My daughter's second year at Audubon. I love the school and the teachers. They've done such a great…read morejob with the kids. The PTA is strong and usually covers all the supplies as well. Definitely recommend.

What, no reviews yet? Well I guess I'll be the first to review. :)…read more I absolutely LOVE this school (though I'm no longer there, due to moving out of the area). I've taught at 4-5 different school districts in my teaching profession due to moving a lot and this school is the one that stands out the most in my mind. Every time I think about my time at this school, I get a little dreamy and misty-eyed. First off, I had the most amazing coworkers. Not to say that my coworkers at my other schools weren't amazing too, but the teachers I met at this particular school are people I really enjoyed spending time with and getting to know. They're people you could see being lifelong friends with, and hanging out outside of the work day. I remember seeing everyone at the staff meetings and just thinking, what a great group of people. They even have a full-fledged vegetable garden out there! Secondly, the students are amazing. Or maybe it just happened to be my groups of students. They were SO CUTE and so intelligent. Their parents would spend so much time packing them cute little lunches and healthy snacks. Thirdly, the parents are fabulous too. When I first moved to this school, the parents were so friendly and welcoming me to the area, and I had to pinch myself to see if I was dreaming. What a wonderful community. The PTA/PTC rocks too. The admin/principal and office staff are phenomenal as well. I love being at a school where you have a supportive principal who trusts that you will do your best for your class, instead of micromanaging and making excessive demands (as evidenced in other schools I've taught at). Plus what amazing weather they have in Foster City. I've never been to a school where the weather is so mild that students can eat lunch pretty much every day outdoors. I know we don't really come on Yelp to see school reviews (try greatschools.org) but I figured I'd come here and be the first reviewer to rave about this school. I truly had the best teaching experience when I taught at this school. Like one coworker once said to me, "Teaching at Audubon is like winning the lottery." It truly is unlike any other.

I used to go their and it was a good school. The teachers are nice and they just added turfread more

Excellent school. Great teachers. PTA provides a lot for the school. They do direct donations…read moreinstead of traditional fundraising which is nice - I hate constantly selling things. School is growing in size, but that's demographics.

As a student who has gone to Bright Horizon Chinese School (BHCS) and is now a student at…read moreuniversity, BHCS was a cornerstone of my childhood and a foundational space for my friendships growing up in the Bay Area. Even outside of the after-school care provided by the school, where school buses would pick us up outside of our elementary schools, provide yummy snacks, teach us how to read, write, and speak Mandarin Chinese in class, and (though I was stubborn as a child), provide practice math and English language homework for students to get ahead. Annually, BHCS created iconic student showcases hosted at a local stage, known as "看我说中文"， where students like me would memorize important information about Chinese traditions, language, and community. Looking back, it was so funny to re-watch and see what I looked like at age 12. Although stern at times, its teachers deeply cared about our well-being, stayed communicative through me and my parents, and helped me progress in academia. BHCS has been such a foundational part of my experience in making and maintaining friendships, learning, and speaking Chinese (I can speak/read fluently, and my writing is still relatively fluent). Even after elementary school where BHCS would provide traditional children's after-school care, I still took weekend Chinese classes that would end up helping me get ahead in future AP Chinese/foreign language requirements for high school and college. In middle and high school, I volunteered at BHCS during my school breaks and would see new generations of students grow and connect with one another, which as a big sibling, was such a beautiful sight to see. My younger brother, now in high school, has followed my footsteps through BHCS's after-school care for elementary school students, and weekend classes for middle school students, and has even given back by also volunteering the same way I did in high school. All in all, as a student who has been through BHCS's whole curriculum with my younger brother following right behind me, the memories and experiences that I have had here were incredibly beautiful and are forever a part of my core memories. I still try and visit my teachers every year. 100% worth it! :)

Both my son and daughter attended BHCS, separated by maybe 6 or 8 years. The school teaches…read moreChinese speaking and writing, as well as math and supporting in school homework. Both kids had multiplication memorized before they even started elementary school, very impressive compared to their peers. The school holds performances several times a year, giving the children opportunities to develop all-important public communication and performance skills. It was amazing to watch such little children perform and speak with more poise than most adults. Beyond Chinese, math, school coursework, BHCS also had special classes in dance. (I believe the founder/principal had professional ballet background, explaining her ability to orchestrate such professional level performances annually.) CONCLUSION: 1. The boy who had Chinese exposure all his life came out of BHCS with very limited Chinese speaking and writing skills. The daughter, adopted, entered BHCS with ZERO Chinese speaking or comprehension, but emerged speaking, reading and writing perfect Chinese, with perfect accent and intonation. She can recite classical Chinese poetry and has pass ion to learn about her culture - impressive for someone with absolutely no Chinese capability when first enrolled. Conclusion- if your goal is for your kids to speak, read and write Chinese, know YMMV. Learning is so individual, and a school can only provide the teaching, but if someone resists learning, they won't learn. I can say this definitively based on my own personal experience and that of my son. 2. Regardless whether the kids learn Chinese, BHCS gave my kids an academic advantage, starting with early math, public speaking and performance opportunities, and homework time everyday. My daughter has very strong learning and memorization capabilities, which I attribute to her time at BHCS. 3. My son is now a successful corporate attorney. My daughter is very successful in high school and has the performance level to enter top universities. My son's classmates now include MDs, Management Consultants, Investment Bankers, Software Engineers, and many other successful careers. So many high performing young adults shared a BHCS history. I am convinced there is correlation between their success and BHCS. At the very least, the kids come away with an impressive network. My kids know or knew friends attending all the Foster City San Mateo schools, and out of dustruct schools. Their friends are amazed at the wide social network my kids have. These relationships seem to be lifelong friendships, as my kids continue maintaining close ties with their BHCS alumni. 4. Finally, I recognize the individuality of experience. There are many paths to success and happiness. One size cannot fit all. Some kids don't do well in a structured environment. Some parents don't want their kids to be too academic, preferring more play time. Clearly, there were many successful graduates of BHCS, yet, as the reviews show, some did not have a positive experience. I am also aware of a past member of the staff splitting off and opening her own school to compete with BHCS, employing some questionable practices. Are the negative reviews related to that? I cannot say.

We love this school so much. Wornick is an amazing community for the kids as well as the parents…read more The teachers and staff actually care about your kids - it is amazing! We are also really happy with the balance of academic rigor and focus on social/emotional learning. They are building the next leaders of the world seeped in good values. We could not be happier.

I too highly recommend this school. My child has been there since Kindergarten and we knew our son…read moreneeded some 1-1 attention and support for reading and comprehension and were concerned that if he didn't get it he would be left behind. I am so glad to say that each of his teachers has taken the time to get to know our son, understand his strength and weaknesses, frame up very relevant goals, and do everything they can to help him achieve them. He is doing quite well and keeping up. The other aspects that were astounding to me being from a public school experience was that they have the "Peace Path" that they use to teach the kids how to resolve conflicts with that goes beyond just saying sorry to taking ownership of their actions and listening to the other child to see how they can make them whole. This training begins in Kindergarten no less. On top of that they take time each morning to reflect on how they did the previous day and enjoy the wins and see how they can be better today. Heck I try do all of that as an adult!! The other reasons we chose Wornick is that they stand for the kids being international citizens, learn how to stand up in front of their peers and speak and persuade, and to learn how to learn not just memorize stuff for a test. Again all things I strive to do as an adult and they start in Kindergarten. I to suggest you visit and ask to talk to teachers, parents, staff, etc. and see what you think. Mr. King is an awesome Kindergarten teacher and we felt so lucky to have a male role model to start with. Adeelee Feldman really got into what Nikolas needed and helped him gain confidence in his strengths in first grade. We look forward to what Ms. Mahoney will bring in 2nd Grade. All the best!

The Omni Montessori preschool has turned out to be high above our expectations. We had to move…read moreseveral times in the past and changed three different preschools for our kids. We have been staying with Omni preschool for two years already and extremely happy. The teachers are intelligent, responsible and - what is most important of all- they LOVE kids like their own. The facility is organized accordingly to Maria Montessori's belief. The food is healthy and yummy, the curriculum allows kids to start kindergarten well-prepared and confident, they maintain friendly and creative atmosphere in the class. We highly recommend this preschool to every one who is looking for the kind and loving teachers and strong curriculum.

The best decision which I took for my 2.5 years old son was to join omni montessori. We moved him…read morefrom other school where he had hard time. He use to cry at drop off for 3 months and throw up very often and hardly use to eat anything. This all changed within a week of joining omni montessori. He is happy and dancing going to school. Eats well and listens to directions. He is completely in love with Miss Saniya. At home he misses Miss Saniya I saw great progress in my son. Miss Saniya trained him for potty training within 2-3 weeks which other school struggled for months. They provide fresh food, loving and caring environment for children and also take care of academics. They do activities and projects even at 2.5 years. They celebrate all festivals and important days like father's day etc which creates a bond. I am short of words to thank Mrs Zack and Miss saniya for there hard work and how with love they nurture kids. I highly recommend Omni Montessori !!

Our son spent two years in the Butterfly class at Challenge School's San Mateo campus, and…read morehonestly, sending him here is one of the best decisions we've made as parents. When he first started, he was a quiet little boy. He'd come home from his old, all-English school and barely say a word about his day, and making friends never came easily to him. That slowly changed here. From his very first days, Challenge felt safe to him, and bit by bit he came out of his shell -- chatting about his friends, laughing more, growing into the outgoing, happy kid we'd always hoped to see. Watching that happen has meant more to us than we can put into words. So much of it comes down to the teachers. He adores Teacher Francis and greets him with a hug every single morning, and there's a genuine tenderness in the way the teachers treat the kids -- right down to the little nicknames they have for each of them. What really stayed with us, though, is how the school shows up when things get hard. Last year our son got bigger and full of energy, and his afternoon nap started keeping him up later and later at night. Bedtime turned into a nightly battle -- some nights we were still at it past midnight, and the whole family was exhausted. When we brought it up, they didn't just nod and move on; they sat down and worked through it with us. They offered to move him to the after-school class, and -- knowing how much his friends mean to him -- suggested he could still spend his mornings with his original class so he wouldn't lose them. His sleep eventually sorted itself out and we never needed to make the switch, but the fact that they were so willing to bend for one family told us everything. His Mandarin has blossomed here, and so has his confidence in English. He mostly speaks Mandarin, but Teacher Hanan gently coaxed him up for Show & Tell each week, and he went from not wanting to say a word to standing in front of the class and telling his story in English. The teachers keep a close, caring eye on the whole child, too -- they check in with us often about how he's doing with his learning, his play, his communication -- and they're always adjusting to help him along. And it's simply a joyful place to be a kid. He's forever bringing home crafts and drawings, he helps look after the classroom plants, and he counts down to every holiday they celebrate -- Easter, Halloween, Lunar New Year, Valentine's Day. We're deeply grateful to Francis, Hanan, Nicole, and everyone at Challenge School. If you're looking for a warm, bilingual preschool where your child will be truly seen and truly cared for, we couldn't recommend it more.

Our son had a wonderful experience in the Butterfly class and summer camps. The teachers were…read morecaring, knowledgeable, and genuinely supportive. The curriculum was thoughtful and engaging, and we were especially happy to see how much his Mandarin improved. The facilities were always clean and well maintained. We also loved the many events held throughout the year, including Lunar New Year, Halloween, and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Our son's performances were such a pleasant surprise, especially the Christmas performance at the mall! We're very grateful for our experience and would highly recommend this preschool.

I'm sad to report that College Park hit the wall this past year. In terms of it being a school…read morewith qualities our family supports, it's no longer a fit for us. Be aware: API results blend gifted (self contained) classes with the general school population. To analyze test scores for non-GATE Mandarin-track kids, you'll have to dig hard. It's a mixed picture. Sadly, most parents don't know how tough it is to staff Mandarin schools well (I've been involved with Mandarin immersion schooling for 25 years). CP is now bleeding experienced staff who feel the program under-serves kids who can't deal with immersion. They're 100% right btw. To evaluate this school accurately, ask tough questions about budget, and visit more than one Mandarin program. This one's budget is threadbare and nearly entirely reliant on volunteers to supplement teaching. If your child is a VERY adept speaker of English (i.e. will not require any help ever supplementing his reading or writing in English) an un-funded Mandarin public school education probably won't do much damage. Our story... In 2011-12, a bullying problem flared up. A core of tough boys were leading teachers around by the nose, disrupting class,and taunting kids. Ours got it often, others had it worse. There was a lot of boy-on-girl bullying. We and my daughter asked for help, but teachers were intimidated by the boys and ineffectual in handling them. We asked about a bullying policy and were told there wasn't one. Some teachers were turning a blind eye out of misplaced empathy for boys who needed to be removed from class, educated separately, or punished. I was told - after witnessing a very public humiliation of my daughter by 5 boys - that "these kids have trouble at home." It was my 9 year old's job to suck it up and tolerate it apparently. The air at College Park is thick with racial politics, and it has repeatedly affected the daily lives of some children (granted some kids feel none of this and to them I say: mazel tov, you've been lucky). The principal rejects the concept that there are discipline problems, or indeed ANY serious problems with the program. Her own staff roll their eyeballs when the subject of Mrs. H "listening" is mentioned. Nothing derails her constant, tedious boosterism. Imposing Mandarin immersion on a student body whose parents are perhaps 10% functionally illiterate or 40% poor English speakers is just bad policy. It's true that a few English-learners excel, but they are a tiny minority. Most struggle. Many fail. These kids need a strong traditional English program. Teaching quality is all across the board. Many long-time teachers of English at CP have been wonderful. Some of them are leaving. And frankly, their efforts are being undermined by this now unfunded, experimental Mandarin program. Given the extreme needs among the local kids for outstanding English teaching, I'm truly confused about why the district would continue Mandarin at College Park. You're lifting API at the expense of kids who need the 3 Rs. Budget decimation. In December 2011, the federal government pulled the grant program that funded the $300,000/year Mandarin immersion program at College Park. To be clear: THE FEDERAL MONEY IS GONE. We all knew it was coming. I asked if they wanted help raising serious foundation money but was told they didn't understand the questions I was asking ("What is your budget and where is it written down?). The level of naivete around how to manage the loss of funds by raising other funds was startling - really startling. You do NOT find $100k+ at a bake sale or a single Chinese meal for PTA members. Heavy fundraising requires professional expertise and a budget. They have no expertise and demonstrated confusion when asked for a budget. A nice, totally inexperienced group of parents was assembled to raise money to replace some of the funds. They had raised, by June 2012, about $20,000. So, from $300,000 to, less than 1% of that. The principal doesn't dig outside expertise. Big mistake. She needs heavy help fund raising and she's not asking for it. The lady shows all the signs of having a thin skin and refusing help she can't control. 3rd and 4th grades were combined. There is no more differentiated instruction in Mandarin. New parents rarely understand how badly CP's immersion compares to those in other districts. Their kids may end up doing ok, but only if they have plenty of outside tutors in Mandarin. We were sad to leave that community of friendly people. PTA folks are super. But we felt that under present leadership, CP would never fix its troubles. There are some super smart parents trying to make it work at CP. I earnestly wish them luck. But it's unlikely the program will thrive without leadership change.

My daughter is now in second grade. She was a kinder when a brand new principle came to the…read moreschool. I had a lot of respect for the previous principle and I also feel really good about the current one. I think Steven Chuang probably speaks more Mandarin than English so his delivery might be misunderstood by folks that are native. Over the course of the last 3 years I do see a lot of compassion and effort on his part, and the teachers too. It seems to me like this is a great school where u have parents teachers and principle working together. I will say I am not a fan of the district people for taking away the magic from the bilingual after school program. Kuai Le. I was not impressed by the people sitting in the district offices.

Our child has been attending AAF for a few years now, pre, during and now - post pandemic. The…read moreteachers are very thoughtful & and give our child all the attention she needs from the time that she enters and leaves the school. I have seen a real evolution of her behavior and attitude towards school, I feel this is a direct result of the passion of the teachers and their belief in the Montessori system. The location is easy to get to, safe for drop offs and parking is always easy to find. There was a ownership change since we have been there and while that transition was not a pleasant one - the new owners have been keen to address any concerns that we had and have surpassed our expectations. The school is a great choice if you are local and are looking for teachers that care about their students.

This review has been a long time coming…read more My son is starting his 2nd year at AAF and we could not be happier. Ms Debanjali, Ms Swana and Mr. Tamir are really invested in each child and you can tell that they really get to know them as individuals. I can see the growth in my son academically and emotionally. He makes friends so easily, and that was something we were worried about post pandemic. The teachers keep us up to date on our son's development and are open to teachers conferences year round. They really make my son feel special and excited about learning. We are looking forward to this new year!