Our child had a nosebleed at school, and the school director Colleen immediately called us to pick him up. Since we work 40 minutes away, I asked if this was part of the school's sick policy. It wasn't--the reason given was simply that a teacher couldn't manage 12 kids at once. On top of that, the preschool principal Laurie required us to provide a doctor's note confirming that nosebleeds were "okay" to let kid back to school. Even our pediatrician found this request ridiculous, but kindly wrote the note word-for-word as they asked. Despite the school's popularity due to its affiliation with a local private elementary, this has been our worst preschool experience compared to others. The teacher-student ratio is inadequate, tuition is extremely high, and communication with parents is minimal. Although it's promoted as a play-based program, most of the time children just play independently while teachers supervise rather than engage. Also they introduce screen time (TV, iPads) as early as age two. I initially chose Serendipity Preschool for my child because of its strong reputation. However, I eventually realized it operates more like a business and not care much about the kids as they claimed. After moving and enrolling my kids in other schools, the differences became very clear, in all aspects--and much greater than I could imaged. In response to Laurie's reply below: When a school director exaggerates facts by claiming "daily nosebleeds" and deliberately misleads the public while carefully managing reviews to maintain a 5-star image, it really makes me question their priorities. When I answered the call, I clearly heard the words: "One teacher cannot take care of 12 kids. Please pick him up as soon as possible." That completely shocked me. read more

We have one kid in his third year, a second kid starting out in the 2s ("Monkeys") class, and a third enrolled starting in 2025! If we had three more kids we would probably send them to Serendipity, too! Excellent preschool with teachers that clearly care about the kids and the school. Even coming out of the pandemic we have witnessed virtually no teacher turnover which has led to seamless continuity as the kids cycle through classes. Each class has a bit of its own feel to it depending on the focus of the teacher(s), however what is consistent is that there is a clear curriculum and excellent parent-teacher communication. As the older one has hit his stride, it is apparent that he feels a part of the community as we do as parents. It will be sad once graduation finally comes, but luckily we have two more kids to go! read more

We have had the pleasure of having two kids go through Serendipity Preschool. I can't imagine having made it through these early years without the amazing Serendipity community. The teachers and staff have been like family to us. It was Ms. Colleen and Ms. Patrice who helped find a way to get little Maddie into the program early to make sure she didn't have to have multiple transitions at the start of school. It was Ms. Soma who sat with our first, as she struggled to warm up to a new preschool. It was hugs from Ms. Heather that helped console a crying little girl who didn't want to say goodbye in the morning. It was in Mr. Vince's class that she started coming out of her shell and finding her own confidence. It was with Ms. Annie, Ms. Monica and Ms. Ashley that Maddie found her love of art and a greater independence that everyone in kindergarten was so impressed with. It was Ms. Cathy and Ms. Melissa who could see past the sass and appreciate our spirited little 2 year old second child. It was Ms. Elvia who worked tirelessly in the background to make sure all the kids were fed and cared for. It was Ms. Lauren who would patiently help an overtired, crying child into her carseat at the end of a long day. It was Ms Annie who made her truly understand and believe in the value of kindness. It was Ms. Colleen who helped her get past her anxiety about performing and have her first successful show at graduation. Our girls are so lucky to have had these amazing teachers in our lives, but I feel equally as lucky. With each challenge the girls faced, it was her teachers at Serendipity that we turned to. They listened to us, worked with us to find solutions and supported us as we tried to navigate these early years as parents. When we were nervous about our eldest starting a new school, Ms. Colleen and Ms. Patrice helped talk us through it and make the transition as smooth as possible. As I struggled to watch my 3 year old still cry at morning drop off, Ms Heather and Ms. Soma would ease my worries and help me not to cry along with her. It was because of the community that Mr. Vince built in his class that we made lifelong friends (#BrownBearsMoms4Life). I don't know how I would have gotten my youngest in the car some days without Ms. Lauren patiently holding all our things, without judgement, as I struggled to get through the end of the day. When we needed a night out as adults, it was Ms. Jessica who allowed us to not have to worry about the kids for a second. It was Ms. Sasha who gave me hope that this phase would pass by sharing stories of her own childhood. When I was concerned about what to do for my youngest's last year, Ms. Laurie patiently listened and talked me through it. It was Ms. Colleen that would come to the rescue when we needed last minute help and extend her work day through the evening. It was Ms Annie I would turn to in times of concern and without a second hesitation she would spend her entire lunch break talking me through what was on my mind. They have wiped their tears and made them feel safe when we could not be with them. They have nurtured them and helped them blossom from toddlers who were just starting to talk to young kids who were starting to read. They have taught them the value of friendship, art, and education. My girls love every single teacher from Serendipity even if they have never been in their class and what is amazing is how they have felt that love in return. Our whole family is so thankful for all that they have given to make these years special for our children. read more

We love Serendipity Preschool! We moved to Serendipity 10 months ago after leaving a school that we had become very unhappy with. What a dream it was to join Serendipity where the teachers are accredited and and their fabulous curriculum includes Language, Math, Science and Spanish as well as the most creative arts we have ever seen. The school was founded almost 20 years ago and the considerable investment the founding couple have made and continue to make in the school and the staff is very evident even on one's first tour. They have structured the school so that it is run by a Head Director, a very wonderful and warm Ms. Patrice. She works closely and is supported by two amazing Assistant Directors, Ms. Colleen and Mr. Vince. I would never have thought about this before, but after our poor experience at our prior situation, we so appreciate this thoughtful set-up...with this structure, the teachers are fully supported, it's a democracy and not a monarchy (yes, our former school) and the school office also has the support to maintain consistent, clear and open communication with parents via paper, phone and email. The warm environment found at Serendipity is what touched my husband and me the most, I think. You will find Ms. Patrice, yes the school Director, kneeling down most days playing with the kids, helping the teachers by getting the younger ones into their jackets for play time outside and simultaneously warmly greeting the parents and their children as they arrive in the morning. EVERY teacher in the school knows my husband's and my name and greets us with a smile by name in the morning and the evening. Now, I know that could not be possible if they weren't happy...and happy teachers mean the best environment for our kids. Our kids have absolutely flourished in these past 10 months. Our eldest is so much more confident, happy and has learned his numbers and letters. His class has a Phonics program, a Spanish program and the most incredible arts program. The time and effort invested in teaching our kids is richly evident - as is the care and love that the teachers and school Directors have. Our youngest is also doing incredibly well and loves his teachers and has so much fun with all of his friends. We would highly recommend Serendipity to any family looking for a warm and nurturing environment as well as one that offers an incredible educational curriculum. We are so happy to be part of Serendipity Preschool and count ourselves very lucky. read more

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We couldn't be happier to have found such an ideal fit for our children at Serendipity Preschool. We have found the academics to be top-notch, hand in hand with the excellent social and emotional support the teachers/ faculty offer such young learners. We are beyond thrilled with our children's academic progress. We remain highly impressed by the extraordinary leaps in language, problem-solving and spatial/motor skills our daughters make, thanks to Serendipity. When our oldest applied to K-5 programs at several private schools --in addition to Serendipity Elementary-- she was more than prepared and fared well in the admissions process. We chose Serendipity Elementary bc it's a school unlike any other we've found in its *organic and authentic* integration of high-caliber learning AND emotional development. read more

THIS SCHOOL ABSOLUTELY ROCKS! I have watched my child blossom while attending Serendipity Elementary School. She is currently in the fourth grade, and has been at this gem of a school for 2 years now. Ms. Megan, the principal, is incredibly friendly and engaged. She is approachable, smart, and she is incredibly fun! This is truly caring environment for your child. The curriculum is challenging and my daughter takes so much pride in her work and she LOVES learning! (Hooray!) Even the after school programs are awesome! They are run by the most amazing person, Mr. Brian. His energy is endless and he is so creative. I highly recommend Serendipity to parents that want the best for their children. Period. read more

My 4 1/2 year old son has attended Serendipity for the past two years and we have been incredibly happy. The school's facility is not fancy but the attention to safety, warm and nurturing environment and family atmosphere are a few of the things we have appreciated. The social development of their students is equally important as the academic achievements. I have recommended this school to both friends and coworkers and will continue to do so. read more

Serendipity is a wonderful ! Both of my children attended Serendipity and the love that the staff has and shows towards the children is evident in all they do. They are truly caring and know that every child is unique. We have had Ms. Annie, Ms. Christina, Mr. Vince, and Ms. Soma for teachers but I have interacted with just about everyone on the staff and they are all great. It's a true testament to the school when you see the longevity of the staff. I wish my kids could stay with them forever, but they leave for elementary school well prepared because of Serendipity. read more

We enrolled our 3 year old into this school and were instantly impressed and touched by how much of a "family" feel this place has. Plus we love how it's tucked away in an office park so that you don't have the worries of people coming in and out and being swamped like a typical, larger school. The staff are all so wonderful and they really get to KNOW you. Before you enroll, they have multiple meet-and-greets and opportunities for your child to become familiar with the place and with their teachers. Our son loved going to school and had a blast. Please keep in mind though, they do have floaters, but typically the student to teacher ratio is realistically 1:12. Despite this, they truly do make an effort to personalize the care your child gets and this is a great place for preschool, especially if your child is neurotypical and does not have any developmental needs. Another perk is that they will help you with potty training, and our son actually improved on those skills 10-fold while here! So overall, I think this place is wonderful! We are sad that we had to go (our son has special needs and ended up going to a program to meet those needs) but we would wholeheartedly recommend this place to any of our family, friends and colleagues! read more

Both of my children attended Serendipity preschool and have loved it. My son, who is now in 2nd grade, still keeps in touch with friends he made. My daughter is almost finished with her Pre-K class and will be fully prepared for kindergarten next year. She has learned her letters, sounds, rhyming, and numbers this year. Both of my children feel at home there and feel loved by the teachers. As a teacher at Serendipity Elementary, I feel lucky to be part of such a caring community. read more

Preschool is such a huge step for children and parents alike; it's our first time entrusting virtual strangers with the most important little human in our life. 2 years ago I toured serendipity and instantly fell in love. Everyone, from the director, Mrs Patrice, to the office manager, Mrs Colleen, goes out of their way to make you feel comfortable. I loved every single teacher my son had, as well as the teachers he didn't have, bc I appreciated they all knew who my child was, his characteristics, his needs, and who his parents were. Mrs Elvia, the floater who also handles diaper changing, is a saint. When my son was in diapers, he was prone to get horrible rashes. She would go above and beyond to make sure he was comfortable and I always loved her for that. And when he was ready to start potty-training, his teacher, Ms Kathy, had more confidence in him than I did (bad mommy) and I feel like it wouldn't have happened as quickly as it did without her help. I can not say enough about this school. They keep in contact with parents on any and all issues, they don't get annoyed if you call multiple times a day (I think the transition was harder for me than my son!) I am heartbroken that we have moved to the east bay and my son will not have his last year of preschool at serendipity. I haven't broken the news to him yet. I know he will be just as sad as we are... He was really looking forward to having Mr Vince next year :( Thank you for a truly wonderful two years, Serendipity. We will miss you all. read more

We truly love Serendipity. We just moved to San Mateo last year and our youngest did 3 days a week in the two year old class, and our oldest five days a week in the fours. Serendipity was so welcoming to our family, and has been wonderful with our children. I am absolutely amazed at the amount of time and effort the teachers put into the childrens' activities and events. And they work so hard to build a sense of community, and really succeed. They have brought tears to our eyes many times, showing us how amazing kids can be with the right amount of encouragement and guidance. We would highly recommend this warm, fun and joyful school. read more

It is the best Preschool! Both of my kids spent solid 3 years at this school. They were happy and adored their teachers. In fact, my husband and I love the teachers so much that we hope we could go to that school ourselves. The teachers are experienced, cheerful and they are truly caring. The owners and the Principal are amazing! They are positive, receptive and accommodating. They appreciate all the feedback and input. We are very happy! read more

I can't say enough great things about Serendipity. We sent our daughter there for two years after pulling her out of her previous school when it started falling to pieces. We had Ms. Carla in preschool and Ms. Annie & Ms. Christina in pre-K. All three have been fantastic. Very caring and nurturing. They always have interesting projects and activities and really care about social, emotional, and cognitive development. They interact well with the parents, as well, and keep us informed of interesting stories from class and any problems that have come up. Our daughter should be well equipped for kindergarten. The other staff (other teachers, directors, etc) are also great to interact with and I would have been happy with them as our daughter's teachers, too. There's a reason that their teachers seem to stick around for many years - it's a great environment to be a part of. read more

We have been sending our son to this school for the past three months and we love it so far. This was his first preschool and first out of home day care experience and we couldn't be happier. We LOVE the teachers and the administrators. It is so clear that everyone there loves their jobs and loves children. I just adore how Miss Patrice is always playing with the kids out on the playground when I pick up my son. They know all the kids by name (even those in the other buildings) and it is a nurturing environment for children. The playground and buildings are clean, organized and well-kept. Since my son is not even three, I can't speak for any "academics" but we were attracted by the balance of play plus "learning." We would recommend Serendipity to anyone we know. read more

Serendipity Pre-school was an extraordinary experience for my son and family. He attended from the time he was 2 through graduation at 5 yrs old. The staff was caring, warm and truly involved with ensuring my child's development. This school provides a strong curriculum while still encouraging a play based environment. The children respect the teachers and one another. There were always new and engaging activities and the children sincerely loved being there. We have continued on to Serendipity Elementary School, which also provides an excellent education. Over the year's my son had Ms. Kathy, Ms. Carla, Ms. Annie, Ms. Christina and Mr. Vince as teachers- they were beyond incredible. They each went above and beyond every single day. Ms. Patrice is the director of the school and is fabulous. She runs the school in a very organized manner and you can see the love she has for each and every child. Frequently she took me aside to tell me stories about my son so that I could really experience his day. Those details matter when you are a working mom. And of course there is Ms. Colleen, who makes so much happen from the office, my son was wild about her and to this day is excited when she comes to visit. To put this review in perspective, we researched numerous pre-schools in the San Mateo/San Carlos/Belmont area before enrolling our child in Serendipity. We were looking for small class size with experienced teachers who would pay close attention to our son, as they did with all of the children. We wanted him to learn and prosper while learning to love school. Additionally we were price sensitive and this school is about in the middle range of private schools for tuition, though the value far outweighs the monthly cost. We lucked out with Serendipity and every time somebody compliments our son on his ability, maturity, good natured attitude and willingness to try new things we always give the credit where it is due. read more

We got very lucky when we moved to the area in the middle of the school year that an opening had come up in Mr. Vince's class! Moving across the entire country and starting at a new school can be rough on a 4 year old, but Vince made her feel so welcome that within a week she didn't want to come home at the end of the day! The personal and intellectual growth we saw in our daughter was wonderful. There is also a great sense of community at the school, almost like the whole school is one big family, it was a great feeling! read more