It has been over 1.5 years since my last review, and we love the school as much as we did when our…read morechild started school 2+ years ago! Everyone on staff has been incredibly easy and pleasant to collaborate with, and responsive to my questions. The school expanded over the summer to add 2 more classrooms, so that Burkard now has 6 classrooms: K/1, 2/3, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7/8th. Having experienced a few private schools and a public school between my 2 kids, I am confident this is the best environment for my child, for both academic differentiation and SEL support. It's often lamented that parents have to choose the least bad educational option for their 2e kids, but I truly believe this is a great option. We were fortunate enough to be with his amazing 2/3 teachers for 2 years, and have a new set of teachers we love this year, too. Speaking with parents across grades, they also think highly of their teaching teams. My son continues to thrive academically (measured by his overall engagement, as well as MAP testing), and we are very happy with the math differentiation he receives. Each year, I have been pleased with the attention and care the staff takes to make sure he's challenged at the right level. They take great care to plan engaging lessons across ELA, science, social studies and SEL, and incorporate hands on projects regularly to extend their learning. My son regularly shares interesting facts he learned in class! Math is a subject he continues to be passionate about, so I reach out to the school annually for math acceleration. He is given math assessments at the start of each year to determine the appropriate placement, and is given the option of joining a higher level class, or doing independent study in his classroom. We opted this year to have him join the higher level math class on a modified schedule, and we are grateful for the ability to choose the right option for him. The daily SEL teaching is also very well done. Many schools don't have the ability to go in-depth with SEL, but our BT has devised fun games and exercises for the kids to put their SEL knowledge into practice. It was so sweet to hear that my son's 4th grade class taught new recess games to the K/1 class! The BT's keep a close watch throughout the day, so the students are able to learn and play in a physically and emotionally safe environment. When conflicts arise, the staff is there to help the students resolve the issue in an appropriate way. We get daily reports, and twice monthly newsletters sharing what he's learning, so I know he's receiving a high quality education. If your child is at a school that is not meeting their needs, I encourage you to tour the Burkard School. It is truly a gem of a school!

We found TBS about three years ago and it is quite surprising that there aren't more schools for…read morebright kids who have significant social & emotional challenges, including mood disorders. We unfortunately found very little real understanding and expertise along the way, moving from program to program, from school to school, in every case deeply involved with the IEP process. Then we decided to try TBS. The results have been nothing short of amazing. Our student's self-esteem and emotional intelligence started to grow from the start and has continued to grow ever since. No more calls asking us to come quickly, the benefits to our entire household have been pretty incredible, across parents, siblings, and friends alike. When your student talks to you about how the kids at school are 'just like me', when they express a sense of belonging and common purpose to thrive in the face of big emotions, you can only smile and reflect on the journey. ...and imagine what it's like for other parents to understand you, understand your child, and understand so much of the details of the journey. The TBS community, made up of students, teachers, and parents is one that sees your child as deserving, powerful, and good.

My daughter started her academic journey at Futures Academy in San Mateo last year as a sophomore…read more She previously attended our local public high school as a Freshman. Futures Academy is a best fit for my daughter as it provides a personalized and flexible curriculum that allows her to continue to travel to other states to compete in tournaments with her rigorous practice regimen. My daughter loves the 1:1 teacher - student setting. Her teachers are knowledgeable and enthusiastic; they are passionate and mindful of her progress, strengths and weaknesses. All teachers and administrators truly care about her success and go above and beyond to make her thrive. She loves her History, English, Math, Spanish and Journalism classes. As parents, we can see a difference in her interest and learning capacity compared to her freshman school year at the public high school. Futures Academy had been very responsive and swift during the Covid-19 outbreak. They have already instituted online sessions during the first day of the Shelter-in-place order on 03/16. My daughter did not miss any school work and the online sessions had been very smooth. The school had provided us peace of mind during the outbreak. We highly recommend Futures Academy in San Mateo if your child fails to thrive at his/her current school.

My son is a student at Futures Academy in San Mateo. We enrolled him right before SIP began. It has…read morebeen a great experience. His teachers and the school have been very responsive to his needs and he engages in his learning in a way that did not happen before. I highly recommend Futures Academy. We are glad we found it!

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 :-).

I nightly recommend Mike, who taught my son for geometry and algebra and chemistry. son has ADHD…read moreand was very responsive to Mike's approach and calm demeanor. Also, Ty enjoyed working with Alicia for English 3. The tuition is higher than some. Also, I leaned that they do not qualify for 1098T filing. So, you can not use a 529 Plan to pay for tuition. We're hoping to continue to complete high school core requirements for graduation. COVID took a lot out of our kids. Grateful for this option that has helped restore some of my son's confidence in school.

The 1:1 model is great if the student and teacher dynamic is a good fit. The school has a wide…read morerange of classes to offer, however, not all of the classes are available at each campus so a student may need to take online classes. Very expensive tuition and there is no financial aid available. Be careful of additional costs if your student is unable to complete the class during the regular number of sessions allotted and mastery sessions are required. I worked at both the San Mateo & Palo Alto campuses. The organization places a lot of pressure on the staff and there has been a lot of turnover at both sites.

This is a fantastic private school for childen with mild to moderate challenges…read more My little 9 year has been in this special needs school for over 3 years. Partial Scholarships can be requesed but, you must qualify. This excellent school is great for children on the Spectrum; includes social, speech, behavorial, occupational, academics. call 650-631-9999 for my info. a satisfied parent

Not only did my brother grow up through the ALLS and Arbor Bay programs but he thrived. It really…read morefelt like a second home. The therapists and teachers know their stuff and care so deeply for each child. You really get the sense that Arbor Bay is a school founded on passion. It has been a staple in the Bay Area community years and I could not recommend a place for your child more highly. Their Teachers, OT's, BT's and SLP's are top of the line. Their classes are honestly amazing for all young children. With the curriculum Arbor Bay provides, your child will develop a STRONG basis for language and intellect in a way THEY can learn, and retain the teachings.

We are now in our second school year at Stratford with our son in the bilingual preschool program…read more The transition from early preschool to preschool program was seamless despite some bumpiness with potty training, however Mr. Jeff and Ms. Stefany have been endlessly supportive with making sure that our son has minimal accidents throughout the day. Our son loves going to school and is always happy to see his classmates and teachers. I really love seeing all of the activities and photos that we are sent on their Procare app daily, and appreciate the effort that Mr. Jeff and Ms. Stefany, as well as all of the other staff, put into caring for the kids everyday. Our son comes home singing new nursery rhymes every other day, and has also picked up new Chinese vocabulary from school, which is exactly what we had hoped for.

Love Love Love Stratford- San Bruno El Camino!! This was my kids 3rd school (4 year old) and this…read moreone fit just right! First school was too lax, no direction, kid did workpapers all day, but couldn't count to 10, so why is he coloring #17?!! Second school was a complete waste of time, teacher didn't have a handle of the class, loud classroom with just too many kids.. just chaos! Third school (Stratford San Bruno) was perfect! Teachers were so nice and patient, gave my kid great direction and he flourished. My kid will come home to tell us all the things he learned about, Planets, Sharks, he's really excited for school. This place is a well oiled machine, for only being open for a few years. I think the principle is a big reason why, she gets involved in every classroom/kids development. Highly recommend! I even got my neighbor to go there... REFERRAL BONUS!! Con: Parking lot is a little tight

I cannot say enough good things about South Hillsborough Preschool and the wonderful teaching team…read morethat has given my son such a strong foundation for learning. Teacher Tammy, Miss Denise, Adriana, Miss Rita, and even Margot at the front desk for enrollment are all exceptional women who make us feel confident that our son is in a safe and nurturing environment filled with experienced educators who truly care. The teachers go above and beyond with creative and engaging lessons, from learning body parts while making skeletons during Halloween to exploring the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly, complete with a special butterfly release party. Every activity is thoughtfully designed and filled with joy and purpose. We are so happy we chose this program and this school as the pathway for our son's early development. It has been such a positive experience for our whole family. I highly recommend South Hillsborough Preschool to any family looking for a warm and high quality learning environment.

We love Hillsborough South Preschool! Two of our 3 kids have been in Tammy's class (and the third…read morewill...eventually!) and despite their very different personalities they have both had such positive experiences. The teachers at South have been able to meet my kids where they were/are and celebrate the things that make them unique. You can tell that they really care about each kid individually (for example, my eldest had a special "nickname" with the teachers became his persona and the other day my middle came home with a huge drawing of his favorite Star Wars character done for him by one of the teachers--totally made his day). They made our kids feel "seen" which is what great teachers do! Beyond that, my eldest, who is now in TK, was super prepared academically and socially for the transition. South Preschool exactly what preschool should be--a place where kids can play and learn in a low-stress happy environment supported by teachers who care about *them*.

Our child had a nosebleed at school, and the school director Colleen immediately called us to pick…read morehim 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.

We have one kid in his third year, a second kid starting out in the 2s ("Monkeys") class, and a…read morethird 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!