We live in Los Gatos and we never thought that we would consider a private school for our son until…read moreHillbrook. At first, my son joined the junior kindergarten because the public school TK program was too short. We thought it would just be a year then we would go back. Then Covid happened and the difference on how Hillbrook handled the Covid situation with that of the public schools is day and night. We feel very safe sending our son here. After 2 years at Hillbrook, my son blossomed. So by the time he entered the elementary school, it was no brainer to continue his schooling here. The school also took a proactive prevention in bullying. The teachers did such a great job, above and beyond, to protect their kids while teaching them to be able to advocate for themselves. We are entering our 4th year at Hillbrook and my son blossoms. He's a natural leader, well spoken, and he adjusts well among his peers (classroom, playground, youth sports). What I have noticed, Hillbrook school really encourages students to be independent thinker. My son is confident and has high EQ, thanks to Hillbrook method.

Although we ultimately chose a different school for our child, I want to share how impressed I was…read morewith Hillbrook's admissions process. From start to finish, the experience stood out in all the best ways. During our initial visit, I noticed something remarkable--several students came up and hugged the admissions officer. It was clear that the kids not only felt comfortable but also genuinely connected to the adults on campus. That kind of warmth and trust speaks volumes about the school culture. Throughout the process, the staff had multiple thoughtful conversations with me and invited our son to visit the campus more than once. It wasn't just about evaluating our fit for them--it really felt like they wanted to ensure the school would be the right fit for our son too. Everyone we interacted with was incredibly kind, transparent, and generous with their time and insights. What really set Hillbrook apart was how open and communicative the administration was. In a time when many schools can feel closed off or overly cautious, Hillbrook was refreshingly honest and forthcoming. That kind of openness is rare and deeply appreciated. Even though we didn't enroll, I left the process with a very positive impression of the school and the people behind it.

Love St. Mary School in Los Gatos!…read more We have been a part of this community for over 6 years. We really appreciate the faith based education our son received here. Students begin the day with prayer and the pledge of allegiance, love this part of the 'old school' tradition. The classrooms and teaching model are not 'old school' at all. The classrooms have ipads for the students and in Junior High all students used laptops extensively along with current classroom technology. Our experience with the teachers was amazing, they really cared about student progress both academically and socially. The classes also do several outreach projects, allowing the kids to grow their social responsibility. During our time at St. Mary the community funded and built a new state of the art Junior High and library building, definitely another plus. The science lab is fantastic and doubles as the robotics lab as well. Also offered are no-cut sports for grades 5 plus.

We couldn't be happier at St. Mary's. Our children benefit from incredible teachers, a caring staff…read morewho knows each child & family by name, and a supportive community that feels like family. I'm grateful for the education, values, faith & strong connections our children have received from St. Mary's School

This school has historical significance and was named after Louise Van Meter, a pioneering…read moreeducator.It is located near the mountains in Los Gatos, in an older building. I remember coming here decades ago for holiday boutiques.The school encourages interest in the environment and the arts.They actually get life science and art homework, such as growing seeds in various stages. The kids all seem very happy to be there.It is actually closer to town than it seems when you are there, so it is convenient for nearby residents.

Our child absolutely loves Stratford Los Gatos Preschool, especially Room 2. The program offers a…read moreperfect balance of academics, science, arts and crafts, sports, and music, so the kids grow in every aspect. There are always engaging and creative activities, and our little one has made wonderful friends here. We also truly appreciate the warm and friendly parent community. It's easy to communicate and connect with other families. A special thank you to Ms. Sree and Miss Cyndi, who are incredibly caring, responsible, and organized. Every activity is thoughtfully planned and executed with love. We feel so lucky that our child was able to spend an entire preschool year in Room 2. Highly recommend to any family looking for a nurturing and well-rounded preschool experience!

Stratford: the most expensive way to get less education…read more Stratford operates like a corporation first and a school second. My daughter attended from age three through 4th grade. We chose to withdraw because the 5th-grade campus commute would have been unreasonable. We communicated this intention clearly and repeatedly, in person, to the principal (Preethi Chadha) and her 4th-grade teacher. Despite that, Stratford charged a 10% withdrawal fee on annual tuition, claiming notice was not submitted to the "corporate" office. At no point did anyone proactively flag this requirement, remind us, or make any effort to prevent the fee--after years of tuition and what we believed was a community relationship. The result felt less like a policy and more like a revenue mechanism. Moving to Los Gatos public schools was eye-opening: materially better support, stronger administration, and none of the "tuition-with-fees" experience. To be clear, our criticism is not of the teachers--we had several excellent educators doing their best. The issue is administrative and institutional. If you're considering Stratford, go in with clear eyes: their priorities are corporate first, families second.

Upscale area of California! Great school with balanced…read morecompetition and hi scholastic standards! Super cool campus Old and kept up! Lots of upgraded facilities over the last 40 Years. Here's some photos of today's Los Gatos Resolution run 5 mile Race in which my son came in 2nd overall !

This is a great school if you are academic, or good at sports which both get 5 stars. if you aren't…read moreyou can get lost in the shuffle. What is a concern about this school is the insane amounts of money a lot of the students have, parents who work too much to care, and therefore access to drugs. When I went there, there was a undercover cop who busted a bunch of student. I now have a brother who goes there and nothing has changed. It's a great beautiful school, with some really great teachers. But you need to keep a close eye on your kids if they go there. As kids from Santa Cruz once told me. "Oh you go to Los Gatos. Thats where all the good drugs are."

My daughter is wrapping up the third grade at ACDS. Our family has been with the school since her…read morefirst grade year. It's interesting to note how I just mentioned "our family" in reference to ACDS, because it's true - from the start it never felt like it was just my daughter being welcomed into a classroom. My husband and I were also ushered into a community of parents, children, teachers, administrators, and staff that truly are a community. This sense of familiarity and care, right from the start, was welcome. We looked at ACDS for my daughter after having been with a couple of other schools in the region that seemed to emphasize academics above all else. Academics are of course important, but I also wanted my daughter to have the chance to play and explore other possible interests. ACDS has a full complement of enrichment and extracurricular activities. Science, art, drama, music, you name it. There's a choir and a band. And every year every grade puts on a theater production, which I'm hoping next year can be done in the brand new Event Center. When school closed for COVID in March of last year, ACDS was ready for it. They moved their entire educational program online within a matter of 3 days, and it has been going strong ever since. When the school reopened for in-person learning in the fall, they continued the remote learning option alongside it. My daughter is presently the only child left online in her class, though she will be returning to school next week. Her teacher has been in close touch with me to make sure that she feels included and supported. The real gift is that my daughter has felt she is an active and important part of the community no matter where she physically is in relation to the school. And speaking of the teachers, wow! Dedicated and enthusiastic sound cliche but I assure they are not. The thought and energy they put into their lessons, especially even across two learning platforms, is phenomenal. If they had a high school, I would be planning to send my daughter. But for now I will just enjoy the stellar preparation she is getting for whatever step she chooses next.

We had a very disappointing experience with the middle school program. In my experience, the…read moreenvironment was particularly difficult for families seeking a supportive and inclusive approach, for example for students with learning and attentional differences. If your child is energetic, social, and learns best through encouragement, engagement, and positive reinforcement, I would encourage you to ask detailed questions of administrators and parents about the middle school's approach to these students before enrolling. I was particularly concerned by what I experienced as an excessively punitive and anxiety-producing approach to discipline and academic expectations. At times, the way students were treated appeared to undermine their confidence and enthusiasm for learning rather than support their development.I was also disappointed by the gap between the school's stated mission and what our family experienced in practice. There appeared to be limited attention to students' social-emotional needs, and I found the administration insufficiently receptive to families seeking additional support or collaboration with outside resources.Overall, the middle school experience had a lasting negative effect on my child's confidence and relationship with learning. Families considering the school may want to ask specifically about learning support, counseling and social-emotional resources, disciplinary practices, and how the administration works with families whose children learn differently.

What a wonderful school! My son finished Kindergarten here, and is now in 1st Grade. He loves…read moreschool and always impresses me with what he's learned. We've been particularly happy with the emphasis on deeper conceptual understanding of material, so it's not just rote memorization and regurgitation. Word problems were a significant part of Kindergarten math, and I'm positive I wasn't doing word problems that early when I was a kid. The teachers and administration are very receptive to feedback and concerns that inevitably crop up during the school year. We've been happy with the way they've handled issues, and clearly customer service is an important part of their philosophy. Tuition is on the higher range of private schools, but in this case you truly do get what you pay for.

Our daughter has gone to Harker since their inaugural preschool class started . She loves it and so…read moredo we . Teachers are great and after school programs are plentiful . Even though it takes an hour to get to school we think it's worth it.

My son recently graduated after attending Old Orchard from K-8th grade. He and his classmates…read morebenefitted from teachers who challenged them, a culture of excellence, and a diverse, tight-knit community where students felt comfortable bringing their whole self to school. Very different than what I remember from my large, public middle school experience! He and his classmates were all accepted to their top choice high schools with placement in honors and advanced classes, and I have no doubt that they're all very well prepared to succeed in high school and beyond. We loved everything about the Old Orchard experience from the school's seamless response to Covid, the inclusive sports program, investment in arts and language, and diligent preparation for high school admissions process.

My two daughters have attended OOS, and we love it! I want to say a big thanks to the…read moreadministration, they are just great! Any concerns or questions which we ever addressed to them were always resolved. No matter what question we had, we always saw friendly staff which is open, ready to help, and resolve any situation in the best way. Academics are great, which is big deal for us. After OOS, kids attend highly selective high schools, and doing great at rigorous classes; which is again a great compliment to OOS teachers for good preparation. OOS does a great job at helping their 8th grade students with the high school admission process. The school community is wonderful, great families, many of which became our close friends. The classes are small, allowing each student to grow. There are always lots of opportunities for parents to be actively involved in school life, but it is not mandatory if your busy life does not allow you to do it. Highly recommended this school!

Venture Christian Academy strikes a rare balance between academic rigor and a genuinely loving,…read morejoyful community. The school's consistently strong test scores reflect the quality of its curriculum and the dedication of its teachers, who challenge students while ensuring they feel known, supported, and encouraged. We have been especially impressed by VCA's commitment to STEM education. The Innovation Lab gives students meaningful opportunities to build, design, experiment, and solve problems creatively. It has been a wonderful fit for our son, who loves engineering and understanding how things work. VCA's partnership with Venture Church is another important asset, providing a shared vision and meaningful, ongoing investment in improving the campus. What truly distinguishes VCA, however, is its culture. From the moment we arrived, our family felt warmly welcomed. The teachers and staff care deeply for their students, and that warmth is evident throughout the school. There is also a lovely bond between the older and younger students. The younger children look up to the older students, who take a genuine interest in them and serve as kind, encouraging role models. VCA's current leadership deserves tremendous credit for the school's remarkable growth and for cultivating an environment where academic excellence, innovation, faith, and joy flourish together. We are incredibly grateful to be part of this community.

We absolutely love Venture Christian Academy. Our kids are happy here every day, and the teachers…read moreare truly loving and attentive. Our daughter is typically anxious with transitions, but she settled in remarkably well thanks to the warm, patient staff and supportive environment. Our two younger children also absolutely love school--they look forward to being there each day--and both took less than a day to transition with no tears when they started. Class sizes are small--fewer than 15 students in our kids' classrooms--which means real, individualized attention. We also value the well-rounded curriculum that goes beyond academics to focus on character development and a strong Christian faith foundation. It's exactly the balance we hoped to find. The campus is beautiful and well cared for, and they're actively investing in the future with a new middle school building and gym facilities underway. As parents of three students here, we couldn't be happier with our decision. Venture Christian Academy has been a blessing to our family, and we recommend it wholeheartedly.

My son has been attending Daves for about a year now and it's been a wonderful experience. A huge…read morestep up from my son's previous school. My son's teacher is great - patient, smart, encouraging. I'm very happy we ended up in her class. The school management is very organized - both teachers and the principle send out weekly bulletins with school events. We've had only limited personal contact with the principle, but everything we've seen has been encouraging. The enrollment process was a little ugly -- if you want to go to the school you need to prove you're a member of the community and it's not a welcoming process, but once I was in, the experience changed. To the other reviewers that are fussing about cars and appearance -- well, there's no doubt that there's little diversity at the school. But a school reflects its community - if you chose to live in the community, you'll probably be happy with the result. On the plus side, the teachers make everyone feel very welcome, and do try to open kids eyes to the wider world. And whether you like the way they dress or the cars they drive, there's one thing you cannot deny - the parents are very willing volunteers. The classroom volunteer sheets are packed with signatures and there is strong community support. This is not a school where parents have no time for their kids. Since we're relatively new to the school, I plan to review again later, but at the moment, I have nothing but good things to say.

This school prepares the children to excel. Parents and…read morestaff are very involved....!! I had some experiences with parents that do not answer when I say good morning BUT I also met some amazing and kind people here... My main purpose is for my daughter to have a great education and I'm not concerned about other people behaviors. Go Cooool cats!!!! :)