Walden School (Top Ranked Private School for 2026-27)

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Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked CA School
Grades: Prekindergarten-6
Enrollment: 182 students
Yearly Tuition: $24,250
Acceptance rate: 67%
Average class size: 18 students
Application Deadline: Jan. 31 / rolling
Source: ✓Verified school update

School Rankings

Walden School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for:

School Facts

Religious Affiliation

Nonsectarian

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-6

Students By Grade

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade
Grade	Walden School
Pre-K	31
Kind	30
1	22
2	25
3	18
4	18
5	20
6	18

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Year Founded

1970

Summer School Offered

Yes

Campus Size

1 acre

Student Body

Total Students

182 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

State avg.: 52%

Academic Profile

Total Classroom Teachers

20 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

9:1

National avg.: 11:1

% Faculty w/Advanced Degree

75%

Average Class Size

18 students

Classroom Dress Code

Casual

List of Courses Offered

Link to List of Courses

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Schools) (ACS WASC)
California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS-CA)

Tuition & Financial Aid

Admission Deadline

Jan. 31 / rolling

Yearly Tuition Cost

$24,250

View national tuition avg.

Tuition Notes

Tuition is for 2021-2022 school year. $750 new student fee.

% on Financial Aid

30%

Acceptance Rate

67%

National avg.: 82%

Admissions Director

Billy Christian

Admissions Associate

Nellie Yoshimura

Application URL

Online Application

Endowment Size

$2 million

Sports

School Mascot

Golden Frogs

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.

7 extracurriculars

ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.

Arts and Music Programs:

and DanceFulltime Co-Curricular Specialty Teachers in Art

LibraryMusic

Science & TechnologySpanish

Storytelling

School Notes

Walden is a progressive independent elementary school serving 190 students Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grades.
CAIS, WASC accredited.
Memberships: National Association of Independent Schools, The Independent School Alliance for Minority Affairs and The Southern California People of Color in Independent Schools.

Our Mission
At Walden School, we nurture a child's natural wonder and personal dignity. We provide a personalized, developmentally appropriate program that encourages responsibility, initiative, child-led inquiry, ethical behavior, and excellence. We promote positive conflict-resolution skills, understanding and creativity in problem-solving. Children learn academic skills and concepts through experience and Socratic discussion, as well as through direct instruction and practice. We teach children to value and respect diversity. We strive, therefore, to lay the foundation for wisdom, to encourage the spirit of Renaissance learning, and to teach that we all have stewardship for the world in which we live.

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Walden School cost?

Walden School's tuition is approximately $24,250 for private students.

What schools are Walden School often compared to?

Walden School is often viewed alongside schools like The Waverly School by visitors of our site.

What is the acceptance rate of Walden School?

The acceptance rate of Walden School is 67%, which is lower than the national average of 80%. Walden School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in California with low acceptance rates.

What is Walden School's ranking?

Walden School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for: Lowest average acceptance rates.

When is the application deadline for Walden School?

The application deadline for Walden School is Jan. 31 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 31 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

In what neighborhood is Walden School located?

Walden School is located in the Lamanda Park neighborhood of Pasadena, CA.

School Calendar

View the Walden School yearly calendar below. Note key dates such as:

Event

Date

First Day of School (Pre-K)

September 08, 2026 (Tuesday)

Fall Break (Campus closed)

November 23, 2026 (Monday)

Fall Break (Campus closed)

November 24, 2026 (Tuesday)

Fall Break (Campus closed)

November 25, 2026 (Wednesday)

Fall Break (Campus closed)

November 26, 2026 (Thursday)

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Pasadena, CA is $22,887 for elementary schools and $37,395 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

The average acceptance rate in Pasadena, CA is 74% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).