Our family has had such a wonderful experience at LACS. From the very beginning, it was clear that…read morethe staff truly care about each student--not just academically, but spiritually and emotionally as well. The teachers are incredibly dedicated, creating a nurturing environment where children feel supported, encouraged, and inspired to grow. Our son has absolutely thrived here. He has gained confidence, developed strong character, and built meaningful friendships within a community that emphasizes kindness, respect, and faith. The integration of Christian values into everyday learning has made a lasting impact on him, helping shape not only his education but also who he is becoming as a person. What stands out most is the sense of community. Families, teachers, and staff work together in such a positive and uplifting way. There's a genuine feeling of belonging that makes this school truly special. We are so grateful for the love, guidance, and commitment the staff pour into their students every day. This school has been a blessing to our family, and we wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a supportive, values-centered education.

This school genuinely made me have suicidal thoughts. And you know what their response was to that?…read moreVictimizing themselves because men have so fragile egos. I hate it here. All I do here is cry and no one even cares. DON'T GO HERE if your child is mentally unwell. The only therapy they offer is indoctrination.

I like that this school is run like a business and very professional. They are well organized and…read morethe website has all the important information. Small class sizes and technology is integrated into the curriculum. Looking forward to a great school year.

My older son (now in 6th grade) transferred to St Simon (from Bubb Elementary) in second grade. My…read moreyounger son started at Little Saints Preschool PreK and is now in second grade. Prior to St Simon, we were the "never-private school" people. Having 2 kids at St Simon has completely changed our minds. Not only is it academically more rigorous/challenging; the Catholic values of being neighborly, helpful, respectful, etc. are incorporated in every aspect of the curriculum and reinforced daily by staff and administrators. Social Emotional Learning is reinforced throughout the day. There are MANY opportunities for students of all ages to volunteer/contribute to the community. Yesterday, while we're on vacation, my older son (12 years old) asked if my husband and him can volunteer together again, then was excited to find out that there's an opportunity coming up in January. This is just one of many examples that SSPS is fostering an environment where the students think of others, instead of themselves. Even though many families are well-off financially, there isn't a culture of competition and/or bragging/showing-off. There's also zero-tolerance for bullying. My son was threatened by a friend (not sure if it was a joke or not, and nothing bad happened), but the administrative staff and teachers took immediate action and ensured that my son felt safe at school (my son said his friend wasn't serious). My younger son was diagnosed with ADHD and other special needs and the SSPS staff was SUPER helpful in both providing accommodations for him in the classroom, as well as coordinating with an OT to come onsite to work with him twice a month. The accommodations makes his day at school much more smooth and enjoyable, and he absolutely LOVES school. I was raised Catholic but my husband is agnostic. Neither of us have found anything to be "overly religious." The values that are taught are the ones I ascribe to: be kind, be polite, be helpful, respect your teachers/parents, love your siblings and friends. My kids don't like the Mass but they are able to appreciate the value in sitting still and having the time to reflect (or daydream). The school + parish also offers wonderful activities throughout the year! There are BBQs, sporting events, and lots of other ways to be involved in the community. I used to do yard duty once a a week and really enjoy getting to know the kids in the lower grades. Highly recommend SSPS!

In fourth grade, we transferred my daughter from another (non-religious) private school where she…read morewas unfortunately not getting what she needed academically or socially. She hated school and I honestly didn't have much faith that anything could change that. We attended a St. Simon open house and were really impressed with the teachers and staff and so decided to give the school a shot, not sure whether we should really get our hopes up. Our expectations have been so far exceeded that I can hardly even believe it. I love this school so much, and my daughter is so happy and thriving. Within weeks of starting classes here, she completely changed her outlook on school. She is excited to wake up in the morning on school days, and she's motivated to put real thought and effort into her assignments even though the work is sometimes even more than was expected at her old school. St. Simon has made learning fun and engaging for her so that it feels like a joy, not a chore. Her teachers are always available to answer her questions or mine, and with their support it didn't take long for her to close many of the glaring academic gaps I'd been so worried about. The student body here is diverse and friendly. There are kids from many different backgrounds and kids interested in all sorts of different things, from sports to art to robotics and beyond. The students are taught to truly appreciate and celebrate their differences and to understand that everyone has a unique part to play in the school community and the wider community as well. I think it's worth noting that, although it seems the majority of the families at St. Simon are catholic, my family is not catholic - however, I have always been made to feel so welcome and this has never been an issue. If my daughter has questions about the catholic faith there is always someone to answer her questions without judgment and without any pressure. This is a very welcoming place and I have attended mass at the St. Simon parish many times over the course of the school year and have always been made to feel completely welcome. I appreciate the values and morals my daughter is taught as part of a well-rounded catholic education. In summary, this place has changed my daughter's life and by extension changed my life. She loves learning again and is being well prepared for not only her academic future but for being a caring, contributing member of society. The last thing I'll say is this: at St. Simon, every child knows they matter, and every child knows they are surrounded by grown-ups who are invested in seeing them succeed. I really could not ask for more in a school environment, and I am forever grateful.

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

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

Went here for elementary school very chill. Also nice open campus with basketball and baseball and…read morebig soccer fields

The school campus is very welcoming to both children and parents. They keep a very close eye on the…read morekids while they are out in recess and lunch. Education wise - they cater to every child's needs individually and provide the extra care or challenge they need.

When my daughter went here last year, they were pretty unorganized compared to other schools in the…read morearea. We prefer Bubb in Mountain View and Cumberland in Sunnyvale a lot more. However their school psychologist is very helpful. If you are looking for a more laid back school then this is probably a good place for you but I prefer one a little more organized and that stresses discipline a little more. We also had a poor experience with one of the second grade teachers, and when we tried to express this to the principal it was just brushed off. The school is not bad, just average. Nothing really special stands out.

My 2 kid go school here great school staff & teacher is very helpful ground is very big play…read morestation is very new all great

I can tell from having two kids and 13 years in the school. Go somewhere else, unless you want your…read morechild to be treated unfairly with clear discrimination in a toxic environment where only a few elite families get the special treatment. Jan (The principle) is in adequate to say the least. We finally left after 13 years, and we did not realize how bad St. Nick was after what we saw in the new school.

Walking into St. Nicholas Catholic school felt less like entering a place of learning and community…read moreand more like stepping into a perfectly rehearsed performance where certain kids were cast as favorites from day one and the rest of us were expected to play the background no matter how well behaved or hardworking we were. Myself, my friends, and even my sibling followed the rules like everyone else, yet we were constantly singled out, blamed for situations we did not cause, and punished for things other students did right in front of staff who somehow never saw it, and the worst part is they acted like their uneven treatment was justified instead of admitting their own bias. Over time it became painfully clear that they were not interested in supporting us, only in protecting a narrative where certain families stayed untouchable and the rest of us were easy targets whenever they needed someone to blame. The way they spoke to certain kids was shockingly mean and downright cruel, and I experienced it firsthand from certain staff who twisted the truth whenever it suited them. This school loves to package itself as nurturing and community driven, where a kind and empathetic community is the main focus, but the reality was a strange, exhausting experience where favoritism thrived, accountability disappeared, and the truth was always whatever made them look good; if you are thinking of sending your kids here, I would seriously reconsider, because no child should have to carry the weight of adults who cannot handle their own insecurities or responsibilities. St. Nicholas may your "polished" reputation shine bright enough to distract from the truth.

This school is awesome and the teachers are great. I love…read morethe activities the school has ive had no complaints about the teachers all have been great and understanding.

Huge tip to anyone registering their child for Bubb -- when filling out the registration form, DO…read moreNOT mark that you speak more that one language a home. Even if your child has some exposure to another language, do not mention it -- tell them that you only speak English, even if it is not true. If you do, your child will be locked into the ESL (English as a second language) level designation. I think they call it ELAC, but you child will be learning English as a foreigner. The Mountain View voice has written several articles over the years about the ELAC program, and none of them have been positive. To be fair, the MVWSD has made some changes to the program, but in general, ELAC students are "stigmatized" (a retired Bubb educator actually used that word) and it puts them at a disadvantage to their peers. The Voice even commented that the consequence of being in the ELAC program even in elementary school can be so broad reaching as to affect them through high school and into college. I do not want to see other kids go through the struggles our family has gone through with this misguided program. Good luck.