2023 Best Public Schools in Cambrian Park

• San Jose, CA•

• Public School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  186 reviews

Senior: UPA has been an excellent learning environment throughout my 5 years as a student. The small class sizes allows for teachers, counsellors and staff to truly connect with students and accommodate their needs. Readily available office hours and quick turn around time for emails has helped me reach out to teachers whenever I needed help in their class. In terms of student life, UPA has a strong sense of community on campus. Most events are inclusive to all grades and many electives have a diverse range of grade levels in them. Programs such as Web and Link, as well as clubs, make UPA an environment that balances both school and personal interests. As someone involved in multiple clubs (President of Girl Up!, PR manager of both Film Club and Acts of Random Kindness club), I can vouch that UPA truly allows students to run their organizations. UPA's Theater Department, although low in funding, harbors immense talent and dedication, in which I've seen in my experience as a stage manager... Read 186 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 702

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Santa Clara Unified School District, CA•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  11 reviews

Junior: Absolutely amazing school! The teachers actually care about students' success and do everything in their power to help students achieve their goals. And, the classes are small, which is amazing! Most teachers provide meaningful work that'll help students later in life. The office is super helpful in schedule changes and any problems you have. My academic counselor is super helpful in picking out colleges and helping me construct my college path. The campus itself is clean and nice, and the students are all very welcoming. I wish there were more clubs and awards like the larger schools in the area. For example, we don't have NHS, or any organized varsity and JV teams. But, you are always welcome to start your own club if you want! This school has really prepared me for college, as I've gotten a taste of college classes. The school culture is positive, and everyone pushes you to do your best. I haven't seen much parent involvement, but there wasn't a need for any.... Read 11 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 116

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• San Jose, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.54 out of 5  13 reviews

Alum: I got the benefit of going to this school because all my older brothers were already going there. I went to DCS all the way from kindergarten to eighth grade. There are so many things that this school offers which you will never find anywhere else. One of the things that might either seem like a pro or a con is that DCS is very reliant on parent participation. This participation often makes school a lot easier as a young child. Though if you worry that as a parent you wouldn't be able to participate whether it be due to a job or something, don't worry about it! DCS is very understanding and only encourages parent participation if possible. Another great thing about DCS is that they really focus on building the skills you will need to succeed late in life. They might not give you as much homework and so it might seem that it is easier, but realistically they are just trying to get away from the idea of working for the grade rather than the gaining of knowledge and understanding.... Read 13 reviews

• grade A

• Students 553

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Campbell Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.53 out of 5  326 reviews

Senior: I liked Leigh High's ability to hear its students needs and address them. They are constantly making changes to support students by providing several services to make the school more accepting. There are various mental health resources, a gender neutral bathroom, college application help, and opportunities to hear from students and teachers from possible future classes. Something I would change, however, is the discrepancy in resources in extracurriculars. Boy's sports teams receive the majority of the funding and the majority of the support. Additionally, while there are many options in terms of art classes, there are limited spaces.... Read 326 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,767

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Campbell Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  307 reviews

Junior: Branham is a diverse and comforting campus. As the walk you do not see people seperated into different groups;consequently, they are merged and no one feels left out. Personally, my family was facing struggles not having the technology at home that was needed. Branham heard me out! They annually have the "make a wish" rally and I along with many others were granted gifts that were very much needed. Branham allows supports their students and make sure they do not miss opportunities simply because of money. Not only do they help money wise but emotionally as well.Branham has great staff that are always checking up on you. Even with distance learning we have a specific teacher that checks up on us once a week. Overall, Branham has great staff and an amazing support system.... Read 307 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,917

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Sunnyvale, CA•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  25 reviews

Senior: Denali is a good school to choose if you’re looking for a support structure from teachers. However the students are relatively cliquey and it could be hard to make friends. In my experience Denali caters mostly to future STEM majors who plan on enrolling in a 4 year university and has little to no liberal, visual, or music arts focus. Denali also doesn’t provide sufficient resources for students who choose to take a less traditional career/after high school path, though this may change, as they’ve only had two senior classes so far. The teachers are passionate about their students and actually do care, but teacher retention is not Denali’s strong suit. Despite all this, it’s still a million times more preferable than traditional public school as there is far more support available from teachers, the school is flexible, classes are smaller, resources are easier to come by, and they teach you much more about adult life than a public school would.... Read 25 reviews

• grade A

• Students 634

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Santa Clara Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 445

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Union Elementary School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 657

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Cambrian School District, CA•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Niche User: Steindorf was my middle school and it was such a great experience. The school focuses on project-based learning, and we had many different projects that involved building, coding, researching, and exploring our creative limits overall. Additionally, since the campus is quite small, it was easy to make friends because everyone knows everyone. The buildings are all new and modern as well, and the staff is very friendly.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 465

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Union Elementary School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  17 reviews

Middle School Student: Coming from Castilleja school, Union has been excellent. Everything is improving, and pre-algebra and Spanish are taught in 6th grade. The homework is not too much, not too little, so you have some time to focus on other activities. They also have clubs, and advanced math is taught there. The students are nice and friendly. Even with excellent academics, there are plenty of different sports to join. Also, Union has spirit weeks every so often. The staff are wonderful and ready to help you if you need it. Overall it's been a great transition from Castilleja, and I recommend this school.... Read 17 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,073

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Union Elementary School District, CA•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Niche User: Me as a parent I want my child to be successful... Read 2 reviews

• grade A

• Students 626

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Union Elementary School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  4 reviews

Middle School Student: At Dartmouth, your attitude about learning is I think the most important factor in how your experience goes. For me, it was great! Being interested in STEM, they provided many electives, clubs, and in-school activities for us to explore what we're interested in and to pursueit. The more you put yourself out there the more you achieve, and the teachers are all mostly very nice and helpful in education, and they want to see you succeed. The campus is nice, with a good quad area for lunches, the only downside is, careful with who you choose to spend time with. I've built myself a supportive and caring friend group but you want to avoid hanging out with certain people here. Overall very good :)... Read 4 reviews

• grade A

• Students 966

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• San Jose, CA•

• Public School•

• 5-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  3 reviews

Middle School Student: I haven't been here for a long time, especially since the pandemic, but so far I think it's a pretty good school. My ELA teacher is extremely challenging and they give you a bunch of materials and resources if you need them. The teachers are understanding and make sure we feel safe and enjoy learning. I think the way they handle negative behavior is very professional. The admin staff take care of any malfunctions and they have lots of materials to make sure the students have everything they need. They give you two, 15 minutes recesses. And, 25 minutes of lunch. There are 5 periods. ELA, Social Studies, Science, Math, and Elective. Elective is either PE, Art, Music, or Leadership. This is on a normal day. On a short day there is only 15 minutes of recess, 20 minutes of lunch, but still 5 periods. Although they are 15-20 minutes shorter. The short day is on Wednesday. However, sometimes I do notice some favoritism, or if a teacher treats a student with less expectations.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A

• Students 453

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• San Jose, CA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  66 reviews

Parent: During this time, trying to juggle work and being a "parent teacher" with virtual learning, I am grateful for the teachers, mentors, and admin staff at Summit who have developed an excellent online learning experience. While we are still trying to learn and understand the new normal of virtual learning, the platform that Summit has given parents has been amazing! I chose this school for my son because of the small environment, mentorship and academic programs, and I believe that my son will be well prepared when he graduates in 4 years. We are happy with our experiences thus far and I am sure there are other parents that feel the same way!... Read 66 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 316

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Cambrian School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 3.57 out of 5  7 reviews

Middle School Student: Now that I transferred to a different school, I genuinely miss my experiences at Price. All its interesting people, teachers, traditions. I didn't realize how much I value that school until I moved away. It's primarily because of the friend circle I built over my two years there, but the environment played a role as well. I liked most of the teachers. The campus could use some upgrades, yet it rarely bothered me (except the oddly placed music room and "speedwalking" from one far side of the school to the other). The academic spectrum slagged; of course, as do all standard American schools. However, a fair amount of diversity balanced it out. I never joined any clubs because there was honestly nothing of interest, but I participated in concert/marching band, yearbook, art, cross country, track & field, and basketball, so I got a feel of the activities offered. Overall, Price would be an average school. Though, it is rated 4-stars by me because of the fond memories I created there.... Read 7 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 923

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• San Jose, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: My family has attended Discovery Charter School 2 Falcon Campus for the last 5 years. Teachers are able to follow the childrens’ lead for curriculum, and present opportunities to engage in hands-on activities including many field trips. One concern I had about specific academic needs not being met was swiflty addressed and adaptions were made, with the support of teachers and the director. Social and emotional needs are supported at the school, and everyone is on the same page, responding to the children using Positive Discipline techniques. Discovery provides the opportunity to stay with teachers for multiple years (looping). Most of the parents regularly volunteer, and you can really create a village here. My children are excited to go to school. Learning is fun and curiosity is encouraged. I am excited my children are enjoying their education, as their experiences there will likely result in life-long, engaged learners. I highly recommend you check D2 out!... Read 3 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 574

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Moreland, CA•

• K-8

• grade A minus

• Students 525

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• San Jose, CA•

• Public School•

• K-5

• grade A minus

• Students 616

• Student-teacher ratio 36:1

• Cambrian School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade A minus

• Students 378

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• San Jose, CA•

• Public School•

• K-5

• grade A minus

• Students 514

• Student-teacher ratio 30:1

• Campbell Union School District, CA•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: My son started in the inaugural year of the school and his sibling is also now enrolled. We have had a great experience with this school from the start. We have been fortunate to have had great teachers every year. The first two years of the school being open, I was much involved in volunteer activities at the school and have appreciated the being part of that wonderful community of parents/guardians. I feel that the school's curriculum is very up-to-date, the flexible approach to learning, its promotion creativity and collaborative learning, its emphasis on social-emotional learning to name a few. When you look at the school's Profile of a Graduate, the school's curriculum is aligned with the most important skills of success that has been called 21st century skills. I'm grateful that my children will be able to attend this school through 8th grade. As a parent, I feel good taking them each day to a school where I know that are thriving academically, emotionally and socially.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 520

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• San Jose, CA•

• Public School•

• K-5

• grade B+

• Students 511

• Student-teacher ratio 30:1

• Cambrian School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade B+

• Students 602

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• San Jose, CA•

• Public School•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: Rocketship Fuerza Community Prep is an amazing school. Curriculum, teaching style and the overall quality of education is on par with many top rated public schools. They also provide free food (both breakfast and lunch) of good quality. Almost all the school supplies that the students need through out their academic year are provided by school. I would highly recommend this school.... Read 1 review

• grade B+

• Students 631

• Student-teacher ratio 35:1

• San Jose, CA•

• Public School•

• 5-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Alum: KIPP Prize Preparatory Academy is a close-knit community formed between students and teachers. It nurtures the students in an environment where they can be held accountable for their actions. The school works hard to be inclusive towards every student regardless of their differing circumstances.... Read 1 review

• grade B

• Students 415

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1