Up Academy
151 W 20th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403 | 2040 Pioneer Ct. San Mateo, CA 94403
Giving Students the Best, So They Can Be Their Best
UP Academy is a progressive TK – 8 micro-school that utilizes a concept and project based curriculum to promote whole child growth. Our graduate standards of healthy mind and body, radical autonomy, brave leadership, contributing global citizens and fearless changemakerrs allow students to apply the knowledge, skills and concepts they master in school to the real world. Our students develop 21st century skills, a global perspective, and empathetic action in an environment that nurtures creativity and encourages curiosity.
We empower students of all abilities to find strength in their community, believe in the power of their ideas, and influence action in the world around them.
Our small, mixed age classes create a loving environment where each student builds a strong relationship with the peers and educator resulting in a deeper and richer educational experience. We meet students at their level and create the right amount of challenge for them to achieve their goals while loving learning. Content is not age or grade specific, it is student specific. We believe that a good educational model isn’t everyone getting the same thing, it’s everyone getting what they need to be successful and thrive.
Deep, interdisciplinary project based learning contributes to the magic of Up Academy. The students engage in meaningful projects that allow them to engage authentically in their community to solve problems. Over the course of a trimester the students are able to grow in wonder as they make discoveries and explore their topic through hands-on activities and field trips. Each project culminates with an exhibition day, where the students get to demonstrate their learning and craftsmanship.
Experience why our children are HAPPY to learn!
The Essentials
Our Mission
Our Mission is to Produce Successful, Independent Children Capable of Reaching Their Ultimate Potential.
UP Academy cultivates a generation of creative, curious, free thinking, problem solvers through an education that embraces differing abilities.
Our students are conscious learners who are aware of themselves, their world, and the climate, as individuals and as a community.
Benefits of UP Academy
Your child will be encouraged and given the teachings and tools to:
• Excel academically through small mixed age classes and programs
• Build empathy and collaboration skills
• Work and play with a variety of students with differing abilities
• Exercise a growth mindset to find solutions to everyday problems
• Display resilience to overcome difficulties
• Gain emotional intelligence through practicing mindfulness and self regulation
• Discover his or her innate creativity
Admissions
UP Academy is now accepting applications for the 2023/2024 school year.
The process begins with your school tour to visit our school. During the tour at our school, we invite you to observe one of our classrooms to see how our teachers interact with our students. Following this, you will promptly hear back from UP Academy and you will be requested to fill out and send us an Application Form.
Parent Testimonials
“I found Up Academy during my search for a better school closer to my work. My 5 year old was having a rough time in Kindergarten. Her class was overcrowded, the expectations were those of a “cookie cutter” learning style. I knew early in the year that my child needed more..more one on one, freedom to make mistakes and the correct coaching to learn from those mistakes, more teaching styles that include kinetic not just audible and visual. Enter Up Academy’s website. Everything I was reading was exactly what I wanted in a school for my daughter. We had our trial run days and for the first time since my daughter started school, she was happy to go!! Her desire to learn and willingness to try exploded upon her first trial day. Everyday she asked when she could go back, it was her new favorite place to be. She is thriving now in first grade and words cannot express my gratitude to the amazing staff at Up for giving my daughter her love of learning. For allowing her to learn in the way that makes sense to her. Her love of her school has not dwindled, even slightly. Children and their parents are treated as family, not just a number. This isn’t just a school, it is a community that fosters a loving and exciting way to learn.”
“We moved our daughter to UP Academy this year and it’s been a wonderful experience. Their project-based learning style allows for deep learning and the topics are engaging and diverse – my daughter is currently learning about poetry/poetic devices and the brain/the body-brain connection/neuroscience, in addition to math, coding, Spanish, art/drama, yoga, PE, and more. Social emotional learning is a priority and is woven into the curriculum. The teachers are invested in the growth of each student and really work to make sure they’re addressing the kid’s individual strengths and challenges. It’s the educational experience I wish all students had. Our daughter loves learning at UP Academy and says she won’t miss a day (not even for a trip :).”
“UP Academy has truly changed our lives. My son, Oliver, was “lost” in the local public school system. Oliver is a very bright, insightful, and sensitive child but his love of learning was stifled because his learning style, and unique way of approaching the world, was not taught to in the public school system.
Over the course of a few short months of attending UP Academy, Oliver has transformed into a happy, confident child. He gets up everyday excited to learn, excited to go to school, and excited for what lies ahead. The school’s, Growth Mindset principles have changed Oliver’s way of thinking from “I can’t” to “I will” and this is the most powerful gift a school, a teacher, or a parent can give a young child. As parents, we have seen incredible academic and personal growth in our child in such a short amount of time that we can not wait to see what comes next. “