International School of the Pen

Our kids just attended a reunion and they spent the entire time talking about how much they hated the school. They called themselves "survivors" and spent 4 hours recounting how awful the experience was. It was almost like therapy and this is 3 years out! Our middle child wandered into the conversation and his comment was "Yeah, ISTP, I don't have any good memories of the place. It was just all pain." They did learn some Mandarin, but I ask myself if it was worth loosing your love of learning? I also always wondered why the teachers rarely enrolled their own children in the school. Flip side is the families are wonderful.
--Submitted by a parent

I still believe what children learn at this school are great. However, my experiences at Cowper campus were lots of shocking surprises. When we just started, I met parents who had already been at school told me "Why did you chose here? We are thinking to leave this school.." It seems people do leave and the number of students in higher grades are very small. From my own experience at Cowper I think they should consider to improve in administrative area. It was shocking to me that my child came back home from school with some food and drinks, sometimes ate/drunk something already at school, which I never want my child to eat/drink. They have snack list, but they give students food/drinks not listed and not informed to parents in advance. When children get sick, they let such children sit at the end of the corridor facing to the entrance door where everyone is passing by. Once I saw a child who looked like almost vomiting was sitting there with a trash bin placed in front of him. They do not have a proper room to treat such sick or injured children. When my child got injured, they did not treat properly either and I was very sad. They didn't apologize for whatever happened either.
--Submitted by a parent

Our child is in the French program in the middle school section, taking Chinese for the first time as a third language. The middle school Chinese teacher is absolutely phenomenal. My child comes back home happy, eager to communicate in what little Chinese he knows of, and is excited even about doing homework. Which brings me to my point: this school is doing an amazing job in cultivating not only linguistic competency--bilingualim, trilingualism and what not--but also the love of learning. I see my child enjoying everyday and every moment in school. What more can I ask for as a parent?
--Submitted by a parent

ERB scores are an important measure of achievement, comparable to the STAR testing in public schools. Despite the fact that kids are learning everything in two languages here, ISTP still has scores ABOVE the average in Math and English for urban private schools (the higher level of ERB test scores). Language tests also score higher than at other private schools for both French and Mandarin testing. A win-win situation given that the children receive excellent character development and global citizenship examples from their teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

We have found the school lacking in many aspects. Our daughter has been in the Chinese program for past 4 years. Greatest weakness of the school is the administration and it's lack of insight. They drive away the good teachers by burning them out, leaving weak teachers to stay long term. There is little disciplinary action against troubled kids, so they terrorize the class unabated. The early preschool years are fine at Cowper campus, but instruction degrades rapidly from 1st grade on at Cohn campus. English instruction is especially weak, as is science. Math is fair. Mandarin instruction is fair. The parents who tend to like the school do not know Mandarin, so they are unaware of the level of instruction. There is very little exploratory learning, but plenty of rote. You will see that most native speakers leave the school since the Mandarin and English are not up to their standards. Ask to see how the students fair on the standardized tests (ERB and separate Mandarin test) You will find the administration will give excuse after excuse for the level of performance. There are other options for Mandarin instruction such as weekend school, tutoring, afterschool programs
--Submitted by a parent

We absolutely adore this school. Our son is currently in his third year in the French program - so this review is specific to that program. I think it is important for prospective parents to understand that ISTP is basically a French school - it is French accredited, follows a French curriculum, and for the most part the teachers are French. Parents unfamiliar with the French educational system would therefore do well to learn about it, and how it differs from the American system, before enrolling. Our son's facility with the French language is astounding, and we love the diverse, down-to-earth, and decidedly "normal" parent community, refreshingly devoid of the Botox-and-BMW set that dominates other area private schools. Our son is something of a perfectionist, so the highly structured environment, with clearly-outlined goals and expectations, and the relative meritocracy of the French system (in which hard and careful work is rewarded) makes sense to him. We also love the high number of male teachers; our son has no shortage of role models at this school.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter was at ISTP for 4 years. My daughter made good friends there and we have made great friends with the wonderful families. ISTP is a worthwhile investment if your child has never been exposed to Mandarin Chinese and do not have support at home. By 1st grade, the Chinese/English exposure is 50/50 so it's about 3 active hours a day. There is little differentiation in the teaching of kids of various levels and the English program is not as strong as in the public schools (we are now in a public immersion program). Though we were not entirely happy with the math curriculum at ISTP, it is FAR better than the public school math curriculum. If you have the money ($18k) and do not have a public immersion program in your area, ISTP may be a good fit for you.
--Submitted by a parent

This is the 3rd year our child is in the Mandarin immersion program at this school. He is thriving. His teachers have been absolutely stellar. He is already speaking Chinese (and we don't speak it at home) and understanding everything that is going on in the class. We have no doubt that he will be bilingual, even trilingual when he finishes his education here. He is currently in Kindergarten and comparing notes with public school parents in this area - I am so glad that I have my child in private school and especially glad that it's ISTP. They are teaching children in a very fun, low-pressure manner yet the kids are really figuring things out (English, reading) themselves and feeling very competent. I have no doubts about sending my child to this school.
--Submitted by a parent

Excellent Chinese Immersion program - Both my children attend ISTP, and we love the school. The teachers are extremely nurturing, and there has been much thought invested in developing a curriculum designed to promote critical thinking through age-appropriate exercises. The academics are excellent in addition to supporting strong social/leadership skills and other soft skills. Additionally, my daughter, who started in Nursery and is now in K, has an impressive mastery of Mandarin despite the fact that we primarily speak English at home. The Chinese Immersion program was created in 1996, making it the longest established full-day Chinese Immersion program in Silicon Valley. They also have an excellent French Immersion program that is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. For our family, the ISTP experience has been culturally rich beyond expectation.
--Submitted by a parent

Our daughter has been in this school in the French immersion track since nursery (she just started 4th grade). Her current teacher was suprised that we don't speak a word of French of at home--she is that fluent. In addition, she speaks Hindi (and reads and writes at the India 3rd grade level). The attitude towards multi-culturalism and multi-lingualism has been totally fostered by the school. I saw other second-gen Indian and Chinese children in public schools around who are embarrassed to speak their parent's languages! I totally disagree with the parent below about the lack of rigor. Most of the children at ISTP including my daughter consistently test in the top 10 percentile in ERB testing. I have two nephews in the same grade as my daughter in Encinal (a blue ribbon public school) in Menlo Park. She is clearly a year ahead in most areas.
--Submitted by a parent