Imagination School

4000 Middlefield Road

Palo Alto, CA 94303

15 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on June 14, 2023

We are extremely happy with our child's experience in ILS. Socially, our kid is thriving. The mixed aged groups are providing plenty of opportunities to learn and get support from the older kids and to coach and mentor the younger ones. It also provides a chance for children to get exposed to a wide range of skills, styles and maturity levels which we find very beneficial. Academically the school provides a nurturing environment with plenty of opportunities to explore, experiment and ask questions. We see a real joy of learning in our kid and we give ils a lot of credit for this. The school has been flexible enough to give our child more time and support in some areas and provide opportunities to push ahead in others. The school fosters a wonderful community and it's great to have other parents to connect with.
Submitted by other on June 12, 2023

I am delighted that you are reading this, because that means you have stumbled upon ILS, (Imagination Lab). It has been quite the learning curve to be a new parent and a journey to figure out all the things that come along when you have your child in primary education. Choosing a Daycare you can say was easy compared to choosing the foundation of your child's learning. With Covid, Preschool and Kindergarten was a wash - 1st grade in our local public school was truly horrible. The blanket treatment and stoic sentiment didn't help. I could see my son was not enjoying learning. My son cried every day and so did I after putting up a strong and convincing face. I couldn't do that again in 2nd grade. I did my research, and found ILS. The school feels like a community, the location is perfect for the area and all the kids know each other and they treat and greet each other with the utmost delightfulness independent of grade. The staff is quick to provide feedback when need be and as a parent where everything worries me; I feel that ILS understands this and helps not just the kids, but the parents along this journey of schooling for our kids. The monthly coffee hours are great to meet other parents. The school events are inclusive, thought provoking (think reserve trick or treating) and the community comes together. In just one year (2nd grade), I see his joy and the confidence to create from his imagination. It's great to see him figure out things on his own, he isn't afraid to start a project and find the resources. He understands composting and can't wait to be in 3rd grade where he gets to work on the vegetable garden. ILS works for our family because it allows my son to thrive in his learning and in his community.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2021

We want to write this review from the perspective of parents of a neurodivergent child. Our child had an ABA aid during preschool and we wanted to find an elementary school where we could continue this aid in an environment where both neurotypical and neurodivergent children would thrive together. ILS stood out as the best school in those regards, and, after a year and a half with them, it’s been an amazingly positive experience.1. The teachers. We’re amazed with how much dedication and interest the teachers put into the children's formation. They got to know our child and what motivates her, and offered a lot of support to understand our child's strengths and limitations. They were very supportive of the ABA program and created an inclusive space for our child to thrive on.2. Commitment to inclusivity. The school director and teachers worked with the ABA team and us to develop the best plan for our child. The ABA team expressed their admiration for the deep knowledge of developmental needs and care the school teachers have shown. ILS is genuinely committed to ensuring an inclusive environment for all kids, and they do it because it's the principled thing to do. 3. Approach to learning and academics. A lot of schools in the area take a rigid approach to education, but we discovered that rigidity hindered imagination and creativity, and wasn't a good fit for our child. With ILS, we have seen an explosion in creativity and curiosity from our child. They take a holistic approach to learning where kids are able to connect concepts and apply them in all aspects of their life.4. Leadership and Management. We were very impressed with how well prepared leadership was to deal with remote learning during lockdown. Her experience during the first year as a remote learner was very positive and we didn't feel she was missing out on any activities. We switched to in-person mid-year earlier this year and it was incredibly smooth. The rapport and friendships she had developed online were evident from day one when she met her teachers and classmates in person.5. Community Building. We as parents feel a part of the ILS community. We feel welcome in the school meetings and we're eager to contribute and help create experiences for our children.We've been very pleased with the care, dedication and education the school is providing to our child, and we are enormously thankful for their support to make our child feel included and empowered to become a well-rounded person
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2021

ILS is an amazing school and a hidden gem in Palo Alto. The school is warm and welcoming. The Director, Chris, is incredibly engaged in every faucet of the school’s operation. The teaching quality is superb, which is supported by small class sizes and great student-to-teacher ratio. Our son is now in 7th grade, and we’ve been very happy with his teachers every year. Our family is so grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of this school community and to see our son develop in such a positive way!
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2021

Mixed grade classrooms do not work if more than two grades are combined.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2021

We've been with the ILS team since 2017 (AltSchool days) with a brief break in 2018 during the transition to ILS. For context, we have five children and have been at multiple schools in the area--private and public. We have been at some of the most gorgeous, most highly sought-after, gifted, diverse, homogenous, and privileged schools in Atherton, Menlo Park, and Palo Alto. Our kids are smart (as are most in the area!), but humble and down-to-earth. We wanted a school that reflected our values of high expectations while being supportive and loving. We have always valued diversity and as a graduate-level educator myself, I have a strong appreciation for pedagogy and the value of innovation in education.We have been at nearly eight schools between preschool to middle school in the immediate area. Not because we have been asked to leave but because we have a high bar for character development alongside academic achievement, and I’m not afraid to make a change when I see that there isn’t a good fit. We have always appreciated the strong partnership we have with Chris and the entire team at ILS. They build curious, resilient, and motivated lifelong learners. Learning guides (not teachers—there is a distinction!) are there to help our children grow, discover, and feel. We appreciate the emphasis on social-emotional learning (SEL)—a buzzword many schools use these days but don’t always employ (likewise with project-based learning (PBL)). We have always valued the efforts to build community through partnerships with local sources of enrichment—art, agriculture, robotics, chess, and financial empowerment. The curriculum offers dedicated English Language Arts, STEAM, Math, PE, and Mandarin. I love Painted Reflections—a time for students to reflect on a particular video or reading through artistic expression. Our children learn at their own pace, which means they may cover advanced topics in math, reading, and writing—which I know my kids appreciate.Disclosure: I’m not a helicopter parent—I give my kids the autonomy to learn as their minds desire. We have a mix of learners (some very highly gifted and others who are average to above average) and I trust the team at ILS to help my kids set and achieve their goals. I have been extremely pleased with the caring individuals my children have become under the ILS team’s tutelage.
Submitted by parent on June 01, 2020

I would rate our experience at this school MINUS IFINITY. The administration was arrogant, and the room teacher was rigid. It cannot be held accountable as it has not yet been even accreditated by any private/ independent school associations when I wrote this comment.
Submitted by parent on February 25, 2020

I wish we had pulled our kid out sooner than we did. (We were with the current Head for 1.5 years). We always had our suspicion, but it wasn't until our child's aide and therapist observed these terrible injustice done to our kid did we know for certain that our gut feeling was right. Now we focus on undoing all the damages this school has done to our child.
Submitted by parent on February 05, 2017

My son is 11 years old and for the first time fully engaged in his own learning process. He made a very noticeable progress since he started two years ago at Imagination School. This school is a school of the future and every child should have access to a school like Imagination School. The thought process of the child and application of a subject to the real world is the center of the HELICAL model and works very well for children with a high IQ and /or 2e.
Submitted by parent on February 03, 2017

Innovative modern way of teaching led by Gigi who earlier cofounded Synapse. The learning is emersive, deep, and helical. A great school for advanced learners, gifted, 2e students as the curriculum really works well in keeping these kids engaged and learning at their potential. My son loves the school, he's engaged in the topics (which wasn't always the case at public schools).
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2016

My 6 year old son used to refuse vehemently to go to school (ie, screaming "I don't want to go school!" which would lead to me yelling back, "You have to!)". It was a daily struggle to get him up in the morning. My husband and I struggled a whole year through kindergarten. My son's main complaint about his old school was that it was BORING. He had no behavior issues and did well academically at his old school which was public. Ever since he started at Imagination School, we have seen a complete transformation in his attitude towards school. He LOVES going to school every morning! He said the teachers make learning fun. Intrigued, I try to dig out as much information I can from him about his new school. What are they doing that's making him love school so much now? He tells me about passion projects, roses and thorns (and for him it's is always all roses so he tells me) and writing workshop and transferring feeling..etc. He said they can give the teacher feedback if something is not working well for him and his classmates.Needless to say, my husband are very happy and relieved. We see a different child. He's happy at school because he's stimulated and engaged with the projects/assignments. Everyday I picked him up, I asked him "How was school?", he would reply "It was AWESOME!"I cannot thank the teachers, Ms. Mindy, Ms. Danielle, Ms. Jennifer, Jay and the administrators, Gigi and Judy enough.Thank you for providing a learning environment that is rich, engaging and stimulates learning!
Submitted by parent on February 28, 2016

The other day I asked my son how he would describe his school to potential students. He replied, "I would tell them that everything is hands on. You get to explore things in a way that you don't get to at many schools." That just about sums it up.As an example, his class completed an in depth study of the ocean which included exploring the idea of desalination as a solution to our water shortages. They built their own desalination plants and discussed the environmental impacts of desalination, both short term and long term. They conducted science experiments to study things like liquid convection and its effect on currents and weather patterns. This was especially relevant in an El Nino year. They went on a behind the scenes aquarium visit to learn more about sharks and other sea life. These are just a few highlights of their semester long study.All subjects are studied with this multi-faceted approach and all subjects are linked together. Imagination School uses The Helical Model™, developed by one of it's founders. It is composed of five stages of learning: Play, Explore, Connect, Imagine, and Remember. Lessons begin with a simple, fun activity, followed by increasingly complex hands-on activities and interactive projects. Students design and build an innovative project that addresses a community or world problem. At the end of each module, they review the lessons, highlight key points, formulate questions, and deduce meanings from their experiences and discoveries. As a parent, I would tell potential families that I spent my school years memorizing and regurgitating information and then forgetting it all. I feel elated knowing that my children will enter into their post secondary education with a mass of knowledge and a love of learning because of their deep understanding of the topics they are studying.
Submitted by parent on January 30, 2016

The academic founder of Imagination School has a good understanding of how to educate the whole child through innovative and comprehensive curricula. The teachers plan together and are specialists with this model. My son feels safe, enjoys his learning and peers, and has a love of learning approach to everyday life. The facility is a working progress, but don't let that deter you. Pretty campuses, a few good teachers working out of synchrony does not provide a cohesive environment where kids can take risks within clearly defined boundaries and expectations. Lastly, I appreciate that in spite of their plans to grow the student body, they are clear on determining good fit.
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2015

Imagination School has opened up deep and engaged learning for my two sons, ages 10 and 12. They happily go to school knowing they will get to delve deeply into a topic through play and exploration. A recent topic on how viruses spread was introduced by a game of "glitter tag". By the end of the game, all the kids had many "different" types of glitter on their arm, indicating that they had been "infected." And, there is time for further and thorough exploration of topics. After the glitter game, a connection was made to the real world through discussion of key concepts and key players in the study of virus transmission. This looked like class discussions, reading texts, and watching videos that examined viruses. Next, the students get to use their imaginations...imagining that they are scientists. They created posters that conveyed a message about how viruses work and how the public can protect themselves from viruses. Finally, they connected the lesson to the real world by making slides of cultures they had grown and sharing this information with parents at a recent information day. Imagination School is truly a next generation school!
Submitted by parent on March 18, 2015

Helix has been amazing for my son. I used to have to practically drag him to school, now he skips ahead of me. The curriculum at helix is so well thought out. For example they can take a subject that was difficult for my 4th grader, adding fractions with different denominators, and give my child an activity that allows him to visualize the concept. Then when he sees the math, it's not as intimidating as it was before. They make learning interesting Is what he says. They use history to teach mathematics. They used Egyptian farming to explain pi. The kids are building a garden to learn about microbes and then start a non-profit to donate all the food they grow to shelters. I'm blown away by the depth and breadth of the topics my son comes home and wants to discuss. He's become so much more interesting on the ride home from school. When I ask how was your day, I don't get the programed response of "good". He tells me, daddy I learned about a nautilus shell and Fibonacci numbers. Or, today we played tag and I was a ciliate trying to get away from the amoebas. I'm so happy with this school.