based on 7 reviews
Odyssey School
201 Polhemus Road
San Mateo, CA
94402
(650) 548-1500
http://www.OdysseyMS.org
By: parent
Date: April, 2007
I have had three children, two are sons, go through the Odyssey program and I could not have a higher recommendation for the school, especially for boys. The program is challenging no doubt, and no school program is for everyone, but Odyssey has done an amazing job preparing my children for high school, and more importantly, for life. I wish I could have gone to a middle school like this. Not only is the program academically excellent, it is diverse with classes on Japanese, martial arts, dance, and painting with water color. Most important to me, however, has been how my children have learned personal accountability--which as far as I can tell is taught in very few schools these days. Hats off to Steve, the head of school, for founding and running such an incredible institution.
By: parent
Date: April, 2007
I have nothing but good things to say about Odyssey. I have had two boys and one girl go through all 3 years and of course each one of my children is different from one another. They each have strengths and weeknesses and Odyssey has reached each one of them in exactly the way that they learn best. All of my children have come out of Odyssey with confidence, enthusiam for life and learning, and respect for other's opinions and beliefs. They have been very well prepared for high school and now for college, as we are finding out with our oldest. Odyssey is a challenging school reagarding academics but the kids rise to that challenge and all with the overwhelming support of each one of the teachers and staff. Odyssey is gift to our family not just a gifted school for our children.
By: parent
Date: September, 2005
I am an alumni parent. I believe Odyssey is a great middle school. The school's workload is challenging but reasonable for a high-school and college prep school; in order to succeed, my daughter learned planning, organizational and time management skills that are so important for her high school and college years. My daughter learned how to cope with adversity; Odyssey doesn't nurture per se; rather, they create a beautiful and supportive nest for the kids and they encourage and expect greatness. The school excels in: a) field trips; you can expect your kid to know how to read a map, plan for and take a long trip (several weeks) and to survive and have fun. b) creativity; the school is geared around creative problem solving; Odyssey excells in this. c) academics; my daughter excels, now, in math, science, english and history. Sincerely, Stuart Liroff
By: parent
Date: September, 2005
Odyssey offers the best possible curriculum for middle school children on the Peninsula in its emphasis on the whole person and providing the widest variety of experiences and exposure to a breadth and depth of intellectual, artistic, emotional, physical, travel, and social activities. As long as it matches your child's interests and passion for learning, the school develops independent, self-motivated learners with a strong sense of self and one's place in the world.
By: parent
Date: September, 2005
Odyssey offers a truly exceptional opportunity for middle schoolers with an adventurous spirit and intellectual curiosity. My son and daughter are in 8th grade at Odyssey and are having a wonderful growth experience on many levels. Their personalities and learning styles are very different, but both have benefitted from the stimulating and creative school work and the nuturing, fun community of students, teachers and parents. My husband and I are amazed at how much they are learning (so much more than we were at that age) and how Odyssey's staff work to elliminate most of the troubling social pressures present in many large middle schools.
By: parent
Date: July, 2005
Odyssey School has been a tremendous experience for my son who is going into his third year there in fall of 2005. The academic program is extremely challenging and really suits the population they serve: gifted and talented middler schoolers. The academics have a lot of depth which gives the students an integrated learning experience that really stays with them. I like the emphasis on the fine and performing arts as well. My son found untapped artistic talent when he started at Odyssey in 6th grade due to the inspiration of a wonderful art/math teacher. The faculty are very special and accessible in a way that is very unusual these days. I also like the community feel of the school both amongst the students and the parents. Parents are involved and interested in the school beyond simply what is going on with their child.
By: parent
Date: January, 2007
This school looks great on paper. The promise of Odyssey is wonderful. But prospective parents beware. The head of the school is a very challenging person to deal with. The school has had a meaningful double digit attrition rate. And the vast majority of kids who get pushed out are boys. Girls are developmentally ahead of boys in the middle school years, but this school is far less tolerant of boys than girls. Ask to see their enrollment agreement early in the admissions process and compare it to other schools in the area. Buyer Beware.
