Be Kind, Be Curious, Take Risks, Be Your Best: these are the Core Values of Hillbrook School, an independent JK-12 school in Los Gatos and downtown San Jos, California.
At Hillbrook, students find a close, welcoming community of friends, parents, and educators-a place where every student is known, and a school where every student is encouraged to be exactly who they are.
At Hillbrook, we know that who we are together makes a difference in the world.
In addition to strong academic programs in math, sciences, the arts, history, and world languages, students can explore their passions and curiosities-student choice and engagement are firmly at the center of a Hillbrook education.
Guided by the Scott Center for Social Entrepreneurship, students learn how to discover what matters to them and their own agency to create change and turn their ideas into impact.
As a school, we move into the future with intention-diversity, equity, and inclusion are woven into our academic curriculum, preparing students to see the world as it is, imagine what it might be, and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to build a better future for all.
Quick Stats (2025)
- Top Ranked CA School
- Grades: Prekindergarten-12
- Enrollment: 441 students
- Yearly Tuition: $43,500
- Acceptance rate: 80%
- Average class size: 15 students
- Application Deadline: Feb. 10 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Hillbrook School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for:
School Overview
School Membership(s)School Assoc.
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-12
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Learning Programs Supported
Learning Support and Student Support Teams support a variety of different learning profiles
Year Founded
1935
Summer School Offered
Yes
Summer Program Details
School Calendar
First Day of School
Fri. Aug 1, 2025
Campus Size
14
Student Body
Total Students
441 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
17%
State avg.: 51%
Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
50 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
9:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
54%
Average Class Size
15 students
Classroom Dress Code
Formal
School uniform, free dress days
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
Feb. 10 / rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
$43,500
Tuition Notes
36% of our families participate in our Flexible Tuition program.
Summer Program Cost Notes
Our Summer Camp Programs foster week-long experiences for children in 1-8th grades. We also offer JumpStart, a week-long summer camp created just for our incoming JK-2nd Grade students to help them settle into life at Hillbrook.
% on Financial Aid
36%
Acceptance Rate
80%
National avg.: 81%
Admissions Director
Kimberly Yarnall
Admissions Associate
Natalie Stevens
Application URL
Endowment Size
$3 million
Sports
Total Sports Offered
7 sports
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
10 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
H.E.R.O. (Helping Everyone Reach Out), Student Council
Arts and Music Programs:
Ceramics, Coding, Cooking, Music, Theater Arts, Woodworking
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Knitting and sewing, Swimming
H.E.R.O. (Helping Everyone Reach Out), Student Council
Arts and Music Programs:
Ceramics, Coding, Cooking, Music, Theater Arts, Woodworking
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Knitting and sewing, Swimming
School Notes
- School Mascot: Bear
- Hillbrook School is a fully accredited independent school located in Los Gatos and downtown San Jos, California. Since our founding in 1935, we have been guided by a singular vision andmission: to inspire students to achieve their dreams and reach beyond themselves to make adifference in the world. A Hillbrook education prepares students for careers that do not yet exist, equips them to thrive in a future that we cannot yet imagine, and helps them understand the world as it is-and partner with others to build it as they want it to be.
- Almost 90 years after our founding, we remain at the leading edge of education and a magnet for world-class educators. Our academic program provides a just-right challenge foreach student, balancing challenging academics with hands-on, project-based learning; by working with the Scott Center for Social Entrepreneurship, one of the only JK-12 centers in the world dedicated to social impact education, students foster a growing knowledge of the world in which they live, as well as their own agency to create positive impact upon it.
- Campus to campus, Hillbrook is alive with activity: on our 14-acre Los Gatos campus, ancient oak trees provide a refuge for class discussions outdoors, and our campus creek often doubles as a science classroom. In downtown San Jos, the city beyond the campus often becomes our classroom-our Upper School students are a connected part of San Jos's thriving downtown community, and you'll often find them learning from civic leaders at City Hall, working with local artists, and building connections with local organizations.
- At Hillbrook, we are deeply committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and action, and our school is connected by a close-knit, welcoming, intentionally diverse community, whose support helps make a campus like ours possible. As our school evolves to meet the moment-no matter what it is-we are guided by four Core Values: Be Kind, Be Curious, Take Risks, and Be Your Best.
- Hillbrook is an extraordinary place to be a student. Visit www.hillbrook.org or email admission@hillbrook.org to schedule a tour-we can't wait to meet you!
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Hillbrook School cost?
Hillbrook School's tuition is approximately $43,500 for private students.
What is the acceptance rate of Hillbrook School?
The acceptance rate of Hillbrook School is 80%, which is equal to the national average of 80%.
Does Hillbrook School offer a summer program?
Yes, Hillbrook School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What sports does Hillbrook School offer?
Hillbrook School offers 7 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Flag Football, Indoor Soccer, Swimming, Track and Field and Volleyball.
What is Hillbrook School's ranking?
Hillbrook School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for: Largest student body and Oldest founding date.
When is the application deadline for Hillbrook School?
The application deadline for Hillbrook School is Feb. 10 / rolling (applications are due on Feb. 10 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
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People that viewed Hillbrook School also viewed these schools: The Harker School Lower School, Sacred Heart School, Saint Andrew's Episcopal School, The Harker School Upper School and Pinewood School.
The nearest high school to Hillbrook School is Fusion Academy Los Gatos (1.6 miles away)
The nearest elementary school is Lindamood-bell Learning Processes Los Gatos (1.1 miles away)
The nearest preschool is Peppertree School Of Los Gatos (1.1 miles away)
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School Reviews
5 12/27/2018
The 1:1 iPad program allows for instant access to technology as well as innovative approaches to learning. In a single class period students can take photos or video, upload them to a google doc to collaborate with classmates, comment on a blog post entry, and listen to a peer's podcast. My 5th grader actively uses multiple apps for recording and listening to his Mandarin Chinese homework. In addition to world language, he benefits from a multitude of resources including the iLab, flag football and basketball programs, and a music program that honors diversity. We feel very fortunate that our two children attend Hillbrook.
5 12/27/2018
My nephew is in 1st grade at Hillbrook, and it has been the absolute best experience for him--educationally, personally, and socially. I work in education myself, so I have seen all different types of learning environments at a variety of schools. Hillbrook does an amazing job of balancing academics with real-world critical thinking skills, allowing their students to be successful in high school and beyond. I am a counselor at a local private high school, and I have the opportunity to work with Hillbrook students when they arrive here. They are some of the most academically prepared, but more importantly (in my opinion) they have the skills that we hope all of our students learn to possess. They are respectful, independent, self-starters, who are looking at the world beyond just the class they are sitting in. When past Hillbrook students are applying to college, they are presented with some of the best colleges in the country to attend. I love the opportunity to work with Hillbrook students in my job and feel grateful that my nephew will receive the same experiences.
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