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    Orion Alternative Elementary School

    4.7 (13 reviews)

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    I can't say enough good things about the Mandarin Immersion Program in Redwood City! My 3rd grader is bilingual. We have no background in Chinese beyond the public school program. She can easily have novel conversations with Native Mandarin speakers. She has won awards for her Mandarin skills. The immersion has made her really quick and mentally agile due to meeting the challenging environment. Her test scores are great. She got into North Star Academy, but we are going to stay with the program that gave her the intellect and grit. More importantly to me, she is culturally fluent. She is easily able to consider other perspectives and connect with other cultures to break down barriers with curiosity and respectful interactions. I completely lucked out the day I decided to enroll her on a whim. It has been a life changing, positive experience for the whole family! By 2027 I will have 4 students who have gone through this high-quality program. I can't say enough about the warmth of the Administration, the teachers and their Social-Emotional focus, the support for underserved families in the program attempting tri-lingualism, and the friendships I have developed through being a part of a community united in achieving the dream of Mandarin/English bilingualism. We are deeply appreciative of this high-quality education!

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    Review Highlights - Orion Alternative Elementary School

    A Thriving, Inclusive, and Supportive Community We are incredibly grateful for the Mandarin Immersion program at Orion.

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    Harper School

    Harper School

    4.9
    (15 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    Choosing a school for your little one is such a stressful experience, but Harper makes it very…read moreeasy. We've been with them for two years now and have had nothing but good experiences. The admin staff, especially Ms. Lopez, is amazing and really cares about the students. Ms. Lopez is "on the ground" enough that she knows the kids names and they all say hi to her when they see her. The preschool teachers, Ms. Gwen, Ms. Margaret and Ms. Kim, are phenomenal. They approach any issues with kindness and sensitivity. They are also firm with the kids and set good boundaries and routines. Finding that balance is typically difficult, but they do it with finesse! The curriculum here, even with the preschool class, sets the kids up for success in higher grades. It balances play and fun with learning. From letter recognition to name writing to "STEM" - via tiny science experiments - music and Spanish, outdoor play and story time, they do it all. Since day one, my child has been excited to go each day and has thrived in the Harper environment. The learning progress I've seen, especially at such a young age, is astounding. We love Harper and appreciate all the staff very much! We hope to be a Harper family for a very long time to come!

    Highly, highly recommended for elementary school! A lot of…read morethese reviews are for the daycare/pre-k programs, but I'd like to review the Elementary program, which is newer and smaller. Our son joined the Kindergarten program halfway through the year in Jan '25. He had been at a well-regarded RWC public school, but unfortunately he struggled there with behavior, academic, and motivation issues. Basically, he was slipping through the cracks. He was regressing academically, and most worryingly to me, he was starting to hate going to school. He started at Harper at the mid-year break. There was certainly an adjustment period - the Harper kids were *so* far ahead academically. But, the curriculum is individualized and the support was tremendous. It was amazing how quickly he improved on all fronts: behavior, academics, and motivation. He literally sprints from the car to class each morning. He is so excited and talks about what he learns constantly. He has developed a positive attitude, curiosity, and emotional maturity beyond anything we could have hoped for. Ms. Shaynee, his teacher, is an absolute rock star. We feel so lucky to have had her as his teacher. The class size for elementary grades at Harper is absurdly small right now. Like, 5-10 kids. At first, I thought it would be weird. But it's actually a wonderful number for this age, and it makes Harper such an incredible deal. It's obviously a new school and a new program, and I'm hoping it grows with him as he progresses through the grades. Overall, if you are looking for a private elementary, I just can't recommend Harper enough. No private school in this area is cheap, but I feel we get incredible value for our dollar. The fact that the aftercare is so affordable helps. Also, we hear that if you have multiple kids there then the cost goes down a lot.

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    Trunk-or-treat!
    Trunk-or-treat!
    Harper School

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    Mandarin Immersion in RWC

    Mandarin Immersion in RWC

    5.0
    (22 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    We bought a house in Redwood City specifically so our child could attend this school. Since we…read moredon't speak Chinese at home and our daughter was diagnosed with a speech delay at age two, I wasn't sure how much Mandarin she would actually pick up from the Mandarin Immersion program at Orion, especially without extra support from us. But after completing kindergarten and halfway through first grade, she surprised us by initiating conversations in Chinese on her own. I'm pretty sure I cried the first time it happened. The teachers are incredibly thoughtful and professional, especially in guiding young kids through learning two languages. In the first few years, about 90% of the school day is conducted in Chinese, which provides an immersive experience during those crucial early years. I remember my daughter sometimes mixed up calling her teacher "mama" and calling me "Wu Laoshi" -- small but meaningful signs of the trust she was building in this environment. The quality of education is outstanding. It's project-based, with a rich blend of art, gardening, STEAM, and physical education throughout the week. During lunch, the kids have options for how they spend their free time. My daughter loves cooling off in the air-conditioned library on hot days, gardening with friends, or practicing her monkey bar skills on more moderate days (after all, Redwood City is known for its slogan, "Climate Best by Government Test"). What matters most to me is that my daughter wakes up excited for school. She genuinely looks forward to her day, eager to see her teacher, curious about the new things she'll learn, spend time with her friends, and engage in the many activities this wonderful space offers. It's a place where she's building her own community, being challenged academically, and hopefully forming friendships that will last at least until high school. At this age, while academics are important, a positive and supportive community matters even more to us. Finding both at the Mandarin Immersion program at Orion has been an absolute gift, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have this school in the Bay Area.

    Our family has been apart of the MI program for several years; and by the end of 2027, we will have…read morehad 4 kids in and through the program! We are a non-mandarin speaking family with the desire to challenge our kids academically. This program has been a GREAT way to accomplish this. I have one child in their 4th year in the program and as of last year, they were considered bi-lingual and bi-literate! Even without the mandarin support at home, my children are thriving and learning far more and better than we could have ever imagined. we are always highly recommending parents place their children in a Mandarin Immersion because although it's been a challenge at times, my kids have always stepped up and proved their capabilities. The community has also made learning fun and engaging! Along with my kids learning a new language, we as a family are getting the opportunity to immerse ourself in a new culture and make lasting friendships. It's an absolute blast!

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    Mandarin Immersion in RWC
    Mid autumn festival
    Mid autumn festival
    Mandarin Immersion in RWC

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    Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion School

    Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion School

    3.7
    (3 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    The teachers seem nice. They seem to care about the students and even reward them. The place is…read morereally clean and well kept up.

    Very disappointed with this school it has changed a lot since I completed 2 years of middle school…read morehere. I have a seven year old who has been in this school since preschool she is the sweetest kid in school. But because she is so sweet and kind she has always gotten bullied, when she was in preschool and kindergarten I was able to talk to the other kids parents but now that she's in 2nd grade she doesn't want me to talk to the kids parents because she's embarrassed I tried talking to the teachers in principle but apparently there's not much they can do when my daughter is some lunch or recess. Now that the teachers and the principal can't do anything I tried telling my daughter that if they push her she can push back but apparently my daughter is too kind for that. Another problem did this school has, they don't have control over kids who have lice my daughter have gotten lice twice this school year, I have spent so much money and time getting those bugs out of her hair and I know it's part of my job but I think that kids have lice should not be allowed in school unless their hair is clean like that the problem won't be getting any worse. I'm definitely changing my daughter to another school for her 3rd grade year!

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    Pug exploring the swings
    Pug exploring the swings
    Play structure

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    Play structure
    St Pius School

    St Pius School

    4.2
    (9 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    Our family has been part of the St. Pius school community since preschool, and now, as our son is…read morein 5th grade, we can confidently say that choosing this school was one of the best decisions we've ever made. The preschool program is truly amazing--it provides a warm, nurturing foundation that prepares students both academically and socially for the years ahead. Our only regret is we wish we had started at the preschool one year earlier! It is such a special program. One of the school's greatest strengths are the teachers and administration. The teachers are exceptional--dedicated, caring, and deeply invested in each student's academic growth and personal development. The low student-to-teacher ratio allows teachers to truly know each child as an individual. This personalized attention makes a meaningful difference and helps students feel supported, challenged, and confident. Our son has thrived at St. Pius and we can't be more pleased with the support and individual attention he receives. His favorite subject is math! Enrichment opportunities are abundant, including a one of a kind Theatre program, strong music and art offerings, and Cub and Girl Scouts, all of which allow students to explore their interests, build confidence, and develop creativity and leadership skills. The school's commitment to social-emotional learning is outstanding. Students are taught empathy, resilience, and strong communication skills, helping them grow into compassionate, well-rounded individuals. Another amazing offering is the athletics program. Athletics provide opportunities for teamwork, physical growth, and school pride. Our son loves playing baseball and basketball with his friends at school and is looking forward to track in the spring. He looks forward to the school spirit days, pep rally's, and Friday night lights celebrating Shamrock spirit. Additionally, the daycare program offers a safe, nurturing, and reliable environment that supports working families and reflects the same values found throughout the school. We are so grateful for the day care program. What truly sets this school apart is its incredible sense of community. Families, students, and staff genuinely care for one another, and parent engagement is encouraged and valued, making everyone feel like a true partner in the educational journey. We've watched our son grow not only in knowledge, but also in confidence, kindness, and character. We are deeply grateful for the years we've spent here and wholeheartedly recommend this school to any family seeking an exceptional and well-rounded educational experience.

    If you really want to know how my family feels about St. Pius, just ask my kids because they LOVE…read moreit!!! From the beginning we were welcomed with open arms from so many amazing teachers, wonderful administrators and other families that now feel like family to us. Because it's a small school, the community feels like an extension of our own family. I love that my kids not only love their classmates, but I love their classmates' parents too! It is a wonderful community The teachers have been absolutely fantastic! They not only want my children to succeed academically, but they want to help my kids to be the best they can be. They really care about teaching them to be kind, caring, respectful and responsible individuals. Plus, both my kids (my oldest is in 4th grade and my youngest is in 1st grade) are testing above their grade level! The campus itself is incredible! We looked at a few other Catholic schools in the area before selecting St Pius and we noticed that other schools didn't have some of the amenities that St Pius has, like their beautiful gym that my kids love playing basketball in and gathering for rallies in, and the huge grassy field that they play on at recess every day! Lastly, St Pius has a locked fence around the campus to ensure the safety of everyone on campus throughout the day. I can't say enough great things about the school & community, and we are so pleased with how much our kids are growing & thriving!

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    St Pius School
    St Pius School
    St. Pius School is a K - 8 Catholic school focused on strong academics, fostering community, and an active faith life.

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    St. Pius School is a K - 8 Catholic school focused on strong academics, fostering community, and an active faith life.

    Orion Alternative Elementary School - elementaryschools - Updated June 2026

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