Our unique approach to high school education in the Bay Area
At Palo Alto Preparatory, we believe every student deserves an education that meets their learning needs, delivered by kind and talented teachers.
As a private high school in the Bay Area that has been operating for over 30 years, we offer a dynamic, supportive environment where students thrive through alternative education approaches, including small class sizes, and hands-on learning experiences.
We provide a full range of A-G approved classes. Our students can prepare for college while benefiting from educational supports for their learning differences. Recent graduates have been accepted to UCSC, Cal Poly, SJSC, and Lewis & Clark.
While not exclusively a special education school, all of our students benefit from our built-in supports for students with learning differences. Our experienced and compassionate teachers specialize in supporting students with learning differences, and guide all students to think creatively and critically.
Going beyond classroom walls
Decades of experience in alternative private high school education has made this incredibly clear: students learn best when they like their teachers and are deeply immersed in their own learning.
We offer a private high school in Mountain View where students can engage in frequent field trips that bring lessons to life. Our unique electives take them out of the classroom, outdoors, and even up in the air!
Students can gain PE credits in classes like Rock-climbing, Scuba, Hiking, Golfing, or Horseback riding, or learn a new craft in Medieval sword-fighting, Maker’s Space, or Art. Additionally, we are the only private high school in the area with an Aviation program. Our past students include professional pilots who began their learning in our Aviation program.
Over our 30 plus years as a private high school for diverse learners, we have taken students on overnight camping trips, white-water rafting, skiing in Tahoe, touring college campuses in LA, and kayaking in Monterey Bay. On our annual international trip, students have toured the Lourve, visited Hobbiton in New Zealand, and paddled down rivers in South America.
At PAP, we do what it takes
Our philosophy is that students will be most open and prepared to learn when they feel safe, when they believe that their teachers accept them for who they are and genuinely care about them, and when their learning needs are considered at all stages of learning from lesson planning, to implementation, to opportunities to relearn or redo an assignment or task. Palo Alto Prep’s learning supports include 1.1 teacher attention, explicit teaching of executive functioning skills and support in their development, after school office hours, and other built-in supports to encourage student growth.
Many Bay Area high school students are currently struggling with the impacts of school closures and online learning. These include gaps in learning, delayed social skills development, and social isolation. For students with learning differences, social struggles, anxiety/depression, and other challenges, these impacts can be even greater.
We know that students and parents need a school that understands the unique challenges our kids are facing in the present moment. If you are looking for a private high school in Santa Clara county, Give us a call today to learn more about enrolling your child at Palo Alto Prep!