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Los Altos, Santa Clara County · Silicon Valley · 2026–27 Enrollment Guide

Best Private Schools in Los Altos, CA

Private schools near Los Altos — rated across 6 categories using reviews from Google, Yelp, Niche.com, and GreatSchools. Average tuition: $23,200/year. Average class ratio: 9:1.

8
Private schools
$23K
Avg tuition/yr
9:1
Avg class ratio
Jan
Aid deadline
Top-rated private schools near Los Altos
Ratings aggregated from Google, Yelp, Niche.com, GreatSchools, and Indeed staff reviews · 2026
The Harker School
San Jose, CA · Grades PK–12 · Independent · Coed
4.6
Annual tuition: ~$40,000+
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BASIS Independent Silicon Valley
San Jose, CA · Grades K–12 · STEM · Coed
4.4
Annual tuition: ~$27,000
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Cambrian Academy
San Jose, CA · Grades 6–12 · Future-Ready · 84 students
4.4
Annual tuition: ~$18,000
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Fusion Academy Cupertino
Cupertino, CA · Grades 4–12 · 1-to-1 · AI-ready
4.3
Annual tuition: Contact for pricing
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Presentation High School
San Jose, CA · Grades 9–12 · Catholic · All-female
4.5
Annual tuition: $31,220
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Notre Dame High School
San Jose, CA · Grades 9–12 · Catholic · Coed
4.3
Annual tuition: ~$24,000
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About private schools in Los Altos

Private school landscape in Los Altos, CA

Los Altos is home to AJ Tutoring headquarters and a high concentration of Stanford-affiliated families. It sits within the Los Altos School District and Mountain View–Los Altos Union High School District, which provides Los Altos High School and Mountain View High School within the Mountain View–Los Altos Union High School District. For families seeking private education, Pinewood School, The Harker School (San Jose, 15 min), and BASIS Independent Silicon Valley are among the most frequently considered options in and near the city.

Los Altos has a high concentration of Stanford faculty, researchers, and alumni. Academic expectations are extremely high. The tutoring market is particularly robust — AJ Tutoring is headquartered here and serves families across Silicon Valley preparing for private school admissions.

Private school tuition near Los Altos ranges from approximately $17,000/yr to $42,000+/yr. The average class ratio across private schools in the area is approximately 9:1. Most schools offer need-based financial aid through FACTS or SSS — financial aid applications should be submitted by January 2027 for Fall 2027 enrollment.

How to choose a private school near Los Altos

When evaluating private schools near Los Altos, look for specific, verifiable data rather than marketing language. A trustworthy school provides: average class size (not a range — an actual number), student-teacher ratio, named faculty with qualifications, actual college matriculation data for high schools (where students enrolled, not just where they were accepted), and a complete fee schedule including every mandatory charge beyond headline tuition.

The California Department of Education does not regulate, approve, or endorse private K–12 schools — a school's CDE Private School Affidavit is a registration document, not a quality certification. Accreditation from a named body (WASC, WCEA, or NAIS membership) is a more meaningful signal. Verify which accreditor a school uses before treating "accredited" as a trust signal.

For a complete guide to the admissions process, deadlines, financial aid, and what to look for during campus visits, see our San Jose private school admissions timeline. For AI and coding school options, see which private schools near Los Altos teach AI in 2026.

Data sources: Los Altos School District · California private school directory

Frequently asked questions — Los Altos private schools
What Los Altos parents ask us: Is private school worth it here given how strong Los Altos public schools are? What private schools are actually closest? How competitive are applications? We answer these honestly below.
What parents ask us: What private schools are actually nearest to Los Altos? Is private school worth it when Los Altos public schools are this strong? How competitive are applications? What does private school cost in this area? How do I start the application process? Answers below.
What private schools are in Los Altos, CA?
Private schools in and near Los Altos include Pinewood School (K–12 college prep), The Harker School in San Jose (15 minutes, PK–12, ~$40,000/yr), and BASIS Independent Silicon Valley (K–12 STEM focus, ~$27,000/yr). Los Altos is also home to AJ Tutoring, which serves families across Silicon Valley preparing for ISEE and SSAT private school admissions testing.
What private schools are near Los Altos, CA?
Los Altos sits between Palo Alto and Cupertino, giving families access to some of the strongest private schools in the Bay Area. Closest options include Pinewood School (K–12, Los Altos Hills), Egan Junior High feeder alternatives, and within 15 minutes: Harker School, BASIS Independent SV, Fusion Academy Cupertino, and Sacred Heart Schools Atherton. For high school, families also consider Bellarmine, Presentation, and Notre Dame San Jose.
How competitive are Los Altos private school applications?
Very competitive at the top schools. Harker and BASIS Independent SV regularly receive more applications than they have spots, particularly at kindergarten and 9th grade entry. Pinewood School in Los Altos Hills is slightly less competitive but still selective. Start your application process in September, take the ISEE or SSAT by November, and submit applications before December 15. Waitlists are common — apply to 3–5 schools, not just your top choice.
Is private school worth it in Los Altos given the strong public schools?
Los Altos Elementary District and Mountain View–Los Altos Union High School District (MVLA) are both strong — Los Altos High and Mountain View High regularly place students at UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Stanford. For a student thriving in that environment, private school may not add academic value. The calculus shifts for students who need smaller class sizes, religious education, non-traditional learning models, or who feel lost in a 2,000-student public high school.
How much does private school cost in Los Altos?
Private school tuition near Los Altos ranges from approximately $17,000/yr to $42,000+/yr. The average is approximately $23,200/yr. Most schools offer need-based financial aid through FACTS or SSS — submit by January 2027 for Fall 2027 enrollment.
Which Los Altos private schools are best for college prep?
The Harker School (San Jose, 15 min) has the strongest college placement record in the region — #46 in California with consistent Ivy League and top UC outcomes. Pinewood School is also known for strong college prep. For STEM-focused college prep, BASIS Independent Silicon Valley's internationally benchmarked curriculum produces strong outcomes for engineering and computer science programs.
When do private school applications open near Los Altos?
For Fall 2027 enrollment, open houses begin September 2026. Most deadlines fall December 2026 through February 2027. Financial aid applications through FACTS or SSS should be submitted by January 2027. Most families in Los Altos begin ISEE or SSAT test prep 4–6 months before application deadlines — AJ Tutoring (Los Altos, 4.9 stars, 134 Google reviews) specializes in Silicon Valley private school admissions prep.
Do Los Altos families need private school given the strong public schools?
Los Altos High and Mountain View High are strong public schools. Private school makes sense for Los Altos families who want smaller class sizes, a specific curriculum philosophy, faith-based education, or a specialized learning environment. Given the concentration of high-achieving students in the area, some families find that private schools with smaller cohorts — like Cambrian Academy or Fusion Academy — provide a less competitive, more personalized environment.
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