Los Altos schools (Palo Alto, Cupertino, Loyola: house, best school, safe)

[Y79k123]

We're here visiting schools with a view to relocate from the UK. The Los Altos schools seem fantastic - excellent resources, positive, enthusiastic teachers and happy kids.

What about the parent perspective? Does anyone have first hand experience of schools in the region?

[Nell Plotts]

My grandchildren attend Springer primary school, in the Los Altos school district. They are happy, their parents are happy with the education they are receiving.

Children in Los Altos are not bussed to school. Transportation is the parent's responsibility. Basically if you want your children to walk or bike to school consider the route they would use. My grandchildren are taken to school by car.

My only other experience with school districts in the area is with Cupertino High School where my SIL taught for several years. The parental pressure on students at that school makes Tiger Mothers look like kittens https://www.google.com/search?newwin...61.gfuwwvPa4iY

[Potion of Boredom]

Schools in the South Bay are generally decent, and there are a lot of smart people in schools. Almond Elementary School is the top-rated in Los Altos.

[Nell Plotts]

Keep in mind the fact that with very rare exception the parents of Los Altos students are very involved in their education. Most of those children have parents who are highly educated. There isn't a weak school in the district IMHO although there is some push & pull around the charter school but I don't think that has anything to do with academics.

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

Keep in mind the fact that with very rare exception the parents of Los Altos students are very involved in their education. Most of those children have parents who are highly educated. There isn't a weak school in the district IMHO although there is some push & pull around the charter school but I don't think that has anything to do with academics.

If you're referring to Bullis Charter School, correct - the issues around that are around the dispute about funding with the district.

[Nell Plotts]

So I hear.

[Y79k123]

Thank you, we have been very impressed with the Los Altos schools. It looks like our kids would receive a fine education at any one of them. Next problem is to find a house (expensive!).

I'm also interested in Palo Alto - I've heard good things about Ohlone, but we haven't had time to visit any of those schools during our trip. Perhaps I'll post a query about Palo Alto schools in a new thread.

Thanks again.

[Y79k123]

Oh, can I get some feedback on Loyolo? We didn't get to see that school.

Thank you.

[charmed59]

My children went to Los Altos schools: Almond, Egan, Los Altos High, and they had good educations. I have friends with children at many of the schools (Bullis Purisima, Loyola, Covington, Springer, Santa Rita and Bullis Charter) and the parents are uniformly convinced that whatever school in the district their child goes to is the best school, so I don't think there are huge differences in the curriculum or quality.

As someone mentioned above, there are no busses in the Los Altos school district, but, other than the Bullis Purisima school in the hills, the boundaries for the schools tend to include somewhat close by. There should be a safe biking or walking route to school for the vast majority of homes in the district. My children were able to walk or bike to school from elementary through high school.

[dburbs1975]

a couple of people here have said that there is no busing in Los Altos. What districts do have busing?