Expensive towns on the Peninsula - unhealthy for kids? (San Mateo: transfer to, school district)

[jimmer88]

An earlier thread talked about Hillsborough vs. Burlingame. I'm curious about the specific issue of what it's like for children to grow up in extremely affluent towns like these. Is it possible to live in a place like Hillsborough and raise down-to-earth, unpretentious, non-materialistic children, or is there an all-consuming, relentless pressure to wear the most expensive clothes, put on the most expensive birthday parties, have the richest parents, etc.?

If this were the case, I could see it being quite warped and unhealthy for children. Some people here have mentioned the "snobs" and "yuppies" in some of the Peninsula towns. All in all, are these places healthy environments for children?

And one other thing: the test scores of Hillsborough and Burlingame schools are great through middle school, but take a dive at the high school level (they're fine, but not up to the level of say a Palo Alto or Piedmont). Do parents in those towns mostly send their kids to the public high schools, or do they go private? It seems like there aren't many private options on the Peninsula, so I'm curious as to what people do.

[DMenscha]

My wife grew up in Portola Valley and she and her siblings are generally the most down-to-earth people I've ever met.

Her mother, by all accounts, was regarded as one of the sweetest people that ever lived. Her father was a pretty nice guy too.

Is it possible to live a life like that in an affluent place? Yes, but teach your children well.

[Don Vito]

Thats snobs-ville out that way except for a few places like redwood city or east palo alto. good chance your kids could turn out snobs too if they go to the public schools, good chance they could turn out snobs if they go to private schools. If you teach your kids the value of a dollar that is worked for, they could come out perfectly productive people.

[twins4lynn]

Originally Posted by jimmer88

Do parents in those towns mostly send their kids to the public high schools, or do they go private? It seems like there aren't many private options on the Peninsula, so I'm curious as to what people do.

Many families from Burlingame (and Hillsborough) chose public schools – the elementary and middle schools are high scoring and safe. Burlingame HS is also the “home district school” for Hillsborough and Burlingame and those who chose public can go there (or request an interdistrict transfer to one of the other San Mateo Union High School District Schools). The highest scoring high school in the SMUHSD is actually Mills High School in Millbrae.

There are a few private schools in Hillsborough – Nueva (for exceptionally gifted children, k-8th grade) and Crystal Springs Upland School. Both of those schools are in mansions (and referred to as such – “the mansion”)! However, when you have that kind of money, you can make any choice for private school (and there are many in the greater peninsula and kids can take the train or bus, of course until they get a car!).

I do feel there is a lot of pressure in Hillsborough and Burlingame schools pertaining to dress (and lifestyle). My children's half sister is 13 and attends school in Hillsborough (private school at one of the mansions ) and occasionally mentions her coach purse and accessories and abercrombie clothes . She doesn't live in Hillsborough (or Burlingame), but rather another southern peninsula city and there is pressure to "keep up" with others (at an enormous expense).

We're the poor folks in Millbrae .