Palo Alto, CA Private School Trends (10-Year)

Private Schools

+76.2% (+16 schools) 10-yr

12,780

Students

+232.1% (+8,932 students) 10-yr

$40,929

Avg. Tuition

+72.4% (+$17,194) 10-yr

Avg. Class Size

-6.7% (-1 student) 10-yr

56%

Students of Color

+9.8% (+5.0 pp) 10-yr

16:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

+77.8% (+7.0) 10-yr

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Enrollment & Diversity

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

Year	Palo Alto, CA Total Schools
2025	37
2024	35
2023	33
2022	31
2021	31
2020	31
2019	31
2018	31
2017	24
2016	26
2015	21

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Private schools up 11 in Palo Alto, rising from 26 in 2016 to 37 in 2025.

# Students

12,780 Students

659,615 Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	382	180	179
2024	155	175	172
2023	173	181	174
2022	179	189	185
2021	178	185	180
2020	175	179	171
2019	179	179	175
2018	172	173	172
2017	184	179	180
2016	168	173	178
2015	183	162	167

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Average students jumped 227 in Palo Alto private schools, rising from 155 in 2024 to 382 in 2025.

% Students of Color

56%

52%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	55%	51%	34%
2024	56%	51%	34%
2023	59%	50%	33%
2022	52%	48%	33%
2021	54%	48%	32%
2020	58%	48%	32%
2019	56%	48%	31%
2018	57%	47%	31%
2017	54%	50%	32%
2016	51%	49%	32%
2015	51%	49%	32%

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Students of color stay high at 55% in Palo Alto private schools in 2025, above California's 51% and the U.S. 34%.

0.44

0.74

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Diversity Score Trends

Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	0.45	0.74	0.65
2024	0.76	0.74	0.65
2023	0.76	0.74	0.65
2022	0.74	0.73	0.64
2021	0.74	0.73	0.64
2020	0.74	0.73	0.64
2019	0.73	0.73	0.63
2018	0.73	0.73	0.63
2017	0.74	0.72	0.61
2016	0.71	0.72	0.61
2015	0.70	0.72	0.61

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Diversity score down 0.31 in Palo Alto private schools, from 0.76 in 2024 to 0.45 in 2025.

Show more data/charts: racial breakdown

# American Indian Students

57 Students

3,574 Students

% American Indian Students

View Data

Percentage of Private School Students of American Indian Trends

Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2024	1%	1%	1%
2023	1%	1%	1%
2022	2%	1%	2%
2021	2%	1%	1%
2020	2%	1%	1%
2019	2%	2%	1%
2018	2%	1%	2%
2017	3%	1%	1%
2016	2%	1%	1%
2015	2%	2%	1%

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# Asian Students

740 Students

71,777 Students

% Asian Students

11%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Asian Student Percentage Trends

Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	7%	11%	5%
2024	17%	11%	5%
2023	18%	11%	5%
2022	17%	10%	4%
2021	17%	10%	4%
2020	17%	10%	4%
2019	18%	10%	4%
2018	18%	10%	4%
2017	11%	10%	4%
2016	12%	10%	4%
2015	12%	10%	4%

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Asian share down 10 points in Palo Alto private schools, from 17% in 2024 to 7% in 2025.

# Hispanic Students

600 Students

104,405 Students

% Hispanic Students

16%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	5%	16%	9%
2024	14%	16%	9%
2023	15%	16%	9%
2022	11%	16%	8%
2021	11%	16%	9%
2020	11%	16%	9%
2019	11%	16%	8%
2018	11%	17%	8%
2017	17%	17%	8%
2016	12%	17%	8%
2015	12%	17%	8%

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# Black Students

155 Students

30,221 Students

% Black Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Black Student Percentage Trends

Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	1%	5%	7%
2024	4%	5%	7%
2023	4%	5%	8%
2022	3%	4%	7%
2021	3%	5%	7%
2020	3%	5%	8%
2019	3%	4%	7%
2018	3%	4%	7%
2017	6%	5%	7%
2016	3%	5%	7%
2015	3%	5%	8%

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Black student share down 3 points in Palo Alto private schools, from 4% in 2024 to 1% in 2025.

# White Students

1,620 Students

235,730 Students

% White Students

13%

37%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

White Student Percentage Trends

Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	14%	37%	52%
2024	35%	37%	52%
2023	35%	38%	52%
2022	38%	40%	54%
2021	38%	40%	54%
2020	38%	40%	54%
2019	41%	41%	56%
2018	41%	41%	56%
2017	42%	43%	58%
2016	46%	43%	58%
2015	46%	43%	58%

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# Hawaiian Students

53 Students

5,499 Students

% Hawaiian Students

# Others Students

8,831 Students

188,740 Students

% of Others Students

73%

29%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	73%	29%	26%
2024	28%	29%	26%
2023	26%	28%	25%
2022	28%	28%	25%
2021	28%	27%	25%
2020	28%	27%	24%
2019	25%	26%	24%
2018	25%	26%	23%
2017	21%	24%	22%
2016	25%	24%	22%
2015	25%	23%	21%

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Other-race students up 45 points in Palo Alto private schools, from 28% in 2024 to 73% in 2025.

All Ethnic Groups

Academics

# Teachers

813 Teachers

55,836 Teachers

Average Student-Teacher Ratio

16:1

12:1

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	16:1	12:1	11:1
2024	7:1	12:1	11:1
2023	7:1	12:1	11:1
2022	7:1	12:1	11:1
2021	7:1	13:1	11:1
2020	8:1	13:1	12:1
2019	8:1	12:1	12:1
2018	8:1	12:1	12:1
2017	8:1	13:1	12:1
2016	8:1	13:1	12:1
2015	9:1	13:1	12:1

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Student-teacher ratio jumped in Palo Alto private schools, from 7:1 in 2024 to 16:1 in 2025, far higher than California's 12:1.

% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree

75%

60%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	75%	59%	55%
2024	74%	58%	54%
2023	71%	58%	54%
2022	70%	59%	54%
2021	70%	59%	54%
2020	73%	58%	54%
2019	72%	58%	53%
2018	72%	58%	53%
2017	72%	58%	53%
2016	73%	57%	52%
2015	70%	57%	52%

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Average Class Size

14 students

17 students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	14	17	15
2024	14	17	15
2023	15	17	15
2022	14	17	15
2021	14	17	15
2020	14	17	15
2019	14	17	15
2018	14	17	15
2017	14	17	15
2016	13	17	15
2015	15	17	15

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Average Number of AP Courses

14 courses

15 courses

Average SAT score

1411

(Out of 1600)

1267

Average ACT score

(Out of 36)

Tuition & Aid

Average Yearly Tuition Cost

$40,929

$17,625

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	$35,741	$17,790	$13,694
2024	$35,282	$17,351	$13,340
2023	$33,580	$16,650	$12,825
2022	$31,087	$15,800	$12,321
2021	$31,087	$15,412	$12,072
2020	$29,363	$14,800	$11,784
2019	$28,686	$14,428	$11,547
2018	$28,273	$14,111	$11,280
2017	$26,109	$13,685	$10,994
2016	$26,844	$13,253	$10,614
2015	$23,735	$12,623	$10,195

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Tuition up $8,897 in Palo Alto, rising from $26,844 in 2016 to $35,741 in 2025.

Average Summer Program Cost

$675

$1,072

Average % on Financial Aid

32%

29%

View Data

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	32%	29%	34%
2024	33%	29%	34%
2023	31%	29%	34%
2022	31%	28%	33%
2019	23%	27%	31%
2018	21%	27%	30%
2016	22%	26%	29%
2015	25%	25%	28%

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Average Financial Aid Grant

$7,000

$9,632

Average Endowment Size

$49 million

$18.27 million

Admissions & Athletics

Average Acceptance Rate

61%

83%

Average Number of Extracurriculars

9 extracurriculars

Average Number of Sports

7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Palo Alto, CA?

The private schools in Palo Alto, CA include Silicon Valley International School, Bowman School, and Castilleja School.

How many private schools are located in Palo Alto?

37 private schools are located in Palo Alto.

How much do private schools cost in Palo Alto?

The average tuition cost is $40,929, which is higher than the California private school average tuition cost of $17,625.

How diverse are private schools in Palo Alto?

Palo Alto private schools are approximately 56% minority students, which is higher than the California private school average of 52%.

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?

16% of private schools in Palo Alto are religiously affiliated (most commonly Jewish and Catholic).

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

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