big building. Why yes, it was quite a shock to this little girl who thrived there to go to a regular public school where I had to wear a dress and not talk after the bell rung and walk in straight lines silently between classes. Where when my two little friends and I talked after the bell rung at recess we were sent to the Principals office and were about to get whipped or hit until my mother charged up the hill but still the three of us were put into three different classes and were not supposed to walk to school together anymore which of course we did. Yeah I did not fit in and I hated the new school and I was silent there numb and in fear. Peninsula School is not for everyone but up until I went to UC Berkeley which hit many of the same marks it was the best school experience I ever had. And I too was there when Joan Baez played guitar on the stairs at Peninsula and I was very fortunate because my father became the school photographer so I could go there for not too much money. Peninsula School was a very happy time for this wild child. It fostered my love of dirt, and adventure, art and reading. Plus hey I learned how to use a power tool at age 6! Yippee

We have been at Peninsula for 5 years.  Over that time, our son has overcome attention and social…read moreengagement challenges which prevented him from succeeding at other private schools.     It is difficult to know how to credit the people, the place, the other students, external help and just the passage of time,    but he has enjoyed going to school every day. He has always been an extremely curious kid,  choosing to tinker and watch documentaries when other kids choose video games and play sports.    (OK OK he plays video games a little more now).       He turned out to be a great natural reader.  However he has challenges with processing speed and working memory.      Given that, the school has really fed his curiosity and met him where he is, sometimes adapting small groupings with similar levels in math or other topics,  and being able to offer some accommodations like sitting near the front, scaffolding tasks, or headphones.   Each year has been different, but we have found a way to work with each teacher to support him.       We have an older child in a much more "structured" prep-y private school.   The contrast in community and experience is stark.   Peninsula is a haven of good-willed people looking for something a little bit missing in the modern world, which has been a source of connection for us as adults as well.    While we value both environments, Peninsula has been the right answer for our younger child and for our family.

One of the top Water Polo High Schools in Silicon Valley. They've won the CCS Division II…read morechampionship every year. They are now stepping up to CCS Division I and will be taking on top ranked Bellarmine for the coveted championship. I'm amazed at how next door Menlo School and nearby Menlo-Atherton, Gunn and Palo Alto High School also field great water polo teams. If you kid likes the sport then you've found your place! As for the rest of the school - I love the large open campus. The chapel is tucked away in the original building and they have since built 2 separate campuses for the lower, middle and high school kids. If you are looking for a Catholic High School with excellent academics then you should Sacred Heart compares favorably to Mountain View's St Francis, San Mateo's Serra (all boy), Burlingame's Notre Dame and Mercy (both all girl) high schools. Great community.

Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton is a wonderful place! The campus is sprawling and the classrooms are…read morefilled with happy, healthy children who are learning and being challenged by their teachers. Spending time at Sacred Heart is more like being at a year-long camp or country club - a special place that cultivates and encourages the whole child. It's a place where families come and all community members are invited to participate in the many programs and activities on campus. The administration is available to parents and students alike and no other school has a head of schools as caring as Rich Dioli.

I just love this school! Words cannot describe how excited I am to send my 7 kids here. I went here…read moreback in 87'. I have always loved this school and will continue to love it with all my heart.

Trinity has truly helped my kids find their place in a warm, caring community. The teachers each…read morebring something unique, and the staff are always present and ready to help. The parent community also plays a big role in the school's operations. Kids feel heard, supported, and of course, academically challenged. If what you see on the school's website aligns with your vision for early education, chances are you and your kids will feel right at home here.

Our child is currently in 1st grade at Trinity, and we love the school's heavy focus on whole child…read moredevelopment and SEL. The academic focus is strong without the high pressure typically seen in Bay Area Schools. The Math is differentiated to be challenging and engaging. The teachers are very nurturing and truly care about the children.

The auditorium is pretty amazing here. Its huge and great for having events…read more The track and the soccer field here are very nice also

Great school, all the bathrooms have a nice yellow paint on the floor. Smells a but tho...read more

That negativity is nonsense. Don't let the distorted views of others sway your opinion of Oak…read moreKnoll. The reality is school quality is multidimensional. At most schools, student engagement, developing citizenship skills, social and emotional health, and critical thinking are often overlooked and secondary to test scores. That's not the case at Oak Knoll. Often revered as the best public school in the area, Oak Knoll rivals any private school in Silicon Valley. Our two oldest children were prepared exceptionally well for public middle and private high school. This preparedness went beyond academics. They had developed life skills like empathy, self-efficacy, and accountability. Strengths this generation needs more than ever to succeed in the modern post-COVID world. We considered relocating to the east coast for business, and after researching and touring the schools, it quickly became evident that Oak Knoll outperformed every school we considered. Ultimately, we left that professional opportunity on the table to keep our kids at Oak Knoll. Leadership and community here are fueled by empathy. Every teacher we know in the district wants to work at Oak Knoll. That should be evidence enough.

As a parent, I want my children to feel happy, safe, and supported at school, and they absolutely…read moredo at Oak Knoll. They simply LOVE their school. The teachers and staff go above and beyond, and have created a very special, warm environment with a strong sense of community. There is a clear focus on academics and individual progression, as well as on a child's social and emotional development. I could not be happier with my children's educational experience.