based on 15 reviews
Neighbors say
- Offers a traditional Montessori program
Bowman International School
4000 Terman Drive
Palo Alto, CA
94306
(650) 813-9131
info@bowmanschool.org
http://www.bowmanschool.org/
By: Your Neighbor
Date: July, 2007
Most points about Bowman are both pros and cons, depending on your individual bent.
Self-directed learning style actually encouraged our child to make up his own homework and have extended his natural joy of learning.
Relatively diverse student body (for a private school).
Spiral structure introduces a wide variety of concepts and then subsequent years reinforce in depth, which is a natural way to learn. However, this can make it hard to have a good transfer out of the Montessori system in mid-stream.
Parent involvement is discouraged - the directress is Boss.
Detailed "Friday books" and 3-times a year conferences make it relatively easy to understand what your child is learning. You still need to communicate with your child, though, on some of the "softer" subjects.
Languages taught are not for explicit proficiency - they are for "cultural awareness". So don't expect an immersion-style experience.
This Neighbor Says
- Offers a traditional Montessori program
By: tilly
Date: June, 2007
Classic Montessori school that goes through grade 8. Private. Small - only 180 students. Seems to be very good for younger grade levels and teaches kids to be independent and take responsibility for the pace at which they get their work done, but some parents have said they're unclear whether the benefits of (private) Montessori at middle school level are as significant as when the children are younger.
By: Preschool Survey 2007
Date: May, 2007
Bowman operates like a well-run company, with the director in the role of CEO. It's efficient and organized. The children learn independence from a young age and they're taught to be responsible for completing their own daily/weekly goals. Each child works at an individual level in true Montessori fashion, and the classes are mixed age ranges, e.g. the junior level is K-1. Bowman has great hours for parents who have challenging work schedules (7 am-6 pm if you need it), and parent involvement in the classrooms on a day-to-day basis is not encouraged. Bowman's view is that they - not us - are responsible for teaching our children while they're in school. This suits many of us who aren't able to sign up for any kind of classroom volunteer roster.
Likes: The hours, facilities, parent involvement, staff and teacher-child ratio.
Dislikes: Nothing - love it!
By: Julie
Date: April, 2007
My son has been going to Bowman for two years. This is a terrific school for my son. He is learning constantly and able to work at his own pace -- never bored! The year-round, day long option makes it perfect for working parents. And, without homework, we can focus on being a family -- it takes a lot of stress out of our lives since we are comfortable with Bowman providing the education and our son using his time at school for learning.
By: GreaterGood
Date: February, 2007
This is an exceptional and well-run school that builds on the strong foundations laid at good Montessori preschools. As the parent of a K level child and looking ahead, it's impressive to see how Montessori principles are applied at higher grade levels. A visit to the school is quite an eye opener.
By: rsneighbor
Date: December, 2006
Bowman is a fantastic K-8 montessori school. The teachers are wonderful and the breadth of the instruction is really amazing. They teach japanese, spanish and latin. Many of the graduates have gone on to attend very prestigious bay area private high schools.
By: parent
Date: August, 2006
Bowman is a wonderful school for the a wide range of children -- although like any small private school it's not universal. Our profoundly gifted child (miserable in public schools) was happy at Bowman, and able to proceed at a natural pace (doing college level work in some subjects by middle school). The vast majority of the graduates do very well afterward, although there is typically a transition. However, they are usually much more poised, self-aware, and independent than their peers that went elsewhere. Parents who want to peer over the teachers' shoulders (and meddle) will not like this school. On the other hand, the 3-times-yearly conferences provide an enormous amount of feedback, board meetings are largely open, and I find the school's operation very transparent. And they really, really care about the kids.
By: parent
Date: June, 2006
I have volunteered a few hundred hours at the school and constructive help is much more welcome than our experiences with public schools in the area. This school exemplifies how schools should be run. The year round program allows for students time to complete their work at school making homework infrequent. Although the school does not emphasize standardized testing the 6 - 8th graders are testing in the range of 10 - 12 equivalent grade level. It's just that because there is no 'teaching to the test' that early student testing starts at about average and then dramatically swings upward in the upper grades. This is mostly due to the strong language arts emphasis from the beginning of school. Reading and communication skills are the doorway to all subsequent learning.
By: parent
Date: June, 2006
Hi, As a Bowman parent who has observed the details of the managing of classrooms and the school over the past 8 years, I can not say enough good things about 'Bowman', as we call it. The curriculum is based on a Montessori philosophy of respect for oneself, others, and the environment as well as building self-confidence through independent thinking and work. The teachers are incredible and Margaret and her staff communicative, smart, and efficient. You couldn't ask for a better learning environment for your child, be they 5 or 14 yrs old. This has to be one of the best schools in Northern California. On top of the attention, care, and intelligence that teachers bring to the classroom, the school is a twelve-month a year school with hours that match a professional families' needs (7:30 AM to 6:00 PM). Children learn Spanish and Japanese from kindergarten to eighth grade.
By: parent
Date: May, 2006
The school is very helpful to working parents as a year-round school. However, we found the teachers to be publicly critical of students, and the classroom environment was very rigid. The curriculum was not as challenging or enriching as the public schools in the area, and when children transfer, their achievements in academic subjects are often behind. I would advise parents of boys who are considering this school to observe the teacher interactions both in the classroom and on the playground before deciding if this is a good choice for their son.
By: parent
Date: March, 2006
This school is very disappointing and highly oversold. It's hard to imagine any place more closed to suggestions and with a more rigid, doctrinaire, yet usually pointless set of rules and procedures. It is extremely hard for parents to know what is going on in the classroom (one suspects nothing of substance . . . .) If they did not have the worker friendly year-round schedule and all-inclusive tuition, they would have a hard time staying in business.
By: parent
Date: March, 2006
Although a great school for kids who are self montivated in traditional schooling not a great school for kids who have learning diabilities like ADD or ADHD. Although facilty seems to care, they really are not equipped to handle spirited children. They are a Montasorie based school. My experience with this school with my son has been less then stellar. I was born with ADHD and look at as a gift, where at Bowman it feels like my son has a disability.
By: parent
Date: October, 2005
'It takes a village to raise a child' - Not at Bowman. Parent involvement highly discouraged. Principal not open to suggestions from you or staff. Many concepts presented superficially rather than basic concepts being presented deeply. Consequently, standardized math scores don't compare well with top public schools.
By: parent
Date: September, 2005
The founder/director of the school, Margaret Ricks, is a highly trained and experienced Montessori educator who is passionate about delivering a quality program to the students. The school operates year-round, which can be especially desirable when both parents work. All children learn Spanish and Japanese, older students have opportunity to learn Latin. All students learn music and have PE. Montessori is a child-centered, self-paced learning style (with appropriate constraints). Children who need more time with a certain subject get it, children who absorb concepts more quickly aren't 'held back by the rest of the class'. There is an active association of parents, parental involvement is encouraged but not required. Check out www.montessori.org to learn more about the Montessori style of teaching. Wouldn't do it any other way!
By: parent
Date: June, 2005
Bowman International is great. The class sizes are small, the teachers first rate, the teaching philosophy and techniques unique and effective. Our daughter is doing very well and loves it. I would highly recommend Bowman International school.
