St. Simon Elementary School

I feel like it was a waste of money. It would have been better to go to public school. I don’t even want to call these people ‘teachers.’

Our family has had a wonderful experience at Los Altos Christian School. The dedicated faculty creates a supportive atmosphere focused on the core pillars of Leadership, Academics, Character, and Service. We particularly appreciate the inclusive academic approach, which provides both support for students with learning disabilities and accelerated math blocks for those seeking a challenge. Through various sports, performances, and charitable events, the school unites families into a strong, vibrant community. We feel deeply grateful for how well the school has prepared our daughters for the future."

We spent five years at WSP Los Altos in the early childhood years. Their early childhood program (preschool and kindergarten) are the best if a family can afford the private school fee. The teachers and staff are exceptionally trained and dedicated to students in classroom. However, we had a very depressing experience in Grade 1 which was utterly chaotic from a management and learning standpoint. Not only were the educators lacking teaching experience (not meeting the criteria to teach as per the California public school guidelines), but the entire program philosophy is not backed by science of learning but is grounded in Rudolf Steiner's views on education. Their was minimal intervention or support for the neurodivergent students in the classroom.There is no rigour to provide documented written feedback on child performance till end of Grade 1 and parent perspective on educational outcomes is disregarded. The student's notebooks were sent for parent review at the end of school year, we noticed that our child had written less than 2 dozen pages in the entire school year. Their is no standardized child progress protocol and it boils down to a happy childhood environment without concrete deliverables on language arts / maths / science / social studies. The focus on outdoor learning and arts / music as integral to child development deserves an applaud. In our view the public schools are better equipped if you are looking for standardized school protocols and accountability on performance. If you are looking for a happy childhood, WSP is a great school to begin your school journey.

This school is such a gem! If you are looking for something super traditional, full of worksheets and conformity, then this is not the place for you. However, if you value kindness, hands-on learning, collaboration, joyfulness, and creativity, then Ventana is a tremendous option. I have had three children graduate from the school, and have a fourth currently there. All of my children are very different learners - whether seeking extra challenge and depth, or needing some learning support - and they have all thrived at the school. Ventana’s real secret is the way that they get to know and treasure your child. Children at Ventana feel 100% seen, heard, and respected by adults. They are treated as competent and so they respond with competence, which is a key and transformative tenet of Reggio Emilia education. The social-emotional curriculum is intentional, consistent, and effective, and graduates of Ventana know how to conduct themselves in all kinds of social and group settings. All of my children have consistently received praise from their middle and high schools about their ability to get along with others in both social and work/project settings, which was one of our primary goals for their education. Another critical piece of a Ventana education is the confidence of their graduates. They are all children who know exactly who they are, are proud of that identity, and have no hesitation in advocating for themselves. We also have high standards for academics and did not want a school that focused on SEL and soft skills at the expense of academics. We have been very happy with the rigor of the academics, and our children have been well prepared to go on to top private schools in the area. Singapore Math is a very intuitive and effective curriculum, and our kids have graduated “ahead” in math, without any outside work or tutoring. The writing program is particularly robust and produces sophisticated and enthusiastic writers. The art program is awe-inspiring - the art the kids create is unique and meaningful. My kids adored the tinkering program, as well as music and lots of fun afterschool classes like robotics and sewing. The preschool is full of wonder and charm, with an emergent curriculum that is effective and organic. I wanted my kids to feel magic and joy when they were in those critical early years, and to come out loving to learn for the sake of learning itself - and this is exactly what we got at Ventana.