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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

Mark Silver

Mark Silver

Head of School
Michael Peller

Michael Peller

Head of Upper School
Charlotte (Charley) Burkly

Charlotte (Charley) Burkly

Founding Director of College Counseling
Tim Downes

Tim Downes

Founding Athletic Director, Hillbrook Upper School

 

Why Downtown San Jose?

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. 

More on the moir building

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.

More on the Armory

 

Connect, Visit, & Learn More

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



Watch the story

A NEW HIGH SCHOOL IS COMING TO DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE
by Lorraine Gabbert, San Jose Spotlight
June 16, 2022

read the article 

Download the PDF

 
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