We have 2 girls in k and 2nd grade at McAuliffe, both love school and flourish here. Its our 3rd year with the school. We as a family love the school, each teacher and IA that we've had here are absolutely amazing, they see each child - their strengths and challenges they work with the children, they seem to love what they do and it is reflected on the children. The respect, social emotional support and collaborative environment is truly exceptional, one of a kind, and I see how it allows children the emotional availability they need to focus learn and thrive. The parents involvement makes it a village, and I believe- it takes a village. Aiding on campus and in their classrooms, has strengthened my connection with my children and their friends, and their friends' families. The community is amazing, we share similar values, and as a family we feel surrounded with like minded people. We help each other and each other's children, we notice them we pay attention when they are struggling or sad and we support them with tools we learned from the School's unique parents training program, where we learn to communicate to get cooperation and support kids confidence and well being, help navigate more tricky social situations that otherwise could have had a big impact on our kiddos'.. The training I got here has helped me become a better person and a better parent, feel more capable solving conflicts and support children resolve conflicts, teaching them essentially how to listen and how to help others feel heard, how to come up with thoughtful solutions by themselves, and execute them, to eventually learn how to resolve conflicts on their own.. I wish I learned that when I was a child. Academics alone does not have the impact that critical thinking and communication tools and independent problem solving have on a person's well being and success in the world. So schools that teach both have a huge advantage in my view. The academics here taught thoughtfully while using variety of elements for kids to grasp a deeper understanding and a strong foundation that is not relying on tedious memorization, but on curiosity and learning by experiencing. After hearing from alumni children it sounds like that type of foundation they got here gave them an edge over their peers in a more fast past complex academic environment. Win win :) This school is a gem! Highly Recommended! read more

Christa McAuliffe School - The meaningful participation of parents make a difference and it matters to our children - Elementary Schools Near Me - Saratoga, California

This school is a gem in the CUSD. - very low risk of bullying. Bullying happens anywhere and in a setting where doors are closed (most schools), it's hard to stop it. At McAuliffe there are eyes and ears everywhere (teachers, parent volunteers, Ia) , so this behavior is stopped very quickly - risk taking. This is one of the pillars. In first grade, for example, I saw kids raising hands asking for help with spelling during writing class. The teacher told them to write the first draft using everything they knew (phonics) and not to stop because they didn't know how to write a word perfectly. (The teacher showed them the correct spelling in the second draft). This is brave spelling and another example where risk taking is encouraged in every curriculum - small group teaching helps kids learn better. In other schools, it's 1 teacher for 20 some kids. My friends have volunteered one day in their kids' class and they were horrified: Kids unable to focus. Literally one student was disturbing the class every 5 seconds. Both my friends felt sorry for the teacher. read more

If you ask any of my three kids, they will tell you that they didn't learn anything at McAuliffe. However, that's because they didn't realize that they were learning--they thought that cooking, field trips, camping trips, and (my favorite) week-long trips to places like the gold country were just fun. The proof is in the pudding though--all three finished college in four years with the degree they enrolled for. One is now a chemistry professor, one is a youth pastor, and one is a teacher. Overall, McAuliffe was a great experience for our entire family. If you want well-rounded kids who aren't stressed out by hours of homework every night, I cannot recommend it enough! read more

Its a great school with an amazing social emotional approach that combines the CUSD standard program and additional enrichment programs like gardening, cooking, art, ceramics. Lots of amazing field trips, and a thriving community. A truly wonderful place for children to fall in-love with learning. read more

McAuliffe is a great option for a different type of education. My kids and I love the hands on experiences, the small groups, and the field trips. The smaller more intimate environment makes the community much stronger and builds lasting friendships. It feels more like the schools we grew up in! read more

My kids both started at Christa McAuliffe School in Kindergarten. It is an incredible community and amazing place for kids to learn and grow. The hands on learning has given them each so much confidence in their own abilities. We've also appreciated the social emotional focus of the school for each of our kids who are very different from each other, but have both benefited from an environment and a community focused on social emotional learning. Our family has been so grateful we found this school! read more

Fantastic school and community. Whole child. Make meaning from experience. Requires parent participation to work and is a real joy. read more

I learned about Early Child Education at college, and McAuliffe was one of the recommended schools that truly implements the "Whole Child" philosophy. My professor was right. McAuliffe is filled with experiences to acquire survival skills/abilities in this age of uncertainty. 1. Children can easily get into the "flow" zone through the play-centered curriculum. They know learning happens anytime/anywhere, not only inside the classroom with textbooks. I believe my children will become lifelong learners with infinite curiosity. 2. Children encounter various situations for problem-solving every day, both individually and as a team. They know attentive listening is more effective than talking down or eloquence. You can study by yourself to score high grades on SAT, but you never get this team experience without a value-sharing community. 3. The hidden gem of McAuliffe is the developing opportunity for the parents to be authoritative parents. I am optimistic about my future relationship with my children when they become teenagers. I hope you will join our wonderful community! read more

Christa McAuliffe School - Elementary Schools Near Me - Saratoga, California

trips, love for learning, extra curriculum, parents aiding, small groups and attention from teachers, being seen

It's truly a gem of a school! We've been proud members of the McAuliffe family for the last 15 years, and our experience has been nothing short of amazing. My daughter is currently in her second year of college, having cherished her time at McAuliffe from kindergarten through 8th grade. Likewise, my boys are currently in 8th grade, having started their educational journey at McAuliffe in kindergarten. Over the years, I've witnessed the unwavering curiosity and enthusiasm with which my children approach their education at McAuliffe. McAuliffe is more than just a school; it's a community that values parental involvement and encourages hands-on learning through engaging projects. Beyond academics, McAuliffe instills vital life skills such as social interaction, teamwork, and problem-solving. And perhaps most importantly, McAuliffe provides a nurturing and secure environment where children can truly flourish and thrive. read more

Run-down and mayhem. Inadequate campus security and many access points for strangers to get access to classrooms, campus and students. Its on a 4 lane road, high speed road! Students seem stressed in the chaotic environment. Lots of running around with no adult supervision and lots of blind spots. SO much yelling by teachers and outdated negative/punishment-based methods used on the youngest kids (time out chairs like its 1990). The school is not project based or play-based no matter what the random volunteers say. Strangers allowed to take pictures of students on our tour (they werent family!). They aren't even credentialed to teach elementary school but principal is nowhere to be found and lets people lie to parents. Why the principal is not correcting the random people who claim all sorts of things and allowing people to lie to visiting parents. just the same old text books and worksheets and boredom/chaos. Paying $1300 every year and volunteer so much of my time when the school looks like it does. Cupertino schools aren't the newest but this place looks like a dump and feels like a dump. Treat your kids better. read more

This is a great alternative school within the Cupertino public school district with solid academics, social-emotional care and a wonderful community. It serves from TK-8th grade. read more

I have been a parent at this wonderful school for 10 years now. My older child, who is in high school is thriving thanks largely to the foundational skills McAuliffe has taught her. My younger child is a seventh grader and has been at McAuliffe since kindergarten. This is a place that truly builds and fosters a strong, supportive community. I have been aiding in the TK classroom this year every week. It has been a privilege to watch the children grow so much since the start of the year. I can stay with confidence they love being in school, and are given many opportunities to explore, be creative, and learn. The teacher and Instructional Assistant go above and beyond for these kids. In addition, the kids are lucky to have parent volunteers to enable extra support and differentiation. McAuliffe is a magical place for TK, Kindergarten and all grades. read more

McAuliffe is a hidden gem for our family. We put a lot of effort into finding a school like Mcauliffe. It so happened that we fell upon McAuliffe accidentally, despite our best efforts, and have been part of this wonderful community for 5 years now. We didn't expect to find this in our own public school system in Cupertino. It is a free and public education that uses a lottery system. The school is K-8. It is nice knowing we don't have to worry about changing schools until high school, although some kids do leave for middle school because they want to be part of a larger community. The school is small and it is parent participation, so plan on spending time in your child's classroom and taking on a job to further help out. -project based, hands-on learning most of the time - yes, there can still be worksheets here and there, but they are relevant to the curriculum and activities and sometimes a worksheet is necessary -parents and students go through the same training which focuses on positive discipline-no shaming behavior charts or turning red cards - This school has been teaching social emotional skills even before it was a thing, and it shows. -conflict resolution skills are taught to the children as early as TK and I get to see kids start to use these skills independently after a lot of practice -Classrooms engage in class meetings where problems are presented by the students, parents and /or teachers-the students come up with solutions and feel a sense of ownership with following through because they made the agreements! -the campus has a beautiful entrance and park-like setting that attracts my family there on some weekends to just have a picnic or hang out- is the entire campus spotless? No. It isn't perfect. The students take on projects to add to it. For instance, one child is doing a mural to beautify the school. -students engage in many projects through many grades that help them gain true to life experiences, relatable to the real world -this community is so open, understanding and non judgmental. A well known phrase, "Assume positive intent." In this day in age, this is so important. -students own their own learning -dedicated staff -so many community building activities: sharing feast, all community meetings, parent meetings, parent appreciation, big buddies, upper grades volunteering to do projects to help others, kids showing true passion about important topics that they can act upon: green team-this team of kids have come up with many ways to get their message out. They come up with the ideas and discuss ways to make them happen. They hosted their first green spirt week and it has been amazing. I see the evidence of this at home with my child. I am comforted to know he is getting green messages from not just me, but a whole community and his peers! The upper grades run their own cafe, where they manage the foods, the cash register and even the IOUs. It is amazing to see children running a shop on their own. Kids take part in planning meals for their overnight trips. They consider the needs of others by making sure allergy needs are addressed. They have a lot of field trips and overnights starting in 3rd grade. The kids come back changed and show more responsiblity and independence upon their return. Each year there is an art show toward the end where everyone, families and staff, come together to tour and see the wonderful art that each classroom has created over the year. It is quite an impressive display. I just can't say enough good things. Are the school and staff perfect, no? I have yet to come across a school or business that is. But the teachers have true passion in what they believe and our family is so lucky to have found such a like-minded, open-minded, creative, and welcoming community! If you are looking for a village to raise your child, it is here. Does it require commitment to go here, yes? If you find spending more time with your children and gaining actual involvement in their learning in their younger years to be a gift and it is a priority in your life, this is the place for you. The time you put in will be well worth it in the end and you will look back and realize you have grown as a parent along with your child. read more

As a former parent, former staff member and recent grandparent I am so happy to have been connected to this wonderful school over the years. Both of my children went there (way back in the day) and, more recently, my two local grandchildren were there. I've aided at all grade levels, served on the Board, and worked as an Instructional Assistant for a few different grades. To me, one of the most important aspects of the school is the relationships formed by families and among children which truly do last a lifetime. I see a review in which someone mentioned the Conflict Resolution process. One of my favorite anecdotes is the story of when a McAuliffe grad moved on to high school and experienced quite a bit of drama in her social circle there, she took it upon herself to convene and facilitate a successful conflict resolution session which none of the other participants had ever experienced before. Years later, they still talk about that day and how meaningful it was, not only in their immediate situation, but later in their own lives as well. Now that they have families of their own, I've also seen the impact of McAuliffe learnings on my own children's parenting styles. So yes, in the earliest years of TK or K when children are taught how to talk things out, it may take some doing -- but the impact of those few minutes spent on social rather than strictly academic growth invariably make the process of learning "the three R's" more harmonious, and their young brains more open to retaining that equally necessary information. And learn, indeed they do. We've had graduates at numerous top universities, one of whom, my own son, wrote part of his application essay to the Haas MBA Program about how his path toward lifelong learning began when he was in charge of the marketing, quality control and customer satisfaction evaluation processes at the "store" in 1st grade. Children at McAuliffe learn so much more than just the basics; they learn to be inquisitive, productive and responsible members of society -- something we so urgently need in this day and age. Thank you, McAuliffe, for all you have done for our family and for so many others over the years! read more

My child has been at McAuliffe since kinder, and he is in 4th grade now. What's amazing about McAuliffe is, not only my child learns and grows, I do too, as a parent and as a person. It is EXACTLY because it is a parent-participation school. It is required to aide in the classroom every week for certain number of hours and take on a "job" for the class. Optionally one can volunteer for school-wide initiatives. I was apprehensive at first - "I can barely handle my own child, how can I handle a room full of other people's kids?!" Well, first of all, there are the teacher and an Instructional Aide, AND other veteran parents there to model for you the appropriate way to be with kids. Every new parent is also required to take a 6-week training program to familiarize him/herself with the McAuliffe philosophy and the "language" to use. I learned different scenarios and how to deal with them with compassion and with confidence. Those skills help me to be effective and productive in the classroom. By following exactly the same principles at home, I also have become a more effective and better parent. And a better person. At McAuliffe, I learned by experience a most valuable life lesson: "The more one gives, the more one gets back." read more

My plan was to send my three kids to the regular public school down the street. It was a fluke when we checked out McAuliffe in Saratoga because I didn't know it would be accessible to us through lottery. The program focuses on the WHOLE child, includes social emotional learning and as a bonus, you and your child learn how to handle conflict resolutions (a tool for life). Now all three kids are students at McA and two parent trainings later I am a veteran parent aide. As an adult I've made connections that will be for life. This is a community for the entire family. My kids have said they want their children to learn at McA and if that isn't a winning endorsement I don't know what is. My kids like going to school and have told me to stop pulling them out for dental appointments. They value their electives and time spent learning with friends, teachers, IA, or parents. Here they feel confident and comfortable being who they are meant to be and accepted. Creating that safe environment for them to try new things is magical and intentional. They leave middle school having a stronger foundation of who they are in their identity rather than focusing on their GPA and tech flavor of the month. My student, my child, comes through a whole child. I'm grateful. read more

My 1st child was transferred to McAuliffe from a traditional elementary school, and the 1st day he attended McAuliffe, he didn't want to go back to his previous school. He was so much happier going to school all through 8th grade. He was a bit shy before but McAuliffe education transformed him into a confident and a very independent student. I really appreciate all the teachers & Instructional aides(IA) who paid attention to my child's different needs and helped him to learn life skills, be self disciplined and to manage his time and this strongly helps him enjoy his high school years even with lots of homework & tests. My other 2 kids had the same privileges because of the sibling priority, and they all are benefited through all field trips related with their curriculum and the hands on education. I love chaperoning with all the daily field trips and overnight field trips. You bond with the kids through these trips and this helps you aid in the classroom, and of course it's a life long learning for me, too. About the donation, I used to donate to my 1st child's traditional elementary school with half of the amount compare to McAuliffe, but I didn't really see how the money was used to benefit my child. At McAuliffe, most of the parents donation is used to hire IAs, and these IAs are so critical how the teaching in the classroom is not just lecturing and students just doing the practice sheet after practice sheet, rather kids can be formed into few groups and they collaboratively work together with the supervision of 2 teachers and few parents aides. Each student has more personal instructional time with a teacher and with an IA. These in-depth class time make McAuliffe different from other schools, and McAuliffe becomes somewhat homework free school. And this is why I would rather donate little bit more for my children to have enriched class time. My 2 children graduated from McAuliffe but they still love to visit McAuliffe whenever they can and my 3rd one is still enjoying McAuliffe. read more

It is the best school imaginable. I love how open everyone is and how well they all treat each other. The teachers are fantastic. Whenever I talk with them, they always do a great job of remembering what I actually said and not changing the meaning. I so appreciate how wonderful the prinicipal of the school was. She was amazing. Unfortunately she is retiring this year and she will be missed by all of us. She made this school what it is today. An amazing place where children and adults are highly valued and listened to. I can't imagine being anywhere else. read more

Both our kids went from K through 8 at McAuliffe. I can't say enough good things about the school, the staff, the parents and the philosophy. The multi grade classes were a high point that really expanded our kids experience and broaden there knowledge. read more