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Middle School Matriculation

Student Graduates

Comprehensive, Individualized Family Support



PBS provides comprehensive, individualized support to all families in their middle school research and application processes. Beginning in 4th Grade, students and parents receive ongoing guidance from Lisa Busby, an expert in admissions and PBS team member since 2014. 

Some highlights of this support include:

  • A kick-off parent meeting in the middle of 4th Grade that outlines the process and includes specific guidance from Lisa and two local admissions directors
  • Ongoing and unlimited parent meetings with Lisa that begin in the spring of 4th Grade and continue as needed in the summer and through the end of 5th Grade
  • Full support for each family as they shape a list of schools and navigate the many components of the application process 
  • Careful consideration of each child’s learning strengths and growth areas in the context of middle school programs
  • Fall writing workshops for 5th-graders that focus on personal narrative writing for applications 
  • A middle school blog designed to keep parents on top of each step of the process 
  • Interview practice for 5th-graders
  • Advocacy for each 5th-grader with the middle schools

In addition, the PBS program is designed to prepare students for a variety of middle school learning environments; admission results bear out the excellence of our program and the high desirability of PBS students among schools throughout the region, even in the context of a competitive landscape. Ultimately, PBS alums tell the true story of their formative years with us. They are happy, academically prepared, curious, and kind people who bring their love of learning into their middle school years and beyond.

Middle School Acceptances 2021-2024

Bold indicates schools where PBS students have enrolled, and (*) indicates more than one enrollment.

Independent Schools

PBS 5th-graders have been admitted to the below independent schools since 2021. 

  1. Bowman School (PK-12)
  2. Castilleja School* (6-12)
  3. Charles Armstrong School* (2-8)
  4. Crystal Springs Uplands School* (6-12)
  5. Episcopal Day School of Saint Matthew (PK-8)
  6. Field Middle School (6-8)
  7. Girls’ Middle School* (6-8)
  8. The Harker School (K-12)
  9. Helios School (K-8)
  10. Hillbrook School (PK-8)
  11. Khan Lab School (K-12)
  12. Keys School (K-8)
  13. Menlo School* (6-12)
  14. The Nueva School* (PK-12)
  15. Odyssey School (6-8)
  16. Pinewood School* (K-12)
  17. Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton* (PK-12)
  18. Silicon Valley International School (PK-12)
  19. St. Raymond School (PK-8)
  20. Synapse School (PK-8)
  21. Waldorf School of the Peninsula (PK-12)
  22. Woodland School* (PK-8)
  23. Woodside Priory* (6-12)
     

Public Schools

PBS requires families to apply to five or more schools if they do not include their assigned public school in their search.

Since 2021, 71% of PBS families have elected to include their public schools in their lists of desired options. Listed below are specific public schools that PBS families have embraced.

  1. Bullis Charter School (PK-8)
  2. Corte Madera School (4-8)
  3. Fletcher Middle School (6-8)
  4. Greene Middle School* (6-8)
  5. Hillview Middle School* (6-8)
  6. Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School (6-8)
  7. Kennedy Middle School (6-8)
  8. La Entrada School* (4-8)
  9. Northstar Academy (3-8)
  10. Roy Cloud School (K-8)
  11. San Carlos Charter (K-8)
  12. Tierra Linda Middle School (6-8)
  13. Woodside Elementary (K-8)
     

Matriculation Stats

97%

In the last four years, 97% of PBS 5th-graders were admitted to one or more of their stated top five schools.

85%

In the last four years, 85% of PBS students were admitted to one or more of their top three schools.

89%

In the last four years, 89% of PBS students who applied to 5+ schools received 2 or more acceptances.

PBS Students in the Words of Middle School Admissions Directors

PBS students are thoughtful leaders during campus visits.

We can always tell when PBS kids are here because they are excellent listeners and classroom participants.

PBS students are not afraid to make mistakes and reflect on how mistakes help them learn.

PBS 5th-graders are inclusive and embrace diversity.

PBS students roll up their sleeves and dive into the process of solving a problem, even when the solution is not obvious.