Stratford School - Palo Alto

The curriculum is excellent. Along with teaching the basics: math and English, they enrich the curriculum with science, history, P.E, Spanish, computers, music, art and also include speech (starting in kindergarten!) and citizenship. Kids actually spend as much 22% more time in school than public and Catholic school kids because they don't have as many holidays due to min. days, teacher planning days, holy days, etc... I tallied these up when trying to decide between schools... 20% is a lot of time! This shows through too... The first grade class seems to be doing work that would be equivalent to 2nd grade work in other schools. Also, can't say enough about the quality of the teachers. They love what they do, are energetic and motivating with the kids, and very responsive and receptive to parents. Principal and support staff are great too. Awesome afterschool care and programs (fine art, basketball, soccer, golf, karate, indian dance, chess, legos, science). Parent volunteering is voluntary. :) Finally, the location is great... campus is in a safe and quiet residential area though also conveniently located between Embarcadero, Oregon Expressway, 101 and Middlefield.
--Submitted by a parent

My son used to go to this school. He told me that his pre-K teachers are pretty mean. I still remember he even did not want to say bye to the teachers on the last day of Stratford school when he finished pre-K. Avoid Ms. Jenn, she is pretty bad teacher. She did not even give my son a plastic fork at lunch when he forgot his fork one day for his lunch. My son had to use his hand for the lunch. Next day I checked with them, they claimed they did not see it. But my son said he asked several times and Ms Jenn just did not say anything to him and she was not busy with anything at the moment. Their preschool principle changes several times, they seems not care seriously about the quality of teachers. My son is definitely not a problematic kid, on the contrary, he is more matured and disciplined kid for his age according to the teachers in elementary school. I also can see the difference on him with great teachers. I will rate "0" star if I can for this school.
--Submitted by a parent

My 4-year old is in his second year at the preschool at this campus. It's been wonderful so far; he loves going to school and insists that we drop him off for free-play time at 8:15 am every day! The teachers (at the preschool level for sure) are indeed very loving and pay personal attention to each and every child. The campus is great and is very well located - close to the freeway and the busy Embarcadero Rd but, you can't really tell from the campus itself! Beyond the fun programs (at Halloween, Christmas and so on), the teachers seek to impart good values in the children such as being able to show empathy to others, avoiding wastage, taking care of the environment and so on.
--Submitted by a parent

I love this school! I have a 4th grader and a Kindergartener and they both think it's great. The kids are well-behaved, the teachers are wonderful, the staff is very helpful. They have advanced academics, great art projects, a wonderful PE program, and two awesome Music Programs a year!
--Submitted by a parent

Excellent music, art and P.E. programs. Academic but fun for the kids. After 5 years my children still look forward to school each day.
--Submitted by a parent

I'm reviewing the preschool part of Stratford. A very balanced curriculum. It's definitely a fun place with plenty of school community events. Teachers are very loving and dedicated. Both of my kids went there for 2 years of preschool and they are very well prepared academically when they entered kindergarten.
--Submitted by a parent

It's a very well balanced school. The staff is very good.
--Submitted by a parent