Elementary Schools
Public Elementary Alternative/ Charter Schools
These schools support whole child education in their mission and philosophy statements. Each school has a brief description added that came from their own website. Please see each website for a fuller understanding about the school philosophy. Most the time you have to reside in a specific school district to have a chance to enter the school. Most schools have a lottery system as well.
Listings by school district.
Cupertino School District only
Christa McAuliffe K-8
located in Saratoga, CA
McAuliffe is a parent participation school that inspires passion for lifelong learning, fosters social and emotional growth, and develops children’s creative minds. McAuliffe teachers integrate project-based learning, collaboration, and conflict resolution to help students develop critical thinking and higher order cognitive skills – evaluation, analysis, and synthesis.
www.mcauliffek8.com
Murdock/Portal Elementary K-5
located in San Jose, CA
Multi-age Classes: Students spend two years in one “village” — with one home teacher, and two partner teachers. Modified Year Round Calendar: Our school begins earlier in August and ends later in June than the other CUSD schools — and we provide breaks throughout the year. Balanced Instructional Focus: Our goal is to provide each student with a balanced curriculum to meet the needs of 21st Century Learners today. We strive to create classroom opportunities that focus on engaging student creativity, flexibility, initiative and leadership — and employ project based learning whenever possible.
Murdock/Portal School
Los Altos School District Only
Bullis Charter School K-8
BCS is a small K-8 public school that emphasizes individualized learning, hands-on projects, an enriched curriculum during school and optional after-school activities, and national best practices for academic excellence. Every student has Focused Learning Goals (FLGs) based on his/her unique needs, with goals ranging from core academics to developing social and organizational skills. Every student spends time analyzing, integrating, and applying concepts to real-life learning opportunities. Compared to most schools, schoolwork includes more writing and project-based assignments, and fewer fill-in-the-blanks worksheets. Every student participates in science, drama, dance, vocal and instrumental music, art, and physical education. In addition, all students participate in a variety of elective classes with a focus on “educating the whole child”. BCS offers an integrated Foreign Language Program, the first of its kind in a Los Altos public school.
www.bullischarterschool.com
Mountain View Whisman School District only
Stevenson PACT K-5
located in Mountain View, CA
Stevenson PACT School is a public K-5 school that offers progressive education and a developmental curriculum. Through experiential learning, innovative teaching methods and a strong collaboration between teachers and parents, we emphasize growth of the whole child – intellectually, socially, physically, and creatively. Within our diverse and caring community, we provide an environment that challenges each child to become: a lifelong learner, an independent thinker, a respectful individual, and a responsible global citizen.
pact.mvwsd.org
Santa Clara Unified School District Only
Washington Open Elementary K-5
located in Santa Clara, CA
Washington Open is a parent-participation elementary school for Kindergarten through Fifth grade students. At Washington Open families participate together in the educational process and, at the same time, are able to enjoy the ‘whole child’ open learning approach where academic, social, physical and emotional growth are equally important, interrelated and acknowledged. Our Community strives for student, parent and staff relationships where mutual respect, trust and acceptance are key in working together towards the common goal that ‘every child shall succeed.’
Washington Open
Sunnyvale School District only
Fairwood Elementary School K-5
located in Sunnyvale, CA
Through hands-on instruction, challenge-based learning, parent participation, and active involvement in our community, The Fairwood Explorer Magnet Program will foster the development of intellectually curious, self-confident, critical thinkers who are socially aware and academically prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
www.fairwoodexplorer.org
Open to all school districts
Discovery Charter School K-8
located in San Jose, CA
priority given to Moreland School District
Discovery Charter School is a kindergarten through eighth grade school based on developmentally appropriate teaching methods that successfully integrate the whole child with respect to individual learning styles, developmental readiness, and rates of achievement. Multi-age classrooms, small class sizes, team teaching, a high level of parent participation, and community involvement greatly contribute to developing Discovery Charter School into a world class learning community.
www.discoveryk8.org