Discovery Charter 2

762 Sunset Glen Drive

School District

Santa Clara County Office Of Education
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
Type

charter

School Map for Santa Clara County Office Of Education School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by other on February 15, 2025

I attended Discovery School from 3rd to 8th grade, and I have a lot to share, but to summarize: do not enroll your child here. As others have noted in their reviews, the teachers are not effective in lessons, and much of the information in our units was missing. Frequently, the teachers would only read off the slides. This school left me VERY academically behind. I started high school in 2023, and it was challenging to adjust to the grading system and more in depth assignments. Learning at Discovery was not enjoyable at all; there was nothing to look forward to. I have to work extra hard in school because of how behind discovery made me. Fortunately, I am now a 4.6 GPA student, but I had to push myself incredibly hard to reach this point. If you want to help your child thrive, please consider other schools. I cannot emphasize this enough.As a side note, my 8th grade teacher only taught science for two weeks the entire year because she prioritized English Language Arts instead.Regarding safety, I had an experience in 7th grade when a student went around hitting younger kids with sticks. When a yard duty staff member confronted him, he punched her in the throat and kicked her multiple times. Nothing was done about this incident, and the principal claimed he could not be punished because he has autism. Like what?? Just a few days later, he kicked my friend in the stomach, and again, no action was taken. In 8th grade, there was an incident involving a sexist student, and the teacher's solution was to gather the entire class in a circle to discuss it. Those conversations went nowhere and, in fact, made the situation worse by exposing other sexist students in the class.Lastly, the cafeteria food is beyond horrible; it’s barely even edible. I’m confident that if you ask any student there, they will agree.Please thoroughly research schools you are considering for your child and remove Discovery School from your list.
Submitted by parent on February 03, 2025

We had an amazing year at Discovery last year. Unfortunately, this year has taken a turn for the worse. Our daughters have been physically and emotionally abused and targeted by other children in their classes. Discovery prides themselves on Positive Discipline but really there is no discipline and the classrooms are out of control. The kids have so much freedom and lack of respect for the adults. I love that the school is "inclusive" but that should give bullys an excuse to be a bully. There needs to be middle ground between patience, compassion and allowing children to walk all over the teachers.
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2024

I signed up my 6 yo for her first grade at this school, because I really liked the fact that parents can have involvement in kids school, I thought parents would have a supportive role but in reality it was parents would have a heavy involvement and if your child’s class has kids w busy parents, then you will need to do more work so your kid would learn something. We did not think she learned much during the school year. They did not have a curriculum for the year, school does not have enough funds, most of the responsibility was with parents, no PE instructor for most of the year and when there was, it changed twice.The school does not have enough (or any) subs, when for any reason teacher does not show up, they just combine classes!I did not find much involvement from the school or teacher for that matter for the sessions that parents lead.I volunteered frequently for several topics and did not receive any support from the teacher, or even her asking me what I am going to do in that week!Overall this school does not provide much structure for the kids, and focus is more on their freedom.
Submitted by teacher on April 30, 2024

I taught at DCS Falcon Campus for about 4 years. While the staff is absolutely amazing, I found that the school didn't have the right policies in place to support students with more serious behavioral issues. I experienced first hand and heard of other families that left the school because they did not feel like their child was safe in their classroom or that learning was productive with so many disruptive behaviors. Though I consistently sought out help from administration, I found it challenging to ever feel like I was being fully supported. I do not blame that on administration themselves, but on the broader issue of staff being spread too thin and not having the appropriate time and resources to make sure all teachers feel supported. As much as I value what I learned during my time at Discovery Falcon, I unfortunately would not highly recommend it as a place to work for a long period of time. I was extremely burnt out after about 3 years and barely made it through my fourth year.
Submitted by other on September 02, 2023

Don’t recommend this school for kids over 9.It messed me up horribly academically.. Teachers aren’t the best at what they teach. The teachers are great to build a relationship with but nothing more . The students are very judgy and disrespectful, not sure of how it is now. The staff doesn’t do much at all about bullying ,especially assault.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2023

We’ve been at Discovery for 2 years and it’s been amazing. The community is one of the best aspects as you really get to know the other kids and parents, as well as what’s going on in the classroom. The teacher we’ve had so far is wonderful. We’ve loved our experience so far at Discovery!
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2023

As parents, we feel incredibly fortunate to be part of the Discovery Falcon School community. This unique educational institution has created a truly remarkable learning experience that involves not only the students but also the parents in a meaningful way. The emphasis on parent participation is a game-changer. It fosters a deep sense of involvement and connection with our children's education journey. The school recognizes that parents are a child's first teachers, and by actively involving us in the learning process, they create a powerful partnership between home and school. The focus on individualized learning and holistic development ensures that each child's unique needs are met. Moreover, Discovery Falcon Campus goes beyond academics to instill values of community, responsibility, and empathy. The school's philosophy is rooted in Positive Discipline methods that cultivate the sense of belonging within our children and family that we believe society desperatly needs. Academically our children are thriving because they are developing the skills they need with the support of the staff at an individual level. They are learning to LOVE learning by strengthening their intrinsic motivation. We are so glad we found this wonderful school and highly recommend enrollment. Proud Parents, Shelley and Darren McGee
Submitted by parent on June 04, 2021

My son enrolled kinder in 2020.Despite of Covid 19 and distance learning, he thrived and learned so much during his kindergarten. I def ref this school.
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2021

My daughter was enrolled at this school from August -November as a kindergartener. Without getting into too many details, I would not recommend this school. We left because our daughter was being mistreated by 2 other kinder students. I wanted to speak to the parents but this school has a rule about parents talking about what happens in the classroom staying in the classroom and the teacher is the only one who can get involved. Parents confronting parents was frowned upon. I regret not talking to the parents of the child who manipulated and hurt my kid - I tried to follow the schools policies but her teacher wasn’t great at handling conflict and recommended a book for me to read and said all the things my kid was experiencing was normal. My kids personality started to change and she began to shut down emotionally. We pulled her and it was the best thing. After over a year of being out of this place I recognize that my daughter was being bullied and she lost trust in adults because the adults at this school failed her. She spoke multiple times with not only her teacher but other staff as well. My husband and I even had multiple meetings with the principal. We even reached out to my kids preschool teacher and asked about the behavior our daughter was having and they said it sounds like an unhealthy environment.Putting your kid in school and trusting others to keep them safe is a huge ask - I think there’s some great people at this school but unfortunately sending my kid here was a huge mistake. I have a friend who had a nearly identical experience the same year. Not a surprise.I’ll leave you with this- I saw a child rip and throw a book across the room and blame the child sitting next to them for being the reason they were upset. The child with the outburst was sent to the counselor and came back with a sensory toy and the kid who was humiliated wasn’t spoken to or taken aside to see if they were okay. This lack of care contributes to insecure kids and mistrust in adults. This school is big on “student advocacy” - sometimes adults need to intervene and mediate. When I said this I was told by my kid’s teacher “our school isn’t for everyone”. It was a heartbreaking time as a parent.
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2020

My family has attended Discovery Charter School 2 Falcon Campus for the last 5 years, and I am very happy with the progressive education my children are receiving!Their teachers have been amazing and are given more freedom to teach students important topics that have been pushed out of today's public classrooms in addition to covering standard core curriculum. They’re 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.Teachers don’t ignore social and emotional needs in the classroom and really get to know the children holistically. We receive amazing multi-page anecdotal report cards, that demonstrate their knowledge of our children. We also have thoughtfully planned conferences and are able to communicate with the teachers easily.Discovery provides the opportunity to stay with teachers for multiple years (looping). This honors the relationships between teachers, children, and parents, and further supports child development. We’ve been blessed to get to know teachers deeply and develop real relationships.The focus on social-emotional learning is also echoed in the discipline practices at D2. Parents participate in the program, and everyone is on the same page, responding to the children using Positive Discipline techniques. The leadership provided by Miki Walker, our director, is appreciated! She knows the children and what is happening for them, is very responsive to parents and their concerns and works to problem-solve. She listens to her teachers and appears to support them fully.Most of the parents regularly volunteer, and there are a lot of opportunities to engage with the school community. My friendships with fellow parents are strong, and we hang out at school events and beyond. You can really create a village here, something that is so needed in this area in particular.My children are excited to go to school, because their needs are met, not ignored. 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!
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2020

DCS2 is not for everyone, but we are a busy two-working parent family and if I had to choose again I would make the same decision. This environment nurtures the emotional needs of my children while still encouraging them to thrive academically. They are learning how to navigate complicated relationships with peers and how to interact with adults. I get to meet their friends, be a part of their school day and get to know the teachers very well. I have direct access to both of my kids teachers.Some highlights for our family:1) small class size2) tailored approach to learning3) focus on developing a community 4) wonderful, involved parents who truly care about their children’s education 5) lots of field trips - we have had the expected 10 each year6) no homework!7) lots of after school programsThings I don’t love:1) the classrooms can be VERY loud. If your child is really sensitive to noise, this is not a good fit2) the are a lot of children with high emotional or behavioral needs. In some classrooms they are very distracting though this varies dramatically from class to class3) it is a LOT of work. Families work 2 1/2 hours per week in the class per kid plus have a classroom “job”and drive on at least 3 field trips. Overall, we LOVE Discovery and are proud to be a part of this amazing community!
Submitted by parent on January 28, 2020

Our experience at Discovery 2 has been excellent.My children are getting a well rounded curriculum and learning how to be good human beings.I am learning how to parent more effectively thanks in part to what I have learned from the school about conflict resolution through positive parenting. I would highly recommend Discovery 2 Charter School.
Submitted by parent on September 06, 2019

No school is perfect, but I am so grateful to have both of my children attending this school. We are in our 5th year and I am so happy with their learning journey.
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2019

It’s a patent participation school that makes it safe, more efficient and more supportive for our kids. Every parent has one goal: to make the school successful and safe for our kids.
Submitted by parent on July 31, 2018

As of this year no Spanish, no music, no science, no PE, no clubs, and no team sports (even middle school)We had some fabulous teachers and great memories, but as the staff, admin and small group of parents continue to push for a specific unusual 'philosophy' This has changed over time. Don't expect any information other than what you receive from your classroom teacher. Some don't do email and only use seesaw for class pictures. Effectively no knowledge testing in any class level except for CPM math used in middle school. This school is struggling and loosing students rapidly as parents move them to schools for academics (1-3 yrs behind local public schools) or safety issues. They loose about 1/4 to 1/3 of the teaching staff every year. The only Spring money maker and a Harvest festival remain as school wide events. This is supposed to be parent participation but it is very hit or miss. I've been in classes with 90% of parents involved and in classrooms with me and two other parents doing everything.. They say 10 field trips but expect less than 3 due to lack of planning and lack of parents.My kid is now at grade level in a local public school after admissions testing showing him 3+ years behind.
Submitted by parent on June 13, 2018

Below average. This school no longer have staff to effectively educate children with special needs.
Submitted by parent on March 24, 2018

On paper and in theory this school sounds great but it is a disaster. Really frustrated at the lack of leadership and that any money is being given to this place.
Submitted by parent on March 13, 2018

There are great teachers and they use the child centered project based learning with success, but so many of them are new to teaching they struggle with class control and lack of administrative support. Huge student and teacher turnover year over year. Several teachers have just disappeared from classes during the year. Last year the school adopted a "capacity model", and the administration pulled all the trained support aides out of classroom and tried to fill in with a limited number of instructional aides. No additional support for kids with behavioral issues or academic issue where added to compensate for loss of trained aides and most of the Special Ed staff. This school has had tremendous teacher turnover year over year. The school has never met student population goals. Parent leave with concerns about safety and academics. The school now talks about maybe 10 field trips per year but really it is 3-5, mostly lack of parent support. They have a huge art component, because a small vocal group of parents have pushed art project through with an emphasis on pottery. No music, drama, science, or cohesive electives. There is also no school library except for a few donated books that are neglected. The garden includes raised beds for classroom projects, fruit and native trees, a hydroponics system, a chicken coop, and an out door prep area for harvests. They also have a dedicated Spanish instructors who work with all classes starting in TK. The director left in January, and most of the teachers have children at the school or are fresh out of college. The loudest student or parent have the most influence they will have over entire classes. The saying around school is "ask for forgiveness" A small vocal group of parents seems to control most of the planning and implementation. They do not look for input from parents or students during planning. There are limited after school programs and a extended care program run by the school.If you are looking for a visual art intensive school with a student who can advocate and protect themselves and you make sure you find a good fit with your teach this school is great.
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2018

I had high hopes for this school as they did talk a good game and showed promise in the early years. I must say that the school feels more tailored like a special needs school than a regular one. I'm glad they exist for if I had a special needs child then this place would be perfect. If you are looking to actually grow your child academically and eventually assimilate to regular public school (the academic school standard will not stand up to private school entrance testing without external help) then you will need to augment outside of school time or go somewhere else.
Submitted by parent on December 02, 2017

Overall experiencewe do not have too many positives things to say about our experience at Discovery. The teachers we had talked up the whole child thing and differentiated learning but honestly they didn't do much different then let our kids just not do anything. Kids are allowed to not do any work, no accountability is taught. Our kids became whiny and undable to solve problems without adult help even for minor things. We left to find a school that actually teaches and not the way people at Discovery tell you but in the way that was promoted by discovery. They do not get grades ( yes our traditional school does not give grades ) we want to be clear we did not leave to have straight A's but we did leave to get our kids in a more positive learning environment. We bought into the philosophy but now that we have been gone we really see how much Discovery was causing the opposite to be true. At Discovery we were disappointed to the lack of work done by my kids and this was acceptable by the teachers. They never had high or any expectations on the kids so the kids just did what they wanted and that could mean nothing. All a teacher would do would blame our kids for not learning, my kids were becoming lazy learners in this environment. Now in a normal setting my kids have found what they like, they are trying to do their best and they find their new school more willing to do different things and teach them how to learn. The growth and maturity we have witnessed in our kids since we left has been amazing and we wished we left sooner.