We have been a KLS family since 2016. I have 2 boys, both who started in Kindergarten. We have…read moreseen much change throughout the years but I am truly feeling the strongest I have ever about KLS this year. I truly believe we finally have the right team in place to lead us into the next phase. The team genuinely cares about the kids and what is best for them. Especially in light of the current crisis, we have seen the team unified, communicate often + clearly, ready/able to execute a move to distance learning that executed pretty flawlessly (considering everything), adapting to feedback from students/families, transparency in communication and most important leadership during difficult times. Thank you KLS! What a journey it has been. We are grateful for all that you do.

My daughter has attended KLS for a year and a half. The school's approach to learning fits very…read morewell with our philosophy of bringing up children. Grouping students of mixed ages into independence levels is something that I wish more schools adopted. Focus on mastery is another thing I like. We also liked the extensive use of placement tests to figure out the right level of classes for students. Small class sizes made it easier to learn new concepts in an effective way. If your child needs to learn at a different pace (faster or slower) than the regular progression of grades would allow in a school with big classrooms, you will love how the curriculum is tailored to each student. My favorite class was the studio which combined interdisciplinary knowledge into a a sequence of projects under a single theme in a school year. One things that some families may have a hard time adjusting to is the pace of changes. This is a "lab" school which means that new ideas are introduced to improve how the school works and if the ideas don't work well, they are replaced with new ideas. This also causes a higher then ideal turnover in staff but I think that this may be a good price to pay for access to innovative teaching.

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.

Excellent Christian, classical education...My daughter has been attending for over 5 years...High…read morequality teaching and supporting environment. High recommended.

After having to move to another city & distance this past summer, our little daughter had to leave…read moreCanterbury Christian School after attending K5 & 1st grade. We've tried another Christian school closer to our new home & workplace. After 5 days of the new school, our little family decided to drive a distance just so our daughter can be back @ Canterbury Christian School. Canterbury is where she thrives, grow, learn, & be happy. The other school was very nice, but they are missing a detailed education curriculum, discipline, sincere care for every child from all teachers & staff, mannerism, respect, a very different culture. Canterbury Christian School has a much higher standard in education & culture than a typical Christian school. There is no comparison. They are like family. The Canterbury parents are extremely friendly with Christian values. The Canterbury culture is exceptional & therefore I & our little family would recommend this school to all. Your child's core foundation will affect them for the rest of their lives so picking the right school is extremely important. We are thankful to comeback to the Canterbury Family!

I attended Pinewood a couple years ago. I am now at an elite university on the East Coast…read more I think that Pinewood is excellent because the teachers are able to provide you with one-on-one attention. Very good for college recs obviously. Public school ones might be very general... Anyways, teachers will help you during lunch and even after school, when they are not being paid. I think it's cool how they have math help hours after school with Mr. Green (if he even works there). My favorite math teacher was Ms. Walters (Genius lady :) ) Overall, the homework is not that excessive, and, more often than not, if we are ahead of the material, we can use the time to work on assignments for a portion of the class. The English department is good, however, I would appreciate it if they would have been stricter on us. Honestly, the longest paper I ever wrote was a 10 page paper for AP US Gov, and we allocated class time to write it. In English the longest paper was about 5 pages. I wish that the length and standards for papers would increase as one takes more advanced courses. The English department prepares you well for writing 25 minute essays for AP exams, but does not prepare you for 10-20 page papers you have to write as a college freshman at top colleges (Ivy leagues, top LAC, or top UC's). Please add a writing intensive course for seniors that IS NOT GRADED, that way students can learn to write college level papers without feeling so much pressure. Just make it a graduation requirement. The Spanish language department seemed to be more demanding than the French language department. I think because Ms. Schmidt was very very strict. I think she retired now. However, Mr. Tezlaff and Madame Daniel were/are very approachable and would always practice French with you whenever you need. They want you to succeed on the National French Contest and do well on AP French! Merci beaucoup mes professeurs. If your child does have a learning disability, the school will accommodate with longer test times, separate exam rooms, and sometimes extra hours of help with a teacher, so long as you can provide a paper verifying the disability. Also, of course disability is confidential information and students are not let known of classmates' disability. It is very common for children at PW to suffer from social anxiety, test anxiety, and depression though. Extracurriculars such as sports were really fun and the coaches (thanks Craig and Jackee) are really passionate! My main complaint is that the school lacks racial diversity. Of course this is because those who can afford the school are primarily White and Asian (South Asian as well as East Asian). When there were black and brown students (some of whom are on academic/athletic scholarship) many would feel ostracized and out of place and often leave after freshman year. Please provide counseling services/ extra funding for students of color. I specifically remember always having to pay tons of money for new uniforms (they would change each season) and new equipment. I would have appreciated it if there was fund that could help scholarship students with sports/extracurricular fees.

I went to Pinewood during the 80's, from kindergarten through sixth grade. I am still good friends…read morewith several people from my class, none of who stayed at Pinewood through high school. I say this because we feel like the best education we got, and the hardest we ever worked in K-12, was during our Pinewood years. What stands out to me is the fact that Pinewood did a wonderful job of enabling us to develop academically as well as artistically. They found a balance between the phonics-based Carden method, daily reading groups, math, science, and social studies classes, and the singing, drama, P.E., and art classes. Whenever I see Beatrix Potter books I flash back to 1st grade, and what would I do without my vast collection of oil paintings and clay sculptures of horses made during seven years of art, or my memories of being in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" and "The Velveteen Rabbit" on the Pinewood stage. Pinewood was also strict in the sense that we feared the "demerit" and worse, "getting ten" which meant you had earned ten demerits that week and would have to see the principal. I think from that we learned responsibility and how to respect others, from our peers to our teachers. From following others in my class through Facebook updates and periodic announcements in the Los Altos Town Crier, I know many of us have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and earn PhDs in subjects like bioengineering, computer science (or English- me- maybe that's liability to the Pinewood reputation, hah). However, most of us also came from the kind of high achieving, upper middle class, occasionally dysfunctional families that make those kind of achievements seem average, and admittedly, I was a little bit of a snob coming out of Pinewood, thinking only bad students would "have" to go to a UC instead of an Ivy. In those ways, Pinewood isolated us from the realities that not every kid could have their own pony or live in their own estate, and that could certainly be held against the school, our parents, and us. Knowing what the tuition is now, I don't know how people can afford to send one, let alone multiple, kid(s) there, and I wonder if the class-based elitism is still pervasive. Weighing those two sides of the coin- the fantastic academic and artistic education against the narrow exposure to others from any other socio-economic or religious backgrounds (most of the kids in my class were from the dominant Pinewood Mormon families)- a Pinewood education might not be the right choice for everyone. However, I am still grateful for the academic foundation I received there, and the real world came anyway, after I left Pinewood.

Great school, wonderful community. They really care for the children and their development…read more(personal and academic). I could not recommend more this school. Thank you St Joseph and all their teachers and administration.

My daughter is blessed to be attending her second year at St. Joseph and we intend on staying…read morethroughout 8th grade. I've always wanted her to attend a Catholic school and after spending just one year with St. Joseph, I am positive that it is one of the best decisions I've made for her yet. St. Joseph's community is so inclusive that we feel like part of one big intertwined family, regardless of grade. Not only is my child thriving academically from extremely attentive teachers, but also, she is being guided to uphold morals and values that I truly feel are helping her grow into a kind and successful human being. School faculty are constantly looking for new ways to improve and asking for feedback from parents, truly showing they care! Mrs. Placencia, Mrs. Usis, and Mrs. Holmes have been incredibly kindhearted and attentive to all of our needs. Every morning we are greeted with warm smiles and positive energy. After school, my daughter is ecstatic to tell me about what she learned and how much she adores her friends and teacher Ms. Villagomez. Now that we are on summer vacation, my daughter is counting the days until back to school! Cannot recommend this school enough, I am confident that my child is in extremely capable and loving hands. So proud and grateful to be a part of this wholesome learning environment. Thanks, SJMV!

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.

My children spent several years at LACS and just graduated from middle school. Our time there was…read moretransformative and filled with growth. The staff and the principal Lizette are dedicated, caring and supportive while maintaining high academic standards. The smaller school community fosters strong ties. They have a great athletics program and amazing field trips. I would recommend this school without hesitation. I have multiple children and we have been to several public and private schools. The LACS experience was by far the best.

The state of the running track at this establishment is subpar. It is worn down to the asphalt…read moreunderneath in many places. I hope it gets redone soon.

This is a very nice school with a big campus. Teachers and students are both helpful here. This is…read morea high school but it looks more like a college.

An amazing school!…read more Our daughter couldn't be happier with the amazing teachers and rigorous curriculum

Educationally great, but socially out of control. There is rampant bullying and helpless…read moreadministration

I attended MVA and it really changed the course of my life. I made lasting friendships and grew in…read moremy relationship with God. I had never known any teenagers before that actually showed they loved God and respected Him and weren't afraid to show it. I now send my teenagers to MVA and they have had so many opportunities. The classes they need are available to them, there are so many leadership opportunities and volunteer opportunities for them here. The teachers have been great and easy to communicate with, very dedicated and understanding. Being a smaller size in number gives more students a chance to play sports and join other extra curricular activities as well. While all of the academic programs are all great, my favorite thing is that they have a worship time in the chapel everyday. The students also visit the churches and sing or play in the worship band. I am thankful to God for providing MVA, He is leading in this school and I pray He continues to bless the school, the families, and the community. I absolutely recommend MVA

Both of my teenagers attend to this private school, definitely I'm more than happy to recommend…read morethis great Christian high school.

As an Educational Consultant I have great confidence in Bowman School. The academics are strong…read morebut without pressure. Bowman provides such a level of individualized attention it is an excellent school for many kinds of learners. The faculty turnover is low, leading to consistency and strong relationships. The Montessori philosophy promotes learning how to learn and a passion for lifelong learning. Graduates of Bowman have a long history of success as they continue their educational journies. The year round schedule and flexibility of hours make it an ideal school for working parents.

Parents need to be prepare: this school has been expand from one campus into 4 in past few years,…read morewhich explains why tuition raised 6% - 7% each year. There will be a plan for high school expanding and ask for high donation on top of tuition raise. Good luck.