824 Leyte Ct
San Jose, CA 95111

Your experience at Andrew Hill is truly what you decide to make of it. The experience you get is dependent on the classes you take and how much you engage with the school. The IB program and Medical Magnet program at Andrew Hill are what made Andrew Hill for me a great experience. The Medical Magnet program and IB program provided me with a lot of opportunities I wouldn't have had if I stuck with the normal classes at Andrew Hill. The people I met, especially in IB, made going to Andrew Hill worth it in the end for me. The IB program at this school truly prepares you for college, challenges you, and helps you grow, compared to attending a school with just AP courses. My teachers in the IB Diploma program were so caring, kind, and honestly wanted to see us grow and develop as learners. That said, doing the IB Diploma track is definitely tough and not always for everyone. However, I feel like if I had taken the regular courses offered, my experience at this school would have been completely different. I don't think I would have been challenged or felt a sense of community like I did in the two pathways I participated in. Also, I don't think my teachers or my environment would have been as encouraging. If you know you want to be challenged and have the capacity to do well in an environment where resources aren't always handed to you, I recommend you attend Andrew Hill.

4 it was my first year in this school and my last

Sylvandale is a good school rapidly moving toward greatness. Safety has improved with a new administration that is fair and approachable. The school offers several new and innovative programs for students and families. Students have caring teachers and opportunities for fun electives like Culinary, Band, Leadership, and Life Skills. They have before and after-school programs, including an after-school robotics program and a computer science program led by one of their veteran Science teachers. In two years, the school has almost completely transformed from one of the most violent schools in the school district to one with the fewest incidents of fighting on campus. Sylvandale may be the only public school in San Jose teaching technical skills that give students access to opportunities in technology that could lead to a career in Silicon Valley's tech companies. Students are excited to have real-world teaching in classrooms, field trips and Spirit Days, extracurricular sports, and many cultural events and school dances. Parents meet with the administration at the Coffee with the Principal (Cafecitos) meetings and serve on the School Site Council, which helps make decisions to support learning and a strong sense of community. No school is perfect, but this one is visibly on the rise!