A Thriving, Inclusive, and Supportive Community…read more We are incredibly grateful for the Mandarin Immersion program at Orion. As non-Mandarin speakers, my wife and I wanted our children to learn a new language, and this program has exceeded our expectations. Both of our kids absolutely love the school--so much so that they would live there if they could! Our youngest even gets upset if we have to pick him up early, which speaks volumes about how much they enjoy being there. The teachers are excellent--caring and compassionate while pushing the kids to reach higher standards. The level of parental involvement is something special too; it's supportive in all the right ways. As a multicultural family, with my wife being African American and me Hispanic, diversity and inclusion are very important to us. Orion fosters a sense of belonging not just for our kids but for us as parents as well. Our children also speak Spanish, and learning Mandarin has been a rewarding challenge for them. In fact, they jokingly call it their "secret language" because neither my wife nor I speak it, which adds an extra layer of fun and pride in their learning. The community here is fantastic--inclusive and most importantly, supportive of one another. Even without Mandarin support at home, our children are thriving beyond our wildest expectations. Their proficiency in Mandarin, as well as in Math and English, is impressive. The high standards set by the school are matched by the dedication of the teachers, ensuring that our kids are growing and learning more than we could have imagined. We couldn't be happier with our choice to enroll our children in Orion Alternative Elementary School. It's more than just a school; it's a community that we're proud to be a part of.

A recent transfer this year, we have fully immersed ourselves into this amazing community. From…read moreMaze Day we were received with opened arms. Fantastic Faculty & Staff. My 3rd grader LOVES her teacher. It is both rigorous and fun. So many school events put on by our PTO. The PTO involvement is amazing. We've been searching for a school like this and so happy to call this school home. The MI (Mandarin Immersion) program is wonderful too. The Enrichment programs and cultural enrichment are fantastic. You should definitely consider enrolling your child in this choice school!

Choosing a school for your little one is such a stressful experience, but Harper makes it very…read moreeasy. We've been with them for two years now and have had nothing but good experiences. The admin staff, especially Ms. Lopez, is amazing and really cares about the students. Ms. Lopez is "on the ground" enough that she knows the kids names and they all say hi to her when they see her. The preschool teachers, Ms. Gwen, Ms. Margaret and Ms. Kim, are phenomenal. They approach any issues with kindness and sensitivity. They are also firm with the kids and set good boundaries and routines. Finding that balance is typically difficult, but they do it with finesse! The curriculum here, even with the preschool class, sets the kids up for success in higher grades. It balances play and fun with learning. From letter recognition to name writing to "STEM" - via tiny science experiments - music and Spanish, outdoor play and story time, they do it all. Since day one, my child has been excited to go each day and has thrived in the Harper environment. The learning progress I've seen, especially at such a young age, is astounding. We love Harper and appreciate all the staff very much! We hope to be a Harper family for a very long time to come!

Highly, highly recommended for elementary school! A lot of…read morethese reviews are for the daycare/pre-k programs, but I'd like to review the Elementary program, which is newer and smaller. Our son joined the Kindergarten program halfway through the year in Jan '25. He had been at a well-regarded RWC public school, but unfortunately he struggled there with behavior, academic, and motivation issues. Basically, he was slipping through the cracks. He was regressing academically, and most worryingly to me, he was starting to hate going to school. He started at Harper at the mid-year break. There was certainly an adjustment period - the Harper kids were *so* far ahead academically. But, the curriculum is individualized and the support was tremendous. It was amazing how quickly he improved on all fronts: behavior, academics, and motivation. He literally sprints from the car to class each morning. He is so excited and talks about what he learns constantly. He has developed a positive attitude, curiosity, and emotional maturity beyond anything we could have hoped for. Ms. Shaynee, his teacher, is an absolute rock star. We feel so lucky to have had her as his teacher. The class size for elementary grades at Harper is absurdly small right now. Like, 5-10 kids. At first, I thought it would be weird. But it's actually a wonderful number for this age, and it makes Harper such an incredible deal. It's obviously a new school and a new program, and I'm hoping it grows with him as he progresses through the grades. Overall, if you are looking for a private elementary, I just can't recommend Harper enough. No private school in this area is cheap, but I feel we get incredible value for our dollar. The fact that the aftercare is so affordable helps. Also, we hear that if you have multiple kids there then the cost goes down a lot.

A great public school that is as good as private if not better…read more Great Staff and teahers, very very safe, academically advanced. Clean and vast. One start was taken out because of number of students in class, I wish that could be reduced. Other than that a great school.

Shout out to Amanda Ferreira what a wonderful teacher and person she really is. She is what every…read moreteacher should strive to be.

Ms Roseanne was my preschool teacher 40 years ago, my younger cousins and others growing up with…read morehave attended this preschool. 10/10

Mrs. Rosanne and Cesar are amazing with the kids. Everyday they have new activities and the kids…read morelearn so much. Art, cutting, letters, brain teasers, dancing/ PE. They do it all! Highly recommend!

The school is not great. For one thing, the dress code is quite conservative. Its your typical…read more"Skirts cant be over 4 inches above the knee". They charge you a ton for uniforms and apparently now, they only allow religious symbols on the jewelry ( its understandable but they think a heart is going to harm someone). Me and my friend went there for a good six years (we graduated 2012) and we had heard from one of our friends uncle (his kid went there) that there was a kid that gave another kid something unsafe and the principal cancelled the meeting the parents were supposed to have because of their "catholic" beliefs. The kids play on some gross, dirty blacktop and any time they get into fight the school comes up wiht the lamest excuses like "Lets all be friends again XD UwU :)"... sometimes the severity of the fights are actually serious and they just ignore it. The school also DEFINITELY favors the girls because they give them sympathy for everything ( I am a girl!) if the boys did something by accident they'd usually get an immediate detention. There are some fun things to do like Padre pride, the Halloween parade, and some teachers offer holiday party's. Some teachers are kinda nice as well,. Other then that , most of the teachers I had (and apparently some of the current teachers ) do NOT follow what they called the SLE's (School learning expectations) which are live, love, and learn. The school also has the sports being played in a big, public warehouse, even though they get so much money from the parents every singe year that they could probably afford a new gym. Would not recommend .

Mount Carmel was a school we choose during COVID. It is one of the few private schools that offer…read moreTK which both of my kids qualified for. It is a warm and welcoming environment, very family feeling. Parents are interactive and involved. Students play with all of each other no matter what grade, which I love. My kinder comes home and says she played with a 5th grader on the yard, that warms my heart. Overall we've had an amazing experience at this school!

We bought a house in Redwood City specifically so our child could attend this school. Since we…read moredon't speak Chinese at home and our daughter was diagnosed with a speech delay at age two, I wasn't sure how much Mandarin she would actually pick up from the Mandarin Immersion program at Orion, especially without extra support from us. But after completing kindergarten and halfway through first grade, she surprised us by initiating conversations in Chinese on her own. I'm pretty sure I cried the first time it happened. The teachers are incredibly thoughtful and professional, especially in guiding young kids through learning two languages. In the first few years, about 90% of the school day is conducted in Chinese, which provides an immersive experience during those crucial early years. I remember my daughter sometimes mixed up calling her teacher "mama" and calling me "Wu Laoshi" -- small but meaningful signs of the trust she was building in this environment. The quality of education is outstanding. It's project-based, with a rich blend of art, gardening, STEAM, and physical education throughout the week. During lunch, the kids have options for how they spend their free time. My daughter loves cooling off in the air-conditioned library on hot days, gardening with friends, or practicing her monkey bar skills on more moderate days (after all, Redwood City is known for its slogan, "Climate Best by Government Test"). What matters most to me is that my daughter wakes up excited for school. She genuinely looks forward to her day, eager to see her teacher, curious about the new things she'll learn, spend time with her friends, and engage in the many activities this wonderful space offers. It's a place where she's building her own community, being challenged academically, and hopefully forming friendships that will last at least until high school. At this age, while academics are important, a positive and supportive community matters even more to us. Finding both at the Mandarin Immersion program at Orion has been an absolute gift, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have this school in the Bay Area.

Our family has been apart of the MI program for several years; and by the end of 2027, we will have…read morehad 4 kids in and through the program! We are a non-mandarin speaking family with the desire to challenge our kids academically. This program has been a GREAT way to accomplish this. I have one child in their 4th year in the program and as of last year, they were considered bi-lingual and bi-literate! Even without the mandarin support at home, my children are thriving and learning far more and better than we could have ever imagined. we are always highly recommending parents place their children in a Mandarin Immersion because although it's been a challenge at times, my kids have always stepped up and proved their capabilities. The community has also made learning fun and engaging! Along with my kids learning a new language, we as a family are getting the opportunity to immerse ourself in a new culture and make lasting friendships. It's an absolute blast!

The teachers seem nice. They seem to care about the students and even reward them. The place is…read morereally clean and well kept up.

Very disappointed with this school it has changed a lot since I completed 2 years of middle school…read morehere. I have a seven year old who has been in this school since preschool she is the sweetest kid in school. But because she is so sweet and kind she has always gotten bullied, when she was in preschool and kindergarten I was able to talk to the other kids parents but now that she's in 2nd grade she doesn't want me to talk to the kids parents because she's embarrassed I tried talking to the teachers in principle but apparently there's not much they can do when my daughter is some lunch or recess. Now that the teachers and the principal can't do anything I tried telling my daughter that if they push her she can push back but apparently my daughter is too kind for that. Another problem did this school has, they don't have control over kids who have lice my daughter have gotten lice twice this school year, I have spent so much money and time getting those bugs out of her hair and I know it's part of my job but I think that kids have lice should not be allowed in school unless their hair is clean like that the problem won't be getting any worse. I'm definitely changing my daughter to another school for her 3rd grade year!

Our family has been part of the St. Pius school community since preschool, and now, as our son is…read morein 5th grade, we can confidently say that choosing this school was one of the best decisions we've ever made. The preschool program is truly amazing--it provides a warm, nurturing foundation that prepares students both academically and socially for the years ahead. Our only regret is we wish we had started at the preschool one year earlier! It is such a special program. One of the school's greatest strengths are the teachers and administration. The teachers are exceptional--dedicated, caring, and deeply invested in each student's academic growth and personal development. The low student-to-teacher ratio allows teachers to truly know each child as an individual. This personalized attention makes a meaningful difference and helps students feel supported, challenged, and confident. Our son has thrived at St. Pius and we can't be more pleased with the support and individual attention he receives. His favorite subject is math! Enrichment opportunities are abundant, including a one of a kind Theatre program, strong music and art offerings, and Cub and Girl Scouts, all of which allow students to explore their interests, build confidence, and develop creativity and leadership skills. The school's commitment to social-emotional learning is outstanding. Students are taught empathy, resilience, and strong communication skills, helping them grow into compassionate, well-rounded individuals. Another amazing offering is the athletics program. Athletics provide opportunities for teamwork, physical growth, and school pride. Our son loves playing baseball and basketball with his friends at school and is looking forward to track in the spring. He looks forward to the school spirit days, pep rally's, and Friday night lights celebrating Shamrock spirit. Additionally, the daycare program offers a safe, nurturing, and reliable environment that supports working families and reflects the same values found throughout the school. We are so grateful for the day care program. What truly sets this school apart is its incredible sense of community. Families, students, and staff genuinely care for one another, and parent engagement is encouraged and valued, making everyone feel like a true partner in the educational journey. We've watched our son grow not only in knowledge, but also in confidence, kindness, and character. We are deeply grateful for the years we've spent here and wholeheartedly recommend this school to any family seeking an exceptional and well-rounded educational experience.

We have two elementary school aged children and have been thrilled with their education so far. The…read morecommunity is incredible. The parish and school put on a ton of events for families. The facilities are well maintained and feature a large, newly built gym and enormous field for sports and free play. The campus is large and secure. Dr. Colvert is a wonderful principal and the teaching staff is dedicated and includes some very longstanding faculty members. The extracurricular program is robust with offerings for a variety of interests (sports, art, music, theatre, Spanish, etc.) and technology is implemented in each classroom. The smaller class sizes and dedicated elementary aids offer ample opportunity for small group and individual work that allows teachers to meet the needs of each student. Our children are both challenged and testing well above grade level. While we haven't yet experienced it, the middle school curriculum has undergone significant redevelopment in recent years, including the offering of more advanced math classes. We are so happy with the eduction our children are getting and highly recommend the school.

Cute little elementary school located in Redwood City, California…read more I just happened to be flying over and the grounds look very well maintained who doesn't like a large solar installation. From the air it looks like its super easy to drop kids off and even pick them up. Its part of the Redwood City School District (RCSD)

Please ignore the negative revie, that person was a really bad student the principal cares for all…read morethe students so does the vice principal and the rest of the staff they are kind and help in many different way.