Hillview Middle School

As a parent, I always envisioned a nurturing environment for my child—one that promotes inclusivity and fairness. Unfortunately, my experience at Sacred Heart School has been anything but that.From the moment we enrolled, it became clear that there is a disturbing culture of favoritism and elitism that permeates this institution. My child was routinely singled out by teachers and staff, facing undue scrutiny and harsh discipline for even the most minor infractions. In stark contrast, peers from wealthier families seemed to operate with impunity, escaping consequences for behavior that would surely have landed my child in the principal's office.The environment at Sacred Heart is not only punitive but also toxic. The blatant hazing that my child endured at the hands of both staff and students is alarming. Instead of fostering a supportive community, the school has created an atmosphere where wealth and status dictate who gets punished and who gets a free pass. It’s disheartening to witness this kind of injustice in an educational setting that claims to uphold values of respect and compassion.As parents, we expect our children to be treated fairly and with dignity, regardless of their background. Unfortunately, Sacred Heart has failed miserably in this regard. If you are considering this school, I urge you to think twice. No child should have to endure the humiliation and distress that mine faced in what is supposed to be a safe and nurturing environment.In short, Sacred Heart has a long way to go in fostering true equity and compassion within its walls. Until then, I cannot recommend this institution to any parent seeking a supportive educational experience for their child.

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!

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.

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.