Mandarin Academy, Cupertino | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

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.

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.