SMCOE School Programs

The San Mateo County Office of Education operates school programs for students whose needs are better served at the county level. These programs are led by a dedicated team of educators and support staff who are committed to making a difference in the lives of our youth.

Court and Community Schools

The County Office of Education’s Court and Community Schools program serves students who have been referred by the County Probation Department or by their districts. Students earn credits through coursework and receive additional services to enhance their skills and support their social-emotional, mental, and behavioral health. Upon enrollment, staff members work with students to create Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) that help them achieve their educational goals. These goals may include returning to a district school, earning a high school diploma, or obtaining a High School Equivalency (HSE) or California High School Proficiency (CHSPE) certificate.

Hillcrest School

Located at the San Mateo Youth Services Center, Hillcrest offers individualized education aligned with Common Core standards for incarcerated youth. Our specialized staff ensure students’ needs are met so they can progress towards earning their high school diplomas, including dual enrollment opportunities for college credit. 

Canyon Oaks

A co-ed residential treatment program for youth aged 12-17, Canyon Oaks offers a therapeutic environment to help students whose social-emotional, mental, and behavioral health needs impact access to their education. This highly structured, intensive, 24-hour residential treatment program provides wrap-around services to ensure students return to their communities as quickly as possible.

Gateway Community School

Gateway helps students re-engage with their education and work towards high school graduation. Students are referred to Gateway by their district. Students focus on core subjects while engaging in counseling, social-emotional learning, Career Technical Education, and unique opportunities that help them develop positive habits and successfully return to their home district.

Early Childhood Education (ECE)

The Anne Campbell Center for Children and Families houses a number of organizations and programs geared towards serving young children and their families, including our Child Development Center, Early Start Program, Related Services, and several private and nonprofit agencies that serve children and their families

Anne Campbell Child Development Center

This state preschool provides high-quality care and support for children of all ability levels and their families of all income levels. Located in San Mateo, the Child Development Center incorporates a play-based approach to individualized instruction. The program promotes social-emotional development and engages children through project-based, investigative learning. The Child Development Center is rated in the highest tier of the Quality Counts San Mateo rating scale. 

Early Start Program

This family-focused program offers early intervention services for infants and toddlers with less common disabilities (often called low-incidence disabilities). This includes students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or blind, who have significant orthopedic impairments. Our team works with families to develop individualized plans that support each child's growth and learning. For more information, please email accinfo@smcoe.org.

Related Services

Our staff travels across San Mateo County to provide related services in audiology, adapted physical education, orientation and mobility, and visual impairment, among other areas, to students in all schools. Referral for these services is made to SMCOE through school districts.

Only referrals from school district personnel are accepted. Please email accinfo@smcoe.org to inquire about Related Services programs. A referral packet will be emailed if space is available.

Special Services Center for Students K-22

Our Special Services program serves students with special needs from kindergarten through age 22 years. The program includes six special day classes at a center site in San Bruno. Students are referred by their local school district through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process.