i don't go to this school but i came for a track meet and their team is on par. can't help but…read moreadmire this sunset JUST LOOK! it was their senior night too

This was our first time coming here. We were here for a basketball game. It was a club team, thus I…read morethink they just rented out the gym. It was a little confusing on finding the gym. We went left and saw the drop off area and drove around the football field. We retraced our steps and drove farther straight and found the gym. There was plenty of parking and even some parking in the shade. The parking lot needs a little of grooming. We parked next to an island and it was filled with branches and weeds. The gym was nice. It was a little stuffy, even with all the doors open. The seating was plentiful. The bathroom was in the lobby, it was clean and easy to find. I'd come back and watch another game in their gym.

My daughter attended BISV elementary and now the middle school. The school claims students get 10…read morehours of homework weekly, but the reality is 25 to 30 hours. That's 3 to 4 hours on weekdays and 6 to 8 hours on weekends. There's no coordination between subject teachers to spread out assignments. My daughter is a strong student who keeps up with the work, so this isn't about struggling. It's simply too much. Other parents report the same experience. There's no time left for extracurriculars or family. The principal has not addressed parent concerns on this issue. I regret enrolling my daughter here.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

We applied this school. We have an interview and we waited 15 minutes until we call them and they…read morejust ask a admin to interview us randomly. The original interview is 30minutes but we only had 15 minutes in a rush. Very bad experience. How could they forget the interview

As a recent graduate, my time at Piedmont Hills was good and bad. A lot of the teachers are very…read morepassionate about their work and are down to earth. A lot of them are kind and always nice to talk to despite the decades long age gap between student and teacher. There are a lot of resources such as a wellness center to support students. One of the biggest problems about this school is the terrible management over the bathrooms. There are several bathrooms across school, and many of them will be closed throughout the day. Newer and nicer bathrooms such as the ones in the new art building and science buildings are always closed. The bathrooms that most people use in the hallways also were closed on and off. There are also locations such as the portables and track where there is no bathroom close by (or the nearest is closed). There is also a 10 minute bathroom policy where you can't go to the bathroom for the first and last 10 minutes of class. For me, as someone who drank a lot of water as a cross country runner, this was hell on Earth. There were MANY times where I would go to class, wait 10 minutes for the 10 minute rule to pass to be able to request to go to the restroom, have to take a long walk (~3 minute walk) to a bathroom, find out that it was closed, walk to the other hallway (approx 70m away) to see if their bathroom is open and find that it is closed, and then be forced to give up or try to find staff to open the bathroom or go on ANOTHER long walk to the office to go to the staff bathroom where I'm not supposed to go to because that's the only bathroom that was open. The lack of bathrooms being open and 10 minute rule also leads to LONG lines for the bathroom during breaks and lunches, which is only exasperated by some of the stalls being taken by girls who smoke in there. Not to mention the bathrooms that were allowed to be open were DISGUSTING. The soap was almost always out, there was ALWAYS a sink (out of the two sinks in the bathroom) broken, and cockroaches everywhere. Reminder that there are 8+ bathrooms, but only 2 were ever really open. Just stupid and silly. Just because there are a few bad apples who use the bathroom to skip class doesn't mean that the rest of the school population should suffer. It doesn't just end there though. It took months of student advocating for there to be a porta potty installed at the track. Hundreds of students use the school's outdoor sports facilities throughout the year (track, xc, softball, baseball, tennis, badminton, soccer, etc) and there was no bathroom near there for a long time. Oftentimes after school, the closest bathrooms (the locker rooms which are still ~.25 mile away from the track) were closed. While the porta potties were eventually implemented, they were CHAINED shut and padlocked. The school has a great student life and I made a lot of memories and lifetime friends here, but the bathroom situation was so horrible it gives this school -2 stars.

even as a graduate, i still come back to the track! open to residents all summer + during non…read moreschool hours in the school year. sunsets are beautiful and u get the magnificent view of the hills (green in the spring) and a wide assortment of trees (palm, oak, pine, birch). super peaceful track for working out, inner grass area that's cut every 2-3 weeks. no lights after sunset is a downside.

Bellarmine College Preparatory is one of those schools that you prepare your son for years in…read moreadvance. The school's motto of "Men for Others" goes to the core of the school's mission and Jesuit Catholic identity. Principal Meyercord runs what is one of the best high schools in California. Located in San Jose's College Park the school took over University of the Pacific's old campus in 1925 after they split from nearby Santa Clara University. Tuition is $18k a year, but they give $4 million in financial aid a year. The school works hard to have a student body that reflects Silicon Valley's diversity, which includes students who's families wouldn't have otherwise been able to afford it. They accept around 400 students a year, with 300 coming from the 30+ Catholic schools in the area and the other 100 non-catholic students coming from Challenger, Harker, Stratford and public/charter schools in the area. It is the only school with it's own Cal-Train College Park train station (Jack London's Call of the Wild fame) bringing students to school as far away as San Francisco and Gilroy. The 2 leading candidates for the upcoming mayor of San Jose race are both Bellarmine graduates, and even agreed to host a debate on the campus of their alma matter run by the students. SF's Riordan, Concord's De La Salle and San Mateo's Junipero Serra are the only other all boys academic institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area that I'm aware of.

First, understand that your son will not get into the best college he possibly can if he goes to…read moreBellarmine. This is lost in the fine print and is conveniently elided in the promo materials. The school will tout the few grads that end up at MIT or Harvard and act like they pulled those strings, but the truth is those kids are geniuses and would have gotten into those colleges with or without Bellarmine's name. In order to understand this effect, we have to look at the average performers at Bellarmine --- the average kids who work up until 3 AM every night only to get rejected by UC Davis or Cal Poly. A good portion of Bell grads even end up at SJ State. I personally know a grad who ended up at community college. Allow me to ask a very simple question: if you're paying money for an institution, should you not harvest an advantage from that institution? These types of outcomes are simply unacceptable for the tuition fees that Bellarmine demands (100k). The problem is every student at Bellarmine is ultimately remarkable and intelligent. However, colleges can only accept a certain amount of students per school. Thus, only the geniuses (who are fine on their own) get top acceptances while your reasonably bright son ends up with a disappointing result. This is the dirty secret at Bellarmine. There is a lot of coping built into the culture where people say "Well, at least I'm prepared for college" --- not understanding that their college result would have been much better had they just gone to a public school for FREE. Their grades would be better and their workload would be slashed in half. This outcome is absolutely unacceptable for the dollars spent. Second, the workload at Bellarmine is huge. Even nearly 12 years later, I am shocked at the inhuman level of work assigned if a student opted for a competitive curriculum (APs, Honors, etc.). It was commonly accepted that the average bedtime was 2 AM. Students walked around with heavy backpacks filled to the brim with books. The library was always crammed with students studying and finishing up presentations. Stress was rampant. During junior year, a classmate ran away from home after scoring a B on an exam. For this level of work, one would expect great rewards upon graduating. This never materialized. Tons of students who worked themselves to the bone found themselves matriculating at unremarkable colleges surrounded by students from public schools who didn't work nearly as hard. Unacceptable. Third, the academic difficulty at Bellarmine was ridiculous. English classes expected students to write at a college-level and graded as if it was college-level. Presentations were expected to last the entire class period (30-50 minutes). Afterwards, you were picked apart by an open forum like a thesis defense. Exams were incredibly difficult. I distinctly remember a random pop quiz dropped everyone's grades by 10 percent. A's to B's in 10 minutes. This is absolutely UNTHINKABLE in public school. When I finally had gone to college, I was mortified to learn that presentations were 10 minutes max at even upper division level courses. Now, you might think that academic difficulty is fine for a "college-preparatory" high school, but your son bears that price when his war-torn "B" is weighed disadvantageously against an "A" from a kid who didn't nearly work as hard. Colleges do not make that distinction. Bellarmine is only locally recognized, but it likes to think of itself as Philips Exeter. This is a horrific deal. Fourth, there is a problematic culture of teacher worship at Bellarmine. Now, there are always good & bad apples. But the bad ones had a profound effect on the students. Teachers are very aware of the hyper-academic culture enforced at Bellarmine and understand the power they wield over their students. What results is extremely unprofessional behavior: yelling, berating, inappropriate jokes with underage boys, and deeply personal attacks. I recall a teacher once mocked a student's garage rock band as the reason why he scored a C on a quiz. Such comments upon reflection are incredibly unprofessional and are not befitting of an institution with its hands in your pockets. This culture of teacher worship was perpetuated by students who were afraid of being vindictively graded, and was what allowed controversies like a former English teacher's sexual grooming of female students (visitors from another campus) to be even possible and go unquestioned for years. In summary --- Bellarmine delivers partly on its promises. Does it have a great facility? Yes. Are the teachers good? Most of them. However, it is also a steward of some deeply problematic issues: it is academically punishing and unforgiving, and it screws over your son when it comes to college admissions. A parent who wants to pay 100k tuition for their son to go to this school should understand two things: he will likely give a great talk on food production rights, and he will also attend USF.

The college placement of the seniors was amazing!!!…read more These are amazing young women, ready to conquer the world.

pres fired the maitenance brothers who have worked at pres for 30+ years with no warning. math…read moreteacher quit on site. this school is going downhill fast do not send your daughters here. go literally anywhere else this school will not be afloat in 5 years. - alumni from 2018, 2024, & 2026

My daughter attended Cambrian Academy for the past five years, starting when we moved from Dubai to…read moreCalifornia during a time when many public and private schools were closed due to COVID. Our experience offers a comprehensive look at the school.   Academic Excellence and Curriculum: Cambrian Academy is strongly geared towards college preparation. The counselors are diligent in ensuring students complete all necessary coursework on time and provide clear academic paths. The school is known for its college readiness support, including guidance on personal essays, application timelines, and staff assistance with recommendation letters. AP classes are available, though some are offered online, which might not suit every student's learning style. While not all specialized programs or electives are available directly, the school effectively assists students in navigating and enrolling in external college courses to supplement their curriculum.   School Culture and Environment: One of the standout aspects of Cambrian Academy is its safe and supportive environment. With a small student body of around 80 students, there is virtually no bullying, and staff members like Mrs. Delgado are highly aware of the goings-on around the school, contributing to a nurturing atmosphere. The school creates a positive culture that promotes inclusivity, respect, and a strong sense of community. The focus on student well-being, including social-emotional learning, is evident and appreciated.   Teachers and Staff: The teacher-student ratio is generally favorable, allowing for more personalized attention. However, our experience with the teaching staff has been mixed. While many teachers are dedicated and skilled, there have been instances, such as a chemistry teacher leaving, where courses were subsequently taught by individuals who were not subject matter experts in that specific field.   Extracurricular Activities and Opportunities: The school offers various opportunities for clubs and activities both within the school and externally. Students can explore diverse interests and develop leadership skills through these avenues. It's important to note, however, that Cambrian Academy does not have its own sports teams.   Practical Considerations: In terms of cost, Cambrian Academy's tuition is comparable to other private schools in the area. Its small size is a defining characteristic, providing a very personal and focused educational environment, which can be a significant advantage for families seeking that type of setting.   Parent-School Communication and Involvement: Communication with the school primarily consists of daily automated emails detailing student attendance and grades. While this provides basic updates, proactive parent-teacher meetings are limited and typically occur when parents initiate contact. Building a collaborative and communicative environment between teachers and parents largely depends on individual parental outreach.   I would recommend this school to folks who need individual attention. My daughter got into many universities in the STEM area, including an offer for Pharmaceutical Science at Purdue, few bio-engineering majors at few University of California Universities, and some direct medical school options internationally.

Hi there! I'm Larry the Cucumber! And, uh... I just wanted…read moreto express my thoughts about this place I thought it'd be full of sunshine, learning, and maybe a snack or two... but instead, it was like a math-flavored nightmare. First off -- the teachers were so mean! I tried to stay positive, but they seemed allergic to happiness. Every time I smiled, they frowned so hard I thought the lights got dimmer. And boy, were they bad at teaching. I'm still not sure what I learned, but it definitely wasn't algebra. Maybe "how not to teach"? Yeah, I got an A+ in that. Also... I don't want to be rude, but their breath could knock over a watermelon. I had to hold my breath just to stay conscious during "lesson time." They were super unorganized, too! Nobody knew what we were doing -- not even them! And worst of all -- no snacks. NONE. I'm a cucumber! I need my energy! You can't do math on an empty stomach! So, yeah... if you like kindness, organization, fresh breath, snacks, and most importantly.. learning, maybe don't go here. I'm giving this place one star -- and that's only because leaving was free. -- Larry the Cucumber

Nice campus Clean and lots of activities including the…read moretrack invitationals of which we attend! Super pretty part of Camden avenue!

DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU CAN. Deeply disappointing experience that the teaching staff, administration,…read moreand students all played a role in. The pre-pandemic experience was good but the post-pandemic experience was extremely poor. Was physically assaulted on the basis of my sexuality and administration had asked me to be as quiet about the situation to avoid controversy. Administration would constantly bother students over extremely minor things such as completing work outside during the tutorial period or sitting in a car during the lunch or snack break. (I have heard the micromanaging has gotten significantly worse after I left.) Teachers are generally mediocre or genuinely uninterested in teaching; I was interested in pursuing computer science but I found that to be challenging since in my introductory computer science course, my computer science teacher would only teach for 15 minutes during two hour block periods before spending the rest of the time playing computer games. Felt extremely uncomfortable when a teacher seemingly accidentally made a joke calling a dark-skinned student "three-fifths of a student." One teacher has had a history of predatory behavior to young women, even minors, but still continues to teach. Student culture is also poor. Being around these students will motivate you to be successful as they are very driven but there is a toxic competitive culture where students feel like they need to one-up each other in order to succeed. Lots of explicit racism towards black and hispanic people (if you are part of these demographics I highly suggest not coming here) and undertones of racism as some students only prefer being close to students of their own ethnicity / race. Leland comparatively has significantly less resources to other high schools in the area of similar academic caliber. Affluent & competitive students use outside resources such as expensive tutoring services and college counseling to fulfill their academic goals, creating a gap between students who are able to and actively use these resources and students who don't (important to consider as in the college application process, you directly compete with these students.) Leland may or may not be a place where you can succeed and thrive depending on the type of person you are. However, it will likely not be a space where you feel happy or comfortable if you do not conform to the dominant demographics of the school. If you are a parent looking to buy or rent a home in this area with the allure of the "great schools nearby" I strongly suggest you look elsewhere.

i am also biased because i attended this school from 99-02! I loved the uniforms, and not having to…read morepick out ur cloths, the campus and the atmosphere was welcoming and warm. I think they did an amazing job at proving opportunities for the young ladies to flourish, everything from sports to leadership to choir! I had an awesome experience with all my teachers there, nothing to horrifying. I would send my daughter here in a heart beat! and i think the review from Chris T is not a legit review, he's a guy ! he can't possible review an all girl school based on a visit for SAT's and Mixers he attended, yeeeeeah how about no!?

Amazing opportunity for girls ! Outstanding education by a very professional group of teachers!!read more