They have a great reputation in our area for a reason. I have only dealt with them from a business standpoint and can say that they are very trustworthy and extremely nice people. read more

I am able to offer a unique review based on the fact that I previously worked at Serendipity (as a Teaching Assistant) and am now a parent of a Kindergartener who attends this school. Also, I am a Teacher (at a different elementary school), so my standards are quite high ;-) While working at Serendipity, I was able to get to know administration and staff on a personal basis. I got a behind the scenes view. The truth is that this school is as great as it appears to be. The teachers genuinely care about their students and are extremely talented. Meaghan, the Head of the School, is down-to-earth and compassionate. She deeply cares about the families and staff she serves. My son began Serendipity in TK. He wasn't a cookie cutter child by any means. In fact, he was diagnosed with ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder during his first year here. When I communicated this to the school, the administration was very supportive and worked with us to make his school year a positive one. This year my son is in Kindergarten and is thriving. His teacher, Ms. Kim, has embraced his many quirks (he loves to sing all day long..as a teacher myself I feel for her!). He has learned invaluable skills such as self regulation, perseverance, communication and self expression. My formerly shy child, has become an outgoing little person who is confident in who he is and isn't afraid to be himself. When you join this gem of a school, you become part of a family. It feels like Cheers where everyone knows your name :-). read more

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My son is a Kindergartner at Serendipity and we have had a wonderful experience here. The school has a warm and loving community and each time I walk on campus I feel like it's a place that cherishes their students and families. Our son feels very comfortable at school, making friends not only with his fellow K students but with children in other grades as well, and loves his kindergarten teachers (they have two full time teachers in their classroom for a 10:1 ratio). One of the key draws about Serendipity for us is their attitude toward education, that parents don't have to choose between a well-educated child and a happy child (I can still remember reading this on their website at the time we were deciding and feeling like it really struck a nerve). They focus on balancing school and childhood and we've really appreciated that. Kindergarten, for example, barely has any homework and I can spend quality time with my son after school. They also focus on the whole child approach with a handle on social-emotional development, promoting a growth mindset and overcoming fear of failure for the kids, which were all important to us. The school also seems to have a growth mindset itself, improving their curriculum and structure. Now instead of having one set teacher for 2nd/3rd and 4th/5th grades, they split the class time between two teachers specializing in their subject areas. The teachers are so passionate when they talk their subject areas and about teaching their kids, which has been really nice to see. Rather than just a job, the teachers and staff seem to genuinely enjoy being at the school, which contribute to the warmth and positive energy we feel on campus. They have specialist teachers that come in for music, art, and Mandarin or Spanish, so the kids get to engage with a variety of passionate educators throughout their day. The PE class has been a real surprise for us as well...the teacher is super engaged and finds ways to get the kids excited about physical activity (and teaches anatomy and sportsmanship at the same time). They also have an awesome after school program curated by the recreation director, with courses like farm to table, lego challenges, rock band. We have had very good experiences with the dedicated staff that run the school, too...I feel like their doors are always open. We love it here and feel very lucky to be part of the community. This has been a wonderful choice for our son and we look forward to sending our littlest one to Serendipity as well. read more

My daughter started here in the 3rd grade after we moved to the area. She is now graduating as a 5th grader on to Middle School. I cannot say enough good things about this sweet little school. It is such a gem! The teachers and staff are wonderful and very supportive. I also feel that this school does a great job in academics in preparing students for Middle School. They also have a lot of fun activities after school that my daughter loves to attend. My daughter has built her own go-cart and skateboard from scratch, played basketball, and loves archery! I have also always felt that if I've ever needed to address a concern, the administration has always been very receptive. I would recommend Serendipity as a wonderful, safe, and caring school for a child to blossom into their full potential. read more

My son loves Serendipity camp! He has attended the Serendipity School summer camp for four years in a row, and it is always a favorite. Each summer he does a circuit among several local camps in San Mateo including Serendipity, Galileo, CuriOdyssey/Coyote Point, Steve & Kates and some sports camps like Serra and AYSO... At Serendipity, we find an outstanding staff who are great with the kids - engaging, fun, and good at keeping them active. This week my son was especially excited to try out the archery program that Mr. Brian started - but also raved about the games like "cops and robbers" and lacrosse. Overall a super camp - we will be back again next year read more

I've had 2 kids go through Serendipity and we have had a wonderful experience. The school has a truly warm and welcoming atmosphere and my kids were always excited to go in the morning. The teachers are caring and there is an emphasis on kindness and community. My older child graduated and moved on to an excellent middle school where he has excelled academically but also has an emotional maturity that his teachers have noticed. I feel that was fostered at Serendipity. If you are looking at elementary schools that are not just focused on academics but on the whole child, look at this school. read more

We applied to this school for kindergarten. We found the whole process of interviews and applications felt much different (in a bad way) than it did at the other schools we were applying to. For instance, the application asks nothing about your child -- nothing other than medical information and a request for a photo. So it appears that the admission criteria is based on a photo contest? Bizarre. And the "interview" which was basically a playdate for all the kids felt like a business transaction -- my kid got hurt and came home with bandaids on her knees and no one even mentioned it to me when I picked her up. I found out about it later when my daughter complained that her knees still hurt. They fixed her up but I was not impressed that it didn't occur to them to mention it to us. And when we received the letter telling us that our daughter had been placed on the wait list, they used the word "performed" to describe a 5 year old -- weird. "While XXX performed very well at the interview, we have very limited space..." The whole experience left me feeling like this place was a business, not a school. I didn't get a good vibe at all. read more

I do not recommend Serendipity. This school says they want diversity in students, but it seems they really don't subscribe to this as they are known to have kicked out several children who are "outside the box" and not cookie cutter kids - including my child. Before you apply, inquire about the numbers of how many kids they ask to leave their program each year and why. You should expect more from a private school with such a low student to teacher ratio. There are better places in the area. read more

What an amazing program!!! Filled with life learning experiences taught by well trained staff! The camp director, Brian Srabian, organizes exciting, engaging, and "outside of the box" activities. The counselors and junior counselors are energetic and nurturing, and they truly take an interest in each child. Each afternoon when I pick up my child I ask, "how was camp?" It makes me smile when the response is always, "IT WAS THE BEST DAY EVER!" I encourage anyone who is interested in finding an incredible summer program to check out Serendipity--you and your child will NOT be disappointed! read more

Can't say its a great school, though I wanted to like it. They don't have a lot of experience like some of the more established schools do and place is not very kind and nurturing. If I could go back, I would have selected a different school for my child. read more

I transferred my son into Serendipity after a year in another private school in the area, where he was pretty unhappy, He is now into his second year at Serendipity and he loves the school. His first teacher, Ms. Juliana, did a great jib connecting with my son, understanding his strengths and weaknesses, and working on the latter in a positive and encouraging way. The classes are relatively small, which allows for individual attention for each child. The school has a good balance of academics and social development, and an atmosphere where children are encouraged to be creative. It's great to be a part of strong community where both children and parents feel supported and connected. read more

I couldn't be happier with this school where everybody knows each other, the staff greet the kids and parents with a warm smile every day, and the teachers are just wonderful! My kid came from a smaller play-based preschool and I am so grateful we got into this school which made the transition from preschool to kindergarten a breeze! The first time I came to visit, I was a little early and sat outside, and the principal Meaghan warmly welcomed me in. Throughout this process she never forgot my name, knows my kid's name and what makes her special. It's also one of the few elementary school around that offers music, art, language (Chinese and Spanish) AND PE! My kid is now learning to read and write which is a very exciting milestone, and I'm glad she's at this nurturing school that fosters creativity and confidence in kids! You just have to listen to their school song once to melt and understand what it's about. read more

This camp has been GREAT! My daughter had some bad camp experiences so she was really reluctant to go to another camp but now she loves it so much that when we wanted to pull her out for the day to take her to the beach she didn't want to go! The activities are very creative and challenging but they really make it fun for the kids. I will definitely sign her up for another session and will make a point to have her do it next year! read more

Serendipity has been excellent for my daughter and I. My daughter began at the Preschool and now is at Elementary School and has been since Kindergarten. With my daughter being a very shy individual and not one to speak up I knew she would do well in the type of environment that Serendipity has to offer. With kids these days being pushed so hard to be the best academically they have been robbed of their childhood allowing them to be kids and not pushed so hard. Serendipity has a well balanced program allowing children to not only learn and grow academically but also allowing them to enjoy their childhood, have fun while teaching them respect of one another, their school and their environment. They teach them how to be a change of society, help others (most recently raising money for those victims of the camp fire) while allowing the kids to be who they are. Serendipity is not just a school it is our family away from home. The teachers, admin and families are all so kind and supportive. The school promotes kindness and compassion amongst the student. The students are all one BIG family from TK-5th grade. The school is culturally diverse and has many different types of families. As a single parent I always feel supported by the school and the other families. When my daughter was in Kindergarten she'd always ask if tomorrow was school even on the weekends. Now as a second grader she loves going to school and more so camp. During the winter and summer the kids are allowed to be kids, with a wide range of activities. The school also provides an optional enrichment program throughout the school year with option such as farm to table, dance, movie making, yoga, Pokemon game class, art, boxing,photography, builders challenge and environmental club. I can go on about the fabulous things at this school. If you are looking for just academics then this may not be the fit, but if you are looking for a school that gives your child beyond the academics then Serendipity is for you and your family. Bottom line is that my daughter and I love Serendipity. The once shy girl now walks around the hall ways with confidence and pride which I contribute to her nurturing environment of Serendipity. My daughter says,"Serendipity is awesome". read more

We were looking for an alternative school for my daughter when she was about to hit second grade. We were at the district in San Mateo and she was very unhappy and was not thriving. Two weeks before the first day of school we found Serendipity through another family. When we first met Mandy, she made us feel right at home but more importantly she made Amara - my daughter - feel like she belongs to a family. We decided there and then that Serendipity was the perfect place for her. Now on her second year as a third grader - my daughter wishes Serendipity was till 8th grade. She loves her friends, her teachers, Mr. Will (P.E.) and Mr. Taylor (Art). She is thriving and loves to go to school. I love the balance and values they promote. And just like my daughter, only wished we could stay there longer! read more

We started our son in the "3's" program at the pre-school and were hooked! We intended to do Catholic (or maybe even public) for elementary school but were unimpressed by the programs we toured, probably, in part, because we had already spent 2 years in the Serendipity family pre-school. Our son is now in 2nd grade at the Elementary School and we've been very happy and continue to recommend. What impresses me most is how kind all the kids are. When our son was in Kindergarten, I remember walking down the hallway and having the older kids say hello and call him by name (this is not what I remember from my elementary school days). The teachers and staff are great and have a genuine interest in developing the whole child and will work with parents on a program that works best for each student. Now my problem is, where do we go from here? Oh Megan, any chance that expansion to middle school can happen in the next 3 years??? read more

We absolutely love Serendipity School. My older son started there in Kindergarten a couple of years ago and every day I feel grateful to have found Serendipity. It is such a warm and welcoming school, and even more than that, it is a wonderful community to be a part of. Since it's a relatively small school, everyone gets to know each other, and I have felt nothing but support and kindness from everyone (teachers, staff, as well as other families). We are very impressed by how much he's learning and how much he enjoys the work he does in class. I love that he doesn't realize he's learning anything new at school, which to me means that he is enjoying the learning process. Both my son and I have made some great friends there, and I am excited for our younger son to start there next year! read more

We could not be happier with Serendipity school. A perfect balance of warmth, kindness, fun, a challenging curriculum and the expectation of being a good world citizen. Differentiated learning. Great field trips. Our daughter is in 4th grade and absolutely LOVES going to school everyday!!! read more

My son attended Serendipity School from K-5th grade. The first day we attended the school I knew it was going to be an amazing experience for my son. We visited numerous private schools but Serendipity School was far more superior! The head of school, teachers and staff are very kind, nurturing and passionate about the students getting the best quality education. My son excelled in his academics as well as learned to be compassionate to his fellow classmates. Serendipity School strives to make their students succeed in achieving their a well rounded education by making learning fun! My son still visits the school and he adores the staff and teachers. He feels like part of the Serendipity family - truly a warm, nurturing and positive educational experience. I highly recommend Serendipity School! read more

We love Serendipity! My son is just finishing up his Kindergarten year and is already looking forward to the start of next year. This year he has developed a love of learning, confidence in his abilities, and many great friends. His teachers make sure he is supported, challenged, and engaged throughout the day. He leaves school each day with news to share about what he learned in Spanish, the paintings he made in Art, games he played in P.E., skills he learned in Technology, and singing songs from Music class. I have worked at Serendipity for the past 8 years and feel lucky that my son is enjoying his time there as much as I am. As a teacher and a mom, I thing I appreciate the most at Serendipity are the smiles on the children's faces every morning at drop-off. They are truly happy to come to school. read more

This is a truly excellent elementary school that has not only given my 2 children the tools to progress academically but also emotionally. The school is such a tight knit community where the kids are truly acknowledged and treated for the individuals that they are. They are constantly striving to address so many facets of our growing children and nurture them in endless ways. Some specific examples - my kids both excel in math and I wanted them to be challenged. My daughter's teacher actually reached out to her mentor at one point to come up with even more ideas on how to challenge her and nurture her love for math without giving her numerous worksheets. They now run a challenge program which both my kids are in. Another example - they recently brought someone into the school to teach the kids about "mindfulness" and how it affects their everyday life and behavior. Thinking outside the box like this and directing attention to things that strongly affect young kids is SO important. School is not just academics, play, music - there is so much more that can be explored. Another example - my son has been in speech therapy for 4 years and recently had to be seen by a specialist that only had time during the school day. Despite their rules, they took our individual situation into account and made it work. Why? Because they knew how much it would benefit our son and how important it was to his growth and speech/communication. I could go on and on - we are so lucky to have found this school. And the same goes for their pre-school - our youngest is there now! read more

Another great summer camp experience for my 9 year old son! There is no better place than Serendipity and spending time with Mr. B! My kids like it so much that my 7 year old daughter asked me to put her in the afternoon camp with her brother, after she finishes horse camp, so that she can participate in Serendipity Archery and Fort Building events in the afternoon. Thank you Mr. B. and all the camp counselors....great mix of College Student leaders and high school assistants. Our kids love being at camp. Summer is never long enough! read more

Serendipity Elementary School is a rare find in the plethora of private schools out there to choose from. Our son was nurtured socially and challenged academically and his individuality was cherished and affirmed. He was exceptionally prepared for middle school and is currently in all the honors programs, as well as the music and sports programs. Our younger daughter loves her teachers and friends and says that she likes how everyone is kind and loving towards each other at Serendipity. The staff and administration truly care about each child and foster the warmth of community both with the children and parents alike. The parent community is very caring and welcoming. If you want your child to learn in an environment that embraces diversity and values emotional intelligence while also preparing students for high academic standards, this is the place for you. We constantly get compliments on our children's empathy and kindness as well as their academic performance. Serendipity does not mold its students into one sort of learner funneled into a single dimensional thinker. It gives children the ability to take risks to be who they truly are meant to be and thus blesses the world with diverse thinkers and resourceful, lifelong learners. read more