Odyssey School

Odyssey School is an independent, co-ed, middle school for gifted and talented students.
Its unique and innovative curriculum, including on-site and off-site learning, takes our students up mountains, out on the ocean, and culminates in an 8th grade, 3-week trip to Japan.
Odyssey develops scholars and artists from the most promising young students.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • School Type: School with Special Program Emphasis
  • Grades: 6-8
  • Enrollment: 55 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $33,000
  • Average class size: 15 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

School Overview

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades 6-8
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Learning Programs Supported
mild
Year Founded
1996

Student Body

Total Students
55 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
31%
State avg.: 51%
Students by Grade
Odyssey School Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
8 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
7:1
National avg.: 13:1
Average Class Size
15 students
List of Courses Offered
Matriculation DataMatric. Data
Classroom Dress Code
Casual

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost

Sports

Total Sports Offered
3 sports

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
4 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Ashland OR Shakespeare Festival, Community Service, Outdoor Education, Student Council

School Notes

  • Specialists in middle school gifted education
  • Emphasis on the development of emotional intelligence through the Self-Science curriculum
  • Challenging and academically rigorous curriculum created specifically for the unique learning needs of gifted and talented students
  • Non-traditional physical education program including tai chi, yoga, karate, dance, aerobics, stage compat, fencing, swimming and hiking.
  • Integrated creative arts program as part of the core curriculum
  • Annual expeditions to Mt. Whitney, Lassen, Shasta or Diablo, alternating with the Channel Islands; Ashland Shakespeare Festival bi-annually, and Japan (8th graders only)
  • Student self-discipline, self-knowledge and responsibility is a major focus of the educational approach at Odyssey
  • Japanese foreign language education
  • Effects smooth transitions between entrance to middle school and 6th grade and exit to high school from middle school.
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Odyssey School cost?
Odyssey School's tuition is approximately $33,000 for private students.
What sports does Odyssey School offer?
Odyssey School offers 3 interscholastic sports: Dance, Fencing and Swimming.
When is the application deadline for Odyssey School?
The application deadline for Odyssey School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).
What neighborhood is Odyssey School located?
Odyssey School is located in the Baywood Park neighborhood of San Mateo, CA.

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (7 reviews)
5  
Our daughter, who is now on 11th grade at a private high school, was a student at Odyssey throughout all. middle school years. She benefitted enormously from how much she learned and how much more resilient she became. She has fond memories of Odyssey and continues to participate in school activities such as open house days. We chose Odyssey for a few reasons: 1) social emotional support and learning, 2) expeditionary learning, 3) strong academics, 4) small size. Odyssey is completely different to and better than other middle schools in our area. The small size allows the teachers to know the students very well. They know their strengths and areas for improvement, and they understand the emotional part of a middle school child. The school provides outstanding support in a safe and caring way that allowed her to grow through this potentially challenging time, a child becoming a teenager. The expeditionary learning is absolutely unique. Our daughter had virtually no experience with hiking and camping. In the beginning, she thought she would not be able to make it. In her last expedition, though, her class beat the school altitude record on Mt. Whitney, 11,000 ft. On that expedition, after a long day hiking, she texted me and said: 'I am completely exhausted, but I am persevering'. That's the resilience that the school helped build. The expeditions also came in handy when the world went into lockdown for COVID. Odyssey put together a robust plan to reopen, and it was in the very first wave of schools approved to do so in our area. The school put up large tents to function as classrooms, and incorporated hikes that were coupled with science and social studies classes. Being outdoors was safe, and healthy, and avoided the challenging Zoom virtual classes. How good is that? Finally, academics. I'll cite math as an example. Although she was not in the advanced math class, when she entered high school she was able to move up to the 10th grade classes as she had all the 9th grade requirements completed at Odyssey. In summary, if she had younger siblings they would definitely be going to Odyssey. It was the best thing we did for our daughter's education. I cannot recommend the school enough.
- Posted by
5  
Both our boys graduated from Odyssey School in San Mateo (at different intervals) and the experience was great both times. Growing up through large public K-12 and then college, the academic bar in our families was always set high. Given Odyssey's size, I was initially a bit uncertain when we started the middle school search. However, a trusted friend and her husband (both Ph. Ds) had their son enrolled and were impressed by the Odyssey teachers so we decided to enroll. Once at school, the individual attention the boys received in those smaller classes really helped them grow in their own ways - so I'm a fan of small schools now. Success at Odyssey was there from the start, and when they graduated they both made it into their preferred local private high school. While the academics were a focus of ours as parents, it was their expeditionary journeys-ascending Mt. Whitney or Mt. Fuji, or those unforgettable trips to Japan and the Channel Islands-that really shaped them. Now, years later I can see how that sense of independence and personal accomplishment has led the boys to start making their own choices with a sense of possibility and confidence.
- Posted by
5  
We are just about to have our second child graduate from Odyssey and we are so grateful to have found this school. Our kids (a boy and a girl) are very different but both benefited from the school's personal approach, focussed on the needs of each individual. The teachers really know the students and so are able to support and challenge each as needed. The expeditions are particularly special, providing a unique set of challenges for middle school kids that had a profound impact on my kids by building independence and confidence in themselves. Each of our kids now has life-long friends from their time at Odyssey.
- Posted by
5  
Our daughter spent the best years of her K-12 life at Odyssey School in San Mateo thanks to the uniquely supportive and caring school community, the excellent and devoted teachers (her math teacher, now Head of School, was incomparably good), and the unmatched expeditionary learning program. Odyssey challenged and nurtured her, encouraged her to develop new perspectives, and provided the most collaborative, inclusive, and social-hierarchy-free middle school environment I've ever observed. In addition to her core curriculum, which included 3 years of Japanese language and a unique slate of electives (cooking science, cartooning, extra art, mountain biking), she learned to camp, snow hike, snorkel and kayak, practice yoga, and even a little about stage combat in anticipation of a trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. We are so grateful to Odyssey for providing her with such a stimulating, joyful, and healthy school environment during those (often difficult) years of early adolescence.
- Posted by
5  
Odyssey School in San Mateo has been an incredible experience for my son. The school truly focuses on each student, providing differentiated learning environments to maximize development. This includes offering advanced mathematics for students who are highly motivated. There are a few reasons for this. Some students are highly advanced and need this level of stimulation, while others feel a sense of accomplishment by stretching themselves and going further than they thought possible. Either way, it places them in a great position in high school as it's one less thing they have to worry about as they navigate new challenges in that environment. Of course, this is not possible without exceptional teachers - they never cease to amaze me with how smart and caring they are. As an example of this, they were one of the few schools that stayed open during the pandemic, moving classes outdoors (on their beautiful campus) so that students could learn and not suffer from Zoom fatigue. I am grateful for the positive impact that Odyssey has had on my son's education and would highly recommend it to other families looking for a school with accelerated academics. I encourage you to visit the school and learn more at www.odyssey-school.org to see for yourself what makes Odyssey so special.
- Posted by
5  
I really love Odyssey. The teachers are all very supportive and make sure that you get the most out of your middle school years. They go on many expeditions that help build all sorts of skills, while building us up physically. This school is also smaller and has more hands on than average. Compared to other school Odyssey is more supportive and student based!
- Posted by
5  
Odyssey is the best kept secret in the Bay Area. The head of school is an expert in middle school learning and development. The teachers are dedicated, and the learning accelerated and interesting. At first, the school’s size is certainly different and is perhaps its greatest asset for middle schoolers to learn and grow within a tight-knit supportive community. My son who is advanced academically and driven to learn and take on new challenges couldn't be happier and he is grateful to be an Odyssean!
- Posted by

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • School Type: School with Special Program Emphasis
  • Grades: 6-8
  • Enrollment: 55 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $33,000
  • Average class size: 15 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in San Mateo, CA is $24,941 for elementary schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

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