We've had such a positive experience with Living Wisdom School. From the beginning, our family was welcomed with warmth and genuine care, and our son transitioned from public school far more smoothly than we could have hoped. He quickly felt included, made friends easily and has truly enjoyed going to school each day. What stands out most is the balance between strong academics and personal growth. The students are not only challenged academically, but also given practical tools to build confidence, emotional awareness, responsibility, focus, and resilience that they can carry with them throughout life. The teachers and staff are thoughtful, engaged, and clearly care deeply about each child as an individual. We've also been impressed by the sense of community throughout the school. It feels supportive, intentional, and uplifting for both students and parents. We're very grateful to have found a school environment that nurtures individuality, creativity, well-being and a genuine love of learning alongside academics. read more

The schools focus on holistic education shaped our sons personality in ways that we were really surprised and happy. The curriculum, method of teaching and even small things like starting the day with a meditation calms the kids to drive more focus. The annual play is a great exercise in getting kids to be more independent and work together as a team on something that is larger than themselves. Would highly recommend! read more

What a wonderful school! This place is the best-kept secret! I write this review both to help interested families and to express my gratitude to the school. When my son was in our public school, by fourth grade he was hating math, struggling socially, resisting homework, etc. etc. His teachers were kind, but it just wasn't flowing. Early in my son's first year at LWS, I remarked to him, joyously, that he had a three-day weekend coming up. His teacher overheard and said, "Huh, a lot of the students prefer school days to weekends. I guess he needs a little more time." I felt bad because I might have offended the teacher. It didn't occur to me that it was possible that kids would really like school that much. Fast forward another two years and I am not sure if my son would say he "loves school." But I see him going to school without stress and flourishing. I see him animatedly talking about what he did each day, and what he is doing for his assignments. I see him collaborating with me on how to sequence his homework each day, without resisting the work. There are some assignments he does the minimum on. But there are others that he pours himself into. He takes pride in his achievements in math. He feels the drama of the school play deeply. He goes above and beyond for the science fair. And he feels accepted and included socially. How does the school make this difference? It is hard for me to say. I've read a little bit about the Education for Life philosophy. It claims that learning should be fun, that kids should be good friends to each other, that everyone should take responsibility for shaping their own experience, that teachers should enter children's world, and that teachers should work with kids' energy first. It sounds very soft and warm. But there is a certain toughness to it, too. While I find it all compelling, what makes the school special is how well the teachers bring it to life. It is not just marketing copy or the beliefs of some founder that have not survived the school's evolution. It is the fabric of the school. The teachers and administrators are very calm, heartfelt, and poised. They are able to reach the kids in a way that helps them feel calm, safe, and engage deeply. Perhaps the best example of this deep engagement is the school play. The whole school comes together to put on a wonderful play each year. They practice a lot, the costumes are wonderful, and the kids find their voice and embody their characters. The topic rotates through a roster of great historical figures, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Siddhartha, etc. The school isn't formally religious, but it does celebrate certain values, as revealed by these play topic selections. And it is not formally spiritual, but they do do a fair amount of yoga and movement to help kids regulate. The depth also shows up in music. When in our local public school, my son only played his recorder when he wanted to annoy his brother. Fast forward a year and he is practicing his guitar by choice because he wants to master the notes, rhythms, etc. It is certainly not an academic pressure cooker, but they certainly go deep in math, too. Many students accelerate one year or more by California core curriculum standards. They also take social-emotional and life skills seriously. Every school talks about this, but it is pretty 'thick' at LWS. A few of the ethics that are emphasized are choosing happiness, being a good friend, producing quality work, ensuring work gets done, and doing things you have never done before. A lot of those new experiences happen on the trips they take. If I remember correctly, from late elementary school and onwards, they take 2 week-long school trips. It was the longest my son was away from his family. He was self-reliant, he tried new foods, he went on a 5 mile hike, he learned how to take some personal space when he needed it, etc. etc. The 'working with energy first' part is interesting. They shared materials stating that kids can be in three states. One in which they feel heavy and are motivated to avoid punishments. One in which they are lighter and are seeking rewards. And one in which they are expressing themselves and exploring the world out of curiosity. They seek to help escalate kids through those stages. And they succeed. I was struck by how on a school camping trip a long hike happened. It wasn't scheduled. It wasn't mandatory. The kids wanted to explore. And when they wanted to a few adults materialized and we were off. It was so different from when I try to get my kids to hike with me, which feels like I am dragging them on a torturous death march. One prominent feature of this school is that it is small. Many of the classes contain multiple grades. E.g. the fourth graders and fifth graders are in the same class. I have come to see that as a good thing. It fosters relationships across kids of differing ages, which I think is the natural state of the world. I think it also reduces some competition read more

As I watched the Spring Concert today, I again felt grateful that we discovered this magical school for our son 6 years ago. The environment here enables each child to bloom at their own pace, their own way. There's positivity and joy in the air. The learning is driven by "pull" from the students rather than "push". This approach spurs natural organic academic excellence. High learning with low stress - for the whole family! The camaraderie in the parent teacher community is palpable and completes the learning circle! read more

We are so pleased to have found this school. Every single one of the teachers there has made a positive impact on my daughter's life and she has only been there for two years (TK and K) They genuinely care about all the children and they do a great job of making every child feel significant and special. Everything written on their website is true, everything they said to me on the phone during my admission process is true and what I saw during my prospective visit was genuine. My daughter has grown so much academically, emotionally and spiritually since attending Living Wisdom School. I could not possibly be any happier with my decision to enroll her there. read more

Think very carefully before enrolling one's child in living wisdom school. The educational philosophy seems to be primarily for students to figure things out for themselves, with less attention paid to actual teaching. This is particularly evident in math instruction, which basically involves the students moving through a textbook themselves, each one working individually during class time. There is also a very insidious, almost cult-like, religious aspect underpinning the what seems to be the entirety of the enterprise, covered in a thin veneer of numerous and oft-repeated platitudes about kindness and other generic slogans. There are some bright spots, such as the musical instruction, but these are (in my opinion) heavily outweighed by the negatives. read more

LWS is such an amazing school that I don't think I can cover all the wonderful points in one simple review. But I'll try. My daughter joined it this fall in the second grade, and within days, she claimed it to be the best school ever and anywhere. Everyday she came back home cheerful and relaxed, enthusiastic about her homework and wanting to do more than what the teachers asked for. She doesn't want to miss any part of the school so that it's even hard to ask her to go to her dentist appointments. Last week she had a sore throat and a cold and stayed home for a day, and she wanted to go back to school so much that she recovered within a day and a night, which was amazing. I really believe her strong desire and willpower played an important role in that speedy recovery. I have met and talked to many students at LWS and LWHS (Living Wisdom High School), and everyone told me how much they loved their schools. Why is LWS such a wonderland with every kid is happy, friend, kind, and loves to go to school everyday? There are many unique things of LWS, and here are a few: 4 unique points of LWS 1) School starts with a morning walk, sprint, exercise (energizing), and meditation (or centering/ relaxation), which is truly for the body, mind, and soul. 2) Every grade has math class as the first class of the day, which happens at the same time. That is, if a student needs to move up a grade or down, it's flexible and possible (individual- focused approach). This makes so much sense, academically. 3) The annual school play/performance is participated by every single student, and it's a play of the life of a great soul and a saintly person. Students learn all kinds of knowledge and skills by participating in this play, let alone public speaking skills and stage experience. We watched the plays in the past two years, and were deeply impressed and touched. You can find the recordings on the school website. 4) Each year, the last day sees the end of the year celebration, where every student receives an outstanding quality from their teachers, such as leadership, confidence, kindness, etc. I went to the last celebration, and was touched to tears! You can find the the past video recordings on the school website too. Of course, there are many other points, such as the great emphasis on music (nurturing the soul and brightening the mind), public speaking, the tradition of collecting "kindness stones" in a basket in each classroom, the rules of enjoying yourself and being everyone's friend, and so on. The results of these unique points naturally lead to a big-family environment, kindness and laughters, enthusiasm for learning and academic achievements (academics is easy, if you're in a friendly and nurturing environment where everyone's your friend and you feel supported and encouraged), and a true education for life. In fact, LWS is based on the Education For Life (EFL) teaching philosophy, which itself is the best teaching philosophy, in my opinion. My husband and I are grateful for LWS everyday. Just go there with your kids and feel it yourself. Kids are usually better at sensing the right and positive vibrations than us adults, and they'll tell you whether it feels right. read more

Our daughter spent her junior and senior high school years at the Living Wisdom High School in Palo Alto after spending the prior two years at a very large public school. She has graduated and has been admitted to a prestigious college with scholarship. We don't think she would have had the same college opportunities if she had continued in her prior school. LWHS prepared her to be a great young adult and opened up many opportunities for her. She had an enriching and fun two years at LWHS. She truly loves and cherishes her time at there. She blossomed in the small and highly individualized learning environment at LWHS. Her teachers and staff were well qualified and excellent educators. Our daughter considers them the best teachers she has ever had. Even more important, perhaps, is that they were some of the kindest people we have ever met. They were very approachable and genuinely cared for our daughter's mental wellbeing. High school is emotionally challenging for teens and LWHS seems to be on top of managing that. LWHS may not be for everybody. It is a micro school where individualized learning, freedom to explore, and kindness are emphasized and guided by a small set of wonderful teachers and staff. They are not big enough to support a large athletic department, a big choir group, a hundred different clubs, or any such resource that one may be used to in large schools. In fact, our daughter missed being part of such large group activities. But the benefits she got from being part of the micro school far outweighed the things she missed. LWHS is different, and for many kids, in the best possible way. We are glad and grateful that our daughter had an opportunity to go there. read more

I'm really surprised there aren't any recent reviews of lws. It's located by the Ananda church on el Camino by college terrace. While it may seem like a hippie dip pie school- it's actually quite academic and is unique in its emotional balance towards hard academics. Math wise- they are 1 or more yrs ahead of pausd elementary for the corresponding grade. They also differentiate based on skill level of ur child. Many of their students have won math competitions in the upper middle school and it's obvious the teachers really care about the kids. I would say this is a school ideal for a child that is advanced 1-3 years but also not highly competitive. This is a place that kids from challenger can come to recuperate and recover while still learn. They try to stress cooperation even when kids don't get along. The head of the school- Helen is highly aware of academic and social emotional issues with kids and tries to work with every parent that joins. They are reasonable for lack of a better term. Nothing they suggest is too harsh or out of line and they really do have the best interest of your child. Parents have been the kindest I have ever met. Completely not competitive. Completely open and helpful. Not flashy or showing off and very welcoming. read more

Thank you, Gary (and Helen), for responding almost a year later. Though, to this day, you have not reached out to me personally. Thank you for copying the same email you sent out to LWS parents a year ago, not addressing most of the harmful behavior, inviting them in for tea and discussion yet when I told you that my family was leaving your school because of racism, you did not even ask what we had experienced. You didn't really need to ask because you both, as School Board President and Head of School, were on the entire thread with the 4th/5th grade teacher and had been aware of the issues for at least 6 months before you finally relented and came to a meeting, not called by me, called by the parents of children who were harmed by this teacher's behavior and your lack of leadership. Even in that meeting, neither you, Gary, nor Helen would address me directly. You came "to listen", which was just another way to deny your responsibility as leaders. As leaders, Gary and Helen, how does your passive aggressive response show any LWS values (friendship, joy, etc)? Sadly, you have not grown but have continued to deny the harmful racism in your school. Thank you for holding up the biographies of people of African descent from the school plays. The presence of People of Color does not equal the absence of racism. Which is more impactful, the day to day exclusion in the classes, e.g. using the word "American" to mean "white", forcing a child to read derogatory books about Indigenous people, (and your own teaching that uses whitewashed history and texts) or the few weeks centered around one "exceptional" Black person? I only came here to inform because I wish someone had told me. Helen and Gary, as teachers and as leaders, have been harming children at LWS for years. I will not be a partner to this harm by staying silent. read more

We highly recommend Living Wisdom School for families who want their children to grow academically, socially, and spiritually. While many schools have such a mission on paper, the educators in Living Wisdom School truly live up their promises. Their approach is consistent with research that indicates children learn best when they feel secure enough to enjoy the challenges of a rigorous academic curriculum. Our daughter has been with Living Wisdom School since 3rd grade, and she just finished a wonderful first year of middle school. Even with the challenges of the pandemic, Living Wisdom School was able to create an effective learning environment for all its students by providing a flexible hybrid teaching environment. The principal, teachers, and administration in Living Wisdom School are the most dedicated educators I have even seen! As parents, we wanted to raise a self motivated learner instead of pushing our daughter every step of the way. We feel it is more important to cultivate a love of learning than to hyperfocus on competition, test scores, and outer accolades. We switched to Living Wisdom School after learning from other parents how the LWS learning environment supports the unique needs of every child, regardless of academic or behavioral challenges. On a scale from 1-10, our daughter rated her middle school experience as a 10. Then, on the last day of in-person instruction, she reduced her rating to a 9 since she would not see her classmates for a while, which made her feel sad. She grew a lot this year both academically and socially and always looked forward to the start of the school week, which we feel is one of the best possible endorsements for a school. Living Wisdom School is truly a unique hidden gem in Silicon Valley. read more

I second the opinions in the review below (by Catherine R). Our experience at this school was similar -- the exact nature of the incidents were different, of course. But what was unchanged was the utter indifference of the director, Ms Helen Purcell. When I tried to approach her with some concerns, she shut me out with alarming rudeness and hostility. All the big talk of "Practice Kindness" (which the school drums on about endlessly) is just that -- all talk! There is clear favoritism towards some students, but nothing much can be done about it. Our conclusion was that this is a very small school that gets all the enrollment they seek. They are neither looking for, nor can they handle any more students. So they don't really care if a student leaves -- I think they are happy for families expressing concerns on behalf of their children (and who don't keep showering the school with compliments for every little thing) to leave. They are simply not interested in addressing any issues or even hearing any feedback. They have a few teachers who have been at the school long term, but it's a revolving door for some of the lower grades -- and they certainly cannot be accused of having high standards for recruitment! Our child still remembers one of her lower grade teachers as the absolute low point of her school journey. We wish we had been better informed before we joined this school -- all the references that LWS gave us were expectedly of parents who are extremely committed to LWS and provided over the top glowing reviews. Wish we had had a chance to speak with someone who had a more balanced viewpoint. We are very happy to put the LWS chapter behind us as our children continue on their tremendous journeys at other schools. read more

My daughter went to LWS from 6th to 8th grade. After 3 years I feel I've made the right choice for my daughter. To list a few things which have impressed me the most: Just like the name Living Wisdom has suggested, EQ education is at the core of the school. You will see kindness, respect, inclusiveness and happiness the moment you walk into the school. Public speech is highly valued and practiced by every single student (yes, even including Kindergarten!) continuously through the Annual End of Year Celebration and Annual Play. 2 field trips each year for middle schoolers when the students are taken away from their parents for 1 week, learn to take care of themselves independently, help each other along the week-long trip and form a family-like relationship among teachers and students, while appreciating the beauty of nature or the charm of Shakespeare, etc. I really like the way Helen teaches language arts. It's not only for the sake of passing college test, but truly improving literary cultivation which will benefit the students for the whole of their life. As a result, my daughter falls in love with poetry though English is not her native language. I believe most of these have come down to Gary and Helen. I feel fortunate to have sent my daughter to the right school at the right timing! The major drawback - the school is rather small with limited recreation area for the students. For me this is the trade offs I'm happy to make given all the highlights above. read more

Posting this on behalf of my daughter: I was a student at Living Wisdom School in Palo Alto from kindergarten to eighth grade, and now I'm a sophomore in high school. Looking back, I can say that Living Wisdom really did live up to its name. From the kindest, most caring teachers to the magnificent annual play to the Winter and Spring concerts, LWS gives students many opportunities to feel comfortable performing. The experience is fun and improves self-esteem and confidence. Each play also teaches the audience and the actors about other cultures...plays about Krishna, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington Carver (famous for peanuts and gardening), Hafiz, and the Dalai Lama. I"ve always been pretty good at memorizing things, probably because of the plays. The play isn't the only time a student is on stage. LWS has an End-of-Year Ceremony that includes every student in the school, not just the graduates. If you really want to get a bird's eye view of the school, check out the video on the website. Every student receives a quality like 'lightheartedness,' 'maturity,' or 'playfulness," a quality the teachers feel represents an area of growth for each student during the year. Students then write a speech (a sentence for the Kindergarteners, up to two pages for the graduating eighth graders) and deliver it in front of the whole student and parent body. This is a once-in-a lifetime experience! Field trips are another avenue to get to know your classmates better. In 4th/5 th grade, students go on a biannual field trip that lasts two nights. Students in Middle School go for a whole week to places like the Ashland, Oregon Shakespeare Festival to see the play they already performed in Readers Theater. We also figured out how to get to Yosemite solely using public transport, and we backpacked, kayaked, and camped at various national parks. We learned to be independent, to ration our money, and to depend on ourselves. Of course, academics are the largest part of any school, and that's the same with LWS. In middle school, you get to go at your own pace in Math. In my case, because I love math so much, in 6th grade, I completed 6th and 7th grade math, plus Algebra I. That allowed me to do geometry in 7th grade and Algebra II in 8 th . Science was quite interesting, too. I loved the experiments and hands-on assignments. I remember one experiment where we extracted DNA from strawberries and could see the white strands (By the way, I later did this same experiment in a college-level Bio-10 course). My love of history grew greatly in my middle school years because the teacher, Gary, loved the subject and taught us to love it too. Language Arts is supplemented by large libraries in each classroom, plus we created an annual Literary Magazine and illustrated it ourselves. To top it all off, everyone gets to study an instrument: recorder, piano, or guitar, and perform during the Winter and Spring concerts. Most of all, LWS makes you feel special--the type of special that gives you a warm glow, that breaks down the walls some kids have when they're afraid of asking for help or of talking in front of an audience. Overall, Living Wisdom School has made my life easier. I readily go on stage, walk up to people I've never met and strike up a conversation, and every time, I remember my lovely nine years at LWS. read more

If I could only impress one thing upon you, it would be this; Living Wisdom School prepares EVERY child not only for high school and beyond, but also to be a meaningful member of society. I am an alumni, and I attended from 6th-8th grade. In terms of academics, LWS is fantastic. I've always liked to learn, and that drive to perform was supported though self-paced math, an annual science fair, and historical presentations. I felt very prepared when I got to high school in every subject (in fact, most of my classes were outstandingly boring after LWS). In literature, reading and analyzing Shakespeare was a breeze after three years of Shakespearian plays at LWS, and the bar for a good essay seemed incredibly low after writing essays for Helen for three years. I know some parents care about statistics, so I graduated high school with a 4.4 GPA and am attending UCSD majoring in Aerospace Engineering. In my opinion though, the most important thing that I got out of LWS was my set of soft skills. In terms of soft skills: At first, I was incredibly shy, and being put into a new environment where most of my peers had been friends and classmates for years prior to me joining was dauting. What I remember most is how friendly and welcoming *everyone* was. Even though I was devastatingly shy and nervous, teachers from all different grades would talk to me during breaks, and my classmates always made sure to include me in conversations and games. My peers welcomed me into their friend groups, and I had no trouble finding friends. In fact, almost 5 years later, I still talk to many of those friends. Not only that, but the experience of being welcomed with open arms instilled the importance of friendliness and kindness in me- something I took with me into both high school and college. During orientation week, it was not a problem for me to walk up to new people, introduce myself, and start conversations. This is definitely a skill I developed and practiced at LWS. Another thing to know about LWS is that they prepare EVERYONE for public speaking. Before I attended, the thought of preforming in front of an audience terrified me. After three years of winter concerts, spring concerts, graduation ceremonies, and plays, believe me when I say that I learned how to speak in front of a crowd. In high school, whenever we had group presentations, I would not hesitate to volunteer to present our information to the class because it was easy compared to memorizing lines, cues, and sheet music. Although I could honestly go on forever about all the soft skills I developed at LWS, the last one I think I'll touch on is how to meet everyone and everything with an open mind. With the variety of historical figures we studied, I learned that everyone's upbringing, experiences, and mindsets are unique. However, being different does not mean that we cannot come together to understand each other, work together as one, and use our differences to better ourselves. This openness to differences has greatly helped me in diversifying the community of friends I have now and broadening my own opinions and beliefs. As an alumni who has attended numerous other schools, I would highly recommend LWS. I loved my experience there both socially and academically, and the other schools I've attended do not hold a candle to LWS in terms of growth. Finally, I would be happy to answer any other questions as honestly as possible if it would help any parents searching for the right school for their child wanting to talk to an alumni! read more

My daughter was so fortunate to attend LWS from 1st through 8th grade, and I am still grateful for them every day. And a little envious that I didn't have such a fabulous opportunity! ;-) Oh how I would have loved the kindness and family feeling of this gem of a school! I was first impressed by the school rules: 1. Enjoy Yourself 2. Practice Kindness 3. Choose Happiness 4. Be a Loving Friend 5. Laugh Often 6. Trust Yourself 7. Find the Joy Within 8. Use your will to Create Good Energy And wonderful to see the rules in action through the years, as the young students blossomed into their full potential! My daughter loves the arts, loved the yearly school play, but never has enjoyed academics, but the teachers at LWS made it fun - even math! - and prepared her so well that she earned straight A's in high school, was asked to tutor other kids in math, and graduated as co-senior of the year in 2010. She's now doing very well at U.C.S.C., and still sees several friends from LWS as a regular thing. They are family to us! I think LWS does the very best possible job of preparing kids to be happy, effective, leaderful adults, all the while allowing them to enjoy being kids. They make school fun! I would choose them again in a heartbeat, and am happy to recommend them without reservation. read more

There are few things I can recommend without any reservation. Living Wisdom School is one of them. It is the best kept secret in Palo Alto. Our son has been at Living Wisdom School since 4th grade. He is now in Middle School at Living Wisdom. I cannot say enough good things about this school, but let me name a few of the highlights that made us choose the school and have kept us there. 1) Size - The school overall is tiny. There are less than 100 kids in grades K-8. The Middle School has a combined classroom of under 20 in grades 6-8. This allows a truly individualized approach where the teachers know every child and their need in a deep way. 2) Academics - The small size allows self-pacing. Our son was able to go up to Middle School Math in 5th grade, and is consistently 1-2 years ahead of grade level. At the same time in areas he needs help he gets intensive and dedicated support. 3) Multiple age classrooms - The classes are organized in groupings of 1-3, 4-5, 6-8. This groups younger kids with older peers that they can emulate. We love that about the school and it works VERY well. 4) Emotional Learning - The school practices no religion. Most teachers live at the Ananda Community, but Ananda does not play a day to day role at the school. They teach a philosophy of kindness, love, and emotional honesty that is rare today. The children are taught yoga, meditation, and kindness. The teachers practice what they preach and live this approach in the classroom. 4) Teachers - The teachers are dedicated to the children and the philosophy of the school. They know each child very well - and the fact that they have each child for 2-3 years really forms a deep bond. If you want to raise an independent, kind, self-aware child - you owe it to your self and your child to look at Living Wisdom. read more

My son has attended Living Wisdom School, since he was two and a half. We started in Seattle, at the Living Wisdom School, there. He has always loved going to school. He thrives at Living Wisdom School! When we learned that we had to move for a job to come here, to California, we should have moved near the East Bay, near the location of my husband's job. Though, we moved down here, to be part of Living Wisdom School. So, my husband commutes, 4 hours a day, so that our son can go to this school. Our son would not have it any other way. He loves this school. We love this school. Now, he is in 4th grade and still loving it! read more

This is a hidden gem - with the right balance of academics and social/emotional development. The teachers emphasize kindness and happiness - at the same time a very rigorous academic curriculum. My younger one started here in the TK program, now the older one attends middle school here as well. Very impressed by how they handled online education during SIP, whereas my older one was struggling in a lottery public school in Palo Alto. My child is very excited by the fact that he can challenge himself in Math as much as he want to - something that was not encouraged by most of his teachers in public school. read more

My child hated school for five years, and yet her teachers said she seemed happy and was a model student. So after trying a few public schools, we did educational testing and looked at private. She was fortunate enough to be accepted to all 7 of the most highly regarded private Bay Area schools. My child, the educational consultant and I all felt Living Wisdom would be the best fit for her because the kind culture was beyond any SEL we had seen. The 4/5 and 6-8th grade teachers create a culture of calm presence, spontaneous fun, and authentic acceptance. The vulnerability the kids demonstrated during the school-wide talent show was clear evidence of the complete acceptance they feel. The entire school plays a few different games at recess so there aren't cliques or kids alone on the playground. The 4/5 and 6-8th grade classrooms have felt more like a family room, with kids being called by nicknames and a level of trust and care I had only seen within families. The school and her connection with the 4/5 teacher saved my child's life. My child is now so confident in her own skin and loves school. Both the 4/5 and 6-8th grade teachers at LWS have been so willing to go above and beyond for my whole child that they feel more like a third parent, where we have coordinated support at home and school. This is one of many examples. My child was so sad to leave the 4/5 teacher for middle school. He suggested that my child offer to do service for the day with the middle school teacher. The 6-8 grade teacher met her in the summer, let her wheel him playfully around in a wheelbarrow as they worked in the garden and the principal and teacher took my child to lunch. She came home excited for middle school. My second child was happy in public school so we didn't move him to LWS initially. And then we started to see situations happen at recess where we weren't sure what really happened since there were hundreds of kids with only a few adults outside. At LWS, the 4/5 and 6/8th grade teachers craft personalized situations to practice the skills each child needs. I have been so impressed at how well they know my children and the skills they need most as a person, beyond the academic. Within a few months, my second child's grandparents were commenting on the positive changes in him. Traveling with my two kids for two weeks at winter break they hardly fought anymore. I have had the opportunity to witness how the 4/5 teacher has not only gone above and beyond for my children, but for so many students. I wondered how he didn't need to tell kids what to do very often and then realized it is because the kids think he is so fun that they naturally want to copy his qualities of mindfulness, service, love, expressing emotions, academic curiosity and sportsmanship. I am ever thankful to LWS for embodying mindfulness and presence and for the transformative ways they have shaped me as a parent, each of my different children and the relationships between us. read more

Having experienced first hand both the glorified Palo Alto public school system and Living Wisdom School, we can easily say that Living Wisdom is simply better in every possible way. We were suspecting, even before we started at Living Wisdom, that the social emotional piece has to be better at Living Wisdom (and we were not wrong). It is just that we couldn't start to understand how much better it will be... It goes way beyond the (wonderful) yoga and meditation sessions that are incorporated into the school schedule. Living Wisdom's educational philosophy starts with happiness. They say - make sure that the kids are happy and all the rest will follow easily, and surprisingly, they don't only talk the talk, but truthfully walk the walk. The kids are kind to each other, and are taught to choose happiness. The teachers, who are passionate educators, really love and truly see the children and empower them in every possible way. Our friends who send their kids to the public school system often tell us that middle school is hard - this is just the way it is, it's a difficult age, and almost everyone goes through a rough time at this period in their life. Well, it doesn't HAVE to be this way, and it is definitely not how it is at Living Wisdom. What we couldn't have anticipated before we started at Living Wisdom is the high academic level at this school. The Palo Alto schools are known for both their high academic level and the high level of stress, and these two are often thought of as an inseparable combination - if one is interested in high achievements, a certain level of stress is a price that can't be avoided. Living Wisdom School proves that the exact opposite is true. They take the stress away, and allow the kids to study for the fun and love of studying. Not to say that there are no homework or deadlines, but the kids' main motivation is not external - after all there are no grades at Living Wisdom, and the competition between the kids is non existent. Having a child who transferred from the public system to Living Wisdom in middle school, we have a direct comparison of the academic level in both schools, and Living Wisdom's academic level is much higher, across the board. In Math, the pace is individualized. Many kids are working above their grade level, and all of them are exposed to different levels of Math through ongoing discussions with other kids in class. Despite this mixed group of kids working at different levels of Math, there is no competition, and the kids are very supportive of each other. The method ensures real understanding of concepts before moving on to the next level, and since there is no time wasted on listening to things that the individual kid already knows, the progress in general is much faster (and much more enjoyable) than what it would have been in a traditional class. The Language Arts program is outstanding, and the Living Wisdom kids are reading and writing at a level much higher than their public school peers. But it's the way in which the subject is taught that makes the program so unique. For example, when teaching the poetry chapter this year, the kids where exposed to many poems by many writers, and a large part of the analysis of the poems focused on the questions of what did they like about this poet's writing and what makes the style of this specific poet unique. Later, the kids had to write a few poems in the fashion of this poet. Knowing this made the kids read the poems in a different and very deep way, and later, learning by doing, they developed an even deeper understanding and appreciation to the writing of this poet. The kids also wrote a few poems with no predefined structure, and received comments and revised their poems to a professional level. At the end they designed and created each a unique poetry book of their own poems. In Understanding People (Social Studies), after a year long learning through a specific set of books (summarizing, answering questions, giving oral presentations and more), the final assignment for the year was to write a chapter of a new book in the series, written 50 years from now, about events happening today. The kids wrote chapters about climate change, US relationship with other countries, Black Lives Matter, Women's rights, and more. The equally wonderful programs in Science, Music (instrumental + singing), Art, Theater, Yoga and Meditation are giving the learning experience in Living Wisdom a depth that is unparalleled in any school that we know or have heard of. read more

For the record my child never attended LWS but we did have 5-7 interviews including the Open House and tour of the school over the last 2 years. Regarding the school itself, the only physical drawback of the campus is the limited recreation area for the kids, but with all their other sterling and stellar qualities.. it was ok. My mission was and is to find a middle and high school for my son where they are "allowed to talk about God" After the initial interview the school was excited about my Boo-Boo and the question of whether to get him in "right away" came up..so we {mainly my son} met the various teachers and what not. When I first called the school I was looking for a full scholarship. LWS was the only private school that even returned my call [which says a lot about them]..but at the end of the first application process, they let me know they were not in a position to offer a full scholarship. I acknowledged that I completely understood their position and thanked them for their time, etc.. When my son entered the 3rd grade, I saw a dramatic decrease in the "creative education" at the public school, though I adore his elementary school..so I begged Mums if she could pay the tuition at LWS if he was accepted, and finally she said "yes". So we began the application / interviewing process again., and at the end of all of it, the Directress said she "was keeping his application on her desk in case of an opening" Flash forward, Mums is ailing and there are many years left before he graduates high school and I needed to know if there was a chance for my son to attend before the 12th grade or not.. I emailed and left a voice mail but didn't hear back from anyone so I went in person. I was told by someone whom I had never seen before.. [sadly]..in a very cold way.. that my son's application was already in the "old" file. I had never seen this man before. He certainly could not have known any of the history of my son's application process..he's brand new! He said I was rude, but in fact I was not discourteous at all. I am a parent looking for God's Will for my son's school. There is an inherent "vulnerability" in being in a pool of applicants..all waiting for the same spot. They should be more sensitive and understand and simply communicate with more detail and information. This particular gentleman was beyond unwelcoming. It's allight God is Love. Truth is all children should have this opportunity, and for that I applaud LWS for being part of the "solution" rather than the "problem" in our education paradigm. But maybe when there are a lot of starry-eyed parents all hoping to be chosen..that can taint even the purest of schools. Any administrator at any school should be welcoming anyone inquiring about their school, and thanking them for their time and precious consideration in educating their children. Period. We are all {hopefully} "doing Sadhana". Schools and organizations all have their karma and are hopefully "doing Sadhana" Not only should a "Spiritual School" be performing constant Self-Reflection, they should be the living example of that. Ironically I think Amazon has that one cornered lol :} I still think the program / environment at Living Wisdom School ROCKS, so..Praise to Almighty God for the LWS and all schools. May schools become more holistic everywhere, and Lord, please Bless ALL the children everywhere. Namaste, OM read more

My son attended 1st and 2nd grade at LWS and I can say there're a lot of good things for the students going on here. They certainly learn kindness and respect for each other which they practice it every day. My son's confidence were left intact as he always been a very confident guy with strong personality. The emotional intelligence aspect is pretty high. The way teachers address every student with whatever problem or obstacle they encounter, either academically or socially , is inspiring. We had to leave the school for personal family issues but my son still remembers LWS as a very special, happy place to learn and make friends. I knocked one star just because the school is rather small and lacks of any green area as they have to reach a park near by for the kiddos to exercise. read more

This is remarkable school. Our 2 sons spent 8 years at this school. I truly believe it is the best gift we have given them in life. The academics were great, both sons are getting A's at a rigorous high school now. Most impressively though is not academics but the priority and emphasis the school places on teaching and training the children to interact positively and get along well with others. The teachers dedication to this is truly inspiring. When I volunteered for lunch and other duties, I saw teachers do conflict resolutions between kids whenever there was any upset, even just unkind words. They taught the kids, even kindergarteners, to look at each other in the eye, take turns telling their feels and listening. The kids learned true maturity, to empathize with others and how to then include others in their play. This is true leadership training. Many schools offer living skills & leadership classes, but the time to learn this is on the playground and in daily interactions. One son has taken "leadership & living skills" classes in high school, but they are just academic. He had much better emotional & leadership training on the playground of LWS. read more

We have had two children attend LWS. The first for 8 years. And now a second for 5 years. To sum it up succinctly - it is the type of school that we as parents always wanted to attend ourselves! First - just on the surface level the school has: (1) A very low student to teacher ratio (2) Highly customized student instruction (3) Curriculum that simultaneously addresses core academic requirements and supports healthy emotional development. But, beyond the surface - the school is much more. (1) The creative expression in the yearly play on a historical spiritual leader brings the school community together and consistently inspires audiences to pursue life with understanding and vigor (2) A warm and inviting environment which accelerates a student's self-growth and encourages individual expression. We could say a lot more - but, it difficult to put it down in a short review. We encourage you to contact the school and speak to a parent. They can give you the details. PS: The only reason that we did not give the school 5 stars is that we believe life is a quest for perfection! at LWS you learn that It is about the journey and not the destination. read more

I am sharing my assessment and experience of Living Wisdom School from a unique perspective: I am a parent, a former school teacher, 20 years working in education, and now with PhD in educational research from Stanford University, where I continue to work. My son has been at LWS for two years now and we feel extremely blessed to have found this school. It has been with great pain that we have moved my son from several different schools because the fit was not good yet I was not sure what I was looking for. I've come to this school based on a tour, a great conversation with the principal, and a shadow day that my son spent there before enrolling him. I expected that he would learn and be well-cared for. But, the researcher in me kept noticing some quite amazing aspects of the school that continue to unfold for me over time. Their view of learning is both deep and expansive, where rigorous academics, positive social development, and playful way of embracing the peaks and valleys of everyday life all come together seamlessly in the classroom, the playground, and in their high-quality theater productions. I have never seen such an approach to learning to that is so complex in some ways, but also in perfect balance. It may sound odd, but in all my studies of learning, the idea of joy has never really come up or been taken seriously by mainstream educational academics who are typically concerned only with achievement. But at LWS is it not "either or", it is both and more! Although the cost is very reasonable by local standards, it is still a substantial financial investment that we are making (given our income), but my wife and I know absolutely that it is worth it. read more

We have a joyous, enthusiastic, and very sharp "firecracker" of a daughter in LWS. I already had a sense that this is an unusually thoughtful and emotionally intelligent school when I first met with the director and got a tour of the school many years ago. Hence, we had a high expectation of the school curriculum & culture, teaching methodologies, and the staff when our daughter started middle school there. Amazingly, this school has managed to exceed our expectations in every level. What's more? LWS is starting a high school in 2017!!! read more

My son began attending Living Wisdom School in sixth grade. Middle school years can be tumultuous and are an opportunity to grow in positive or negative directions. Living Wisdom School provides a safe and nurturing setting to learn and grow both emotionally and academically. The academics are appropriately challenging while at the same time taking into consideration every child's unique learning style. Not only has my son received an excellent education, he has also grown personally by being a part of a community that fosters kindness, collaboration and joy in learning. He will graduate from Living Wisdom this year, well prepared for the years ahead and always remembering fondly the time our family spent as part of this wonderful school. read more

Living Wisdom School is a place where learning and joy truly come together. The faculty is deeply dedicated to understanding each child and supporting their individual growth. Students are challenged, supported, and cared for as they explore themselves to ever new depths. Every March the school features a spectacular theater production based on the life of an inspiring figure and showcasing every student in Pre-K through 8th grade. read more

I am humbled as I write this review for Living Wisdom School (LWS) as I cannot do proper justice to the school and more importantly to the loving professionals who are entrusted with its day-to-day operations. Our journey to LWS began while we were living in Kauai, HI. Our daughter had just started pre-school and was in the most ideal educational setting any parent could hope for while living in "paradise". But as we started researching kindergarten and beyond we quickly came to the realization that the educational options available to us on Kauai would fall short of our expectations from both an academic and personal growth perspective for our daughter. It was at this point in time that my wife came across Living Wisdom School's website and the "seed" was planted for what would become our family's quest to Living Wisdom School for our daughter and as it turns out for our entire family as well. Now we were lucky enough to have the means (a small nest egg) to live in Kauai and could have relocated to a number of more "economical" geographic locations (Georgia, Texas, Florida, etc.). However, we consciously chose to relocate to the Bay Area due to LWS being located in Palo Alto, CA. We did this without having secured jobs or any other means to support ourselves. All that we knew was that we wanted our daughter to go to LWS! Why LWS for us? LWS is a rare environment where the founders have created a holistic approach to academic education, spirituality (not religion) and universal human values that nurture children by enhancing their strengths and positively reinforce an innate love for "life long learning". Here are specifics that were important to us as a family while concluding on LWS as the right choice: * Confidence for our child combined with kindness to better understand and cope with the ever changing and complex world we all share as people. * Healthy competition to help our child better understand that excellence is an important virtue to strive for in all walks of life but also to find satisfaction in the final results regardless of the outcome. * Academic excellence that will provide our child with skills that will help her in her "life's work" (combined physicist, wildly successful business leader, supermodel and a "just" political philanthropist OR the "best darn waitress ever" - as long as she is content) * Personal attention and understanding of our child's strengths and weaknesses and a tailored program that helps her achieve at her own pace. There are 16 children in our daughter's classroom with (2) wwo dedicated teachers. * A caring and nurturing community of children, parents and teachers that are working jointly towards a common good for their children and ultimately their own families. * A sense of "work" and "mission" to serve her fellow man. Now this all may sound idealistic but you need to meet Erica Glazzard (our daughters 1st grade teacher) who personifies these values in her day-to-day dealing with our children or Helen Purcell who leads the school and lives these ideals. The entire LWS teaching staff share the same set of values and both "talk the talk" and "walk the walk". Additionally, LWS offers enrichment classes such as reading club, music classes (group and one-on-one) and much more. The annual school "Theater Magic" program involves the entire student body and enhances academic learning in ways that I cannot begin to describe. The results of attending LWS have been a blessing for both our daughter and our family. She is eager to go to school everyday and loves her school environment. She is progressing well in her academic environment and is a happy child. I cannot better define success. Lastly, we have come to know the true understanding of Education for Life as this philosophy has extended into our family and has helped my wife and I define and bring awareness to conscious and authentic parenting. It has been a privilege to be a part of the LWS community and I hope that these words will help guide you to the proper decision in your own quest. LWS was and is the RIGHT decision for us! read more