We are lucky to have had both our kids go through Children's House of Los Altos (CHLA) and get such…read morea great foundation! CHLA offered our kids a perfect balance of freedom to follow their curiosity within a rich, loving guided framework that provided structure. Besides it being a great school for all the obvious reasons like loving and caring teachers, to a well rounded development of the kids' reading/math/science/motor skills, the school also has an amazing art program and music classes. I could talk in length about each of these (e.g. I was shocked when my 4 year old came back home once and started talking about Frank Lloyd Wright and Fallingwater! And another time was shocked how my child was able to basically do multiplication at the age of 4, but not by rote - by understanding the concept of how multiplication is basically addition over and over again). But let me move on because there is one program that deserves a special mention - its called CEC (Cognitive Enrichment Class) and what it is is a term-length project where kids get to build something and be involved in all aspects of that building, and learn about various scientific and technical elements of that. For my son and daughter it was designing their very own wooden cars for a derby race. They spent months designing the car and decorating it and learning about concepts like ramps, and friction, and aerodynamic shapes, and so on. And it all ended in a derby event where all the kids in their class got to bring their cars and the race happened. The kids even measured how far various cars went to put the hypotheses they had developed over the course of the project to the test :) The CEC program basically was the main reason why we kept our younger child in CHLA for one extra year instead of sending her to TK at our local public school. CEC is such an amazing idea - giving kids at such a tender age this opportunity to sink their teeth into a long term project and really grapple with a problem from multiple angles is simply incredible! The school is truly a special place which was started decades ago by a lovely teacher who cared about children and their development. The tradition is being continued by her children and besides education, there is also a focus on the Parent-Teacher-Child community. Through the course of the year there are numerous super fun traditions that bring the teachers and kids and the parents together. Events like the annual Nutcracker show that the kids act in and the teachers put together, the Hoedown event in a local farm where the kids sing and dance and the parents are invited to have a picnic, the Haunted House event around halloween time when the entire school is magically transformed into a maze filled with surprise (and scary) characters, the Music Together concert, the Sip & See where kids walk the parents through their art and the event happens outdoors in a setting that could put an exhibition at the MOMA to shame, and everything else that we have grown to love to dearly! When we were looking for pre-schools for our elder child we had looked at numerous schools in the area and nothing felt right. Some felt overly strict and others were very la-di-dah. And then we chanced upon CHLA which almost felt like a Goldilocks moment, with the right balance of structure and freedom. Now that we've been through the program (twice), we feel that it really is the perfect blend of those elements. We are filled with gratitude for having had both our kids go through CHLA!

We've now had two kids at this preschool, and both have loved it. And we will plan on sending our…read more3rd when its time! The teachers are experienced, really get to know the kids well and deeply care. I've always felt like my kids are in great hands. But most importantly my kids always had fun here and were happy to go in the mornings. The 4s program especially has been amazing. It has offered so much more than what our local TK option could provide. We're really grateful for this school.

I can tell from having two kids and 13 years in the school. Go somewhere else, unless you want your…read morechild to be treated unfairly with clear discrimination in a toxic environment where only a few elite families get the special treatment. Jan (The principle) is in adequate to say the least. We finally left after 13 years, and we did not realize how bad St. Nick was after what we saw in the new school.

Walking into St. Nicholas Catholic school felt less like entering a place of learning and community…read moreand more like stepping into a perfectly rehearsed performance where certain kids were cast as favorites from day one and the rest of us were expected to play the background no matter how well behaved or hardworking we were. Myself, my friends, and even my sibling followed the rules like everyone else, yet we were constantly singled out, blamed for situations we did not cause, and punished for things other students did right in front of staff who somehow never saw it, and the worst part is they acted like their uneven treatment was justified instead of admitting their own bias. Over time it became painfully clear that they were not interested in supporting us, only in protecting a narrative where certain families stayed untouchable and the rest of us were easy targets whenever they needed someone to blame. The way they spoke to certain kids was shockingly mean and downright cruel, and I experienced it firsthand from certain staff who twisted the truth whenever it suited them. This school loves to package itself as nurturing and community driven, where a kind and empathetic community is the main focus, but the reality was a strange, exhausting experience where favoritism thrived, accountability disappeared, and the truth was always whatever made them look good; if you are thinking of sending your kids here, I would seriously reconsider, because no child should have to carry the weight of adults who cannot handle their own insecurities or responsibilities. St. Nicholas may your "polished" reputation shine bright enough to distract from the truth.

My children have attended The Waldorf School of the Peninsula for the past four years. While many…read moreof the teachers are caring, dedicated, and deeply invested in their students' growth, the same cannot be said for the school's leadership and administration. Unfortunately, the administration is dysfunctional, lacks transparency, and demonstrates poor alignment in priorities and resource allocation. The school has a large population of neurodivergent students, yet the current educational support structure is alarmingly inadequate. This year, the entire "educational support team" for the Mountain View campus (grades 6-12) -- consisting of ONLY one learning specialist and one counselor -- has been stretched even further to cover the Los Altos campus (grades Kindergarten-5). The administration claims to have a "robust educational support team". However, a staff of 2 people is far from robust and is completely insufficient to serve the needs of the entire school (Kindergarten - 12th grade). Despite my repeated efforts to raise this concern with the administration, they failed to take any meaningful action. While the teaching staff genuinely care about their students, the lack of administrative competence and adequate support services significantly undermines the school's ability to meet the needs of all learners. There are many excellent public and private schools in the area that are far better equipped to support diverse students. Your child deserves that level of care and commitment.

I am a student who attended multiple private schools and public schools, usually,…read morepublic school: 6th grade: 6th grade math, pre algebra if you pass skip test 7th grade: pre algebra, algebra 1 if you pass skip test 8th grade: algebra 1, geometry if you're good enough private schools, like stratford and challenger: 6th grade: pre algebra 7th grade: algebra 1 8th grade: geometry waldorf: 7th grade: pre algebra 8th grade: algebra 1, pre algebra if you fail too many test or is struggling so Waldorf is clearly behind in math. They just give a book to read for English, and they don't give you a standardized curriculum for testing , and most topics like grammar(phrases, part of speech), reading comprehension and vocabulary is not included. They don't even have history class. Science class is just doing science experiments that don't follow a standardized course. Not only they don't have a standardized course but the experiments are usually something to learn a long time ago, eg refraction or reflection. On top of behind in most classes, they also spend too much time on arts, music, dance that are optional classes to take in high school. And they have a fundraising thing for 8th grade that took up all the time for learning and it is mandatory. So Waldorf, therefore is not a good place to spend your time and money on if you're serious about education, GPA, and getting into a good college

We've had such a positive experience with Living Wisdom School. From the beginning, our family was…read morewelcomed with warmth and genuine care, and our son transitioned from public school far more smoothly than we could have hoped. He quickly felt included, made friends easily and has truly enjoyed going to school each day. What stands out most is the balance between strong academics and personal growth. The students are not only challenged academically, but also given practical tools to build confidence, emotional awareness, responsibility, focus, and resilience that they can carry with them throughout life. The teachers and staff are thoughtful, engaged, and clearly care deeply about each child as an individual. We've also been impressed by the sense of community throughout the school. It feels supportive, intentional, and uplifting for both students and parents. We're very grateful to have found a school environment that nurtures individuality, creativity, well-being and a genuine love of learning alongside academics.

The schools focus on holistic education shaped our sons personality in ways that we were really…read moresurprised and happy. The curriculum, method of teaching and even small things like starting the day with a meditation calms the kids to drive more focus. The annual play is a great exercise in getting kids to be more independent and work together as a team on something that is larger than themselves. Would highly recommend!

Best school ever! Our kids are super lucky to go there, and…read morethe community is absolutely amazing

My children have been at Hausner many years. They are so happy here, which is really the most…read moreimportant thing you could ask for. Caring, attentive faculty. Great school!

We cannot say enough good things about the community at Woodland School. From the moment we began…read morethe admissions process, we felt like more than just another application. The Admissions Director, Melanie, is truly exceptional. She went above and beyond to support our family, showing incredible flexibility and genuine care throughout the process. Beyond the administration, the school itself is impressive. We fell in love with the beautiful, sprawling outdoor campus--it's such a rare and refreshing environment for kids to learn in. One of the most striking things we noticed was how confident and articulate the students are; their comfort with public speaking is clearly a testament to the school's curriculum. We also spent a lot of time admiring the Maker Lab, which is easily one of the best we've seen. While our family's personal circumstances shifted and we couldn't enroll this year, Woodland remains at the top of our list for any family looking for a balanced, high-achieving, and supportive environment

Absolutely terrible terrible school. If I could give it 0 I would. The years I spent here were the…read moreworst in my entire life. None of the teachers want to be here they are all underpaid and regularly complain about their salary. While I was there I would consistently hear teachers say "I can't answer that that's above my pay grade" or joke about how they can't afford to pay for anything. Many of them were just bullies and put no effort into teaching us. The teachers also have no control over the students with classes being so hectic that lesson plans would get put on pause. If you are a smart student you won't be challenged here, if your a student with learning disabilities you will get NO support. The campus is laughably small and unclean. The buildings are in horrible condition with middle schoolers learning in portable classrooms. In my opinion it kind of feels like they just added the middle school on in the 80's to make more money. The food is horrible but the kids are even worse.

Our family has had such a wonderful experience at LACS. From the very beginning, it was clear that…read morethe staff truly care about each student--not just academically, but spiritually and emotionally as well. The teachers are incredibly dedicated, creating a nurturing environment where children feel supported, encouraged, and inspired to grow. Our son has absolutely thrived here. He has gained confidence, developed strong character, and built meaningful friendships within a community that emphasizes kindness, respect, and faith. The integration of Christian values into everyday learning has made a lasting impact on him, helping shape not only his education but also who he is becoming as a person. What stands out most is the sense of community. Families, teachers, and staff work together in such a positive and uplifting way. There's a genuine feeling of belonging that makes this school truly special. We are so grateful for the love, guidance, and commitment the staff pour into their students every day. This school has been a blessing to our family, and we wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a supportive, values-centered education.

This school genuinely made me have suicidal thoughts. And you know what their response was to that?…read moreVictimizing themselves because men have so fragile egos. I hate it here. All I do here is cry and no one even cares. DON'T GO HERE if your child is mentally unwell. The only therapy they offer is indoctrination.

I graduated from Pinewood in '09 and am so grateful my parents spent the money to send me here…read more College was an academic breeze compared to my experience here. Most people are familiar with liberal arts universities. Think of Pinewood as a liberal arts prep school. First of all, you will absolutely learn to write here. Writing classes (separate from literature) are required every year, and you master everything from rhetoric to creative writing. Other classes will require you to write a lot; the best class on campus (a History class, of all things), had us writing 3-4 essays a week. Is this the busy work that the poor reviewers are referencing? I certainly hope not, because each essay was graded with focus and it taught me a TON. Yes, it's a lot of work, but you learn how to think critically and crank out solid material in a short amount of time. Those are life skills you don't learn without repetition. The humanities are also given a great deal of focus, and you study the histories of art, music, and theater. You also pick one of these disciplines to pursue during high school. The arts department is exceptional for how small the school is (50 per grade). The academics are very rigorous. I came from a public school, where I was 3rd in my class, but at Pinewood I was probably in the bottom 40% of my class. If I could have chosen my upbringing, I would have started attending Pinewood from Kindergarten, because I felt very behind on everything from math to grammar to foreign language. Everybody who grew up going to the lower campuses were at the pointy end of the stick. Like all small prep schools, there can be some politics among the faculty, and if you get on the wrong teacher's bad side it will stay with you past that year, but overall it's a fantastic atmosphere with solid teachers. Yes, some of them don't spend every free moment pondering how to influence their students for good, but there are many teachers for whom that does seem to be the case. They are devoted and academically nurturing. And EVERYBODY IS SO NICE. It's borderline weird. Although having so few students means a not many options for friends, everybody will be beyond polite to you and you will never eat lunch alone. Oh yeah, and I still go watch the Girls' Basketball team dominate.

Pinewood provides an outstanding education. Their writing program is the best. The teachers are…read moregreat. Students are lucky to be accepted to this fine education establishment.