Mount Madonna School is a place where children are known and free to be exactly who they are. Our small preschool through 12th grade school sits on 380 acres of redwoods, and everything we do rests on three pillars: academic excellence, creative self-expression and positive character development.
Bus Pickup and Drop-Off Right in Morgan Hill!
Morgan Hill families are among the most common riders on our buses. Each morning at 8:05, the bus picks students up at DeWitt and Dunne Avenues, just minutes from most neighborhoods in town, and at 4:05 it brings them back to the same spot. Your child rides with friends from town, and you don’t have to make the drive up the mountain. One parent wrote that their family rarely drives up, even though the trip is lovely, because their daughters love riding the bus.
Families who prefer to drive have good options too. Many share the trip in carpools, and we are happy to connect you with families near you. Even if you drive on your own, campus is only about 30 to 40 minutes from Morgan Hill, on a beautiful road into the redwoods.
| From | To the bus stop | To campus |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown, Paradise Valley and Holiday Lake Estates | About 5 minutes | About 30 minutes |
| San Martin | About 10 minutes | About 30 minutes |
| Nordstrom neighborhood | About 10 minutes | About 35 minutes |
| Jackson Oaks | About 15 minutes | About 40 minutes |
Drive times are approximate, and traffic can add time. An annual bus fee applies; please see tuition and fees.
Weird Is Welcome!
Our students have a joke about their school: it’s weird here if you’re not weird. What they mean is that nobody here is expected to be like anyone else. Children can dress the way they like, because we have no dress code, and they choose their friends for who they are, whatever grade they’re in. At lunch, it’s not unusual to see sixth graders and seniors playing volleyball together.
Children can only be themselves when they feel safe. We are fortunate to have a community that prioritizes inclusivity and diversity of all kinds, and we do not tolerate bullying of any kind.
Every Child Gets a Turn in the Spotlight
Being yourself takes confidence, and many of our students find it on stage. Performing starts early here, with Lower School winter and spring performances. In middle and high school, students take on full productions, including Shrek the Musical Jr., The Sound of Music, Mamma Mia!, Elf the Musical Jr., 13 the Musical, Seussical and Aladdin Jr. 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.
380 Acres of Redwoods to Explore
A child who would rather be outside will feel at home here, because so much of our learning happens outdoors. Our youngest students start the day with a morning walk, and Lower School children hike with their older buddies to the newt and duck ponds on campus. As students grow, the adventures grow with them. Fifth graders take on a yearlong environmental project, middle schoolers open the year on a camping trip, and high schoolers open it on a rafting trip, getting to know their classmates and teachers before classes begin.
Teaching Tailored to Your Child
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.
Strong Academics, Strong Character
We expect our students to work hard, and our college-preparatory curriculum asks them to use what they learn. Before traveling to Washington, D.C., and India, for example, high school students spend months preparing to interview public servants and world leaders. 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.
We care just as much about the people our students become. Older students mentor younger ones in the children’s garden, and seniors learn to cook and plan their finances in a course we call Adulting 101. Many parents tell us that meeting our juniors and seniors is what convinced them to choose Mount Madonna School.
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. 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 Spend Some Time in Nature With Us
The best way to understand this school is to walk through it. Come walk among the redwoods with your whole family, meet our teachers and talk with our students. 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 rather talk with us first? Call Admissions at 408-846-4042.
