St Simon Parish School

We have been at this school for eight years now and all I can say is that we are very, very happy with EVERYTHING. The quality of education is superb, the anti-​bullying policy is fabulous, the enrichment classes are just perfect for us, teachers seem to be very happy and the children even happier and, to top it off, the social life and the community are more than we had hoped for. The academic part is very rigorous, but the fun enrichment subjects create a perfect balance.
The homework can be overwhelming at times. However, I strongly believe that the homework, just like the great class instruction, helps these children excel on high school placement tests and beyond. I have not heard of any long term (starting in lower grades) St. Simon student not being accepted to a high school of their choice.
From what I hear, St. Simon is no exception when it comes to bullying incidents as they happen at all schools occasionally. However, the confidential, effective process of resolving bullying occurrences is what makes this school stand out. My child has been bullied a few times over the years, but the teachers took care of it so quickly that I never even had a need to contact the principal. What I found very pleasing was that the focus was on helping both children make better choices. Everything was always handled with confidentiality.
I expected to find excellent education at St. Simon. What I did not expect to find was such an active and welcoming parish community. At St. Simon I have met many wonderful people from every single continent. Our social life improved greatly since our children started attending the school here. We enjoy volunteering at events like St. Patrick’s Day, Parish BBQ, Auction, Walk-​a-​ton, etc. Robotics is another one of our favorite volunteering areas, so are the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and the athletic programs. We simply always have so much fun meeting new people!
We are very blessed to have found this school/​parish because it meets the educational and social needs of our children. I simply cannot say enough good things about St. Simon school and I would give them ten stars if I could.

My daughter graduated from the school 14 years ago. Sister Mary was a principal at that time & she was wonderful. St Simon provided a good foundation for all students to be ready for the higher education. She got her degree from UCLA as well as a MBA from CBS. There was no doubt about the quality of the school.

We love Little Saints Preschool at Saint Simone Parish School. This is my daughters second year there and we are so happy we found this school. There aren’t many Catholic Preschools around so there is a waitlist but it’s worth it! The staff at Little Saints is wonderful. And you know your child is always in good hands. She comes home with many wonderful projects and is a very happy there.

I had three boys start St. Simon in the fourth grade and complete the program through eighth. I found the school to be great in a number of ways. The education was rigorous/​challenging but they left there with confidence and were well prepared them for High School. Their writing skills were fantastic, math fundamentals were solid but they also got a deep appreciation for the arts. Not to mention the first class science lab. All this said, my goal was not only to educate them academically but to have an environment that supports the values we instill at home. I know have two that are flourishing in college and one that’s on his way. IF you are looking to educate your child/​children academically, socially and spiritually St. Simon is an excellent choice!

We love St. Simon School. It has been a great fit for all 3 of our kids who have very different interests. The academics are strong and my children were well prepared for high school at Bellarmine. I also really like that the school focuses on educating the whole child. The after-​school sports program has allowed my kids to try many sports and play with their friends from school. My kids also love the art and music classes. The service learning program has taught my kids the importance of serving those in need in our community. The school has a great Robotics program and other after-​school activities including band, musical theatre, chess, hip hop and golf. It is really one of the best (if not the best) Catholic school in Santa Clara County.

This review is for Little Saints, the preschool attached to St. Simon Parish School. My daughter attends the pre-​K program and it has been a wonderful experience. The school is like a family, and the teachers genuinely care about their students. The curriculum is more academic than some play-​based schools, but topics are introduced in a low-​pressure way within a loving, encouraging environment. It’s halfway through the year, and my daughter is starting to read, and understands many math concepts. She has also learned a lot about building friendships and resolving conflicts with her peers. I feel she will be very well-​prepared to enter kindergarten next Fall!

Send your kid here if you are ok with bullying…
Disgustingly RUDE children! What a shameful example of Catholic Education. The sense of entitlement and «yes men» administration are exactly what is wrong with the SJ Diocese Dept of education. St. Nicholas is a much better option!

I only pick up my kid here so I have never attended the school. It is solely for the parking situation and the parents. I arrive early to avoid any lateness or no parking. And during their rummage sale, there was like no parking. And then you cannot even park on the streets. And then when I have my kid and we are ready to back out of the parking spot, NONE of the rude non good Christians will let me out! I have to be so forward so they think I might crash into them, then they will allow me to exit. UGH. What a nightmare.

Saint Simon’s school has close to 600 students with a tuition of $ 8.2k ($ 6.4k for parish families).
The school is looking for a new principle this Fall so expect some changes.
This school is one of the few that still has a convent on the property. Several sisters of the Dominican order work at the school giving the school the real feel of Catholic schools of yesteryear.
Overall the school appears to be well run and a new initiative to bring iPads as tools for learning seem innovative (frog dissections virtually rather than on the science table).

Even when it was extremely hot they would make us wear our uniform sweaters in church. Kids would routinely faint from the heat. I do not miss that royal blue polyester button-​up.
During PE my sister had a sea gull poop land on top of her head. It was large, damp and clearly visible. PE had just begun but the PE teacher told her she couldn’t go to the bathroom to wash it out until the end of class. My sister caught my attention from across the black top and I came over to see her. I asked her why she wasn’t washing the poop out of her hair and upon hearing the response led her to the bathroom. When we emerged, the PE teacher tried to scold her for disobeying. Is it really acceptable to force a 4^th grader to endure 45 minutes of PE with a large damp bird poop in her hair?
Private Catholic school is supposed to be a highly structured environment, but in examples above and other instances the rules were followed at the expense of good judgment.
If I had children and time I would probably home school them. However, I don’t have children and I won’t have time to home school. Based on my experiences with the local private schools, I would send my kids to Los Altos Christian School.