Almaden Country School

My son is just finishing first grade. We have seen significant progress in all areas - academic and personal. The school is like an extended family that looks out for eachother and the children. This is the place for someone who wants a close community with outstanding all-round acedemics!
--Submitted by a parent

Each of my three children emerged from their kindergarten year at ACS happy, confident and engaged in learning, even though one didn't even want to go to school at first. I credit the caring and professional kindergarten teachers (three different ones!), and a curriculum and classroom environment designed to engage and delight. Kindergarten is vital because that is when attitudes about learning and self-concept begin to take shape. Soon, two will have graduated from 8th grade at ACS and the third will have completed elementary school. All are thriving, successful students. ACS aims to nurture and engage, never to overwhelm or stress. Teachers take a personal interest in their students and develop a rapport that fosters confident, respectful, engaged and well-adjusted young adults. In middle school, a heavy emphasis on teaching effective study skills is balanced by interesting and engaging electives, service and leadership opportunities, and enriching field trips and school events. Volunteer opportunities abound, and finding families who will give service is one goal of the administration. Expanding financial aid is a goal, also, and one that is dependent upon donations.
--Submitted by a parent

I'm not sure why this school has such high ratings. My experience was horrific! The admissions lady kept checking out what I wore and wouldn't answer any of my questions regarding curriculum and did not make any eye contact because she kept looking at what type of bag I was carrying. She made me feel so uncomfortable that I decided NOT to send my child to this school. It seemed that she was checking me out to see if I had the money or not, by the way she kept checking me out! Parents, avoid this school! Send your kids to a better school that would appreciate their individuality instead of how much money their parents make!
--Submitted by a parent

Our children have been attending ACS for 7 years now and still love going to school every day. At ACS they are motivated and excited to learn.This has to do with HOW they are learning-they experience their education.They perform in plays every year,learn Music, French, Spanish,there are Pioneer days,International days, star labs for Science,they actively go to their library where they meet and hear famous authors speak.I could go on and on.We rarely have to ask them how their day was-you hear all about it by the time you drive home from school.The administration and teachers are caring and enthusiastic about what they are teaching.They have always been available,understanding,and accommodating with any concerns. ACS promotes the collaboration of teachers,students,and parents to create the best educational environment.The students here develop into respectful,confident,and happy people. Regarding the review posted on Feb 10, this impression is unfortunate and inaccurate,as cultural diversity is certainly present and embraced at ACS. Students here come from many different ethnic and religious backgrounds and are encouraged to share their traditions.It really is a great school!
--Submitted by a parent

Have been with Almaden Country School for 16 years. It'll be 20 years by the time the youngest one graduates. ACS is more than just a school, it's a community that values the child and the family. My kids have always enjoyed going to school, are comfortable with their teachers and the administration, and are excited about learning. The Early Childhood program has awesome teachers, the elementary grades build a great foundation for learning and character development, and middle school is a safe place where the kids can stay kids longer. I used to fear that ACS was a bubble and my kids wouldn't be able to transition smoothly to the much larger high schools. Fortunately, that hasn't been true at all. My kids have gone on to high school (and beyond) confident, academically prepared, and grounded enough to make the right choices. The 2/10/2012 reviewer's perception is unfortunate. The school has several grade levels with wait pools. There isn't room for a number of kids. Re: vacations, ACS is family-centric - I'm sure the question wasn't about how much money one spends on vacation, but how one spends it as a family.
--Submitted by a parent

Pros: This school offers small class sizes and loads of individualized attention for students. It uses positive discipline in and out of the classroom which means children are treated with dignity, respect, and encouraged to find appropriate means of communicating with one another, especially during conflict. My child is very happy here and appears to be thriving. Cons: Although the school bills itself as non-religious, prayer does exist in the classrooms (primarily in ECE) and discussion of Christian theology can come up during major holidays like Christmas, Easter, etc. While ACS doesn't widely advertise itself as such, it was founded by a Mormon and many members of the teaching and administrative staff are Mormon. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but if you are looking for a truly non-religious environment for your child, do your homework first. I would also say the school leans towards a more conservative bent...as noted by the strong emphasis on patriotism and the annual patriotic assembly. And as with any school, the teacher and parent community can be clique-ish and difficult to break into as a new parent/family. We are giving it one more year to assess...stay tuned.
--Submitted by a parent

I went to visit this school, but apparently if you have an accent they say, "There is no room at this school for YOUR child". They refuse to even let us visit the school even though we are looking for admission for later. Questions they ask try to probe how much money you make: "Where do you take your kids on vacation, etc."
--Submitted by a parent

My son attended a different pre-school last year. Each morning he would ask if he had school. If he heard "yes," he would moan woefully and drag himself out of bed. This same kid now pops out of bed in the morning, and is consistently VERY excited to be going to class. That includes today after a not so good nights sleep. Thanks goes to his fabulous teachers. My daughter has a love of learning that is joyful to watch. She LOVES to read and grabs books off of shelves. She enjoys math and talks highly of the fun she has in class solving problems. Tonight, she ate her dinner quickly so she could read me a book. As she read it, she was laughing at the story and picking up the humor and nuance of the characters and situations. Her love of learning is the product of the ACS teachers who have touched her life these past three years. There are jobs, professions and callings. When I see how excited my kids are to attend ACS, interact with parents and students who are thrilled to be with ACS, get to see the dedication of the staff, I know my kids, and all the students of ACS, are lucky enough to be surrounded by people answering their calling. That is awesome and inspiring.
--Submitted by a parent

Our 5th grade and 2nd grade daughters are in their 4th year at ACS and every day they go to school happy then come home happy. Maybe it's the unique experiences they have in drama, science, French, music, art or PE. Maybe it is because their teachers are warm, loving and highly motivating. Or, even though excelling is the norm, they and their friends feel safe, free to be young, curious and joyful each day. We feel fortunate to be a part of a community at ACS where all of these reasons are a reality for our girls. They are part of a community of diverse individuals who are respectful, creative, collaborative and effective members. The same qualities are found in the families at ACS, so with that, we are all happy at the end of the day. Would highly recommend ACS.
--Submitted by a parent

My boys are entering the ACS middle school now but have been attending since they were in the preschool program. I am extremely pleased with the school's approach to academics. Although plenty rigorous, the children are learning how to learn (not just study to the test) and doing so with enthusiasm. It is also core to the school's philosophy to nurture the children's emotional and social development. The community is diverse but made up of like-minded families that appreciates letting children be children for as long as they can, especially in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley. Finally, it is the accomplished, poised and eager graduates that signaled to my husband and I that this place was one that we wanted our children to grow in.
--Submitted by a parent