For the 2025 school year, there are 38 private schools serving 12,611 students in Palo Alto, CA (there are 23 public schools, serving 10,898 public students). 54% of all K-12 students in Palo Alto, CA are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
The top ranked private schools in Palo Alto, CA include Castilleja School, Emerson Montessori School - Palo Alto, and HeadsUp! Montessori Preschool - Palo Alto.
The average tuition cost is $37,285, which is higher than the California private school average tuition cost of $17,961.
Top Ranked Palo Alto Private Schools (2025)
School
Location
Quick Facts
3880 Middlefield Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 213-8245
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 213-8245
Gr: PK-8 | 406 students Avg. class size: 24 students
2800 West Bayshore Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 424-1267
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 424-1267
Gr: NS-8 | 3,710 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
4050 Middlefield Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 460-8940
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 460-8940
Gr: PK-8 Avg. class size: 12 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
3900 Fabian Way
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 213-9600
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 213-9600
Gr: 9-12 | 190 students Avg. class size: 11 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 30 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
870 N California Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 899-7385
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 899-7385
Gr: NS-8 | 353 students Avg. class size: 14 students Extracurrculars: 13 Tuition listed
Fusion Academy Palo Alto![Fusion Academy Palo Alto Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.]( "Fusion Academy Palo Alto Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.")
Alternative School
2191 E. Bayshore Road, Suite 100
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(877) 673-8893
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(877) 673-8893
Gr: 6-12 Avg. class size: 1 student Tuition listed
4000 Terman Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 813-9131
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 813-9131
Gr: NS-12 | 265 students Avg. class size: 24 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
1310 Bryant St
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 328-3160
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 328-3160
Gr: 6-12 | 424 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 11 Tuition listed
Discovery Children's House Montessori School
Montessori School
437 Webster St
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329-8023
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329-8023
Gr: K-1 | 50 students
450 San Antonio Road
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 494-4404
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 494-4404
Gr: PK-8 | 335 students Avg. class size: 20 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
HeadsUp! Montessori Preschool - Palo Alto![HeadsUp! Montessori Preschool - Palo Alto Photo - Year-round, full-day program for children 0-6]( "HeadsUp! Montessori Preschool - Palo Alto Photo - Year-round, full-day program for children 0-6")
Montessori School
2800 West Bayshore Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 424-1221
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 424-1221
Gr: NS | 3,710 students Sports: 3 Tuition listed
2525 E Bayshore Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 565-8391
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 565-8391
Gr: PK-12 | 107 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 3 Tuition listed
2890 Middlefield Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 328-1711
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 328-1711
Gr: K-8 | 317 students Tuition listed
2890 Middlefield Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 328-1711
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 328-1711
Gr: K-8 | 324 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 11 Tuition listed
151 Laura Ln
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 251-8500
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 251-8500
Gr: PK-12 | 781 students Sports: 7 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Torah Academy
All-boys (Jewish)
3070 Louis Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 424-9080
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 424-9080
Gr: 4-5 | 6 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Achieve Inc.
Special Education School
3860 Middlefield Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 494-1200
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 494-1200
Gr: 3-12 | 49 students Tuition listed
525 San Antonio Av
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 543-4560
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 543-4560
Gr: 1-8 | 72 students Avg. class size: 6 students Tuition listed
457 College Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 520-3513
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 520-3513
Gr: PK-1 | 34 students Tuition listed
4243 Manuela Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 215-0208
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 215-0208
Gr: 1-4 | 39 students
Creative Montessori Learning Center
Montessori School
1421 Bay Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 325-9543
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 325-9543
Gr: PK-K | 50 students Tuition listed
Downtown Palo Alto KinderCare
Daycare / Preschool
848 Ramona St
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 473-1100
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 473-1100
Gr: NS-PK
1041 Myrtle St
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 688-0850
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 688-0850
Gr: 9-12 | 258 students Avg. class size: 18 students Acceptance rate listed
Esther B Clark School-childrens Health Council
Special Education School
650 Clark Way
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 688-3634
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 688-3634
Gr: 2-10 | 78 students Avg. class size: 11 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
3400 West Bayshore Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 968-8338
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 968-8338
Gr: 6-8 | 198 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
Guidepost Montessori
Montessori School
930 Emerson St
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 382-0550
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 382-0550
Gr: PK-K | 41 students
International School Of The Peninsula
Special Program Emphasis
3233 Cowper St
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 852-0264
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 852-0264
Gr: PK-K | 129 students
La Scuola International Silicon Valley![La Scuola International Silicon Valley Photo - Inspiring Brave Learners to Shape the Future. The Reggio approach nurtures collaboration, inquiry, experiential learning and a Hundred Languages to express themselves.]( "La Scuola International Silicon Valley Photo - Inspiring Brave Learners to Shape the Future. The Reggio approach nurtures collaboration, inquiry, experiential learning and a Hundred Languages to express themselves.")
Daycare / Preschool
2086 Clarke Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 800-9650
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 800-9650
Gr: PK-1 | 40 students Avg. class size: 10 students Extracurrculars: 1 Tuition listed
4000 Middlefield Rd # 29
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 646-1066
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 646-1066
Gr: 9-12 | 10 students
456 College Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 462-8150
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 462-8150
Gr: K-12 | 78 students Avg. class size: 10 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
Meira Academy
All-girls | Alternative School (Jewish)
3921 Fabian Way
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(646) 240-6772
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(646) 240-6772
Gr: 9-12 | 12 students Tuition listed
Odyssey Montessori
Montessori School
100 Addison Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(659) 321-2747
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(659) 321-2747
Gr: PK-K | 70 students
951 Oconnor St
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 396-2779
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 396-2779
Gr: K-2 | 141 students
St. Elizabeth Seton School
(Catholic)
1095 Channing Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 326-9004
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 326-9004
Gr: PK-8 | 202 students Avg. class size: 27 students Sports: 3
Sand Hill School
Special Education School
650 Clark Way
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 688-3605
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 688-3605
Gr: 2-8 | 53 students Avg. class size: 12 students Tuition listed
Show 3 more private schools in Palo Alto, CA (out of 38 total schools)
Loading...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked private schools in Palo Alto, CA?
The top ranked private schools in Palo Alto, CA include Castilleja School, Emerson Montessori School - Palo Alto, and HeadsUp! Montessori Preschool - Palo Alto.
How many private schools are located in Palo Alto?
38 private schools are located in Palo Alto.
How much do private schools cost in Palo Alto?
The average tuition cost is $37,285, which is higher than the California private school average tuition cost of $17,961.
How diverse are private schools in Palo Alto?
Palo Alto private schools are approximately 55% minority students, which is higher than the California private school average of 51%.
What percentage of students in Palo Alto go to private school?
54% of all K-12 students in Palo Alto are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Palo Alto?
Which private schools in Palo Alto are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private schools in Palo Alto include: The Girls' Middle School vs. Castilleja School, Castilleja School vs. The Girls' Middle School
Recent Articles
7 Ways Kids Can Avoid Summer Brain Drain
The summer "Brain Drain," also known as the "Summer Slide" is a term commonly used by educators and parents alike to describe the learning loss that takes place for many students during summer months. We polled the experts and found the 7 best ways parents and kids can combat the problem head on.
What's Being Taught?
This article examines the academic offerings in American private high schools, discussing graduation requirements, college preparation, accreditation, and advanced programs like AP and IB. It emphasizes the importance of understanding a school's curriculum when choosing the right educational environment for a child.
Waldorf Schools
Waldorf schools offer a well thought out approach to K-12 education.
