Update 2018: 4th year here. School improves every year. Teachers are better every year. Fewer…read moreannoying parents. Best middle school education in the country IMO. The reputation of the school as very hard is well justified. Some kids have left mid-year due to performance. Annoying parents that are still here are generally less vocal since other parents started pushing back on their crazy demands of the school...or they left to spread their cheer elsewhere (thank goodness). My son has some friends with these parent and those kids HATE their parents already as tweens...karma I guess. Update 2017: School has just gotten better and better. The Head of School (Mr. Walker) is exceptional. The worst complaint my son has is that one of his teachers is "kinda boring". There were a lot of really negative parents the first two years that complained about EVERYTHING, but many of them seemed to have left. It's really a great place to learn. It's challenging, but my son really likes it...especially having separate Chemistry, Biology, and Physics classes. Update 2016: Still happy with the school. They have continually improved on most aspects of the school. Poor performing teachers have been moved out quickly. Kid loves it. *** So far so good. The teachers are amazing and the best part of the school. There were certainly some facility issues with the new building at the start of the year but that's smoothed out now. Granted, the school is not for the academically weak. But after 5 months at the school our son really loves it. He's in a rigorous program, is challenged, AND he enjoys it. We are very lucky to have this school in our community. The downside isn't the school but all the tiger parents...never happy with anything. They put incredible pressure on the school and their kids. It's disappointing that two of the negative reviews here are from people whose kids don't attend the school. It's like walking by a restaurant and then reviewing their food! Obviously a competitor.

Do you want to send your child to an office building with half a basketball court and a patch of…read moreastroturf for 7 years? Join BISV today! For only 41k tuition that will increase every year! WOAH such a good deal right? Ok the education is pretty good especially STEM but still

This is a nice campus and the school develops students socially and intellectually to prepare them…read morefor both college and adult life. Investing in your child where your boy becomes a man. You can't put a price on the future.

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.

I am sorry to leave a negative review, but I wish I had read the reviews before enrolling my kids…read moreat this school. They attended for one year, and unfortunately, I do not have anything positive to say about our experience. The school feels more like a business than a place focused on education. The teachers, as well as the principal, seem very unprofessional. There is also a lot of bullying, and the school does not seem able to handle it properly, possibly because there are around 38 students in each class, which makes supervision and dealing with conflict (which is all the time) very difficult. In addition, the school does not offer any after-school activities or programs. Kids play and eat at the parking lot. Overall, our experience was not what we expected, and I would recommend that other parents carefully research before enrolling their children

Since we don't have the choice of zero stars, I dedicate this one star to the very few teachers…read morewith talent and integrity whose efforts are lost in a school setup bound to fail. - Bullying is extreme and encouraged (yes, you read that right). That is the worst part and with long lasting consequences. - This school is a business, their prime objective is to make money, not to teach and form human beings. - Classes are overcrowded (40 children in one class). This, unavoidably, impacts both academic and social/emotional learning. - Very few electives, with 'art' being the only legitimate one. The 'art' teachers are great (if those that we know are still with the school). - Volatile faculty/staff, very few accredited teachers stay with the school for more than 2-3 years. - I wish I could turn back time and never enroll my child in this school. I will never forgive myself.

My 3-year-old son started Challenger Preschool with almost no English and significant separation…read moreanxiety. He is also a highly sensitive child, so I was honestly very worried. I had heard that Challenger was a very structured school, and I wasn't sure if he would be able to adjust. To my surprise, everything went much better than I ever expected. By his third day, he walked into school without crying and even took naps there. That was something I never imagined would happen so quickly. Over the past six weeks, he has come home happy every single day. He is always excited to show us the artwork, drawings, and classroom projects he made. It's obvious that he enjoys his time at school and feels proud of what he accomplishes. The biggest surprise has been his English. Before starting school, he couldn't speak any English at all. I wasn't expecting a three-year-old to make so much progress in such a short time, but now he comes home pointing out letters, telling me their sounds, and sharing words that start with different letters. Watching his excitement about learning has been incredible. I also want to mention that the teachers (Miss Sonali and Miss Hema) are much warmer and more caring than I had expected. Although Challenger has a reputation for being strict, our experience has been that the teachers are patient, gentle, and attentive to the children's emotions while still maintaining a well-structured classroom. On the days I picked him up early, I saw happy children engaged in activities, and the classroom had such a positive and joyful atmosphere. A special thank you to Miss Sonali and Miss Hema. Your kindness, patience, encouragement, and dedication helped my son feel safe, loved, and excited to learn. As first-time parents sending our child to an English-speaking preschool, we were naturally anxious, but you made this transition so much easier than we could have imagined. We are truly grateful to have had such a wonderful preschool experience. I would highly recommend Challenger to any family, especially those who are worried about sending a child who doesn't speak English. Children are often much more capable than we realize, especially when they have caring teachers like these.

The best decision we have made for our son's early education by enrolling him at Challenger…read morebareyessa for preschool. Ms Priti and Ms Prerna have been wonderful teachers to my son. In just a few months he has made such an amazing progress in phonic, reading, spelling and writing and most importantly he loves learning. He absolutely loves being in their class and has already decided that his little sister should have them as teacher as well :) thank you for making his preschool experience so special.

We recently toured the school and cannot emphasize enough about how great our experience was. The…read moreprincipal is absolutely amazing truly dedicated to whole-child development approach. He also teaches algebra in the school. Small class size, great curriculum, after-care program, support kids needing special attention (instead of ignoring them like other private schools in the area). It's a school for both gifted and someone needing special accommodations. A hidden gem in downtown San Jose.

My daughter has been attending here since first grade now in 6th grade and my son is in pre-K and…read moremy other son will be attending in the fall. We love this school for many reasons: One reason I love this school obviously is for there Catholic education which is important to me and my family(we even live in a good school district-we even travel 6 miles to school everyday) They have many different programs they offer there; they now have a stem lab along with using MacBooks for learning and doing graphic design as well as Spanish, art, pe, and many other great programs. Everyone is very involved(parents and staff). They always communicate and make sure your child is on track and not falling behind. They offer different sources of communication via parent square and PowerSchool. Both are great tools to keep track of what's going on and grades. My daughter has a learning disability which they created a 504 plan. Mrs. Cosentino(the school principal) and Mrs. Somovia(vice principal) have been very supportive along with many other staff members. They are all very caring and doing everything in there power to help the kids succeed. I highly recommend this school to anyone looking for a private school education even if you are not catholic. Saint leos is a great school and wonderful community of people and great teachers! Thank you Saint Leo's for providing my kids with THE BEST education!

This place is great but the parking sucks . Your literally stuck at the round about they need…read morepeople to conduct traffic .

Great teacher and we like the summer camp at Harker school. Nice performance art and high quality…read moreeducation. The food is great.

Our family has had such a wonderful experience at the Winchester campus. My daughter has been here…read morefor two years now from Pre‑K, Summer School, and TK, and the experience has been consistently positive every step of the way. It is a small school with a true family feel. Every teacher knows the students by name, and that sense of care is felt daily. The office staff is very responsive. Any time there has been a question or issue, we have always received a quick response and prompt action. The elective teachers deserve special recognition as well. Ms. Jeannie (Science), Ms. Edith (Spanish), and Ms. Zoe (Music) have all done an amazing job creating hands‑on, engaging lessons that truly keep the kids excited and involved. Most importantly, we cannot say enough wonderful things about my daughter's TK teacher, Ms. Weiss. My daughter absolutely loves her, and when I asked why, she said, "Because she listens to everything." That alone speaks volumes about the level of care, respect, and attention Ms. Weiss gives her students every single day. She is incredibly engaging, warm, and thoughtful, and she goes above and beyond to make learning fun by celebrating all kinds of occasions, decorating the classroom with her own amazing props and costumes for all the children, and going all out to make the school year special. Ms. Weiss is truly one of a kind. We have seen tremendous growth in our daughter under Ms. Weiss's guidance. Academically, she is excelling in reading and math, and her writing and reading skills have made huge strides. Even more meaningful is how genuinely interested she now is in reading and writing outside of the classroom. We have also seen amazing growth in her interpersonal skills such as confidently greeting others, engaging with new friends, and learning how to reason and communicate thoughtfully. All of this is thanks to Ms. Weiss and the strong foundation she has helped build during these critical early education years. We are incredibly grateful for the lasting impact she has had on our daughter's growth. While we are so sad to be leaving Ms. Weiss's class soon, we know the lessons, confidence, and love of learning will stay with our daughter for life. I also want to give a special thank you to my daughter's Pre‑K teachers, Ms. Sonal and Ms. Gauri. They did an incredible job setting a strong foundation in phonics and helping her transition from daycare into a more structured school environment. The early support was crucial to her confidence and success at the school in the beginning, and we are so grateful for the role they played in shaping her learning journey. Lastly, we are also so grateful for the extended day teachers who have been such a big part of our daughter's experience. Ms. Holly during Summer School and Ms. Hibah during TK have been absolutely wonderful. They keep the extended day program fun and engaging with creative arts, activities, and fresh ideas, which makes it feel less like "extra hours" and more like an extension of the school day. As parents, it gives us so much comfort knowing our child is in caring, creative hands even after regular school hours.

Stratford Winchester has been an amazing experience for both my kids. My daughter has been here…read morefrom Pre-K to 2nd grade and my son was here for preschool. All of their teachers have been amazing, caring and made sure the right values were passed on to all the kids. We loved the small family feel in this campus where we know all the teachers and the leaders of the school know every family and genuinely care for the well being of all the kids!

What a wonderful school! My son finished Kindergarten here, and is now in 1st Grade. He loves…read moreschool and always impresses me with what he's learned. We've been particularly happy with the emphasis on deeper conceptual understanding of material, so it's not just rote memorization and regurgitation. Word problems were a significant part of Kindergarten math, and I'm positive I wasn't doing word problems that early when I was a kid. The teachers and administration are very receptive to feedback and concerns that inevitably crop up during the school year. We've been happy with the way they've handled issues, and clearly customer service is an important part of their philosophy. Tuition is on the higher range of private schools, but in this case you truly do get what you pay for.

Our daughter has gone to Harker since their inaugural preschool class started . She loves it and so…read moredo we . Teachers are great and after school programs are plentiful . Even though it takes an hour to get to school we think it's worth it.

Their live scan machine was not working, and after about thirty minutes of trying to do it the…read moremachine was broken. Also, the receptionist took ten minutes to tell me what is going on after taking my cards. The HR assistant lady was of no help. They wasted an hour of my time with a machine that didn't work, acted like I didn't have an appointment by repeatedly asking whether I do, and they must get a two sided SSN card without compromise. All this extra nonsense over a broken machine.

This school district is always looking for good van and bus drivers. I did my job as a professional…read moredriver. I was always on time for work and to pick up and drop off students on time. Then I get let go for no reason. Watch out for Corin Reynolds the manger there if he doesn't like you for some reason, he will let you go I would stay away from there as long as he is manger. Corin thinks of himself not what's best for the company and students. When we start to work there, they put you in a van pretending it's a school bus and don't teach you nothing about transporting kids or any of the safety equipment you need to know about because of some of the special kids you need to transport they have needs and they don't teach you how to look to see what equipment they need. They only have a 45min drivers meeting once a month that's all the safety they talk about. Your just turned loose in a van till you get to drive a real school bus. So, Parents beware if a van shows up at your house it's probably a new driver so you might want to make sure they have the proper equipment and know how to use it for what you child requires. I hope someone from the school district reads this and fixes this problem and hires someone that really thinks about safety before someone's kids get hurt.

Called this school a couple of times to sign up for an open house. Left messages and email. This…read moreschool only caters to certain people and will not respond if you're a minority. Not the way of the Lord if you tell me.

My son transferred to this school for 1st Grade. It was not the smoothest of transitions, but…read moreduring those critical first few months, it became apparent to us what the strengths of this school were: 1. Committed Staff -- Everybody, from the principal to the teachers and support (student services and after school), is committed to help out the students and their parents. We had a meeting within the first few months to discuss my son's progress and brainstormed how to help him out in certain situations that we had identified as "tricky". 2. Quality of the teachers -- I saw the reviews. Fortunately, my son was placed with teachers that understood him and motivated him to get excited and persevere with the lessons. Recently (after his first year), I discovered that they strongly encourage parents at the end of each schoolyear to fill out a form that details kids' strengths/weaknesses/learning styles, etc... all to help them identify which teacher is best for your kid(s). And this pandemic was a blessing in disguise for us -- in the few times we were able to listen to their Zoom classes, we saw and heard the joy and the positive energy his 2nd Grade teachers have. These came across strongly, and the kids are excited to participate and raise their hands to answer questions. My son can't even wait to wake up for in-person classes or log onto Zoom (on Zoom days). Now I understand why his homeroom teacher has to have a big tall Americano everyday :D 3. Sense of community -- all of these build that feeling in the students that school is a safe and happy place. We felt it in the first few minutes that we looked at the playground before my son's "interview". The students recognized that my son was not a student in the school, but they welcomed him and showed him the ropes around the playground. Nobody told them to play with my son, they did that all on their own. There were some spats with a kid on the playground during the 1st grade, but the situations were always handled with care by the staff, in a very fair manner. After a week or so it stopped, and the kid picking on my son actually became his friend. 4. Academics and extra-curricular -- I must admit that the extra-curricular program (esp the arts) was the first draw for us. Robust programs that build on all the way to high school. And the after-school programs are also well-chosen and well-run. The only nit I have, and it's very minor-- is the tuition fee. It's not cheap. But I recognize that in order to recruit and keep their valuable staff and provide their topnotch programs, they will need those resources. All in all, we are just so happy with the school, and we have been telling our friends about it. If you are thinking about placing your children here -- (1) Do it as early as Kindergarten, or (2) Do it early (for the upper grades); check their admissions calendar on the website. Re-enrollment levels for the current students is high so available slots for transferees are so few, think 2-3 slots.