Mount Madonna School holds an A+ overall grade on Niche, which makes us one of the top schools in Watsonville. We are a small preschool through 12th grade school in the redwoods above the Pajaro Valley, and everything we do rests on three pillars: academic excellence, creative self-expression and positive character development. Here, your child will have small classes, teachers who know them, and experiences that open doors for the rest of their life. Your child can start here in preschool and stay through high school graduation, so you only have to choose a school once.
Our tuition is affordable because we adjust it to each family’s income, and more than 70 percent of our families receive need-based tuition assistance.
Bus Pickup Right Here in the Pajaro Valley
Our students come from all over Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties, and Watsonville remains one of our largest communities. Our buses stop in three places nearby each morning, so your child can ride with friends from the area:
- Corralitos: Aladdin Nursery, 8:10 AM
- Freedom: Airport and Freedom Boulevards, 8:15 AM
- Watsonville: Holohan Road fruit stand, near East Lake Avenue, 8:23 AM
Brothers and sisters of every age can ride together, even our preschoolers. You can find afternoon stops and times on our transportation page.
Families who prefer to drive have good options too. Many carpool, and we are happy to connect you with other local families. Even if you drive on your own, our campus is only about 25 to 35 minutes from most of the valley.
| From | To the nearest bus stop* | To campus* |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Watsonville, Green Valley Road and Corralitos | About 5 minutes | About 25 minutes |
| Freedom and Pleasant Valley | About 5 minutes | About 30 minutes |
| Pinto Lake | About 10 minutes | About 25 minutes |
| Larkin Valley and La Selva Beach | About 10 minutes | About 35 minutes |
* Drive times are approximate, and traffic can add time. An annual bus fee applies; please see tuition and fees.
Teachers Who Know Your Child and Your Family
Because our classes are small, your child’s teachers will soon know how they think, what excites them and where they need more help. They use that understanding to shape the work in front of each child. A student who is ready for more moves ahead, and a student who needs more time gets it. That kind of attention gives children the confidence to try things they once thought were beyond them.
We get to know your family too. In a school this small, we talk with parents every day and we know one another, so when you have a question or a concern, there is always someone who knows your child and is ready to listen.
Learning That Starts in the Valley and Reaches Around the World
Our students begin by caring for the place where they live. Second graders lead a holiday food drive with Second Harvest Food Bank, a tradition of more than a decade. Fifth and ninth graders, who are buddy classes, study food webs and test the water together at Elkhorn Slough. Fifth graders also write letters to their representatives, and they learn early that their voices matter.
As students grow, their world grows with them. Eighth graders spend a week in Boston visiting places they have studied in U.S. history. Each year of high school brings a new learning journey, to Yosemite, Catalina Island, Washington, D.C., and India. Students prepare their own questions and interview the people they meet, and in Washington, they sit down with politicians and ask those questions in person.
Our Graduates Go On to Top Colleges
High school students take a college-preparatory curriculum that includes Advanced Placement classes. Nearly all of our graduates go on to a four-year university, and over the years, alumni have attended Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Cornell, UCLA and UC Berkeley.
Applying to college can feel overwhelming, especially for a family going through it for the first time. College counseling begins in the second semester of junior year, and seniors meet with their counselor every week during the first semester, so you and your child won’t go through it alone.
Your Child Will Grow in Confidence
Getting there takes confidence, and many of our students find it on stage. Elementary students perform each winter and spring, middle and high school students stage full musicals, and at Sparks!, our high school students showcase their own creative work. Each June, the whole school comes together to perform the Ramayana, the great epic from India, for more than 1,500 people. Our youngest children begin as forest animals and take on larger roles each year, until they are leading the show in high school. Along the way, even a quiet child learns that they can stand in front of an audience.
Confidence also grows when children know they matter to someone. Older students mentor younger ones in the children’s garden, and younger children grow up seeing who they might become. Many parents tell us that meeting our juniors and seniors is what convinced them to choose Mount Madonna School.
Your Whole Family Will Be Welcome Here
Our commitment to inclusion extends to every child and family, wherever they come from and whatever their race, culture, religion, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or income. Our students and faculty have agreed on what we expect of one another: to be welcoming, honest, inclusive and kind. We do not tolerate bullying in any form, on campus or online, including exclusion, teasing and ridicule.
Mount Madonna School is not a religious school, and families of every belief are welcome here. No particular belief or practice is required or expected of anyone, and your family’s beliefs remain your own.
Our Tuition Is Affordable
We set each family’s tuition individually, according to your income and circumstances, and more than 70 percent of our families receive need-based tuition assistance. To apply, you complete a financial application through FACTS, an independent service, and we use that assessment to determine your family’s tuition. Families with more than one student may receive additional support.
Tuition includes most activities and field trips, as well as the middle school camping trips and the learning journeys from eighth grade on, so your child can take part in every one of them. Assistance is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to apply for it at the same time you apply to the school. We are glad to go through what it would cost your family.
Come Up the Mountain
A decision this important is best made in person. Come walk among the redwoods with your whole family, meet our teachers, and talk with our students. Please bring all of your questions. A tour takes about 90 minutes and includes a good deal of walking, so please wear comfortable shoes. We are touring now for 2027-28 and for 2026-27 transfers, and we would love to meet you.
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 prefer to talk by phone? Call Admissions at 408-846-4042.
