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

Private Schools

+64.7% (+11 schools) 10-yr

8,357

Students

+137.5% (+4,838 students) 10-yr

$42,536

Avg. Tuition

+66.1% (+$16,927) 10-yr

Avg. Class Size

-6.7% (-1 student) 10-yr

57%

Students of Color

+11.8% (+6.0 pp) 10-yr

12:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

+33.3% (+3.0) 10-yr

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Enrollment & Diversity

Category

This Town (Palo Alto)

This State (CA)

# Schools

28 Schools

2,548 Schools

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Trends in Total Number of Private Elementary Schools
Year	Palo Alto, CA Total Schools
2025	28
2024	25
2023	24
2022	22
2021	22
2020	22
2019	24
2018	24
2017	20
2016	22
2015	17

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# Students

8,357 Students

501,529 Students

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private Elementary School
Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	327	204	199
2024	183	199	192
2023	196	206	193
2022	211	213	205
2021	211	209	201
2020	209	202	188
2019	204	201	193
2018	194	194	190
2017	205	201	199
2016	182	193	196
2015	207	180	183

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% Students of Color

57%

51%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	55%	50%	33%
2024	52%	49%	32%
2023	55%	49%	32%
2022	50%	47%	32%
2021	50%	47%	31%
2020	54%	46%	31%
2019	56%	48%	31%
2018	57%	46%	30%
2017	54%	49%	31%
2016	50%	49%	31%
2015	51%	49%	31%

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0.55

0.74

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Diversity Score Trends
Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	0.56	0.74	0.64
2024	0.73	0.74	0.64
2023	0.74	0.74	0.63
2022	0.73	0.72	0.62
2021	0.73	0.73	0.62
2020	0.73	0.73	0.62
2019	0.73	0.72	0.61
2018	0.73	0.72	0.60
2017	0.73	0.71	0.59
2016	0.70	0.71	0.59
2015	0.70	0.71	0.58

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Show more data/charts: racial breakdown

# American Indian Students

57 Students

2,777 Students

% American Indian Students

<1%

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Percentage of Private Elementary School Students of American Indian Trends
Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	2%	1%	1%
2024	2%	1%	1%
2023	2%	1%	1%
2022	2%	1%	1%
2021	2%	1%	1%
2020	2%	1%	1%
2019	2%	1%	1%
2018	2%	1%	1%
2017	3%	2%	1%
2016	4%	2%	1%
2015	2%	2%	1%

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# Asian Students

688 Students

57,362 Students

% Asian Students

12%

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Asian Student Percentage Trends
Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	9%	12%	5%
2024	18%	12%	5%
2023	19%	12%	5%
2022	19%	10%	5%
2021	19%	10%	5%
2020	19%	10%	5%
2019	19%	11%	4%
2018	19%	11%	4%
2017	11%	10%	4%
2016	12%	10%	4%
2015	13%	11%	4%

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# Hispanic Students

399 Students

80,964 Students

% Hispanic Students

17%

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends
Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	5%	17%	9%
2024	11%	17%	9%
2023	12%	17%	9%
2022	11%	17%	8%
2021	11%	17%	9%
2020	11%	17%	9%
2019	11%	17%	8%
2018	11%	17%	8%
2017	18%	17%	8%
2016	12%	17%	8%
2015	13%	17%	8%

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# Black Students

111 Students

23,388 Students

% Black Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Black Student Percentage Trends
Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	1%	5%	8%
2024	3%	5%	8%
2023	3%	5%	8%
2022	2%	5%	7%
2021	2%	5%	8%
2020	2%	5%	8%
2019	2%	5%	8%
2018	2%	5%	8%
2017	6%	5%	7%
2016	3%	5%	8%
2015	3%	5%	8%

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# White Students

1,582 Students

193,084 Students

% White Students

20%

40%

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

White Student Percentage Trends
Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	21%	40%	55%
2024	40%	40%	55%
2023	38%	40%	55%
2022	42%	43%	57%
2021	42%	43%	57%
2020	42%	43%	58%
2019	43%	44%	59%
2018	43%	45%	59%
2017	44%	46%	61%
2016	47%	46%	61%
2015	48%	46%	61%

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# Hawaiian Students

33 Students

3,902 Students

% Hawaiian Students

<1%

# Others Students

4,953 Students

122,209 Students

% of Others Students

63%

25%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Other Races Student Percentage Trends
Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	62%	24%	22%
2024	25%	24%	22%
2023	25%	24%	22%
2022	23%	23%	22%
2021	23%	23%	20%
2020	23%	23%	19%
2019	23%	21%	20%
2018	23%	20%	20%
2017	18%	20%	19%
2016	22%	20%	18%
2015	21%	19%	18%

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All Ethnic Groups

Academics

# Teachers

686 Teachers

44,586 Teachers

Average Student-Teacher Ratio

12:1

11:1

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	13:1	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	12:1	11:1
2020	8:1	12:1	11:1
2019	8:1	12:1	11:1
2018	8:1	12:1	11:1
2017	8:1	12:1	11:1
2016	8:1	12:1	12:1
2015	9:1	13:1	12:1

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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree

72%

59%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	71%	59%	54%
2024	70%	58%	54%
2023	70%	58%	53%
2022	68%	59%	53%
2021	68%	58%	53%
2020	71%	57%	53%
2019	71%	57%	52%
2018	71%	57%	52%
2017	70%	57%	51%
2016	71%	56%	51%
2015	66%	56%	50%

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Average Class Size

14 students

17 students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	14	17	16
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 SAT score

1480

(Out of 1600)

1274

Average ACT score

(Out of 36)

Tuition & Aid

Average Yearly Tuition Cost

$42,536

$17,200

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	$38,391	$17,472	$14,043
2024	$37,839	$17,023	$13,682
2023	$36,164	$16,329	$13,130
2022	$33,239	$15,483	$12,589
2021	$33,239	$15,086	$12,335
2020	$31,396	$14,416	$12,023
2019	$30,672	$14,010	$11,773
2018	$30,231	$13,690	$11,504
2017	$27,917	$13,274	$11,214
2016	$29,673	$12,849	$10,830
2015	$25,609	$12,200	$10,424

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Average Summer Program Cost

$675

$1,080

Average % on Financial Aid

30%

28%

View Data

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2016-2025)
Year	Palo Alto, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	30%	28%	34%
2024	32%	28%	33%
2023	29%	27%	33%
2019	23%	26%	30%
2018	21%	26%	29%
2016	19%	24%	28%

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Average Financial Aid Grant

$7,000

$8,965

Average Endowment Size

$49 million

$14.51 million

Admissions & Athletics

Average Acceptance Rate

48%

83%

Average Number of Extracurriculars

6 extracurriculars

8 extracurriculars

Average Number of Sports

7 sports

6 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

How many private elementary schools are located in Palo Alto?

28 private elementary schools are located in Palo Alto.

How much do private elementary schools cost in Palo Alto?

The average tuition cost is $42,536, which is higher than the California private school average tuition cost of $17,200.

How diverse are private elementary schools in Palo Alto?

Palo Alto private elementary schools are approximately 57% minority students, which is higher than the California private school average of 51%.

What percentage of private elementary schools are religiously affiliated in Palo Alto?

11% of private elementary schools in Palo Alto are religiously affiliated (most commonly Jewish and Catholic).

Which private elementary schools in Palo Alto are often viewed compared to one another?

Popular comparisons of private elementary schools in Palo Alto include: The Girls' Middle School vs. Castilleja School, Castilleja School vs. The Girls' Middle School

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