Average
#1183 of 1,787 private schools in CA
Tru School
Elementary School
1295 MIDDLEFIELD RD, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Enrollment
36
Student-Teacher
7.2:1
Score
5.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
36
Student-Teacher
7.2:1
Score
5.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Data vintage
2021-22
Data vintage2021-22
How this school compares
California private schools
#1,183 of 1,787
In Palo Alto
#16 of 18
public schools
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Tru School
Elementary School in Palo Alto · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Walter Hays Elementary
0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Addison Elementary
0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Tru School
Tru School is a private elementary school in Palo Alto, CA. Tru School serves approximately 36 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 7.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Tru School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,183 of 1,787 private schools in CA.
- This school 5.8 · Average
- CA avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
At 36 students, Tru School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.
At 7.2:1 students to teachers, Tru School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.
Tru School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.
Compare to Public Schools
BetaHow Tru School compares to 12 public schools serving similar grades in Palo Alto, CA
Student Demographics
Nearby Elementary Schools
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Tru School (this school) | 5.8 |
| Addison Elementary | 7.8 |
| Walter Hays Elementary | 8.5 |
| Duveneck Elementary | 8.6 |
| Ohlone Elementary | 9.3 |
| El Carmelo Elementary | 7.5 |
| Packard Children's Hospital/Stanford | — |
| Palo Verde Elementary | 9.0 |
| Fairmeadow Elementary | 8.9 |
| Barron Park Elementary | 8.7 |
| Herbert Hoover Elementary | 9.2 |
| Juana Briones Elementary | 9.1 |
| Greendell | — |
Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.
Score Breakdown
PreliminaryWhat 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.
Data Unavailable
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)
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 8.6/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Walter Hays Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 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 | 8.5 |
| Addison Elementary Palo Alto | 0.2 mi | 7.8 |
| 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 | 8.7 |
| Duveneck Elementary Palo Alto | 0.8 mi | 8.6 |
| Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle Palo Alto | 0.8 mi | 9.2 |
| 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
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 |
| JIA-RAY LEARNING CENTER San Jose, CA | 5.8 |
| McCloud Elementary Mccloud, CA | 5.8 |
| Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes Lake Hughes, CA | 5.7 |
| SPRING HILL-ADVANCED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF SANTA CR Santa Cruz, CA | 5.7 |
| YREKA SDA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Yreka, CA | 5.7 |
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 ranks #1,183 of 1,787 private schools in CA.
What is Tru School's MySchoolScout rating?
Tru School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; 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.
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Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
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 County
- Phone
- (650) 469-3656
Resources & Links
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