West Menlo Park

I cannot recommend this school enough. Academically you cannot compare to public schools in the area - every child graduates to at least one of their top choices for private high school. At graduation the children are very well prepared for the rigors of high school. I understand some parents do not love homework, but once high school hits, you need to be prepared not only for the amount of work, but also how to actually manage and balance that with other responsibilities. St Raymond excels at this. The teachers all work for far less than the public school teachers but they do it because they truly love their jobs AND they love the support of the parents and other faculty and administration. You can tell the faculty admire and respect each other as well as respect the principal, Mr. Harrison. There are multiple avenues for children with learning differences to succeed, and there are opportunities for above grade level learning. I think what makes the school so special is the community - everyone has been super welcoming. There are a ton of opportunities to get involved and be a part of the school community at large, as well as just socialize with other families. There really is something for everyone here. The school does an excellent job of keeping parents engaged in their children's learning process. I have always felt that my voice was heard and that parents and teachers are partners in my children's learning. Of course it is a religious school, but the concepts are presented in a way that are appropriate and easy to understand. Nothing is forced, and science is real. Finally I love the the school offers so many special/elective classes with dedicated teachers for Mechatronics, Art, Music and Spanish. They also have after school yoga, academic decathlon, mock trial and tons of sports. I cannot recommend the school high enough. I think the majority of the students live in the redwood city area; I have found the enrolled students to be diverse, as well as grounded and down to earth. We have loved our 8 years so far!

Our family has been part of the St. Pius school community since our son started preschool in 2019, and now, as he is in 5th grade, we can confidently say that choosing this school was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. The preschool program is truly amazing—it provides a warm, nurturing foundation that prepares students both academically and socially for the years ahead. Our only regret is we wish we had started at the preschool one year earlier! It is such a special program One of the school’s greatest strengths are the teachers and administration. The teachers are exceptional—dedicated, experienced, caring, and deeply invested in each student’s academic growth and personal development. The low student-to-teacher ratio allows teachers to truly know each child as an individual. This personalized attention makes a meaningful difference and helps students feel supported, challenged, and confident. Our son has thrived at St. Pius and we can’t be more pleased with the support and individual attention he receives. His favorite subject is Math! Enrichment opportunities are abundant, including a wonderful social emotional learning program, an outstanding theatre program, music and art offerings, and Scouts, all of which allow students to explore their interests, build confidence, and develop creativity and leadership skills.Another amazing offering is the athletics program. Athletics provide opportunities for teamwork, physical growth, and school pride. Our son loves PE, playing baseball and basketball with his friends at school and is looking forward to track in the spring. Students are proud to wear green and white celebrating Shamrock pride for school spirit days, attending pep rally’s, and Friday Night Lights. Additionally, the daycare program offers a safe, nurturing, and reliable environment that supports working families and reflects the same values found throughout the school.What truly sets this school apart is its incredible sense of community. Families, students, and staff genuinely care for one another, and parent engagement is encouraged and valued, making everyone feel like a true partner in the educational journey. We are deeply grateful for the years we’ve spent here and wholeheartedly recommend this school to any family seeking an exceptional and well-rounded educational experience.

I would not recommend sending your student here. They preach sportsmanship then at athletic games acts shamefully as a student population in the stands, the worst we have ever seen on a scale of low-income public to private preparatory.

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.