Mandarin Academy

Our experience with Mandarin Academy has been very positive, and we’re pleased with the progress our first grader is making in both English and Mandarin. We don't speak Chinese ourselves, so seeing him pick up the language so quickly has been impressive. We also appreciate that the kids are reading books independently at school, which has greatly contributed to his confidence in both languages. Another strong point of Mandarin Academy is the small class sizes. Currently, Kindergarten has six students, and 1st and 2nd grades have even fewer. Each student receives individual attention and is actively involved in lessons.

Teachers really care for the kids. The curriculum is at a higher level than the public curriculum. Yet, the low student to teacher ratio means the teachers can see and help each child. Tuition is also less than other private schools. This is also a Chinese Mandarin immersion school that teaches traditional bo po mo fo which we love. The parents do not need to speak the language at home and there are many families that do not speak Mandarin. Overall, great place for kids to learn and grow. Great for Kindergarten and Elementary!

We are absolutely thrilled with our experience at Mandarin Academy, and we couldn't be happier with the progress our son has made since starting Kindergarten this year. One of the most remarkable aspects of Mandarin Academy is the speed at which our son has started speaking Chinese at home. We are a non-Chinese family. Within just three weeks of starting, he was already bringing his newfound language skills into our daily conversations. Another key factor that sets Mandarin Academy apart is its small class sizes. In these intimate settings, every student has the opportunity to actively engage and participate in the learning process. This focus on individual attention and participation is invaluable when it comes to mastering a new language, and we've seen firsthand how it has benefited our child's language development. We also got a spot offered by Cupertino Union School District (CUSD), but after experiencing what Mandarin Academy has to offer, we made the decision to withdraw and stay with Mandarin Academy. Main reason was the big class sizes at CUSD (20+ students) which makes it hard to learn a language. The higher standards, personalized approach, and dedication to language education at Mandarin Academy were simply unmatched, and we believe this is the best place for our child to flourish.

Mandarin Academy has been a great gift to my family. We want a small, friendly, safe private school ... as well as a school that truly provides bilingual fluency by fifth grade. Mandarin Academy does that! By fifth grade, past students have mastered 5th grade Chinese fluency (enough that should they go to a Chinese-speaking society such as Taiwan, they can continue on their studies as if they were native Chinese students!) as well as complete English fluency that allows students to transition to any of the local schools, private or public, with flying colors... My son is a little shy and cautious when it comes to social interactions. But at the school, he has blossomed to be much more confident, to know better and be more comfortable who he is... Of course, he also loves the math, science, art, and Chinese subjects being taught. Couldn't be happier... The school campus is not fancy (but we are not looking for fancy expensive private schools for our kids), nor is it equipped with fancy computer equipment donated from Google or Apple (that actually turns us off) ... but it is cozy and friendly. If you want a school that pays attention to your children, a school that provides an environment for your child to grow, and a school that truly aims to teach your child fluency in Chinese as well as English, take a good look at Mandarin Academy.

I highly recommend Mandarin Academy for families who seek a great Mandarin immersion program for their child(ren). We are happy and amazed of how much our child has learned from the school, Chinese, English, Math, PE, Art and science. While the school is known for Chinese immersion, i feel that they also offer strong curriculum in all other subjects. A low student teacher ratio allows our child to get great attention from each teacher. Our child likes going to school and learn a lot. Since the school is small, we also get to know other parents quite well through several activities. The school has tight parents/teacher/student community which i feel is very important to children's overall experiences.

We first heard about Cupertino's Mandarin Academy from parents we had met in my daughter's Chinese immersion preschool in San Jose. They each spoke with enthusiasm about MA's well-rounded academic focus, as well as opportunities for parent involvement. We had chosen bilingual kindergarten for our daughter so that she would become fluent in an important world language, but also so that she gain valuable inter-cultural work skills from an early age. We felt that these advantages would prepare her in the best possible way for the working world she would inherit. From the beginning, we were encouraged by the student-teacher ratio (8:1), knowing that our daughter would receive a level of individualized instruction not available at other K-5 schools. MA teachers are empowered to focus on teaching and learning because the parents take an active role in school administration. Parents also form a close network that helps guide the school's short- and long-term goals for the students. The advantages are that every day is productive for the students, and the learning activities are relevant, building on the next to strengthen the problem-solving capabilities of the class as a whole. My daughter comes home each day with tangible evidence of what she learned, and she proudly explains the significance of the learning activities. The school has helped us to grow our daughter's social circle, and we as parents rely on the other families for advice, information, and collaborative activities. In the seven months since joining MA, our daughter's fluency and communication in Chinese has blossomed. Her reading ability in Chinese is at least on par with her English skills. This is noteworthy because we are not a Chinese-speaking household. In math and science, her problem solving skills have grown dramatically, along with her creativity and desire to learn. She really loves school and talks about what she plans to do next there. For parents who are considering Chinese immersion in Silicon Valley, I would encourage you to look into Mandarin Academy as early as possible to get the greatest benefit for your child. This is the most worthwhile investment we have made for our daughter, and we are thrilled as parents to play an active role in the school.

I really appreciate being at Mandarin Academy for school. It was a very nice experience with all my teachers and friends and I highly recommend sending your kids here.