San Jose has excellent schools and students who work very hard. For some of them, doing well comes with a constant sense of being measured against their classmates. Mount Madonna School offers ambitious children a different path. In our small preschool through 12th grade school in the redwoods, children can work hard without feeling they are in a race.
Teachers Adjust to How Each Child Learns
Because Mount Madonna School is small, our teachers come to know each child closely. They learn how your child takes in new ideas, how quickly they move through new material, and what a good day or an off day looks like. Then they adjust. A student who is ready for more moves ahead, and a student who needs more time gets it. When the work fits the child, learning feels demanding but within reach, and your child can grow at the pace that suits them best.
We Develop the Whole Person
We want every child to leave here as a capable, caring person as well as a strong student. Each June, our entire school, preschool through 12th grade, comes together at the Mexican Heritage Theater in San Jose to perform the longest-running production of the Ramayana in the Western Hemisphere. The youngest children begin as forest animals, and by high school, students are taking the lead roles. Over those years, they learn to work with others and to stand confidently in front of an audience.
That attention to character and emotional well-being continues throughout the year. Students learn science, technology, engineering, art and math through hands-on projects, and tenth graders finish their marine science studies with a trip to Catalina Island. Older students mentor younger ones in the children’s garden, and by senior year, students are learning to cook and manage their own money. They leave knowing how to take care of themselves and others.
Our Graduates Go On to Top Colleges Across the Country
Parents often worry that a calmer school means giving something up in college admissions. Our graduates show otherwise. Nearly all of them go on to a four-year university, and over the years, alumni have attended Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Cornell, UCLA and UC Berkeley.
The application process is often when pressure peaks, so that’s when we stay closest. Counseling begins in the second semester of junior year, and seniors meet with their counselor every week during the first semester.
Our Morgan Hill Bus Stop Is About 20 to 35 Minutes Away
You don’t have to drive all the way to our campus every day. Our bus stop at DeWitt and Dunne Avenues in Morgan Hill is much closer:
| From | To the bus stop | To campus |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Teresa and Bernal | About 20 minutes | About 45 minutes |
| Silver Creek | About 20 minutes | About 45 minutes |
| Almaden | About 30 minutes | About 50 minutes |
| Evergreen and Berryessa | About 30 minutes | About 55 minutes |
| Cambrian | About 30 minutes | About 55 minutes |
| Willow Glen | About 35 minutes | About 1 hour |
| West San Jose and Cupertino | About 35 minutes | About 1 hour |
Drive times are approximate, and traffic can add time.
The bus leaves at 8:05 AM, takes your child up the mountain, and returns at 4:05 PM. If that return time doesn’t work for you, we can connect you with other families to arrange a carpool.
Times are approximate and apply to the current school year. An annual bus fee applies; please see tuition and fees. You can also see all bus routes.
Come See the School for Yourself
Many parents tell us that the qualities they saw in our juniors, seniors and graduates convinced them to choose Mount Madonna School. A visit is the best way to see whether it’s right for your child. Walk the campus, meet our teachers, and watch how they and their students talk with one another. We are touring now for 2027-28 and for 2026-27 transfers, so please schedule a tour and bring your questions.
Schedule your campus tour
- Tell us about your child. It takes a few minutes.
- Under “What would you like to do?”, choose a personal tour or a group tour.
- Choose a group tour and we’ll email your confirmation. Choose a personal tour and you can pick a time right after you submit.
Would you like to talk through the commute first? Call Admissions at 408-846-4042.
