Tru is a private, progressive microschool downtown Palo Alto serving students K to 5 that makes learning a transformative experience.
Academics are supported by direct, extended research and experimentation by students.
Encounters with the outside world provide real-life experience. Social-emotional learning is embedded in every activity, by teachers with personal understanding of each child.
The program is carefully designed to develop a mindset of growth and opportunity that will lead children to deeper, richer, and more meaningful lives.
Come explore what we do; this is what school was meant to be.
Quick Stats (2025)
- Grades: Kindergarten-5
- Enrollment: 36 students
- Yearly Tuition: $31,500
- Average class size: 12 students
- Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / Feb. 1 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
School Overview
School Membership(s)School Assoc.
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-5
Year Founded
2011
Summer School Offered
Yes
Summer Program Details
School Calendar
First Day of School
Mon. Aug 18, 2025
Student Body
Total Students
36 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
Students by Grade

Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
4 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
9:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
75%
Average Class Size
12 students
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
Jan. 15 / Feb. 1 / rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
$31,500
Tuition Notes
Financial aid is available. Learn more here:
truschool.org
Application URL
School Notes
- Please see our website for more details about our program (www.truschool.org).
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Trū Progressive Microschool cost?
Trū Progressive Microschool's tuition is approximately $31,500 for private students.
Does Trū Progressive Microschool offer a summer program?
Yes, Trū Progressive Microschool offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
When is the application deadline for Trū Progressive Microschool?
The application deadline for Trū Progressive Microschool is Jan. 15 / Feb. 1 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 15 / Feb. 1 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
In what neighborhood is Trū Progressive Microschool located?
Trū Progressive Microschool is located in the Community Center neighborhood of Palo Alto, CA.
School Reviews
5
Our oldest daughter attends Tru; we think it is a great environment for her. It is a very small school, which makes instruction and care extremely personal. Within weeks, she knew everyone at the school, and all the teachers knew her intimately. Tru has a strong philosophy of transformative learning, and they teach by following the kids' interests and crafting learning around that. Each year has a theme that instruction and performances are crafted around. Speaking of performances, they are a big part of Tru. The kids participate in several plays each year and several weekend events per year with group songs and recitations by the older kids. The school is hosted in a cozy little church that provides an idyllic shelter, and it is near a park and library that kids visit often. There are field trips for hikes or to the beach to learn about marine life. The teachers are so excellent, and since they are the school's founders, they really pour their full selves into maximizing the experience of the kids and the families. We are so happy at Tru.
5 12/22/2023
Small class sizes and calming vibes that inspire focused attention. Great teachers, and no guesswork about which teacher you will have, you know them all. The teachers are masterful at sparking intrinsic motivation, mediating conflicts, and encouraging socio-emotional development. The school is teacher-owned and teacher-led and this cascades into all of their decision making. They customize the curriculum to meet the needs of the class cohort every year. Emergent interests from the classes are transformed into projects, experiments, and plays. Our kids rummage through the garage to find materials for their projects and inventions at school. "Mom we need gear!" - "Can I use this?" - and so sweetly, they know what their friends are working on and help procure equipment and material for them too. Everything is hand-made, down to the scripts of the plays, the related songs, and the props. Even the jam at the fall harvest festival was made with fruit harvested from the trees at the school. It is through-and-through a low-waste DIY culture that preserves and respects material. No iPad apps. No project-in-a-box. Every invention is unique. No two art projects look alike. Personal style is recognized and celebrated. Because the other kids are so confident in who they are and how they come to school my kids are inspired to figure themselves out too. No cliques or feeling pushed out of friend groups. The community feels like one big group of friends. This is by design. Teachers endlessly engage in conversations and thoughtful pairings to help kids connect with each other so that nobody is left out. We transferred in and within days the kids felt safe, included, and comfortable.
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