Ventana School is a truly wonderful school and I'd give it my highest recommendation. It starts with the leadership, who are a passionate group with a founder's mentality and a strong philosophy on how to inspire lifelong learners. And, this ethos and commitment extends down the line, through the teachers, administrative staff and the students themselves. I am blown away at how well each of the teachers understands the Ventana goals and curiosity-based (Reggio) method of teaching, and how they can explain how classroom structure, lessons and activities relate to it. And at how the kids understand it, and apply it. This is not just a stale mission statement taped to a wall somewhere. It's a real intellectual commitment and culture, and it shows. We've been at Ventana preschool for a couple of years, and a few other great things stand out. First, everyone cares. The environment is nurturing, and beyond that, deeply invested in the long-term success of your child. Second, the parents community is wonderful. We've met great new friends through the program, and been delighted by the way people show up to activities and care for each other with the parent groups. And we've found folks to be pretty down to earth for a Bay Area private school (and we've seen a couple other programs, so this is at least a somewhat qualified comparison). Lastly, we've seen the kind of kids that graduate out of the program. The Ventana philosophy really seems to deliver. The leadership recently noted that in an incoming Stanford class, there are 3 Ventana alums. 3 students out of a single-class graduating size is impressive. More impressive is how well-rounded the 5th graders are. They are articulate, grounded, capable of holding complex abstract extemporaneous conversations with adults. We look forward to the rest of the journey for our little one! read more

This school is such a gem! If you are looking for something super traditional, full of worksheets and conformity, then this is not the place for you. However, if you value kindness, hands-on learning, collaboration, joyfulness, and creativity, then Ventana is a tremendous option. I have had three children graduate from the school, and have a fourth currently there. All of my children are very different learners - whether seeking extra challenge and depth, or needing some learning support - and they have all thrived at the school. Ventana's real secret is the way that they get to know and treasure your child. Children at Ventana feel 100% seen, heard, and respected by adults. They are treated as competent and so they respond with competence, which is a key and transformative tenet of Reggio Emilia education. The social-emotional curriculum is intentional, consistent, and effective, and graduates of Ventana know how to conduct themselves in all kinds of social and group settings. All of my children have consistently received praise from their middle and high schools about their ability to get along with others in both social and work/project settings, which was one of our primary goals for their education. Another critical piece of a Ventana education is the confidence of their graduates. They are all children who know exactly who they are, are proud of that identity, and have no hesitation in advocating for themselves. We also have high standards for academics and did not want a school that focused on SEL and soft skills at the expense of academics. We have been very happy with the rigor of the academics, and our children have been well prepared to go on to top private middle and high schools in the area. Singapore Math is a very intuitive and effective curriculum, and our kids have graduated "ahead" in math, without any outside work or tutoring. The writing program is particularly robust and produces sophisticated and enthusiastic writers. The art program is just awe-inspiring - the art the kids create is unique and meaningful, led by an amazing art teacher. My kids adored the tinkering program, as well as music and lots of fun afterschool classes like robotics and sewing. The preschool is full of wonder and charm. Academics are taught in organic, intriguing ways through the Reggio Emilia-style emergent curriculum. For example, one class was enthralled by the Golden Gate bridge. They studied the architecture then built a replica out of blocks and recycled materials. When one student was afraid that their creation might be "cleaned away" by the cleaning crew at night, they decided to write signs asking that it not be thrown out - and learned about their letters. They practiced numbers and one-to-one correspondence by setting up a working toll both and counting tolls. I wanted my kids to feel magic and joy when they were in those critical early years, and to come out loving to learn for the sake of learning itself - and this is exactly what we got at Ventana. read more

I highly recommend Ventana School to anybody in Bay Area, especially to those who seek a warm and kind community and whole child education where students grow up feeling happy every single day. My four children all enjoy Ventana in their own unique ways and my husband and I are both thankful for having this school in our life. Both in preschool and elementary school, my kids grew up so much at Ventana. I can tell that every teacher loves teaching and they are very enthusiastic in helping children to find learning a true happiness. One of the key words at Ventana is "curiosity" and my kids are always very curious :) Also, they all feel cared and loved by the whole school community, and it's making them nourish very strong self-confidence. At play dates, parks, outside of school activities or even at supermarket, many people have asked where my kids go to school because they play collaboratively, show kindness and have good leadership. I always feel that I myself get great support by school. Small conversations with Ventana teachers at pickup and drop off are always positive and encouraging, and school began providing different kinds of instructive parenting classes after Pandemic and that's very helpful too. Preschool: Lots of hands-on activities The teachers prepare a variety kinds of hands-on activities every day. They are incredible and I can't do the same at home. Through those sensory activities, kids explore their own wonder and learn so naturally. Elementary: Depth of learning Ventana provides a great teacher-student ratio in each classroom. So, each student can get full attention from teachers, and I'm always amazed to see how well the teachers know about my children. The teachers catch when the students need support, and they don't miss the cues when the students are ready to have challenges. That creates ideal educational environment where every single child will acquire firm reading/writing/speaking/communication skills and mathematical ability. In my sense, it's more important how deep they understand rather than how advance they learn, and in this way Ventana alumni are so ready for middle school. read more

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Our daughter has been with Ventana for 3 wonderful years. The academics, community, and growth for our child continue to be highlights of our experience. Math, reading, writing, and self expression are taught incredibly well. Complex proses, story writing, and public speaking are routine parts of the curriculum. My daughter also stays engaged and feels challenged in the math curriculum. The Ventana community is diverse and inclusive. One of the school's values is working together, where my daughter regularly takes and understands the perspectives of others, while also encouraged to share her own. I am very glad that my daughter can bring her whole self to school everyday. The staff are very patient, supporting her with care and thought in her growth and development journey. read more

Ventana has offered a phenomenal preschool experience for my child, who is now in the 4s classroom. The teachers are passionate about getting to know each child's personality and needs -- and then connecting with each child in the ways that best help them learn. The school's social-emotional component is very strong, and we love the sense of wonder that the school inspires in children. As a result of Ventana's staff and approach, my child has really grown in confidence and curiosity. As a parent, I love the teachers' consistent communication about classroom activities. The school community is also very warm and inclusive. I highly recommend this preschool program! read more

My son started at Ventana when he was 4 years old, at the time we were only going to stay for preschool, however we had such a wonderful experience that he ended up graduating 5th grade from there. My younger son started Ventana preschool at 2 years old and is in 3rd grade now. The program fosters curiosity, and encourages independent thinking creating a fun learning environment. Both my sons have been surrounded by a nurturing staff that focuses on SEL and project-based learning. This has made them thoughtful, confident and eager learners. read more

Ventana has been the best thing we will ever be able to provide for our daughter! She was very young during the pandemic and as a result was very shy and introverted when in public. At home she was very expressive and loved to sing, dance and perform. The teacher at Ventana and the entire school philosophy allowed her to warm slowly to the new environment and in just a few months was comfortable showing her full personality at school. The Reggio philosophy has allowed her to grow her early academic skills through thoughtfully designed activities that both excite and challenge her. We know she is readily prepared for any academic challenge ahead of her and that she is able to ask clarifying questions and solve problems rather than giving up. read more

Both of my kids attend Ventana and love it. Ventana has a great approach to learning which is very different from academic focused schools - they put the emphasize on the children's socio-emotional development and on multiple ways of self expression (through art, tinkering, music, play), while hitting all the academic goals. Ventana is sitting in a beautiful natural environment with many play areas - a great place for the children to run around and develop their curiosity and appreciation for nature. Important to note - the school's leadership is very agile, and was able to quickly create an efficient online curriculum very early on during the pandemic. Once approved, the school re-opened with best safety measures and the teachers are able to combine online/offline learning effectively. read more

We were very fortunate to find and enroll our daughter at Ventana. She immediately felt welcome, made friends in her class and strong connections with her teachers. Now as she is completing her 5th grade she volunteered as a school ambassador at both Ventana Open House days. In her own words (of a ten-year-old): "Studying at Ventana has taught me how to work together with others, to appreciate others' experiences and ideas, and especially, to be free to wonder. My teachers are encouraging, helpful, and supportive. Those are important aspects that have shaped my wonderful and exciting journey at Ventana and there is more to share, starting with three things I enjoy the most about Ventana: A unique aspect at Ventana is how we, the students get to speak up. For example, if a student does not like the subject they are learning, the student can tell the teacher and the teacher would then consider the student's request. This helps practice skills like speaking up for yourself and thinking about what you want for yourself. These two skills can be very important in life the first skill improving self-advocacy, decision making, and negotiation skills; while the second skill helps improve motivation and focus, personal growth and development, and enhanced resilience. Teachers at Ventana are highly skilled at basing class discussions inclusively, trying to use all students' ideas! Collaboration is crucial to the learning process at Ventana. The teachers help students learn how to work together and be efficient at the same time. Ventana has a space called 'tinkering' for students to craft and discover new things at recess, sometimes even with friends! Ventana has a strong emphasis on community and cultural sharing. Every Wednesday there is an assembly called 'Wondering Time', where students share their own traditions, cultures, and values. To me, these weekly events show how Ventana cares about each and every student's culture and makes sure to leave no one out. From caring teachers to the supportive friendships, I have made in class, my experience at Ventana will always be a wonderful memory that I will make sure to never forget!" read more

My daughter attended Ventana from K - 3. It was a fantastic place for her to learn to love learning through classes guided in part by Reggio Emilia educational philosophy. The school was nurturing and oriented towards wonder, creativity, problem-solving, and fostered social emotional learning. In particular, she loved science with Rick and art with Jenny, but all the teachers were really warm. My twin sons went to preschool at Ventana for two years (3s and 4s rooms) and I couldn't have asked for a more supportive, kind environment. I feel fortunate that my children were able to start their educations in such a beautifully designed program with friends who were taught to care about each other. It's been several months, but we still miss the school and the community. I can't recommend this school more. read more

My twin boys went there for preschool. They are now 13 so this review is long overdue. Prior to that we were at 2 other preschools in Los Altos which were also good but Ventana stood out. The teachers and the principal were all wonderful. They let the kids explore and discover at their own pace. It is a nurturing environment that encourages thoughtful thinking. For our class one child talked about treehouses and that turned into a class project where the kids designed and build a treehouse with the help of parents and teachers, including a visit to the lumbar yard. The experience was jut fantastic. We still go by the school to visit the treehouse. There is a plaque with names of all the children on it. Cannot say enough good things about Ventana!!! read more

We absolutely love Ventana. Our child started in kindergarten and went all the way through fifth grade. The Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum addresses children as whole beings, capable of creativity and critical thought. Social and emotional learning is also a part of the Ventana experience, and bullying is swiftly dealt with. This is the kind of educational approach we need--not more testing, not more rote memorization. The campus is beautiful, quiet, and the community is very tight-knit. We remain in close contact with many of the families in our grade. The only thing that we would change if we could is how fast the time flew! read more

Preschool and kindergarten focused on nurturing Minds and Hearts and inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Small classes of 15 students, with 2 highly qualified teachers. Come grow with us! Currently enrolling for 2011-2012 school year. You are welcome to inquire and submit an application at any time throughout the year. You will be put on our wait list based upon the date we receive your application. All enrollees are taken from our wait list. Contact Robin Jurs, Director: 650-948-2151 x115 read more

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Ventana was one of the best discoveries we made over 10 years ago when our eldest daughter, now a middle schooler, was just a toddler. All of my kids grew up playing in the Ventana community and everything we loved about Ventana a decade ago still holds true today! The welcoming community, amazing teachers and strong education. Our daughter was a shy child who felt nervous speaking in front of a group. All of her teachers went the extra mile to help her find her unique voice and she graduated a confident 5th grader with a positive growth mindset. My fourth grader is a different personality than her sister and is also thriving and growing at the school. Whether it's guiding your child on their individual journey or sparking kids creativity with tinkering and art, Ventana delivers a strong learning foundation in a nurturing environment. Ventana is more than just a school, it's truly a place where people come together and learning comes to life! read more

My son started to attend Ventana when he was just two years old. We couldn't be more delighted with the experience. 1) An Exceptionally Caring and Safe: Ventana is a place where we can confidently send our child every day, knowing he is not just cared for but genuinely loved. 2) Strong SEL: After nearly two years at Ventana, we have seen an incredible transformation of our son: more confident, willing to share, and has made many friends. 3) Learning through Play and Exploration: teachers ingeniously incorporate learning into hands-on activities, stories, and creative play. Our son has effortlessly picked up alphabets, phonics awareness, and numbers, all while having fun and staying engaged. 4) Valuing Individuality and Teamwork: each child has the opportunity to create their own work. The teachers then skillfully bring all these individual pieces together to form a beautiful group project. In sum, we feel incredibly fortunate to have found Ventana as our son's first school. read more

Ventana has been a dream! We've been at Ventana for three years- both our children are in preschool. I hold a masters in education, and I've worked with schools that focus on early childhood - needless to say, I'm picky! We love the community - the teachers are warm and skilled and I truly feel that my children are known and loved. They follow the Reggio Emilia approach which focuses on following the children's curiosity, and setting up learning experiences that encourage them to further explore them. I love the strong incorporation of nature - from their mud kitchen, to caring for the chickens, to their nature walks on campus. I've joined a few classes and seen first hand was so inspired. My kids' understanding of the world, maths skills and language skills are beyond their age, and it all happens very organically. Lastly, the school invites parents to share their cultural traditions with the kids - from the moon festival to Ramadan, my kids experience these traditions first hand. read more

Our child has been at Ventana since Kindergarten and will graduate from 5th grade this year. Our child loves Ventana and even to this day still looks forward to every school day. My wife and I are very proud of how our child is growing into a considerate and confident young person and I credit all that to Ventana. I can see what sets Ventana apart from other private schools is the extent that their teachers and staff are willing to do to meet each student's individual needs. One time, we have a concern regarding our child's behavior in school and after expressing our concern, her teachers immediately formulated a plan to address our concern and provided weekly updates about our child's progress. In additions, the school administration also reaches out to us to during and after this process to make sure our concerns are being addressed. We really feel that Ventana really care about our needs as a parent. Having a low student teacher ratio really gives Ventana the ability to fulfill each student's needs. Academically, Ventana also prepares my child very well. My child got a very good ISEE score and was accepted into the middle schools of choice. read more

We started in the 2 year old and 4 year old room this fall and I cannot speak highly enough of the whole experience! My children adore their teachers, and all of the teachers are wonderful and take their work very seriously--they are so patient, kind, and really listen to the children and work with them to create activities and learning experiences that are appropriate for them and build curiosity. The teachers and admin are great at communicating with parents and we always feel in the loop. The classrooms are great, the ratio is ideal, and the outdoor spaces are awesome as well. I recommend this school to everyone I meet! Much better experience than two other schools we recently attended, like night and day. read more

After experiencing other private schools in silicon valley, we transferred to Ventana and we've been absolutely thrilled. We have found our home. We have kids in both the preschool and elementary program. Ventana is a caring, enriching environment that teaches kids critical thinking skills - all while having fun. My kids love school and are actually bummed when it's the weekend. The teachers are phenomenal; they are extremely supportive both academically and emotionally. This school treasures the gift that is childhood and is a wonderful safe space where my kids get to be kids. It's also a wonderful community where my husband and I have made lasting friendships. read more

After reading some of the negative reviews about Ventana, my initial response is there is no way those people sent their kids to the same school my kids go to. But... after giving it some thought and recognizing we are all entitled to our opinions, I have a couple of observations to make. 1 - No school is perfect. And no school is perfect for every family. While Ventana has been an outstanding fit for my kids and for our family, I recognize it might not be the same for other folks. And like any other school on the planet, Ventana is a work in progress... there will always be room for improvement because that's the nature of a school community. What I love about Ventana that I have rarely seen at other schools, is that the administration is incredibly open to change, to discussing change with the community in an open forum, and then implementing change as soon as it's feasible. 2 - Is the tuition at Ventana expensive? Well, it depends on how you look at it. Comparitively speaking (because I've done the research and encourage others to do the same), families will be hard pressed to find a school like Ventana - with its robust progressive program and fantastic campus - for a lower tuition. Especially here in the Silicon Valley. In fact, if you look at other progressive (or non-progressive) private schools in this area, you'll find Ventana has the lowest tuition of them all. That said, no private school, including Ventana, is going to be super affordable in the Bay Area. We live in one of the most expensive parts of the U.S. and everything costs more here. It's the price of privilege. 3 - I find it amusing anyone is complaining that the Ventana parent community all about the social aspect, because one of the things that sold Ventana for my family was how warm, friendly, and invested the parent community was/is in volunteering at school to support their kids and the teachers. Also, don't you want to be part of a school community where the parents are inclusive and helpful and fun to be around? So yes, we all talk with one another and enjoy each other's company and that's what makes our parent community work so well. 4 - The teachers are, in a nutshell, simply outstanding. And the training they receive is incredibly thorough. Because Ventana has been in "start up" mode for the last four or five years while it got off the ground, it's brought in new elementary teachers for each school year as new grade levels and classrooms are added. There have been some younger teachers who showed up as well as some very seasoned teachers. All of them have their masters degree in Education even if they haven't all spent decades in the classroom. Each classroom typically has more than one teacher in it on a daily basis so teachers are never expected to "sink or swim" without having the full, daily support of a second teacher. And because of the Reggio documentation process, there is a lot of transparency into the classroom for parents. I will say, the start of every school year is always a time of "norming, storming, and transforming" at Ventana. It takes a few weeks for everyong to get integrated into new classrooms with new teachers and new students and new families. But based on conversations I've had with friends at other schools, this is par for the course at most schools. At the end of the day, I encourage anyone who is interested in Ventana to go visit the school themselves. Talk to the parents, talk to the teachers, talk to the head of school... read the reviews here but take them all, including my own, with a grain of salt. You simply won't know if Ventana is the right fit for you without doing your own research. And remember, no school is perfect for every family but Ventana could be perfect for yours. read more

I transferred my son from an academic focus school to Ventana, and I think that's a great decision I'd ever make. He is having a really good time now and looks forward to going to school every day. The admission team, Ms.Yesi, is super friendly and knowledgeable around the Reggios philosophy. The new preschool director is very nice, my son likes her a lot. Our teachers, Ms.Iris and Ms.Ariandy go beyond my expectations. One day I was a little late and my son was the last one in his classroom, the teacher was reading books to him patiently when I arrived. That definitely a different experience from his previous school: just wait/do nothing, and the kid became impatient while waiting. I was touched by the teacher when my son said, "mommy don't feel bad, you give me more time listening to the story". read more

We moved my son to Ventana in the middle of Kindergarten, and what a difference! At his local public charter school Kindergarten, he was not engaged and was slowly becoming more and more subdued. The academic focus and crowded classroom just didn't fit him. Thank God we found Ventana! The school's natural environment and inquiry-based teaching methods are perfect for my highly independent, creative, joyful, energetic little boy. The teachers have so far been amazing. They work incredibly hard and really care about each kid. Last year owe found out my son has dyslexia. Ventana has been so helpful in addressing this. We're able to have his tutor come during the school day, and his teacher has worked on classroom accommodations to help with his writing difficulties. We're now in 3rd grade and so pleased to see the school constantly growing from a tiny little startup to a stable, well-run elementary school. read more

My family is so happy at Ventana! This is our third year and our two children attend their wonderful elementary program. My husband and I are local educators who carefully considered all of the pros/cons of attending private vs public and in the end we were won over by Ventana's incredible community, faculty, curriculum, and thoughtful and progressive Reggio approach to learning. Although attached to a church Ventana is an independent school. They've continued to "wow" us throughout 2020 and have consistently placed safety and their commitment to students and the forefront of their decision making. I could not recommend this community and school enough! read more

We love Ventana! It's truly one-of-a-kind. Our daughter moved mid-year from another private school, and we couldn't be happier with the decision. She is excited to learn, and has shown a tremendous amount of growth. The teachers, staff, students, and parents all went out of their way to make her feel included and supported. Ventana teachers are highly qualified, and dedicated to making each day valuable. The small class sizes and student driven discussions promote engagement and enhances the curriculum. Finally! A school with an approach to teaching that encourages creativity, teamwork, and emotional awareness. The attention each child receives at Ventana is unparalleled, and I couldn't imagine sending my children anywhere else in the Bay Area. read more

My daughter is now in the 7th grade and is thriving. Her academic preparation was more than sufficient for an easy transition in 6th grade, and she's building on the inquiry and critical thinking skills she developed at Ventana. She still sometimes misses the warm, wonderful teachers and creative learning environment and we both credit her success in middle school to Ventana. read more

Ventana School is a hidden gem. There isn't another place like it. It's Reggio inspired learning which just means experiential learning. The kids learn to love learning. They're all so happy and stress free. read more

We were Ventana parents for two years before our out of state move. My, how we miss Ventana School - even in our new state, we've yet to find anything approaching the quality Ventana offered to our grade- and pre-schooler. Academically, each of our children were nurtured, challenged and supported by a team of expert teachers. Their learning was developmentally appropriate and child centered, without being indulgent. And just as important, each child grew their social-emotional skills tremendously, contributing to their confidence, persistence and desire to learn. Look no further for a balanced education that cultivates intrinsic motivation! We miss you, Ventana teachers! read more

I have been a parents with kids at Ventana for the past five years and this school is as good as it gets. Currently, I have a fourth grader who has been there since kinder and a kindergartener who has been there since preschool. In an area where there are a lot of good schools to choose from, I think Ventana is a real standout. The thing that I think is strongest about Ventana is the teaching staff which has remained fairly consistent. Each year, the teachers never fail to amaze me with their creativity, deep understanding of the learning needs of each individual child, and commitment to fostering an ideal learning environment. Students learn the fundamentals weaved into a project based curriculum that grows out of their interests. Whether they are learning about water movement and measurement in the context of El Nino rains or exploring space by building scale models of each of the planets, they are so engaged and excited to come to school each day and I see the depth of their learning in our everyday conversations. This year, we have a new head of school, Marcie Barton, who has been a long timer at the school and was just promoted last year after an incident with a previous head of school who was just not the right fit. We are so fortunate to have someone as talented as Marcie as our director. Marcie has an incredible vision for the school and has engaged the hearts and minds of the teachers to fulfill her vision which makes me so enthusiastic about the school year to come. With a new science teacher, performing arts teacher, and PE teacher, Ventana is growing into an even more wonderful school than it's been in the past. Also, I read some of the negative reviews that comment about bullying at the school and a poor parent environment which frankly leaves me shocked. Whenever anything has come up at Ventana that could even vaguely be considered bullying, the teachers step in and address it directly. For example, last year, my son had an altercation with a friend who was making fun of something he was scared about. The teacher emailed me about the incident, had a discussion with both kids, and then followed up several times. I thought it was really amazing and lead to a lot of strong learnings for both kids about how to get along. That's the kind of social emotional learning I am really looking for in a school and I'm surprised that another parent did not notice this commitment to raising responsible citizens. Finally, I want to say how much I love the Ventana parent community. Everyone has been so warm and welcoming and as a working mom, I can truly say that it's been a joy to be a part of this group of parents. read more

Huge price hike over the past two years. I am not sure anymore if this is a church school or some ivy league. And all that after a big fund raising during the school year. We are a salaried family and did not get rich on any stock options or IPO, and this price tag is draining and we are looking out. There have also been some unnecessary changes over that past couple of years. The switched the classrooms for one instance, and now the bigger class is crammed into the smaller classroom. I do not understand, and the director went defensive pretty quickly rather than being open to suggestions. The teachers are young, and the turnover is higher than the other schools that we had gone to or have been following. We visited other schools with bright kids who speak their minds and enthusiastic teachers. The direction Ventana is heading recently is worrisome to me and it is getting to be like a place we do not want to, nor can we afford to stay. read more

I adore this preschool. And we tried two other Reggio-based schools before this, so I have a pretty solid basis for comparison. Preschool is all about fit, and Ventana has been the perfect fit for our sensitive observer kid. The teachers really do believe in the Reggio philosophy that children are competent and capable, and they encourage kids to behave and feel that way themselves. My son has become much more confident about interacting with other children, addressing conflict, and doing things for himself. Well worth the 25-minute drive I make each way. I knew we were at the right school when one of the teachers told me that my son had been having a hard time in the morning after drop-off and was asking, "Why did Mommy have to go?" She worked with him to soothe him, but also made it into a discussion with other children of "What do Mommies do when they go? Why do they leave?" I thought that was amazing, and I appreciate how they use the meeting time to work on social-emotional skills and discussions like, "What is peace?" or "What does it mean to be a good friend" as well as the activities for the day. Ventana incorporates mild academics like pre-literacy and math into the preschool classroom (writing their names and other common words, counting objects and writing numbers, basic science exploration), but it is very much a play based approach with exploration encouraged. If you are looking for a strongly academic preschool, this will not be a good fit. Plenty of outdoor play time and a good variety of classroom activities. As far as parents, lots of involved but not crazy parents. Lots of events like monthly dine out for the school, parent education nights, etc. They welcome parents coming to read, do experiments with the kids, teach about a cultural event, etc. But there's no pressure for obligatory workdays or huge time commitments. Wanted to update and mention that they recently had their use permit approved and will be expanding to elementary also. Very seriously considering it for my son, as well as sending kid #2 there. They have through 2nd grade currently and will be adding a grade or two every year. Really couldn't ask for a better environment. read more

Ventana is a great school! My six year old son was in the kindergarten class, and my daughter was in the 3 year old's preschool class. My children attended Ventana from Sept 3, 2013 until December 23, 2013. Here is a list of what I see as Ventana's pros and cons. Pros - ~The teachers, parents, and students are wonderful! Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. The children in particular all seemed to be really great kids. I was very impressed at how quickly both of my kids settled in, and they both looked forward to going to school. That in itself says a lot. I always felt like their educational and emotional needs were being met. My son is very rambunctious, and his teachers were fabulous working with him (and me.) ~Truly a Reggio Emilia based school. I was very impressed with their dedication to this style of teaching. ~ Good facilities. Nice playgrounds for the different age groups, and welcoming classrooms. The layout of the school is a little different than most schools, but they have made a giant effort to make this a nurturing environment for children. ~ Though they are technically an Episcopalian school, I never felt like the kids were spoon fed religion. My family is not religious at all (in fact, my husband is fairly offended by religion in general.) Ventana's focus seems to be on helping the kids develop a healthy moral compass. I was worried that "God" would be everywhere at Ventana, and I was pleasantly surprised that it just wasn't an issue. Cons - ~Ventana is a private school, and as such, they are a bit pricey. However, I never felt like the money wasn't well spent. And though I never inquired, I'll bet that they have scholarships available to those who need it. ~ They were less academically focused than our previous schools. Now, this is only a slight con for me, and it might not be a con for everyone. However, the schools we attended before Ventana were very solidly focused on academics. They were not Reggio based (though they had certain Reggio elements.) For me, this was a small con. I add it only in the interest of 100% disclosure, because If you are expecting a rigorously academic school, Ventana is probably not for you. However, I think that Ventana addresses the whole child, which I find just as important. My last comment is for those parents who don't live in the Los Altos area and are thinking about commuting to Ventana. We live nearish Oakridge mall, in what I consider to be south west San Jose. When making the decision to attend Ventana, I google mapped the commute and thought to myself - "It's only 25 to 30 minutes away, that's not too bad." In our previous town I had commuted to take the kids to school, roughly 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic. Because of that, I thought I could make this small sacrifice so that my children could go to Ventana. However, I was not prepared for the reality of the commute. On good days, it was 45 minutes there, 30 back, Which means we spent roughly two hours a day - total - in the car. On bad days, we spent almost three hours in the car. And the bay has SERIOUS traffic that I wasn't prepared for. In the three and a half months that we commuted to Ventana, I personally witnessed three accidents AS THEY HAPPENED. One which very nearly hit us. The commute affected all of us. My kids hated the time in the car. I was stressed out and worried that we would get into a car accident that would kill or maim us. And lets face it: 2 to 3 hours in the car each day means less time outside, less time spent playing with my kids at home, and lower quality of life overall. So when an opening came up for a school closer to home, we sadly left Ventana. I'm glad we tried it though, it was a good experience for everyone, and we made some great friends. My bottom line? Ventana is awesome. Do your family a favor and go take a tour. I don't think you'll regret it! read more

I have 2 children at the Ventana preschool and am impressed every day by what is going on there. The children are so engaged in the classroom and the teachers and administrators are so clearly excellent at their jobs it makes dropping my kids off a joy. read more

Just finishing a meeting at Ventana, where my 2nd-grade son attends... the purpose of the meeting was to help shape the message of the school, and the conversation highlighted so many of the great elements of the school. The most compelling factor was the focus on student-interest-generated projects as the touchstone for learning, and the pursuit of those projects as the opportunity for teachers to introduce curricular concepts as a means of helping students further their interest in their project. Great way of learning and developing true competencies (not just a sheen of accomplishment). read more

Our family has been at Ventana School for almost a full year and our child is thriving in its warm and loving environment. We made the family decision to transfer our child into their program as a fourth grader.It has been the best choice we could have made.It was like our child had always belonged here. The other students could not have been more inclusive.The teachers do an amazing job of making the children feel comfortable and safe in the classroom as well as inspiring them to be life- long learners.We enjoy the classroom blogs and use the teacher comments, as conversation starters around the dinner table.It truly is a magical place. read more

The curriculum at Ventana is incredible! The teachers put so much thought into their plans and what is going to be meaningful for the students. My two sons had a great year at Ventana. I could be as involved in the classroom and the supporting acitvities as I wanted to be, but wasn't pressured to do so. The leadership is working hard to push what the school can be, and the community-building events just keep coming. read more

I only wish all children could have the education my child has received at Ventana. The expert teachers, personalized attention, deeply thought out dedication to 21st teaching, and openness and warmth of the community are among its best attributes. Some background: we transferred to Ventana when our daughter started 4th (she had been at a local public school). She was doing fine, but we believed a more 21st Century program would allow to truly blossom. Ventana delivered on this. We are now sending our son as well. The keys to its success: deep teaching expertise, inquiry-based learning, sincere support for creativity and for failure, and a warm, nurturing environment. Some details to give context: 1) The teachers are exceptional. In addition to extraordinary subject matter expertise, they take a keen interest in each child, they welcome their differences in perspective, and help them learn to teach themselves/be curious for life. My daughter has had teachers attend her off-campus, weekend basketball games, take her to a math symposium, and provide individualized support for 6th grade applications (Ventana currently ends at 5th grade). 2) When you see an art project, an essay or the work done on a math problem, you can see that each student has been given the opportunity to truly work through the subject matter to further their understanding of the topic; you do not see "cookie-cutter" art projects, essays or generic, rote answers to math questions etc. For my daughter, this has resulted in not only a far deeper understanding of subject matter, but also a sense of curiosity and understanding that she herself controls her own learning/future. 3) The classroom environment is highly collaborative, warm, and encouraging of each child participating. Ventana's teachers expertly weave together individual student projects, small-group projects and class-wise projects that, combined with the general atmosphere of inclusion, maximize a child's growth. At her prior school, my daughter was one of those children who sat in class and paid attention, but avoided speaking up in class. She is now very confident about expressing her views and skilled in listening to those of others. This may be the single best gift a school could give her. 4) The general atmosphere/culture of the school is laid back and open. There is more socio-economic diversity at Ventana than at my child's local public school. There is also an extremely open, approachable and thoughtful head of school. In terms of tuition, I am honestly amazed at what the School is able to do for the tuition charged (which is lower than most other schools offering these grade levels). read more

Both our kids (4 and 6 yr olds) are inquisitive and have the courage to inquire, so finding an environment that encourage this was the first step in our process of picking the right school. At Ventana, children have the freedom to be curious and they take time to form and test theories, make mistakes, and share discoveries. They are offered many different materials, to be able to construct knowledge and communicate visibly what they know, wonder, question, feel, and imagine through their many "natural" languages. The teachers are well trained to encourage children to persevere through a difficult task or social situation to develop confidence as learners and build positive relationships with their peers now and in the future. Our kids have started to hone one of the essential 21st century skills of collaboration and leadership because they frequently work in groups to practice the art of listening to others ideas and justifying their own, testing solution strategies, and discovering the benefit of group over individual contribution to learning. All in all this is the only school amongst all the well known public and private schools we have checked across the bay area that actually delivers to our expectations of preparing our kids to hopefully becoming an Entrepreneur :-) read more

I am not currently a Ventana parent but after reading and hearing great things about the school decided to take the plunge and apply even though it is a bit of a trek for us. We were invited to the Open House and was alarmed to find high school kids running around the campus as if its a zoo even though its an elementary school. Not sure if this reflects on the culture of the school or the expectations set by the administration to new parents on how this campus will turn into down the road. Now we are in two minds about pursuing this school versus our neighborhood public school. read more

We pulled our son out of this school after 3 months. It felt more like a social club of parents. They don't teach the kids about inclusion but exclusion, of course kids don't learn such an ostracizing behavior on their own. Kids didn't seem happy 'cause they're not naturally free to be children. We thought the Reggio Emilia method was interesting for our boy but with such a shallow learning environment we realized it was changing him. Yes, changing him negatively. Director said: "kids are mean and that is normal" I told her : I didn't agree with that ..when kids are treated with love and respect (unfortunately, I observed the contrary and coming from some parents) . We didn't hesitate to remove our son in spite of losing part of the tuition . Fortunately, our son is now is in a very friendly private school in Palo Alto where A strong foundation in life skills is foster. Now, I feel reassure that his emotional and educational growth is being met every day at his new fabulous school. The one star I'm giving them is only for the facility which is big and close to a natural playground. read more

We love Ventana school, and are so grateful to the school for reigniting in our children a love of learning. After two years in our local public school (kinder and first), my kids hated school. They were bored, too shy to participate in class, and overwhelmed at the playground. The teachers at Ventana completely turned that around. One of my children said to me in the middle of the year "I used to want to stay home sick, but now I hate being sick because I will miss something interesting and fun at school." My children developed academically -- they are reading and doing math well above grade level -- and they loved school. The teachers really took time to get to know them as individuals and draw them out. They found the project-based work intellectually engaging, and we were amazed at the things they learned. They also grew in socio-emotional skills and became much more engaged, able to speak in class, make friends, etc. As for the no homework policy, we are incredibly glad to be rid of the useless worksheet packets our public school sent home. There is no evidence that homework in early elementary school improves learning, and the wrong kind of homework does stifle a love of learning. Of course, we do things like read every day at home, incorporate fractions into cooking lessons (how much is 1/2 cup?), etc. And the teachers are more than happy to provide extra material -- on one occasion when my child was having trouble with a math concept, the teacher sent home worksheets on that concept for a few weeks. So there was homework when needed. I really don't understand some of the negative comments on here -- I think it must be a small and very unhappy group of people. We have not experienced any bullying, and my children -- very shy -- are the sort to be on the receiving end of that sort of thing if anyone is. Their teachers put so much effort into building a warm classroom environment. I also have not experienced any "Queen Bee" parenting. Admittedly, I work full-time so I am not looking to form my social circle from among the other moms at school, but everyone has been extremely friendly to me at school events, birthday parties, playdates, etc. The school is relatively new and has had some turnover in leadership and teachers, but it is under very solid management now and the few teachers who left this year did so because they were, e.g., moving out of state. In short, this is a terrific school. read more