Quick Facts
ENROLLED STUDENTS
Peninsula is a unique co-educational private school with classes ranging from preschool through 8th grade.
CLASS SIZE
Class sizes average 18-21 children.
STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO
Peninsula School is proud of our 7:1 student to teacher ratio. In addition to a head teacher, all classes have one assistant who shares teaching responsibility. Having an excellent teacher to student ratio enhances the opportunity for authentic academic and social-emotional growth to occur.
EXCEPTIONAL FINE ARTS & ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Peninsula School provides K-8 students with remarkable opportunities in fine arts with ten specialist teachers. Our well-equipped studios include visual art, weaving, woodshop, music, rock band, and ceramics. We offer additional choices to students to enrich their free time each day including general arts, music, library, physical education, science, and drama.
OUR GROUNDS — SUPPORTING PLAY & DISCOVERY
Peninsula School is located on 6.6 acres of wooded land in Menlo Park, California. The school exists in a natural and rustic setting, which provides a sense of seclusion, safety, and timelessness. There is no place on campus too precious for hand or footprints, so students feel at ease and have a sense of ownership.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Founded in 1925, Peninsula School is recognized as one of the few early pioneers of progressive education still in operation. Our founders, Josephine and Frank Duveneck, incorporated the progressive education philosophy, practice and reforms of Francis Parker, John Dewey, and Maria Montessori, as well as contributing to the history of social justice land conservation movements in California.
CAMPING — VALUING NATURE AND EACH OTHER
Peninsula School’s collective camping trips add up to an average of 10 unique trips and approximately 45 overnights across all grades each year. These trips begin at a developmentally appropriate age for each child, often around seven or eight. Through camping, students build a deeper awareness of nature, self, and others, growing in self-confidence and the ability to collaborate and problem-solve.
FIELD TRIPS — EXPLORING THE RICHNESS OF THE BAY AREA
Our teachers take over 35 field trips each school year to support our students in gaining a broader understanding of the world beyond school. We tour over five local science museums including the Monterey Bay Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, and the San Jose Discovery Museum. We participate in environmental and service learning at local parks, sustainable farms, and wildlife refuges.
TUITION
See the Tuition & Affordability page. 16% of tuition is allocated to make Peninsula School more affordable to a diverse range of families. In the 2022-2023 school year, approximately 25% of families enrolled at a reduced tuition rate.
SCHOOL HOURS
Peninsula’s school hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
CHILDCARE
Peninsula School is happy to provide childcare each weekday during the school year and over the summer. Our hours range from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. and 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. during the school year. In the summer, our hours range from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. At Childcare, students are offered snack and a wide range of opportunities for play and study.
PENINSULA FAMILIES COME FROM ALL OVER THE BAY AREA
We have families attend Peninsula from all over the Bay Area! Families commute from Menlo Park, Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Redwood City, Newark, Fremont, Hayward, Los Altos, Portola Valley, Woodside, Atherton, San Mateo, Burlingame, San Carlos, Belmont, Hillsborough, La Honda, and San Francisco.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT — A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS
With a large budget dedicated to professional development, staff can access a broad range of learning and growth opportunities. Our staff have previously attended and continue to attend a wide variety of conferences, including a local LGBTQ rights advocacy conference, the National People of Color Conference, Readers and Writer’s Workshop Institutes at the Teacher’s College at Columbia University, California Mathematics Council’s Math Conference, and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) conference.
AFTER PENINSULA
Our graduates attend a variety of local independent and public high schools including Menlo Atherton High School, TIDE Academy, Design Tech, Mid-Peninsula, and Sequoia High School. Virtually all high schools report that they find Peninsula alumni to be intellectually curious, intrinsically motivated, and community minded.
GOVERNANCE
Peninsula School is a 501(c)3 nonprofit entity governed by a Board of Directors. The School is graced with a dedicated group of 18 members of the Board of Directors who take their responsibilities seriously. The Board has five appointed members and 13 members elected by the school community. You can read more about our board here.