Sharon Heights

What I wish I knew about PBS (after 1 year)We’ve been at PBS for a year, and I often get questions from friends considering the school. These were the same questions I had, so I’m sharing what I’ve learned.1. Is PBS academically heavy?No, PBS is not focused on worksheets, drills, or tests. The goal is to spark a love of learning while offering real challenge.There’s an excellent math specialist who came from Nueva (friends at Nueva said she was their favorite teacher). She works in classrooms weekly and leads parent-child math sessions. I’ve seen kids build the belief that they can do hard things, that everyone can be a “math kid,” and that there are multiple ways to solve problems. For parents wondering about math differentiation, kids are also grouped by level (~3–4 groups), so they’re appropriately challenged.2. Is PBS an SEL school?Yes, but not through a formal curriculum. Unlike schools with defined frameworks (e.g. Woodland uses Yale SEL, Synapse uses HEART), PBS’s SEL is embedded in the culture. Kids learn through daily interactions with highly attuned teachers who notice how they’re feeling and respond with care.There are also powerful moments of modeling, for example, a member of the school's leadership team once shared openly, “I’m a crier. I’ve cried at work.” That shows kids it’s okay to feel, to feel sad, to express their truth, even at school.This kind of SEL is hard to codify, it comes from hiring deeply attuned people, which is much harder to replicate, than applying an SEL framework.3. Does the community feel exclusive?No, the opposite.This was one of my biggest concerns going in, given the location near Sand Hill Road. But the community is very diverse, across culture, background, economic status, family structure, and professions. Because of that diversity, you don’t feel singled out-you find people you connect with. In younger grades, the whole class is often invited to birthday parties.5. Is there bullying? There was a known situation in 2022 that the school addressed. Like any school, there are kids with big energy. What I’ve been impressed by is how teachers handle those moments, with skill, calm, and kindness. Again, it comes back to having attuned, capable teachers.Bottom linePBS does not optimize for tests or follow a SEL framework. It’s about creating an environment, with amazing people, where kids grow into the best version of themselves. After a year, I can confidently say: that approach works.

Our child is currently in 1st grade at Trinity, and we love the school's heavy focus on whole child development and SEL. The academic focus is strong without the high pressure typically seen in Bay Area Schools. The Math is differentiated to be challenging and engaging.The teachers are very nurturing and truly care about the children.