I strongly advise against this school based on our experience…read more The administration is more interested in controlling and punishing students rather than fostering an environment that encourages critical thinking, love of learning and a feeling of safety. The culture is antiquated as is the curriculum. Teachers are underwhelming. There is a stark lack of innovation and limited use of technology. A revolving door of teachers. With those who remained, issues loomed. The administration had no interest in hearing from parents. The science program is a disgrace. It lacks instruction and labs. I have attached a photo that is telling. The Spanish program is a joke. Social Studies was inconsistent. A new, inexperienced English teacher had no accountability. She humiliated more than one child by timing them when going to the restroom in front of the class. She demonstrated questionable rationality and a tenuous relationship with reality. At some point, we hired tutors to advance our child in certain areas which we likely would have done at any school, just as many students take math at RSM. We do that as well. The vice principal reprimanded my child when she heard this, claiming it was unfair. This was outrageous, but not out of character. Every opportunity they had to tear down a child, they took--and that treatment extended to parents. Additionally, the school actively discouraged transparency and honesty, instructing my child and myself to conceal a learning accommodation from other students and parents. We were told, "Do not tell anyone, and if it gets out, we will know it was you." This culture of fear, intimidation, and dishonesty are toxic. Stapled your paper incorrectly? That will be 10% off. Did not include your last name? Turn in the next day at penalty. Why not simply speak to the student and offer support if needed? Is this about learning or control? It is 100% about control and you control through fear. The anxiety our family experienced during our time at NDE was profound. If you're looking for a forward looking school that fosters critical thinking and helps develop confidence with supportive adults rooting for them, this is absolutely not the place. For some, this culture may be acceptable, but others, including myself, may consider it a form of emotional abuse on top of an antiquated mode of teaching and curriculum. This school has the potential to be a positive neighborhood institution, but it requires significant leadership change to transform.

It's very unfortunate for the community to have Dr. Jeremiassen as the principal of the school. Her…read moreonly conflict resolution methods are 1) sweep it under the rug and pretend it never happened, and 2) get rid of the people involved, be it students, teachers, or volunteers. (Yes! MANY times!) There is a typical oppressed atmosphere at the school: People are unhappy, but dare not say anything. Students jeer at the "fake smile" of the principal behind her back. How ironical it is for a Catholic/Christian school, and how unfortunate for everybody who had to go through this "educational experience". To be fair, Dr. Jeremiassen may have done some good things like modernizing the school's IT system, so she might be an Ok administrator, but lacks empathy, the basic nuance to handle problems appropriately, and the drive to try to fix problems at their root. She should never be a leader in any position.

They have a great reputation in our area for a reason. I have only dealt with them from a business…read morestandpoint and can say that they are very trustworthy and extremely nice people.

I am able to offer a unique review based on the fact that I previously worked at Serendipity (as a…read moreTeaching Assistant) and am now a parent of a Kindergartener who attends this school. Also, I am a Teacher (at a different elementary school), so my standards are quite high ;-) While working at Serendipity, I was able to get to know administration and staff on a personal basis. I got a behind the scenes view. The truth is that this school is as great as it appears to be. The teachers genuinely care about their students and are extremely talented. Meaghan, the Head of the School, is down-to-earth and compassionate. She deeply cares about the families and staff she serves. My son began Serendipity in TK. He wasn't a cookie cutter child by any means. In fact, he was diagnosed with ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder during his first year here. When I communicated this to the school, the administration was very supportive and worked with us to make his school year a positive one. This year my son is in Kindergarten and is thriving. His teacher, Ms. Kim, has embraced his many quirks (he loves to sing all day long..as a teacher myself I feel for her!). He has learned invaluable skills such as self regulation, perseverance, communication and self expression. My formerly shy child, has become an outgoing little person who is confident in who he is and isn't afraid to be himself. When you join this gem of a school, you become part of a family. It feels like Cheers where everyone knows your name :-).

IHM has been more than a school for our daughter -- it has provided strong academics, meaningful…read morevalues, and a close-knit community that truly feels like family. My daughter joined IHM four years ago. She was a true "COVID kid," and this was her first school experience. From the beginning, IHM felt less like a school and more like an extended family. As an only child with busy working parents and no siblings nearby, she didn't have much daily social interaction outside school. At IHM, she gained more than academics -- she learned independence, social skills, manners, values, and strong ethics. Her Preschool, Kindergarten, and TK teachers truly invested in her personally, and that care made all the difference. We tried district school for one year in first grade, but it wasn't the right fit. She regressed socially, picked up negative language, and became more anxious. When we returned to IHM, the change was clear. She improved academically, but more importantly, her social and emotional well-being grew tremendously. She became calmer and more confident again. Friday Mass, school events, and community functions have helped shape her character and sense of belonging. I also value that the school participates in state-level evaluations, so we're always aware of academic standards. Is IHM a perfect school? No. There are always areas that can improve -- just like anywhere else. But is there really such a thing as a perfect school? What IHM provides is something more important to us: a strong educational foundation, a structured social environment, and a close-knit community. For our daughter, it has truly been a family away from family. As parents constantly juggling work, we are deeply grateful for the role IHM has played in raising and shaping her. We are thankful to be part of this community.

I attended years ago from 2005 to 2009 and I was bullied every day by my fellow classmates. They…read moreeven bullied me in front of teachers and the teachers never stopped it or did anything to discipline them. The bullying was so bad that I dropped out in the beginning of 8th grade and went to Ralston. The 8th grade teacher mrs kruetzmann was cruel towards me as well. I was hoping that it's better now. but based on some of the other reviews, it looks like it might not be any better. I found the teachers to be A LOT more kind, caring, helpful at Ralston.

Worst school ever! School owner feels so entitled and kept asking parents to park properly while…read moreshow no intention to improve the parking situation such as buying more slots. You can circle forever and cannot find a parking and be late for 2 min and get fine of $50! The job for teachers cannot be easier - they don't tell story and let kids listen to radio - they don't do white boarding and let kids watch screens lol We stayed for one year and due to poor planning we let kid attend summer school - there is no schedule or whatsoever - kid complained so bored it was $2600 (2 years ago summer tuition) per month for absolutely nothing. We could not escape faster and this is worst school we ever attended in Bay Area across private and public schools!

We've been so happy with Merry Moppet/ Belmont Oaks Academy! Our kids have been attending since…read morepreschool, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. The teachers are exceptional--dedicated, nurturing, and truly passionate about education. They have low turnover in teachers. It's actually pretty impressive. The leadership, including the owners and principal, demonstrates a remarkable commitment to creating a supportive and enriching environment. You can feel the support and care that permeates the school. In elementary, the curriculum is academically rigorous and continues to progress. So that maybe an important consideration for your kid. We appreciate the close-knit community; it feels like family. Our kids genuinely love going to school every day, and that says it all.

5 stars for sure , one of the best schools around belmont. My son goes to this school and the…read moreprincipal Mis Maganeres if I spelled her name correct is the super hero. She has measuring with entire school children every morning and talks to them about their needs and listen to them. Gives announcements and even makes everyone's days happy with a smile on children's face. I could never say any negative about her and her school at all

My daughter is a student here and she absolutely loves it and so do I. The teachers and staff are…read moreamazing. I am a women who will only get the best for my child and if I though for one second that Nesbit was not a good school...she would not be enrolled there, plain and simple! My daughter is reading two level above her grade level and is excelling at an exceptional rate. The activities that we hold at Nesbit are great for the school and fun for the whole community. I have heard other parents from different schools in our district frown upon Nesbit because we except kids from East Palo Alto. Now, I live in the lovely Belmont, no more than five minutes away. But for the parents who are raising their children to be snobs to other children because of their location of residence, keep your snobby attitudes and children away! Nesbit is a loving and caring school who are raising outstanding citizens. As long as I am living in this community, my child will be attending until I need to start the dreaded search of middle schools in a couple of years!

My son has been in the Challenge preschool side since 2 years old and continued on to this…read moreChallenge School since Kindergarten. The teachers are fluent in Mandarin and immerse the kids in Chinese speaking environment. The teachers are very encouraging and warm to all parents What I like is the consistency and stability of the class - my son has been with most of his classmates for over 6 years and really have gotten to known them. same with parents - many of us started with Challenge early on and have gotten to known each other over the years. There are monthly public speaking practices as part of routine class curriculum. There are many cultural celebrations as well for all to enjoy kids' performances.

Our kids have been attending Belmont Challenge after school program for years. Not only does the…read moreschool offer a trusting and organized learning environment for the kids, the teachers are patient and friendly towards the kids. Our goal was for our kids to maintain their bilingual skills and be in a fun learning environment, and Challenge offers what we wanted and more! Under the guidance of the teachers, our kids have improved greatly in their public speaking skills (in both English and Chinese) due to the school's thoughtful curriculum in helping to develop students' public speaking skills. Most importantly, our kids thoroughly enjoyed being at Challenge and often requested to be picked up later :) Overall, we are grateful that our kids can maintain and develop their Chinese skills in a safe and friendly environment at Belmont Challenge!

I cannot say enough positive things about the Charles Armstrong School and the incredible impact it…read morehas had on my son's academic experience and truly, on the trajectory of his life. He is a dyslexic and dysgraphic learner who is now thriving thanks to the skills, tools, and confidence he's gained at Armstrong. It's so refreshing to be in a learning environment where every subject is taught through the lens of the dyslexic learner. My son was happy at his previous school, but his academic confidence was rapidly declining. Since joining Armstrong, he feels like a star and is finally able to live up to his full potential. He's no longer an outlier. Here, everyone learns the way he does. The teachers are incredibly dedicated and deeply knowledgeable about how to reach and teach these remarkable learners. The small-group instruction has been key, and we also love that Armstrong offers all the benefits of a larger school--sports teams, student government, performing arts, and a wide range of extracurriculars. If you have a child with a language-based learning difference, get them to Armstrong ASAP! We only wish we'd come sooner.

We are new to CAS but so far our experience has been exceptional. Our son participated in their…read moresummer program and after a month we observed a discernable improvement in his reading skills. The school seems intensely focused on working with the parents to set goals and objectives for students' development over the school year and the level of communication with us as new entrants has been high. They appear to be incredibly well organized. The kids wear uniforms--that gets a "like" from me. I will update this review over time.

School is very clean and nice. Legarza camps were fun there and they have good basketball players!read more

Extremely fun and the teachers CARE~ The classes cover…read moreeverything and are pretty much above all standards. Send your kids here! All the staff is so personable and they have an amazing award winning orchestra and band program along with art, tech,p e, ELD, and Spanish:) really good bball team!

Came here a while ago. Loved the place, loved the teachers, loved the atmosphere. And I heard they…read morejust got a new playground.

Decent educators, but they do not supply adequate after school care facilities and cannot…read moreaccommodate the number of children they have enrolled. I advise checking our one of the other excellent schools in the district instead.

Great PTA, teachers, has an on site SEL counselor, & before and after school care offerings. Weekly…read moremessages from Principal and great bunch of kids.