About the School

Peninsula School is located on six acres of land in Menlo Park, California. With its Victorian "Big Building," many large oaks, and natural setting, the school provides a sense of seclusion, safety, and timelessness that is cherished by the children, parents and teachers who make up its community. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, and the emphasis is as much on play and fellowship as it is on academic growth.

The school was founded in 1925 by a group of parents (including the noted educator, Josephine Duveneck) who sought an environment in which learning was joyful and exciting, where children were challenged to learn by doing, and where both independence and group cooperation were highly valued. Unable to find a school that met those criteria, they pooled their resources and started "The Peninsula School for Creative Education," a cooperative, non-profit organization.

Peninsula School has grown and changed but its commitment to those early goals has remained constant. Peninsula is a coeducational school with 250 children from nursery through eighth grades. Class sizes range from 16 to 21 children each. In addition to a head teacher (two head teachers in nursery), all classes through the sixth grade have one or more assistants who share teaching responsibility. Additional teachers provide special instruction in areas such as music, library, physical education, science, art, weaving, clay, woodshop, jewelry, dance and drama.

Tuition for the 2010-11 school year is $14,510 for a full day, and $11,110 for a half day in nursery or kindergarten classes.