Bowman School in Palo Alto, CA is marking its 30th anniversary with a sweep of honors: Bay Area Parent readers awarded Bowman five “Gold” titles for 2025, naming it the Best Private High School, Middle School, Elementary, Preschool, and Montessori School in Silicon Valley. This follows multiple 2024 awards, and national recognition in 2025 by Niche as one of America’s Best K–12 Schools.

Founded in 1995 with just 13 students, Bowman now serves more than 350 children, from infants as young as 12 weeks through 12th grade. It is the only Montessori school in California accredited to span this full age range, with graduates eligible to earn the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

Led for 17 years by Head of School Mary Beth Ricks, Bowman has grown steadily while maintaining strong leadership and stability—earning international recognition during Covid for safe, effective school management. The school recently added a high school campus on Page Mill Road and opened a new Children’s House on Bayshore Road for infants, toddlers, and kindergarteners. Enrollment is still open for the Bayshore campus.

WHAT MAKES BOWMAN DIFFERENT?

Montessori students at Bowman emerge as independent thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and compassionate leaders. They know when to follow, when to lead, and how to engage respectfully with others. Parents often note their children’s maturity, social-emotional growth, and academic confidence.

Bowman families also value the school’s year-round calendar that keeps learning continuous and gives families freedom to create their own vacation schedules. Parents appreciate extended hours (7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.) that are included in tuition, which support calm family routines. And they are gratified by Bowman’s practical life skills, travel experiences and global perspectives that help their children to succeed in college, career and life.

MONTESSORI TIED TO SILICON VALLEY INNOVATION

Montessori education is getting renewed attention for its connection to innovative problem-solving. Research from MIT’s Andrew McAfee, author of The Geek Way, highlights how many Silicon Valley entrepreneurs credit their Montessori background for sparking curiosity and creativity, which has proven fundamental to their success as innovators. Bowman’s graduates carry these innovative skills forward—while also learning responsibility, embracing diversity, and developing a lifelong love of learning.

Bowman’s main campus is located at 4000 Terman Drive, Palo Alto, with additional sites on Arastradero, Page Mill, and Bayshore Road. To learn more about Bowman School’s programs for infants through high school, visit bowmanschool.org or email admissions@bowmanschool.org. Open House tours are available now through early January, 2026.

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