413 36th Ave
San Mateo, CA 94403

I expected Abbott to be a decent experience for my son and was never planning an alternative, but it has exceeeded my expecations. In 2023 the school got a new principal and all-new upper admin and counselors, and people are happy. The district cares, and there is good parent involvement. Teachers are good and motivated, and the academics prepare kids well for high school - I've confirmed this with parents whose kids have gone all the way. The campus looks great with new athletic fields and gym. There is so much value to diversity and having your child experience the world as it really is, not in a bubble, because the world is not going to create custom, perfected experiences for your child, and no school is going to eliminate the difficulty of middle years. I have not seen anything out of the ordinary for middle school so far. And there is a lot of value in your kids having neighborhood friends. If you're hoping that at Abbott your kids will meet Buffy and Chad and join their ski holidays in Gstaad, you will be disappointed. But this school is so much better as a result.

My 5th grade year at this school was extremely disappointing. Bullying was a frequent issue, and despite teachers and staff being aware of what was happening, little to no action was taken to address it. Student safety and mental well-being did not seem to be a priority, and many concerns were ignored rather than handled appropriately. What was most concerning was the lack of communication with parents. Serious issues affecting students were not adequately reported to families, leaving parents unaware of situations that impacted their children’s safety and well-being. A school has a responsibility to protect students and keep parents informed, and in my experience, it failed to do either effectively. WOULD NOT recommend your child to attend this school.

My son is in special education and graduating after 4 years. In all four years I have found HHS to be exceptional at meeting and surpassing his needs, understanding his difficulties and while providing challenges and growth opportunities.