Hilldale School

Hilldale's curriculum is a US program accelerated by at least one year, built on and extending California State Standards and Common Core benchmarks, with tools such as Singapore Dimensions Math, the Art of Problem Solving and the science of reading. Middle school students take part in competitions such as the AMC 8, the Scripps Spelling Bee and science and engineering fairs, and graduates often place into honors and AP courses in high school. Through ISP, students gain access to international learning opportunities and global projects with schools in other countries.

Hilldale's main campus serves Kindergarten to Grade 8, roughly ages 5 to 14, organized as Primary Grades (Kindergarten to Grade 2), Elementary Grades (Grades 3 to 5) and Middle School (Grades 6 to 8). Kindergarten entry depends on readiness rather than age. Younger children from age 2 attend the school's Early Learning Academy preschool in Colma.

Hilldale aims to provide a nurturing environment where gifted learners can grow academically and socially. Its community is built around the Hilldale Habits of Respect, Leadership and Independent, Lifelong Learning, which also name the middle school houses. The school's motto 'fair is not equal' reflects its belief that each child's needs are different, and character education emphasizes integrity, empathy, self-awareness and responsibility.

Since Fall 2025 the school occupies a new three-acre campus at the foot of San Bruno Mountain in Daly City, with 15 new classrooms, an art studio, a STEAM lab, a math lab and a science lab, plus a dedicated drop-off area. The campus is close to the Daly City BART station, SamTrans bus lines and the I-280 freeway.

An extended care program runs from 7:30 am before school and until 6:00 pm after school, with homework help, outdoor play and optional enrichment. Families can pack lunch or order meals from the provider School Foodies, and the school is nut-free. Uniforms are required. Gifted and twice-exceptional students receive differentiated instruction and targeted support. Need-based financial aid is available through FAST.

Clubs and after-school options include chess, cooking, robotics, photography, gardening, ecology, sewing, a math club and Dungeons & Dragons, along with Mandarin and Russian classes. Sports include basketball, football and lacrosse. Students compete in the AMC 8, the Geography Bee, the Scripps Spelling Bee, a handwriting competition and science fairs, and middle schoolers lead through the Community Council and the house system. Overnight trips include the Web of Life Field School in Grade 4, the Mosaic Project in Grade 5, NatureBridge or Ashland in Grade 6, and camping or a Washington D.C. tour in Grades 7 and 8.