Woodside High 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.

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.

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.