Bullis Charter School Current and Prospective Parent Fact Sheets

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Thinking of Going to Bullis Charter School? (Print Flyer)

Here are the key things to remember when making the decision to send your children to Bullis Charter School. Please understand that simply applying to this school will harm neighborhood public schools as BCS uses these applications numbers as an excuse to close neighborhood public schools. Please don't even apply, let alone attend this school.

Facts for Prospective BCS Parents

Our public schools are top-ranked. Your local neighborhood public schools here in Los Altos and Hills are the top-ranked in the State of California (and test scores at BCS are virtually identical).
Our public schools are outstanding. Contrary to the disinformation you receive from BCS marketing propaganda, our public schools here are innovative, teach the "whole child" and produce excellent results.
Public schools are free. Your local neighborhood public schools do not charge a "tuition" of $5000/year as most agree BCS does.
BCS is unfair and cruel. BCS operates to the detriment of our local public schools who are charged with educating special-needs children, must pay for the upkeep of facilities and must pay for retired teachers. BCS pays for none of these things, yet they add up to a lot of money--far more than the $2800/child (not $5000 as they imply) the District legally cannot send BCS from our parcel taxes.
BCS puts your child at risk. Many parents, after becoming enamoured by the "hard sell" from BCS in its marketing and "sales pitch" nights, send their child to BCS only to find they need to take them out of the program after a short time, disrupting their education and forcing them to begin again at a new school during a critical time in their education.
BCS can do whatever they want. BCS is not a public school. They are controlled privately and can throw out anybody they want. At BCS, if a child is not "perfect" parents may find their child shunned--and even forced, embarrassingly, out of the program by BCS. Public schools are inclusive, and cannot by law simply throw your child out of school if they are deemed "uncool". BCS can and does.
Supporting BCS is questionable, morally.. Bullis Charter School has repeatedly sued our school District and its supporters have engaged in deceitful campaigns to cut off funding from public schools. They teach kids through their actions that "might makes right": whoever has the best and most expensive lawyers "wins".
Bullis Charter parents and children are singled-out. As a school with lavish and exotic programs (run at the expense of less advantaged kids in the District), attending this school is the opposite of "low key". You can expect a pause in every conversation with your fellow community members and reactions ranging from quiet acceptance to outright anger.
BCS People are hardened fanatics. The core of BCS is a deep hatred towards public schools, teachers, and "teacher's unions" which they regard as Evil and singularly responsible for all of ills in our society. Many are simply shills for the Republican party (although many Republicans are deeply against the crony-capitalism which Charters embody). BCS leadership are filled with "win-at-all-costs" types who would sacrifice anybody who would prevent them from "winning"--regardless of what "winning" means.
BCS does not "compete" in any real way. BCS "competes" with a public school system that does not compete with them. It's like a local church "competing" with a Las Vegas casino. It's no surpise they get a lot of people to apply.

Already a BCS Parent? (Print Flyer)

As an honest BCS Parent you are a victim. While the "marketing pitch" you attended convinced you that this school was appropropriate for your child, you had no idea what was really behind this school. Now you know the truth.

Your task is not easy. Your priority should be your child's education and well-being. Your are not in a easy position and there is no easy answer and it's not going to be the same for every parent and every child.

Pointers for Current BCS Parents

Be Honest. Society does not owe you a "dream school" which operates at the expense of less advantaged kids. If you wonder why every public school can't offer the lavish perks that your school does, understand it's not--as the BCS propoganda says it is--just "inefficiencies". Our schools recieve less funding than the national average (even after donations) yet still produce the best test scores in State. They are actually models of efficiency. BCS can do what it does because it gets your $5000/child and does not have to pay for things our District does. (And deciding you "do not agree" with certain legal obligations of public schools and therefore should not have to pay for these things like the rest of us is not honest).
Tell the BCS Leadership to stop the attacks. The founders of BCS have the power to stop this war on our local public schools. They could pay for a new campus in their sleep and/or do it with your help.
Think about Private School. If you have the means and want quality education--and would like a more honest, more harmonious, less stressful, less contraversial and better overall education for your children you should consider switching to one of our excellent local choices in private schools.
Consider an excellent neighborhood public school. Our public schools here are excellent and our kids do great, many of whom get into the finest Ivy League schools and/or enjoy enormous success in their lives and careers. Do not believe the lies and vitriol coming from BCS personnel and "true believer" fanatics who simply have an axe to grind over our public schools.
Advocate that BCS go private. The BCS program does work for some kids and some parents. The problem for them is what goes on outside the classroom. The BCS program could be greatly enhanced if it were freed from being a "quasi-public entity". Teachers at BCS are often half teacher and half "warrior" against public schools. Being completely private would take your school out of the headlines and make your school choice be seen as a privilege and not a pariah.