Phillips Brooks School

2245 Avy Avenue Menlo Park, CA 94025
www.phillipsbrooks.org

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Top Ranked CA School
  • Grades: Nursery/Preschool-5
  • Enrollment: 306 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $40,541
  • Average class size: 20 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 22
  • Source: ✓Verified school update
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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Top Ranked CA School
  • Grades: Nursery/Preschool-5
  • Enrollment: 306 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $40,541
  • Average class size: 20 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 22
  • Source: ✓Verified school update

School Rankings

Phillips Brooks School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for:

Category
Attribute
Student Body

School Facts

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Nursery/Preschool-5
Students By Grade
Year Founded
1978
School Calendar
School Motto
Strong Students. Caring Citizens.

Student Body

Total Students
306 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
48%
State avg.: 52%

Academic Profile

Total Classroom Teachers
24 teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
National avg.: 11:1
Average Class Size
20 students
Classroom Dress Code
Casual

Tuition & Financial Aid

Admission Deadline
Jan. 22
Yearly Tuition Cost
Tuition Notes
The listed tuition reflects Preschool tuition for the 2026–2027 school year.
% on Financial Aid
11%
Admissions Director
Meeta Gaitonde
Admissions Associate
Marcelino Perez
Application URL

Sports

Total Sports Offered
2 sports
School Mascot
Brooks The Lion

School Notes

  • Phillips Brooks School is an independent, co-educational day school offering a truly child-centered learning program for preschool through 5th grade.
  • PBS is a diverse community of families and educators committed to partnering in support of student learning. Our innovative, rigorous, and research-based program blends literacy and math with deep, experiential learning in visual art, music, and STEAM, while intentional social-emotional learning is integrated throughout the curriculum.
  • Through close partnerships among students, families, and educators, PBS helps children develop the curiosity, confidence, and skills to become strong students and caring citizens.
  • What stands out about the PBS experience is the way strong academics and social-emotional learning work together. Students are encouraged to ask questions, take intellectual risks, express their ideas, and develop a deeper understanding of themselves and others. Social-emotional learning is woven throughout the school day, helping children build confidence, empathy, self-awareness, and the skills to navigate relationships and challenges with growing independence.
  • Just as important are the relationships at the heart of the school. With a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio, students are known well by their teachers and supported as individuals throughout their years at PBS. Teachers understand each child's strengths, interests, and learning needs and combine academic challenge with the warmth, patience, and encouragement young learners need to thrive.
  • Learning is active, collaborative, and designed with children in mind. Students investigate meaningful questions, work together to solve problems, create, experiment, reflect, and share what they have learned. Dedicated specialist teachers extend that experience across visual arts, music, science, innovation and technology, physical education, and library, giving children many different ways to discover their interests and strengths.
  • The same sense of connection extends to families. Parents and guardians are active participants in school life, and close partnerships between home and school help create a welcoming community where families feel known and connected. Together, these experiences help PBS students develop not only a strong academic foundation, but also the curiosity, confidence, and sense of responsibility to contribute thoughtfully to the communities around them.
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Phillips Brooks School cost?
Phillips Brooks School's tuition is approximately $40,541 for private students.
What sports does Phillips Brooks School offer?
Phillips Brooks School offers 2 interscholastic sports: Basketball and Volleyball.
What is Phillips Brooks School's ranking?
Phillips Brooks School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for: Largest student body.
When is the application deadline for Phillips Brooks School?
The application deadline for Phillips Brooks School is Jan. 22.
In what neighborhood is Phillips Brooks School located?
Phillips Brooks School is located in the Sharon Heights neighborhood of Menlo Park, CA. There are 1 other private schools located in Sharon Heights.

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (12 reviews)
5  
We have been at PBS for four years -- We truly love this school and feel grateful to have found the community. In short, the families are kind and welcoming; the teachers truly see and support each child; classrooms are focused on intrinsic love of learning and building confidence and social skills alongside academics; the parent community is so strong and active; and the administration knows every family. My kids love going to school every day; they come home bursting to tell me what they're working on in their class, and watching my two ssons'strong & kind friendships, love of learning, confidence, and joy going to school every day is everything we could ask for. If you want a fully enriching and well-rounded experience, with an active community of support around your child, consider PBS.
- Posted by
5  
Our family has been with PBS for nearly a decade now, and cannot imagine a more thoughtfully curated and joyous experience for our young children and family. As any school does, PBS has evolved, and we' 've seen the immense respect and care they've put towards the community and students over the years. We chose this school because of their deep focus on a child-centered approach, backed by research and years of understanding and practicing as educators for this demographic. The teachers at PBS foster warmth, honesty, and structure for our kids. They know how to balance academic curriculum with the needs of a child at a moment's notice, and with every intention, do their best to meet students where they are and help them get to where they want to be. We have been impressed in recent years with their commitment to reflection and being nimble, creating an environment that feels relevant, deliberate, and with the resources of a top independent school. Our children are happy to go to school every day, remark that they feel heard and seen while at school, and are excited to share about their day at home afterwards. We are so thankful for the partnership of the school and see directly through the eyes of our children how thoughtful, curious, and confidentthey'vee become. We are so grateful for this community of educators and families!
- Posted by
5  
We are starting our 5th year at PBS and it just keeps getting better! Our daughter started at 3yo in the ELC and was literally counting down the days until school resumed this Fall, she couldn''t wait! PBS is a truly magical place that truly understands children''s need developmentally and is impressively thoughtful and intentional in all that they do. PBS as a magical place where kids are genuinely known, seen, celebrated, supported, and loved. I feel so to be a part of this warm, active, and engaged community!
- Posted by
5  
Moving from out of state in 2024 was a big transition for me and my daughter. Phillips Brooks School welcomed us with warmth and care. From the very beginning, my daughter felt known-every adult on campus, that is all teachers and administration, greets her by name. She truly feels like she belongs here. The school's child-centered culture has given her the space to grow emotionally, build confidence, and develop a real love of learning. As a parent, I've also found a supportive community that makes us both feel at home.
- Posted by
5  
As a parent of both a third grader and a first grader who have been at Phillips Brooks School since their time in the Early Learning Center, I can honestly say that this community has been one of the greatest gifts to our family. From day one, PBS has delivered not just an outstanding education but a deeply thoughtful, emotionally intelligent, and joy-filled experience that continues to exceed our highest hopes. The academics are top-tier—our children are thriving in reading, math, writing, and STEAM—but it's the way they're learning that makes the difference. They're engaged, curious, confident, and challenged in all the right ways. Every lesson feels connected to the real world, and the school has a way of inspiring a genuine love of learning that you can see in their eyes when they come home. The teachers at PBS are absolutely extraordinary. Each one seems to possess this magical mix of intellectual depth, emotional warmth, and seemingly infinite patience. They know our kids as whole people—their strengths, quirks, needs, and passions—and they tailor the experience accordingly. Whether it's helping our first grader work through early reading challenges or pushing our third grader to explore big ideas in project-based learning, the level of personalized attention is simply unmatched. We've also felt a remarkable spirit of partnership every step of the way. When a challenge arises, whether academic or social, the team is thoughtful, communicative, and always focused on what's best for the child. It never feels transactional—it feels like a genuine relationship. The school's commitment to diversity and inclusion is not just talk—it's real, and it's meaningful. Our children are growing up in a community where they are learning to see and value difference, speak with empathy, and show courage. The culture here is one of kindness, mutual respect, and deep intentionality. PBS doesn't just build good students—it helps shape good human beings. And the sense of safety, both physical and emotional, is palpable. I trust this school completely. Outside the classroom, the enrichment opportunities are just as thoughtful. Our kids have had the chance to participate in art, music, movement, after-school clubs, and more. Whether it's a coding club, science exploration, or collaborative art projects, the school ensures that every child can find something that speaks to their spirit. In short, PBS has become a cornerstone of our family's life. The communication from the school is world-class—we feel informed, included, and part of something truly special. We are endlessly grateful for this community, and we cannot imagine a better environment for our children to grow, learn, and thrive.
- Posted by
5  
PBS is a gem of a school, and we feel so fortunatethat our kids go there. The community is warm, close-knit, and welcoming -- from my son's first day at preschool, every teacher and administrator we met (or even just saw on campus!) wanted to know his name and learn about things that were important to him. And then the next day at dropoff, they remembered it all -- I don't know how they make every child feel seen and special, but they do. The academics are excellent, but what sets PBS apart in my mind are the focus on SEL, the deep care faculty and staff have for every child as a whole person, and the emphasis they place on child-centered and child-led learning. At PBS, my kids aren't just learning math and literac;, they're learning how to understand themselves and others, to love learning, to be engaged citizens, and to act with kindness and integrity.
- Posted by
5  
Coming to the end of my 9th year as a PBS parent, and I love this school and our lovely community. We have a very supportive and loving community of administrators, teachers, parents and kids.
- Posted by
5  
We've been at PBS for 6 years and I have fallen more and more in love with the school every year. Is it perfect in every way? No. Are they walkways trying to better themselves for the sake of the students? Yes. I am confident that my children will be able to have their pick of middle schools that are right for them when that time comes. I already know my kids will always have a large community of friends and adults who will love and look after them and their future success. It's been a privilege to have my kids attend PBS.
- Posted by
5  
It can be difficult to see how exceptional a school is until you have spent a couple of years in its community. This is a very nurturing environment for children where social-emotional learning is integrated seamlessly with academic rigor. In just two short years, my child has changed from tentative to confident and polished. He is fearless and even has fun public speaking in front of the whole school, and like all the children, he is known and appreciated by the whole community.
- Posted by
5  
PBS is a wonderful school that fosters a strong social emotional curriculum along with a deep rooted focus on academics. Our children have shown strong empathy, kindness and curiosity within our community and we couldn't be more proud. The faculty and staff are wonderful- they each go out of their way to ensure strong partnership with each family! We love the school and highly recommend it to others.
- Posted by
5  
I have two children in PBS, we are on our third year. Our youngest started in Pre-k and they truly did prepare her for Kinder and beyond (currently in 1st). All the teachers communicate and work together to make sure that each child is placed with the most suitable class the next year. They have specialists who are quick to provide any necessary resources your child might need. Both of my children have displayed an enormous leap in their confidence in speaking up, in developing friendships. It is so amazing to see how my children are truly cared for. My daughter still sees her previous teachers and gets excited to see them. We're really grateful to be a part of this community.
- Posted by
5  
We are so lucky to be a part of this incredibly warm, welcoming, and down-to-earth school community! This is our second year at PBS; our daughter started in pre-school last year and is now in pre-K. She is so excited to go to school every morning and is disappointed that she can't go on the weekend! The campus comes alive with students' joy as they arrive at school each morning and it is a pleasure knowing she is spending her day surrounded by caring, loving, and engaged teachers who truly know my child. SEL is thoroughly integrated throughout the curriculum and they truly "walk the walk." PBS students are genuinely kind and caring humans who love learning. What more could any parent ask for?!
- Posted by

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Menlo Park, CA is $31,154 for elementary schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

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