Hillbrook Upper School - Fall 2023
We believe ALL STUDENTS deserve to have an extraordinary educational experience in high school that builds upon the exceptional foundation we provide for our JK-8 students.
The Foundation of Our Belief
Hillbrook Upper School builds upon the exceptional foundation we provide for our JK-8 students. Our program places choice and engagement at the center of the learning experience - an integrated, real-world education that challenges students to reach beyond and make a difference in the world, and a deep commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Each and every day on our San Jose Campus, students will be challenged to live out our Core Values - be kind, be curious, take risks, be your best - as they engage with an exceptional team of educators committed to helping each student reach their highest potential in school and in life.
Why Hillbrook?
Our Journey
For years, members of our community have wondered, “What would it take to create a Hillbrook high school?” After the extraordinary success of Vision 2020, our program has strengthened and evolved; we have successfully met the unprecedented challenges of the past two years. The time is right to bring our approach to education to the Upper School level.
Our Vision
At Hillbrook, we recognize that students need to be equipped with skills in communications, critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity to adapt to any challenges that they face. While there are a variety of high school options in our market, there are no models that look like Hillbrook Upper School - a high school experience that creates a pathway for students to excel both in school and life.
Our Community
Hillbrook’s mission and vision will serve as the foundation of our high school program. While we will be on two campuses, we will remain one community and one school. From JK through 12th grade, all students will be reminded of our core values - be kind, be curious, take risks, be your best, as we strive to help each student reach their highest potential in school and in life.
Signature Programs
Faculty, Staff, & Leadership
Hillbrook Hires Exceptional Teachers
We have a well-earned reputation as a destination workplace for educators, with a collaborative and collegial culture that supports ongoing professional development and growth. Our founding faculty will be leading-edge high school teachers, with a deep understanding of adolescent development and pedagogy and a commitment to creating challenging, interdisciplinary learning experiences that foster student engagement and growth.
Our Hillbrook faculty and staff are a vibrant community of highly trained educators who come to Hillbrook from around the world, bringing a rich mix of backgrounds and experiences. As our Upper School team grows, cross-functional staff will act as "culture carriers" to help us embed the school’s longstanding values, including a commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Action (DEIJA) and social impact education.
UPPER SCHOOL STAFF & FACULTY
Downtown San Jose represents a strategic decision for what we believe a high school experience – from the program to the people – can and should be. From the beginning, we were drawn to the idea of an urban environment for our Upper School, serving as a perfect complement to our JK-8 campus. In the same way that our Los Gatos campus is the perfect place for children to run, play, learn and grow, a downtown setting for our Upper School is the ideal location for our oldest students to stretch their wings, gain independence, and thrive.
San Jose is a city poised for rapid growth, and the city will serve as an extension of the classroom - providing proximity to public transportation, local companies, nonprofits, governmental agencies, art institutes, and universities. It is an ideal location to extend our Reach Beyond programming with the Scott Center for Social Entrepreneurship. Downtown San Jose will be a destination for a broad range of families in the next 15 to 20 years, and building our Upper School campus there will enable us to attract a student body that fully reflects the extraordinary diversity of the Bay Area.
A part of local history: The Moir Building
Located next to a VTA light rail line, the historic Moir Building - also known as the St. James Hotel - dates back to 1894, and is filled with classic and modern touches, with natural light from a large central skylight. When searching for a home for Hillbrook School, we all wanted a building with a presence and character; additionally, the adaptive reuse of a Nationally Historic building aligns with our school's values, especially around sustainability. The Moir will be our main classroom building after our first year.
Hillbrook School - Upper School Campus
227 N. 1st St
San Jose, CA 95113
Hillbrook School - Upper School Arts and Athletics
240 N. 2nd St
San Jose, CA 95112
A part of local history: The San Jose Armory
The San Jose Armory was constructed in 1934 to house the California National Guard, and is a Spanish Revival-style building half a block away from St. James Park. The Armory will serve as classroom space for our first year, as well as the school’s gymnasium and community gathering space. The Armory’s large central floor will become the future home of Hillbrook’s athletic program, and possibly a theater space. The upper floors will be used as art labs and classrooms.
Weekly Podcast
Listen to "The Education All Students Deserve," Head of School Mark Silver's weekly short podcast on JAM.ai!
New episodes are uploaded every Wednesday.
Webinars
Join us for an upcoming webinar to hear key insights, perspectives, and inside info on the founding of Hillbrook Upper School.
Our webinar series has concluded for the year - please click below to view our playlist!
SCHEDULE A TOUR
Create a free Ravenna account to schedule your tour of the Upper School Campuses!
Press & Media
Read news stories and other press coverage of Hillbrook's new high school here.
LOS GATOS PRIVATE SCHOOL EXPANDING INTO HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE BUILDINGS
by Sal Pizarro, San Jose Mercury News
May 15, 2022
Read the article
Download the PDF
PRIVATE HILLBROOK SCHOOL IN LOS GATOS EXPANDING TO HISTORIC SAN JOSE BUILDINGS
by Len Ramirez, KPIX-5
May 16, 2022
A NEW HIGH SCHOOL IS COMING TO DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE
by Lorraine Gabbert, San Jose Spotlight
June 16, 2022
read the article
For press and media inquiries, please reach out to:
Micaela Youmans
Director of Communications and Community Engagement, Hillbrook School
(408) 356-6116 ext. 576
myoumans@hillbrook.org