550 E Washington Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94086

I would pick Ellis over Stratford, Challenger, Cherry Chase, or any of the available options for lotteries or private. First, the facilities are beautiful and functional, as you may know they're brand new. Second, the teachers are tenured, experienced, and truly care about each kid. Third, the community is vibrant. Not just spirit days, but parental involvement that raises the bar. I love Ellis and my kid has been thriving there, compared to Stratford for Pre-k.

A 10/10 Experience: Our Three Years at SMSMoving into the public school system has easily been one of the top ten best decisions we’ve made since moving to the U.S. While we were happy with the private school path in elementary, SMS truly opened our eyes to what is possible in a public school education setting.> Leadership & Atmosphere: I have been beyond impressed with Principal Vince Iwasaki. His weekly newsletters, friendly demeanor at school events, and simple yet effective communication with students set a wonderful tone for the entire campus. Under his leadership, the school feels both organized and deeply personal.> Going Above and Beyond: The dedication of the teaching staff is remarkable. I’ll never forget when my daughter was in 6th-grade Cross Country; she had to miss a practice but was told she couldn't participate in the upcoming meet without it. Rather than just saying "no," her teacher suggested a creative workaround: she could run in her neighborhood at night, have us video record it, and email it to her to cover her practice gap. That level of individual attention for just one student was not an isolated incident—I saw that same "above and beyond" effort from multiple teachers throughout her three years. Often if I emailed a teacher (after school), I received a response within a few hours!> Community & Growth: I loved the festive, joyful ways the school celebrated student achievements. From certificate distributions to engaging parent-student events, there was always a sense of belonging. I particularly appreciated the low-pressure approach to parent involvement, like the fun "spirit nights" partnered with local restaurants. Students are allowed to re-prepare and retake a test to improve their score with most teachers, fostering growth and progress over score and comparison.Beyond the Rating: When we started 6th grade, the school was rated a 6/10 on GreatSchools. I was fairly surprised because our lived experience pointed to something much higher. By 7th grade, the rating system had changed and the school jumped to an 8, and by 8th grade, the school earned the California Distinguished Schools award. While the accolades are wonderful, in my mind, SMS has been a 10/10 from day one. Seeing my daughter come home happy, enriched, and feeling like she truly belongs is the greatest metric of success I could ask for.

When it was time for my two kids to start high school, we heard a few mixed rumors, but our experience over the last couple of years has been absolutely fantastic. If you’re looking for a school that reflects the real world and has a super supportive, down-to-earth community, FHS is exactly that.The teachers here are seriously amazing and genuinely care about the students as human beings, not just test scores. My kids have felt so seen and supported by the staff. One of my kids joined the marching band, and I cannot emphasize enough how incredible that program is—it has taught them so much about teamwork, time management, and commitment. The school also has some amazing pathways like their CTE programs and engineering classes that actually let kids do hands-on, real-world projects instead of just memorizing a textbook.What I really love most about Fremont is the overall vibe. While a lot of the other high schools in the area can feel like hyper-competitive pressure cookers, FHS is wonderfully diverse and grounded. It feels like a place where kids can actually just be kids, figure out what they are genuinely passionate about, and still get a top-tier education. The parent community is also super welcoming and involved, especially when it comes to supporting the arts and athletics. My kids are thriving here, and we honestly couldn't be prouder to be a Firebird family