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Average

#949 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Athena Academy

Middle School

525 SAN ANTONIO RD, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 15 schools in Palo Alto. Learn more

Enrollment

58

Student-Teacher

5.3:1

Score

6.2

Grades

1st – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Palo Alto

#14 of 18

public schools

California middle schools

#25 of 45

Academic performance

9.2 / 10

Exceptional

About Athena Academy

Athena Academy serves students in grades 1-8 in the heart of Palo Alto, offering an intimate learning environment with just 58 students and an exceptional student-teacher ratio of 5.3:1. This small public middle school employs 11 full-time equivalent teachers, ensuring personalized attention for every student. The school has earned impressive recognition, receiving a 9.0 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking #467 out of 1,790 California schools, placing it in the 74th percentile statewide.

This strong performance reflects the school's commitment to academic excellence in a close-knit educational setting. Located on San Antonio Road, Athena Academy sits within the 94306 ZIP code, one of Palo Alto's most affluent neighborhoods where the median household income reaches $199,800 and median home values exceed $2 million. The community is highly educated, with 82% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher, and maintains a low poverty rate of just 6.8%.

The school's small size creates opportunities for individualized learning and strong teacher-student relationships that larger institutions often cannot provide. Athena Academy operates within Palo Alto's dynamic small city environment, surrounded by a community that deeply values education and academic achievement.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 58 students, Athena Academy is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 5.3:1, Athena Academy offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Athena Academy operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$45,295
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$49,634
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.10x — Stable
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
91%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$3.0M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 58 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Athena Academy compares to 14 public schools serving similar grades in Palo Alto, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
5.3:1
This School
vs
17.8:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
58
This School
vs
413
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
6.2
This School
vs
8.4
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 75.9% vs 0%
Asian 3.4% vs 0%
Hispanic 1.7% vs 0%
Athena Academy Palo Alto Public Avg

Nearby Middle Schools

School Rating
Athena Academy (this school) 6.2
Herbert Hoover Elementary 9.3
Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle 8.7
Fairmeadow Elementary 8.5
Palo Verde Elementary 8.5
Juana Briones Elementary 9.5
Ellen Fletcher Middle 8.8
El Carmelo Elementary 6.4
Barron Park Elementary 7.2
Ohlone Elementary 9.3
Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle 8.5
Walter Hays Elementary 8.0
Duveneck Elementary 8.8
Addison Elementary 8.1
Packard Children's Hospital/Stanford

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in CA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.3 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 5.3:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C+ 4.4 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,162
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B- 4.5 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 39%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C+ 4.0 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 58
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in CA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 75.9%
Two or More 19.0%
Asian 3.4%
Hispanic 1.7%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

525 SAN ANTONIO RD, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Athena Academy may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Herbert Hoover Elementary (rated 9.3/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle (rated 8.7/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Fairmeadow Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Palo Alto, see our Palo Alto schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Athena Academy Palo Alto 0.1 mi
Greendell Palo Alto 0.1 mi
GIDEON HAUSNER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.1 mi 7.2
Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School Palo Alto 0.1 mi
IMAGINATION LAB SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.3 mi
GROSSMAN ACADEMY Palo Alto 0.3 mi
LIVING WIDSOM HIGH SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.3 mi
Imagination Lab School Palo Alto 0.3 mi
PALO ALTO PREPARATORY SCHOOL Mountain View 0.4 mi 6.3
Challenger School - Middlefield Palo Alto 0.5 mi
Monta Loma Elementary Mountain View 0.5 mi 7.3
MEIRA ACADEMY Palo Alto 0.6 mi
The Kehillah School Palo Alto 0.7 mi
KEHILLAH JEWISH HIGH SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.7 mi 5.9
ACHIEVE INC. Palo Alto 0.6 mi 8.2
Herbert Hoover Elementary Palo Alto 0.6 mi 9.3
WALDORF SCHOOL-PENINSULA Mountain View 0.8 mi 8.4
Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle Palo Alto 0.8 mi 8.7
Fairmeadow Elementary Palo Alto 0.9 mi 8.5
School for Independent Learners Los Altos 1.2 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94306 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$186,479

Median Home Value

$2,000,001

Median Rent

$2,927/mo

Population

27,527

College Educated

80.5%

Homeownership

52.2%

Avg Commute

22.9 min

Poverty Rate

8.7%

Median Age

41

Community Profile

The community surrounding Athena Academy has a median household income of $186,479. It is a well-educated community where 81% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $2,000,001, with a median rent of $2,927/month. The local poverty rate of 8.7% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
HOPE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Lancaster, CA 6.1
NORTH BRIDGE ACADEMY Mill Valley, CA 6.0
Grace Hopper STEM Academy Inglewood, CA 6.5
HOPE ACADEMY FOR DYSLEXICS Concord, CA 6.5
LEPORT SCHOOLS - IRVINE SPECTRUM NORTH CAMPUS Irvine, CA 5.9
PATHWAY SCHOOL INC. Laguna Hills, CA 5.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Athena Academy

What grades does Athena Academy serve?

Athena Academy serves students in grades 1st through 8th.

How many students attend Athena Academy?

Athena Academy has an enrollment of approximately 58 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Athena Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Athena Academy is 5.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Athena Academy rank in CA?

Athena Academy is ranked #949 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is Athena Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Athena Academy has a composite rating of 6.2 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Athena Academy a private school?

Yes, Athena Academy is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Athena Academy a religious school?

No, Athena Academy is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (3,256/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Palo Alto). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
1st – 8th
Enrollment
58
Gender Split
53% M / 47% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
5.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
11
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
166 days
Setting
Small City
County
SANTA CLARA
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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