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Average

#891 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Top 50% of private schools

Palo Alto Preparatory School

High School

2462 WYANDOTTE ST STE A, Mountain View, CA 94043

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 14 schools in Mountain View. Learn more

Enrollment

64

Student-Teacher

4.6:1

Score

6.3

Grades

8th – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Mountain View

#7 of 8

public schools

California high schools

#159 of 277

Academic performance

7.6 / 10

Very strong

About Palo Alto Preparatory School

Palo Alto Preparatory School serves 64 students in grades 8-12 in Mountain View, California, offering an intimate educational environment with an exceptional 4.6:1 student-teacher ratio. With 14 full-time equivalent teachers, this regular public high school provides personalized attention that's rare in traditional school settings. The school has earned strong recognition with a 9.0 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranks #602 out of 1,790 California schools, placing it in the 66th percentile statewide.

This performance reflects the school's commitment to academic excellence within its small, focused learning community. Students benefit from the school's location in an affluent and highly educated community, where 70% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher and the median household income reaches $174,416. The neighborhood's emphasis on education, combined with a low poverty rate of just 3.9%, creates a supportive environment for student achievement.

The small enrollment allows for individualized instruction and close teacher-student relationships that can be particularly valuable during the critical high school years. Located on Wyandotte Street in Mountain View, the school sits in the heart of Silicon Valley's innovation corridor, surrounded by a community that values academic achievement and educational opportunity.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 64 students, Palo Alto Preparatory School 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 4.6:1, Palo Alto Preparatory 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, Palo Alto Preparatory 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.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Palo Alto Preparatory School compares to the 14 public schools in Mountain View, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
4.6:1
This School
vs
18.7:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
64
This School
vs
514
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
6.3
This School
vs
7.2
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 68.8% vs 0%
Hispanic 17.2% vs 0%
Asian 7.8% vs 0%
Black 6.2% vs 0%
Palo Alto Preparatory School Mountain View Public Avg

All Schools in Mountain View

School Rating
Palo Alto Preparatory School (this school) 6.3
Monta Loma Elementary 7.3
Crittenden Middle 7.8
Theuerkauf Elementary 4.3
Stevenson Elementary 8.8
Gabriela Mistral Elementary 5.1
Mariano Castro Elementary 3.5
Edith Landels Elementary 8.1
Isaac Newton Graham Middle 7.0
Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary 8.5
Benjamin Bubb Elementary 7.8
Springer Elementary 9.3
Amy Imai Elementary 7.3
Mountain View High 9.0
Alta Vista High 6.7

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+ 9.7 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 4.6:1
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)
B 5.5 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 49%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C+ 4.3 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 64
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 68.8%
Hispanic 17.2%
Asian 7.8%
Black 6.2%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

2462 WYANDOTTE ST STE A, Mountain View, CA 94043

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Palo Alto Preparatory School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. WALDORF SCHOOL-PENINSULA (rated 8.4/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, KEHILLAH JEWISH HIGH SCHOOL (rated 5.9/10, 0.6 miles away, in nearby Palo Alto), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Mountain View, see our Mountain View schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.1 mi
School Distance Rating
ATHENA ACADEMY Palo Alto 0.4 mi 6.2
Athena Academy Palo Alto 0.4 mi
GIDEON HAUSNER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.4 mi 7.2
MEIRA ACADEMY Palo Alto 0.5 mi
Greendell Palo Alto 0.4 mi
Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School Palo Alto 0.5 mi
Monta Loma Elementary Mountain View 0.6 mi 7.3
Imagination Lab School Palo Alto 0.5 mi
KEHILLAH JEWISH HIGH SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.6 mi 5.9
The Kehillah School Palo Alto 0.6 mi
IMAGINATION LAB SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.6 mi
GROSSMAN ACADEMY Palo Alto 0.6 mi
LIVING WIDSOM HIGH SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.6 mi
WALDORF SCHOOL-PENINSULA Mountain View 0.8 mi 8.4
Challenger School - Middlefield Palo Alto 0.7 mi
Crittenden Middle Mountain View 0.8 mi 7.8
ACHIEVE INC. Palo Alto 0.8 mi 8.2
Herbert Hoover Elementary Palo Alto 0.9 mi 9.3
Theuerkauf Elementary Mountain View 1.1 mi 4.3
Fairmeadow Elementary Palo Alto 1.1 mi 8.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94043 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$180,781

Median Home Value

$1,647,500

Median Rent

$2,965/mo

Population

32,042

College Educated

71%

Homeownership

45.1%

Avg Commute

22.3 min

Poverty Rate

4.2%

Median Age

36.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding Palo Alto Preparatory School has a median household income of $180,781. It is a well-educated community where 71% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,647,500, with a median rent of $2,965/month. The local poverty rate of 4.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 22 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
CHOFETZ CHAIM LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CA 6.3
Inglewood Continuation High Inglewood, CA 6.3
Jack London Continuation Van Nuys, CA 6.3
PUC PREPARATORY SCHOOL Angwin, CA 6.3
Westwood High Westwood, CA 6.3
FUSION ACADEMY NEWPORT BEACH Irvine, CA 6.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Palo Alto Preparatory School

What grades does Palo Alto Preparatory School serve?

Palo Alto Preparatory School serves students in grades 8th through 12th.

How many students attend Palo Alto Preparatory School?

Palo Alto Preparatory School has an enrollment of approximately 64 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Palo Alto Preparatory School?

The student-teacher ratio at Palo Alto Preparatory School is 4.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Palo Alto Preparatory School rank in CA?

Palo Alto Preparatory School is ranked #891 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is Palo Alto Preparatory School's MySchoolScout rating?

Palo Alto Preparatory School has a composite rating of 6.3 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 Palo Alto Preparatory School a private school?

Yes, Palo Alto Preparatory School 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 Palo Alto Preparatory School a religious school?

No, Palo Alto Preparatory School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (3,103/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Mountain View). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
8th – 12th
Enrollment
64
Gender Split
64% M / 36% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
4.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
14
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
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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