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June 2019 by Julian Bradford
This school is great, a little under budget, but they do what they can. I will say it is sad how far the school has come, the Portola Valley School District puts more funding into the kids and the way they learn.
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December 2018 by rohit sharma
Alto has been an excellent experience for us so far. We are new to the school *(2018) and it is clear the the new leadership and teachers push every day to provide the best possible learning experience for kids. We absolutely love the International experience each teacher brings to the classroom every day and the joy in our child learning the breadth and depth of the IB curriculum. Love it.
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December 2018 by Baloo Craft
This school is amazing, my children went here for a year and loved it, the teachers were so nice and helped my children through emotional struggle. They came home on the last day and were very sad. It's too bad the field was so dry most of the year. 7/10 not enough good water.
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December 2018 by Julian A. Bradford
This school is great, somewhat under budget, but they do what they can. I will say it is sad how far school has come, the Portola Valley School District puts more funds into the kids and the way they learn.
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December 2017 by Dai Pham
Wonderful French and Chinese immersion school. Follows the international baccalaureate program even in the early years with an inquiry led approach. My daughter loves the school.
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December 2016 by Mike Fallon
We have two children at the school (5th and 7th grade) and have been there since preschool (9 years). We are Palo Alto residents, and our neighborhood public school is Duveneck Elementary School, but we have been so impressed with ALTO, particularly the International Baccalaureate (IB) program that we have kept our children at ALTO. I was so impressed with the math and science results for the ALTO elementary school while my kids were at the preschool, that I decided to keep them there for Kindergarten. After comparing the Kindergarten program with Palo Alto's public schools, it was no contest. ALTO won hands down, especially in the arts and music department. We have been happy campers ever since. My daughter is now in the ALTO Middle School (it starts in 6th grade), and I continue to be impressed. No worries if you are looking for a Middle School and your kids do not speak a second language. ALTO Middle School has an entry level track for students to learn a second language and it is very impressive. Small class room sizes, involved teachers, top academic scores and an affordable tuition are why we are here. The families that attend ALTO can be divided into three categories: those that are there for the German language, those that are there for the IB program and method of instruction, and those that are there for the academic results. We are there for the academic results, which ALTO has delivered in spades for both of our kids. And yes, it's great that they speak German fluently now as well. In the Middle School you have to take an additional language, so my daughter is now learning French in addition to the German that she has mastered. Check out the school, you will not regret it!
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December 2016 by Harriscout
FaZe Blaziken went to school here. It must be good.
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December 2015 by Beate Teufel
Our children have been part of this school for 8 years now and we love it. The IB program has a unique approach that allows children to learn in a way that fosters love of learning, curiosity, risk taking, self confidence, independence and our kids are thriving. The sense of community is great even for children who start in the middle of the program or during the school year. Teacher-student ratios are small and the teachers are engaged and support each child in their class to bring out the best in them. Our children are growing up in a different society, characterized by technologies that were not even invented when I grew up. They face different challenges and this school prepares them to become caring and confident world citizens.
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December 2014 by Sebastian Thrun
Our 2-year old son went to this school. Neither the teachers nor the Web site had told us that he had to be fully potty trained, so we gave it a try regardless. But he quickly became the unloved child in the class room, because of occasional potty accidents. One day, when I brought him to class, he was crying in my arms for over ten minutes, fearful to be joining the class. Neither of the 2 teachers would even say hello to me, as if I had personally conspired to cause his toilet accidents (as a 2 year old!). We un-enrolled shortly thereafter. I can see how traumatic moments like these can destroy a lifetime worth of enjoyment in learning and education. Kids are so fragile at this young age. When we took him out, he was in fear every day.I understand some parents have great experiences at this school, but we didn't. We moved him to Crescent Park Child Development Center where he learned to love learning again (with wonderful, embracing teachers).
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December 2010 by Michał Cierniak
ISTP has two campuses: the Cowper campus is for grades up to K. Older kids go to the Cohn campus.Their Chinese immersion program is excellent.
