Emerson Montessori School - Palo Alto Photo - * Individualized, self-paced core curriculum *Chinese, Spanish, art, music, and PE for all *Year-round, full-day program for grades 1-8 *Cultivation of thinking skills and ethical values *Emphasis on personal goal setting

Best Palo Alto Private Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 17 private preschools serving 10,219 students in Palo Alto, CA.
The top-ranked private preschools in Palo Alto, CA include Challenger School - Middlefield, Emerson Montessori School - Palo Alto, and Imagination Lab School.
The average acceptance rate is 48%, which is lower than the California private preschool average acceptance rate of 82%.
12% of private preschools in Palo Alto, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Jewish).

Top-Ranked Palo Alto Private Preschools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
3880 Middlefield Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 213-8245
Gr: PK-8 | 406 students Avg. class size: 24 students
Emerson Montessori School - Palo Alto
Emerson Montessori School - Palo Alto Photo - * Individualized, self-paced core curriculum *Chinese, Spanish, art, music, and PE for all *Year-round, full-day program for grades 1-8 *Cultivation of thinking skills and ethical values *Emphasis on personal goal setting
Montessori School
(3)
2800 West Bayshore Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 424-1267
Gr: NS-8 | 3,710 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Imagination Lab School
Imagination Lab School Photo
(5)
4050 Middlefield Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 460-8940
Gr: PK-8 Avg. class size: 12 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
870 N California Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 899-7385
Gr: NS-8 | 353 students Avg. class size: 14 students Extracurrculars: 13 Tuition listed
Bowman School
Bowman School Photo
Montessori School
(1)
4000 Terman Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 813-9131
Gr: NS-12 | 265 students Avg. class size: 24 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School
Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School Photo - The Hausner curriculum nurtures academic success through critical thinking and whole-child learning that encourages every child to flourish.Hausner classrooms are dynamic environments that buzz with curiosity, creativity, and collaboration.
(Jewish)
(1)
450 San Antonio Road
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
Montessori School
2800 West Bayshore Road
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
Gr: PK-12 | 107 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 3 Tuition listed
Silicon Valley International School
Special Program Emphasis
(2)
151 Laura Ln
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 251-8500
Gr: PK-12 | 808 students Avg. class size: 7 students Sports: 10 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Casa Dei Bambini School
Montessori School
(4)
457 College Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 520-3513
Gr: PK-1 | 34 students Tuition listed
Creative Montessori Learning Center
Montessori School
1421 Bay Road
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
Gr: NS-PK
International School Of The Peninsula
Special Program Emphasis
3233 Cowper St
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 852-0264
Gr: PK-K | 129 students
2086 Clarke Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 800-9650
Gr: PK-5 | 40 students Avg. class size: 10 students Extracurrculars: 1 Tuition listed
Odyssey Montessori
Montessori School
100 Addison Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(659) 321-2747
Gr: PK-K | 70 students
St. Elizabeth Seton School
(Catholic)
1095 Channing Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 326-9004
Gr: PK-8 | 202 students Avg. class size: 27 students Sports: 3
UP Academy
Special Program Emphasis
505 E Charleston Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 796-3848
Gr: NS-3

Overview

This Town (Palo Alto)
This State (CA)
# Schools
17 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
10,219 Students
363,691 Students
% Average Students of Color
56%
50%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
440 Teachers
26,548 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
24:1
14:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
80%
58%
Average Class Size
16 students
18 students

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$27,241
$15,615
Average Summer Program Cost
$650
$782
Average % on Financial Aid
35%
25%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$4,000
$5,553
Average Acceptance Rate
48%
82%
Average Endowment Size
$50 million
$31 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.28
0.70
# American Indian Students
53 Students
1,694 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
n/a
# Asian Students
407 Students
30,400 Students
% Asian Students
4%
9%
# Hispanic Students
198 Students
43,183 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
12%
# Black Students
31 Students
12,403 Students
% Black Students
n/a
4%
# White Students
819 Students
112,419 Students
% White Students
9%
32%
# Hawaiian Students
23 Students
2,007 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
1%
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
8,257 Students
144,471 Students
% of Others Students
84%
42%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
6 extracurriculars
7 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
5 sports
6 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private preschools in Palo Alto, CA?
The top-ranked private preschools in Palo Alto, CA include Challenger School - Middlefield, Emerson Montessori School - Palo Alto, and Imagination Lab School.
How many private preschools are located in Palo Alto?
17 private preschools are located in Palo Alto.
How diverse are private preschools in Palo Alto?
Palo Alto private preschools are approximately 56% minority students, which is higher than the California private school average of 50%.
What percentage of private preschools are religiously affiliated in Palo Alto?
12% of private preschools in Palo Alto are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Jewish).

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