Palo Alto Preparatory School

I am the parent of a graduate of Palo Alto Prep. My daughter graduated in 2020. We could not have been any luckier to have had her enrolled during this time. While her brother's school struggled to handle the pandemic challenges, my daughter didn't miss one day of school. Her teachers provided her encouragement and held online parties and other activities. I cannot fully put to words what this meant for our family and for my ADHD daughter who struggled with school avoidance before enrolling at this wonderful school. She is now in her second year at Foothill and will be transferring to UC San Jose next year. I am forever grateful that PAP supported my child through such a tumultuous time. I do not believe she would have been so successful without you!

I was excited to have found a school for my son who was struggling with his sophomore year. But was quickly very disappointed. The faculty isn’t what you’d call professional. My son and other students are constantly cussed at and put down. I called to set up a meeting with the principal to address this and he said he “didn’t have the time.” My son is scared to go to school everyday because of these bullies who are meant to be school leaders. Most of the positive reviews written are by the faculty and are untrustworthy sources. I heard the woman at the desk joke about this with the vice principal. This isn’t funny and I can’t pull my son out at the moment because there is a no refund policy on their extremely expensive tuition. I put all of my money into something I thought was safe for my child, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Our son was drowning at our huge local high school - socially, emotionally, academically - falling through the cracks of classrooms with 30 kids in a perpetually overwhelmed system that just didn't have the resources to serve his various special needs and give him a real shot at succeeding. Eventually, he just gave up and checked out started to spiral further. PAP wasn't even on the lists of private schools that were recommended for him from therapists and school counselors, but the way it had been described to us as a truly unique and unconventional alternative to traditional schools made us think that it could be right for our smart, unconventional, son...and boy were we right, thankfully. On our first tour, we were greeted by dogs. Lots of dogs. And there are few things our son loves more than dogs, so he was immediately put at ease. When I asked the principal how they responded to people who might not want to be at school with dogs running around, he said "they can go somewhere else." We all looked at each other and laughed, immediately feeling at home with both the dogs and the informal environment where students call their teachers by their first names and where uniqueness and individuality are not only tolerated, but encouraged and celebrated. Our socially anxious son who had retreated into his room, alone, while at public high school immediately made friends, both with other students and with his teachers, who appreciated his quirks and his dark sense of humor and made him feel good about being himself, possibly for the first time. As a result, his grades shot up, he willingly attended school social events, he started smiling again, and he thrived in a way we had started lose hope for...something that has only continued since his beloved art teacher and his (student) best friend presented him with his diploma at the PAP graduation ceremony, as he now heads to college as a far happier, confident, and even hopeful person. We consider finding PAP one of the luckiest breaks our family has had and are forever grateful for the incredibly positive impact PAP's endlessly dedicated teachers and staff have had on our son's life.

This school is amazing. I have been going here for at least a year and a half. I have been able to actually learn and maintain information. I always struggled with math but the teacher here have found a way to actually teach me what I need to learn. Students are kind and the school is in a good location. Parents are involved in IEP and other student concerns/issues. The work load is small compared to public schools which works well and supports the students and their accommodations. Definetly encouraging kids towards college and helping their students prep for it. This school helps their students find colleges over time and go for it. This school is amazing and I am so happy I am here.

This school has little to no rules. My son has finally graduated this school so I feel comfortable enough to step forward and speak the truth. The staff claims school is safe yet it is full of substances, fights, and teachers who are cruel and use extremely inappropriate language. Some teachers are inappropriately close with students and there is a relationship between two teachers. Which usually wouldn’t be a problem except on several accounts my son along with others have seen them making out and groping each other on campus! Mind you these are adults! Around children!!