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Very Good

#231 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Top 13% of private schools

Castilleja School

High School

1310 BRYANT ST, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Private Estimated Score

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

Enrollment

422

Student-Teacher

7.3:1

Score

7.5

Grades

6th – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Palo Alto

#6 of 18

public schools

California high schools

#47 of 277

Academic performance

9.2 / 10

Exceptional

About Castilleja School

Castilleja School serves 422 students in grades 6-12 in Palo Alto, offering an exceptional educational environment with a remarkable 7.3:1 student-teacher ratio and 58 full-time equivalent teachers. This high school ranks impressively at #146 out of 1,790 California schools, placing it in the 92nd percentile statewide, and earns a strong 9.0 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating. The school's intimate class sizes allow for personalized attention and meaningful student-teacher relationships that can foster both academic achievement and personal growth.

Located on Bryant Street, Castilleja operates within one of California's most academically oriented communities, where educational excellence is deeply valued. The surrounding 94301 zip code reflects an affluent, highly educated neighborhood with a median household income of $217,611 and median home values reaching $2,000,001. An impressive 81% of local residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, creating a community deeply invested in learning and achievement.

With only a 4% poverty rate among the area's 17,259 residents, students benefit from a stable, resource-rich environment. Castilleja School sits in the heart of Palo Alto, a small city renowned for its commitment to innovation and education, providing students with unique opportunities within Silicon Valley's dynamic landscape.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.3:1, Castilleja School 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, Castilleja School 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
$80,484
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$80,326
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.00x — Tight
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
73%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$172.3M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 422 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Castilleja School compares to 6 public schools serving similar grades in Palo Alto, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
7.3:1
This School
vs
13.9:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
422
This School
vs
1,000
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.5
This School
vs
8.6
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 35.1% vs 0%
Asian 35.1% vs 0%
Hispanic 9% vs 0%
Black 5% vs 0%
Castilleja School Palo Alto Public Avg

Nearby High Schools

School Rating
Castilleja School (this school) 7.5
Palo Alto High 8.1
Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle 8.5
Packard Children's Hospital/Stanford
Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle 8.7
Henry M. Gunn High 8.8
Ellen Fletcher Middle 8.8

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- 8.4 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7.3:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C 2.8 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,080
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A 9.3 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 72%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 422
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 35.1%
Asian 35.1%
Two or More 14.9%
Hispanic 9.0%
Black 5.0%
Pacific Islander 0.9%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1310 BRYANT ST, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Castilleja School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Escondido Elementary (rated 9.2/10, 1.3 miles away, in nearby Stanford), which scores notably higher. Another option is Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle (rated 8.5/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Palo Alto High (rated 8.1/10, 0.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Palo Alto, see our Palo Alto schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Castilleja School Palo Alto 0.0 mi
Palo Alto High Palo Alto 0.3 mi 8.1
ODYSSEY MONTESSORI Palo Alto 0.3 mi
GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI Palo Alto 0.3 mi
Addison Elementary Palo Alto 0.4 mi 8.1
TRU SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.5 mi 5.8
Walter Hays Elementary Palo Alto 0.5 mi 8.0
Tru Palo Alto 0.7 mi
St. Elizabeth Seton Palo Alto 0.7 mi
ST ELIZABETH SETON SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.8 mi 5.1
LIVING WISDOM SCHOOL OF PALO ALTO Palo Alto 0.9 mi 6.3
Living Wisdom School of Palo Alto Palo Alto 0.9 mi
SYNAPSE SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.8 mi 8.1
CASA DEI BAMBINI SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.9 mi
Lydian Academy Palo Alto 1.0 mi
Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle Palo Alto 0.9 mi 8.5
BBS Palo Alto 1.2 mi
Escondido Elementary Stanford 1.3 mi 9.2
CORNERSTONE LEARNING FOUNDATION Palo Alto 1.1 mi 5.7
STRATFORD SCHOOL - PALO ALTO Palo Alto 1.1 mi 7.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94301 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$235,529

Median Home Value

$2,000,001

Median Rent

$3,290/mo

Population

17,126

College Educated

83.3%

Homeownership

51.6%

Avg Commute

23.7 min

Poverty Rate

4.2%

Median Age

45.4

Community Profile

The community surrounding Castilleja School has a median household income of $235,529. It is a well-educated community where 83% 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 $3,290/month. The local poverty rate of 4.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 24 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
Alliance Dr. Olga Mohan High Los Angeles, CA 7.5
Alliance Renee and Meyer Luskin Academy High Los Angeles, CA 7.5
Calistoga Junior/Senior High Calistoga, CA 7.5
E. Los Angeles Renaiss Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #2 Los Angeles, CA 7.5
EASTSIDE COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL East Palo Alto, CA 7.5
Environmental Charter High - Gardena Gardena, CA 7.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Castilleja School

What grades does Castilleja School serve?

Castilleja School serves students in grades 6th through 12th.

How many students attend Castilleja School?

Castilleja School has an enrollment of approximately 422 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Castilleja School?

The student-teacher ratio at Castilleja School is 7.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Castilleja School rank in CA?

Castilleja School is ranked #231 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is Castilleja School's MySchoolScout rating?

Castilleja School has a composite rating of 7.5 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 Castilleja School a private school?

Yes, Castilleja School is a private all-girls 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 Castilleja School a religious school?

No, Castilleja School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
82 Very Walkable
Transit Score
45 Some Transit
Bike Score
100 Biker’s Paradise
City Safety
High (3,256/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
6th – 12th
Enrollment
422
Gender Split
0% M / 100% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
58
Type
private
Coed Status
all-girls
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6 hours
Days Per Year
180 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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