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#1184 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Tru School

Elementary School

1295 MIDDLEFIELD RD, 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

36

Student-Teacher

7.2:1

Score

5.8

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Palo Alto

#16 of 18

public schools

California elementary schools

#704 of 1,102

Academic performance

9.2 / 10

Exceptional

About Tru School

TRU SCHOOL serves 36 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Palo Alto, offering an intimate elementary education experience with just 5 full-time teachers. This small public school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 7.2:1, allowing for individualized attention that many larger schools cannot provide. The school has earned recognition for its educational quality, receiving a strong 9.0 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking #487 out of 1790 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 73rd percentile among California schools.

This performance reflects the school's commitment to academic excellence within its small learning community. TRU SCHOOL's compact size creates a family-like atmosphere where teachers can closely monitor each student's progress and adapt instruction to individual learning needs. The school benefits from being located in an affluent, highly educated community where 81% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher and the median household income exceeds $217,000.

Situated on Middlefield Road in Palo Alto's 94301 ZIP code, TRU SCHOOL operates in one of Silicon Valley's most prestigious neighborhoods, where the median home value reaches $2 million and the poverty rate remains remarkably low at just 4%.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 36 students, Tru 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 7.2:1, Tru 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, Tru 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 Tru School compares to 12 public schools serving similar grades in Palo Alto, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
7.2:1
This School
vs
18.3:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
36
This School
vs
288
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
5.8
This School
vs
8.4
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 50% vs 0%
Asian 36.1% vs 0%
Hispanic 2.8% vs 0%
Tru School Palo Alto Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Tru School (this school) 5.8
Addison Elementary 8.1
Walter Hays Elementary 8.0
Duveneck Elementary 8.8
Ohlone Elementary 9.3
El Carmelo Elementary 6.4
Packard Children's Hospital/Stanford
Palo Verde Elementary 8.5
Fairmeadow Elementary 8.5
Barron Park Elementary 7.2
Herbert Hoover Elementary 9.3
Juana Briones Elementary 9.5
Greendell

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 7.2:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C- 2.3 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.2 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,054
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B+ 7.2 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 61%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C- 2.2 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 36
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 50.0%
Asian 36.1%
Two or More 11.1%
Hispanic 2.8%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1295 MIDDLEFIELD RD, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Tru School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Duveneck Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Addison Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 0.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, SYNAPSE SCHOOL (rated 8.1/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Palo Alto, see our Palo Alto schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Walter Hays Elementary Palo Alto 0.2 mi 8.0
Addison Elementary Palo Alto 0.2 mi 8.1
St. Elizabeth Seton Palo Alto 0.3 mi
ST ELIZABETH SETON SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.3 mi 5.1
Castilleja School Palo Alto 0.5 mi
CASTILLEJA SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.5 mi 7.5
Tru Palo Alto 0.6 mi
BBS Palo Alto 0.7 mi
GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI Palo Alto 0.7 mi
ODYSSEY MONTESSORI Palo Alto 0.7 mi
Palo Alto High Palo Alto 0.8 mi 8.1
Duveneck Elementary Palo Alto 0.8 mi 8.8
Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle Palo Alto 0.8 mi 8.5
SYNAPSE SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.9 mi 8.1
CORNERSTONE LEARNING FOUNDATION Palo Alto 0.8 mi 5.7
STRATFORD SCHOOL - PALO ALTO Palo Alto 0.9 mi 7.3
Living Wisdom School of Palo Alto Palo Alto 1.2 mi
LIVING WISDOM SCHOOL OF PALO ALTO Palo Alto 1.2 mi 6.3
CASA DEI BAMBINI SCHOOL Palo Alto 1.3 mi
Lydian Academy Palo Alto 1.3 mi

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 Tru 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
FOOTHILL PROGRESSIVE MONTESSORI SCHOOL La Canada Flintridge, CA 5.8
Flournoy Elementary Flournoy, CA 5.8
JIA-RAY LEARNING CENTER San Jose, CA 5.8
SPRING HILL-ADVANCED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF SANTA CR Santa Cruz, CA 5.7
YREKA SDA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Yreka, CA 5.7
HERITAGE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Ridgecrest, CA 5.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Tru School

What grades does Tru School serve?

Tru School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Tru School?

Tru School has an enrollment of approximately 36 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Tru School?

The student-teacher ratio at Tru School is 7.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Tru School rank in CA?

Tru School is ranked #1184 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is Tru School's MySchoolScout rating?

Tru School has a composite rating of 5.8 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 Tru School a private school?

Yes, Tru 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 Tru School a religious school?

No, Tru School 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
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
36
Gender Split
47% M / 53% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
5
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6.2 hours
Days Per Year
170 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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