56 South Bay Accent
PRIVATE S CHOOL GUIDE
ball, Drumming, Yoga
Average Class Size: 18–22
Student Population: 252
Enrollment: Applications year-round.
Tuition: Half-day nursery $16,460, half-
to-full day kindergarten $19,520, full-day
K–8, $21,620
SAND HILL SCHOOL
650 Clark Way, Palo Alto 650/688-3605
www.sandhillschool.org
The Sand Hill School experience creates
a balance between rigorous skill development
and engaging self-discovery to foster
comprehensive growth for students with
dyslexia and other learning differences. The
school features small, multi-age classes, and
since Sand Hill is part of Children’s Health
Council (CHC), there is ongoing access to
CHC specialists who provide in-class support
as needed. The daily schedule includes
small-group instruction in reading, writing
and math, social emotional learning, PE,
visual and performing arts, science and
social studies. Routines, structure, predictability
and personalized instruction build
students’ confidence and helps them acquire
the skills and resilience they need to
thrive at home, at school and in life.
Grade Level: 1st–8th grade
Extracurricular: After-school enrichment
programs
Average Class Size: 12–14 students
Student Population: 70
Enrollment: Ongoing
Tuition: $42,200
SIERRA SCHOOL
220 B Blake Ave., Santa Clara 408/247-
4740, www.sierraschool.com
Sierra School provides a high-quality,
challenging, comprehensive academic
program in an environment filled with
inspiration, trust, guidance and respect.
Equally important to the academic program
is an emphasis on specialized classes
and enrichment activities. Art, music,
dance, character education, Spanish and
technology with coding are all included
in the curriculum. Highlights of the year
include monthly field trips, science camp,
fine arts Fridays, a December songfest,
a spring musical, a school-wide design
thinking fair and a K–5 art show. Sierra
believes all students can be challenged,
and the school keeps its criteria high yet
attainable for each individual. Students
are helped to value honesty, reliability, productivity
and compassion with an overall
goal of encouraging them to discover, explore,
reach and accomplish.
Grade Level: K–12th grade
Extracurricular: Science Adventures, Art,
Dance, Chess, Soccer, Basketball, Keyboard,
Martial Arts, Engineering Fundamentals
with Legos
Average Class Size: 15
Student Population: 110
Enrollment: Ongoing
Tuition: $15,100–$19,800
ST. MATTHEW’S EPISCOPAL
DAY SCHOOL
16 Baldwin Ave., San Mateo 650/274-
0728; stmatthewsday.org
Established in 1953, St. Matthew’s Episcopal
Day School has a distinguished history
of teaching students the core values of
academic excellence, inclusive community
and compassionate service to others. Students
and families reflect the unique blend
of cultural, ethnic, religious and secular
traditions of the Bay Area. Included within
St. Matthew’s core academic subjects
are fine and performing arts, world languages,
physical education and a Maker
program. St. Matthew’s multi-disciplinary
approach to education supports active,
student-centered learning and promotes
creativity, collaboration and invention.
The school’s tech-savvy outlook prepares
students to be pioneers of positive change
in the world. Graduates are equipped with
strong leadership skills, academic confidence
and admirable character and are
well prepared to attend highly selective independent,
boarding, parochial and public
high schools.
Grade Level: Preschool–8th grade
Extracurricular: Athletic Teams, Musical
Theatre, Enrichment Courses
Average Class Size: 9–18
Student Population: 300
Enrollment: Ongoing
Tuition: $20,495–$32,950
VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
Elementary Campus (K–5) 1450 Leigh
Ave., San Jose 408/559-4400
Junior High Campus (6–8) 100 Skyway
Drive, San Jose 408/513-2460
High School Campus (9–12) 100
Skyway Drive, San Jose 408/513-2400
vcs.net
Since 1960, Valley Christian Schools’
“Quest for Excellence” has been evident
both in the classroom and in the community.
VCS offers college preparatory
programs led by skilled and caring faculty
in state-of-the-art facilities, along with
service leadership opportunities locally
and abroad. With its strong foundation of
Christian values, this K–12 school challenges
students to discover their God-
