I have 2 kids attending UP Academy and they love the school!…read more My older son used to struggle in a public school with math and writing. 3 years ago, at 2nd grade, we transferred him to UP Academy, and, within a few months, he has become a lil writer. He fell in love with writing. He wrote one full-page of very a fun story. I can't thank you enough to all the educators there. Since then until now, he always happy every morning that he gets to go to school. He loves the community there and the small-sized class makes him feel like a part of the community. My younger one started last year as a kindergartner. He loves his teachers and his friends. He learned a lot academically and socially. We love how UP academy teaches kids by their own paces. Thus, our kids get challenged throughout the year. If you are looking for a project-based learning, a place where you child can build confidence and empathy, small class sized, great community, and personalized learning, UP Academy is the place for your kids.

We love UP Academy!…read more My older one went to the school since 2nd grade (now 3rd grader), and my younger one since TK (K now). The school is relatively new (2.5 years old) but our kids attended since 2 years ago. We are happy with the school in the full two years. ***Strength** We love the super low teacher-student ratio, the differentiation of learning. We also love the mixed-age classes, that allow kids to grow and thrive not limited by grade but by the their own levels. The school focused on growth mindset and recognize the efforts and progress. We also love the focus on project-based learning and social-emotion learning. The school also offers foreign languages classes, Chinese/Mandarin and Spanish. This might be a good plus for some families. We love that. We also appreciate the schools offer afterschool extension to 6pm as well. This is very helpful for parents who are both working. The school builds a great community. Teachers that we experienced - which means all teachers since we have two kids there for two years - are all very caring. Kids love each of them. The founder has an amazing vision inspired by a strong why. We love the philosophy, the vision & mission of the school. ***Potential concerns some families may have*** - Small school space: As a micro school, the school space is small - basically an office building only. But with various field trips and outdoor learning opportunities, especially during the pre-pandemic era, we don't have any concern at all. There's indoor facility for exercise, and kids love it. - Small class size For some parents, the small class size might be another concern for social issues. However, I appreciate this a lot since it also means great individual attention from teachers. Every kid can develop his/her own learning plan, academically and socially. We particularly appreciate the small size of the school during the pandemic time. A small class makes us feel safe to send kids to school in person during pandemic, knowing that the school is small and our kids could still learn and socialize safely in person with the COVID precautions that bigger schools may not be able to offer. The school remains open in 2020-2021 school year with the waiver. I believe it's heathier for kids to interact in person than virtually on Zoom anyways. - New school This is a progressive lab elementary school, and yes it's pretty new. We've seen the school evolving in the past two years, and overall towards a even better direction. I do encourage families to experience the school themselves during the trial-out days. We did so before we transferred our kids from a good public school in the following school year. Kids loved Up Academy so much that we made the decision right after they experienced the school. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we've ever made. Overall, we love the school and highly recommend the school to other families.

We have been a family at EDS for 14 years - all 4 of our children have attended. My kids have all…read morebeen academically prepared and socially/emotionally developed during their years here. It is important to note that we as parents, love the adult community. I enjoy attending the Day School Parent Association meetings, the family events like Fall Festival and Donut Day, and the adult gatherings like Cheers and the Spring Party. It is a community for the children and the parents.

Good school for neurotypical kids who are into sports, but not for kids who don't fit that mold…read more Small class sizes, supportive teachers, friendly community and fun events are plusses. But the curriculum is inconsistent, there's a high turnover rate, and an appearance driven culture. Lots of talk about diversity, community, SEL but mostly displayed with performative events, not curriculum or genuine fellowship. Changes in administration went from "We'll do whatever is necessary to support him" to "No, if we do that for him, we have to do it for everyone" (and everyone could benefit). With mild ASD, all our son needed was accommodations for field trips, a sensory space to take breaks and explicit SEL for all the students about teasing and bullying. With a high tuition and large administration, we thought we could expect those things, but we couldn't. Even the social connections we and our son made during six years at EDS have nearly all vanished. The school is not what it used to be.

We feel incredibly lucky to have Ms. Chakraverty as our son's (4th grade teacher). She creates such…read morea warm and welcoming classroom where every child feels seen, understood, and encouraged. What stands out most is how attentive she is to the little details , she truly takes the time to understand each student and bring out their strengths. Since being in her class, my son has improved tremendously, not only academically but also socially and emotionally. His confidence, participation, and love for learning have all grown so much. Ms. Chakraverty has a special ability to motivate her students and get the very best out of them while making learning enjoyable and meaningful. Thank you for your dedication, patience, and care Ms Chakraverty!

We started in the pre-K program last year, and our experience has been extremely satisfying. We…read morewill be continuing to Kindergarten this fall and highly recommend this campus. We always felt this campus wasn't very well-known, but once you get to know it, you'll discover it's a real hidden gem. The school's curriculum is very well-balanced. In addition to solid academic programs, it offers rich courses like Art, Music, Science, and Spanish. Children not only learn knowledge but also have the opportunity to develop their interests and creativity. This year, my child's academic progress has been remarkable. What surprised us even more was his personal growth. I used to think he was quite introverted and hesitant to perform in front of others, but with the encouragement of his teachers, he was fantastic at the Winter Performance. He confidently performed on stage, which was incredibly moving. His progress in social skills has also been a wonderful surprise. Many parents think Stratford is only about academics and lacks SEL (Social-Emotional Learning). In fact, the school integrates values like respect, responsibility, integrity, and care into daily teaching through the Character Counts! program, helping children learn to communicate, collaborate, and solve problems. Additionally, I really love the communication between the school leadership and parents. The principal, director and teachers are very willing to listen to parent feedback and respond proactively to issues, making us feel that the school and family are working together to support the child's growth. The school also offers abundant after-school resources. We've participated in Music Together, Chess, and Science, and my child loved them. For Kindergarten, there are also options like basketball, soccer, tennis, Cooking, and Gardening. Starting in K, you can sign up for the after-school Chinese program, which we did. We feel it's an incredible value for the price. Overall, this is a school that gives parents great peace of mind. The integrated schedule from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm means children can complete their studies and extracurricular activities at school without needing to rush to different places every day. It's very friendly for dual-income families. This year, we've seen our child grow in academics, self-confidence, and expressive skills, and we are excited for him to continue his journey at Stratford Crestmoor.

We love this school. We've been here for three kids over 5 years. I love being able to choose a…read moreschedule that works for us. I always tell people this school feels like how childhood is meant to be. Kids freely choosing to engage in a variety of engaging materials, amazing playground, and a large sand box. Kids learn to play together and work through any conflicts. Before we went to this school I used to feel guilty I didn't provide enough variation in activities at home. You name it, this school has it or has done it. Paint, Play-Doh, kinetic sand, sensory bins, story time, shaving cream, Legos, bikes, scooters... Co-oping is also a great way to see your kid engage with other kids and to form bonds in the parent community. I feel really fortunate I happened across this school with my first child and thankful all three have had the opportunity to go here and play.

We love this school and the facility and teachers! Great experience and very happy to be a part of…read morethe community.

I'm sad to report that College Park hit the wall this past year. In terms of it being a school…read morewith qualities our family supports, it's no longer a fit for us. Be aware: API results blend gifted (self contained) classes with the general school population. To analyze test scores for non-GATE Mandarin-track kids, you'll have to dig hard. It's a mixed picture. Sadly, most parents don't know how tough it is to staff Mandarin schools well (I've been involved with Mandarin immersion schooling for 25 years). CP is now bleeding experienced staff who feel the program under-serves kids who can't deal with immersion. They're 100% right btw. To evaluate this school accurately, ask tough questions about budget, and visit more than one Mandarin program. This one's budget is threadbare and nearly entirely reliant on volunteers to supplement teaching. If your child is a VERY adept speaker of English (i.e. will not require any help ever supplementing his reading or writing in English) an un-funded Mandarin public school education probably won't do much damage. Our story... In 2011-12, a bullying problem flared up. A core of tough boys were leading teachers around by the nose, disrupting class,and taunting kids. Ours got it often, others had it worse. There was a lot of boy-on-girl bullying. We and my daughter asked for help, but teachers were intimidated by the boys and ineffectual in handling them. We asked about a bullying policy and were told there wasn't one. Some teachers were turning a blind eye out of misplaced empathy for boys who needed to be removed from class, educated separately, or punished. I was told - after witnessing a very public humiliation of my daughter by 5 boys - that "these kids have trouble at home." It was my 9 year old's job to suck it up and tolerate it apparently. The air at College Park is thick with racial politics, and it has repeatedly affected the daily lives of some children (granted some kids feel none of this and to them I say: mazel tov, you've been lucky). The principal rejects the concept that there are discipline problems, or indeed ANY serious problems with the program. Her own staff roll their eyeballs when the subject of Mrs. H "listening" is mentioned. Nothing derails her constant, tedious boosterism. Imposing Mandarin immersion on a student body whose parents are perhaps 10% functionally illiterate or 40% poor English speakers is just bad policy. It's true that a few English-learners excel, but they are a tiny minority. Most struggle. Many fail. These kids need a strong traditional English program. Teaching quality is all across the board. Many long-time teachers of English at CP have been wonderful. Some of them are leaving. And frankly, their efforts are being undermined by this now unfunded, experimental Mandarin program. Given the extreme needs among the local kids for outstanding English teaching, I'm truly confused about why the district would continue Mandarin at College Park. You're lifting API at the expense of kids who need the 3 Rs. Budget decimation. In December 2011, the federal government pulled the grant program that funded the $300,000/year Mandarin immersion program at College Park. To be clear: THE FEDERAL MONEY IS GONE. We all knew it was coming. I asked if they wanted help raising serious foundation money but was told they didn't understand the questions I was asking ("What is your budget and where is it written down?). The level of naivete around how to manage the loss of funds by raising other funds was startling - really startling. You do NOT find $100k+ at a bake sale or a single Chinese meal for PTA members. Heavy fundraising requires professional expertise and a budget. They have no expertise and demonstrated confusion when asked for a budget. A nice, totally inexperienced group of parents was assembled to raise money to replace some of the funds. They had raised, by June 2012, about $20,000. So, from $300,000 to, less than 1% of that. The principal doesn't dig outside expertise. Big mistake. She needs heavy help fund raising and she's not asking for it. The lady shows all the signs of having a thin skin and refusing help she can't control. 3rd and 4th grades were combined. There is no more differentiated instruction in Mandarin. New parents rarely understand how badly CP's immersion compares to those in other districts. Their kids may end up doing ok, but only if they have plenty of outside tutors in Mandarin. We were sad to leave that community of friendly people. PTA folks are super. But we felt that under present leadership, CP would never fix its troubles. There are some super smart parents trying to make it work at CP. I earnestly wish them luck. But it's unlikely the program will thrive without leadership change.

My daughter is now in second grade. She was a kinder when a brand new principle came to the…read moreschool. I had a lot of respect for the previous principle and I also feel really good about the current one. I think Steven Chuang probably speaks more Mandarin than English so his delivery might be misunderstood by folks that are native. Over the course of the last 3 years I do see a lot of compassion and effort on his part, and the teachers too. It seems to me like this is a great school where u have parents teachers and principle working together. I will say I am not a fan of the district people for taking away the magic from the bilingual after school program. Kuai Le. I was not impressed by the people sitting in the district offices.

We feel so lucky that both of our children were able to attend Carey for elementary school over the…read morelast 9 years. The administration, teachers, staff, and community are top notch. The teachers really know and understand each child. What drives them, their strengths, their weaknesses, and how they learn the best. The parent community is fun, supportive, and close knit. We highly recommend Carey to our family and friends.

We were Carey Parents for 13 years across 3 kids. Our time at The Carey School was magical for our…read morekids and for our family. The faculty really knew our kids well and celebrated their unique gifts; they were positive, encouraging and smart. They taught the kids a growth mindset, cultivated kindness and prepared our kids well both social emotionally and academically for middle school. The parent community is engaged, friendly and the people we've met and come to know and love will long be our community after our kids are in middle school and beyond.

My now third grader has been at Parkside since preschool and we've had a wonderful experience. He…read morehas loved his teachers and we have loved watching him learn independence and self direction. The staff and the community are kind, caring and engaged. I love that he will be with his same small community through 8th grade too. The fact that this is a public school is icing on the cake! Parkside is a gem of a school and worth serious consideration if you are a believer in montessori education.

We were thrilled to find my son a small, Montessori-based PUBLIC school in the San Mateo Foster…read moreCity school district when he graduated from a local K-5 private school. We were concerned about him transitioning from a small private school to a large comprehensive middle school and were so relieved to learn than Parkside was adding 6-8th grades over the next few years. Parkside Montessori is enrolling TK-7th grade for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. They will add eighth grade the following year and be a true K-8! If you are looking for an alternative to the three comprehensive middle schools in the SMFCSD area, I invite you to attend a campus school tour and learn more. We have only been Parkside community members for the last 4 months, but have been incredibly impressed so far!

Our son has attended Burlingame Montessori Preschool for the past two years, and I truly cannot…read moreimagine a better first school experience. It was the perfect transition from an in-home daycare to a small, warm, homey, and nurturing preschool before starting Transitional Kindergarten in the public schools. From day one, we felt welcomed into a caring and supportive community. The teachers and staff genuinely know, value, and appreciate each child as an individual. They focus on developing the whole child, and it shows in everything they do. The greatest gift this school gave our son was a strong foundation in social-emotional learning. He learned kindness, courtesy, sharing, empathy, communication, and how to interact respectfully with others. He also developed a deep appreciation for our environment and understands how interconnected we all are. He now reminds us to protect bees and insists on washing his hands thoroughly--small but meaningful examples of the life lessons he brings home every day! Academically, he was encouraged to be an active participant in his own learning through engaging, age-appropriate lessons in math, literacy, science, social studies, art, music, and Spanish. At the same time, the Montessori curriculum helped him build fine and gross motor skills, independence, perseverance, problem-solving abilities, and self-confidence. His love of learning has truly blossomed. As a parent sending my oldest child to school for the first time, I always felt supported, heard, and understood. Communication is outstanding. The school holds thoughtful parent-teacher conferences twice a year, regularly shares photos and updates through the Brightwheel app, and makes it easy to stay connected to your child's day. All four teachers and the director are friendly, highly trained, and approachable. They have always welcomed questions and conversations with kindness and professionalism. There was one occasion when our son was involved in a situation that required teacher intervention. I was incredibly impressed with how thoughtfully and fairly the staff handled it. They responded appropriately to both children involved, communicated openly with the families, and used the situation as a learning opportunity while maintaining clear, respectful expectations. It reinforced my confidence that the staff leads with both compassion and consistency. Beyond the classroom, the school hosts wonderful family events throughout the year that helped my husband and me build friendships with other families, arrange playdates, and feel genuinely connected to the school community. As an elementary school teacher and reading specialist with 18 years of experience, I have high expectations for early childhood education. I can honestly say I could not be happier with our experience at Burlingame Montessori Preschool. I recommend this school wholeheartedly to any family looking for a loving, enriching, and supportive environment where children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We are so grateful for these past two years and only wish we could stay here forever!

My son has been attending Burlingame Montessori for the past two years. The teachers are caring and…read moreamazing. They foster independence and compassion in their students. My son is very happy here.