Tr is a private, progressive elementary school near downtown Palo Alto serving students K 5 that makes learning a transformative experience.
Academics are supported by direct, extended research and experimentation by students.
Encounters with the outside world provide real life experience. Social emotional learning is embedded in every activity, by teachers with personal understanding of each child.
The program is carefully designed to develop a mindset of growth and opportunity that will lead children to deeper, richer, and more meaningful lives.
Come explore what we do; this is what school was meant to be.
Quick Stats (2024)
- Grades: Kindergarten-5
- Enrollment: 36 students
- Yearly Tuition: $24,380
- Average class size: 12 students
- Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / Feb. 1
- Source: Verified school update
School Overview
School Membership(s)School Assoc.
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-5
Year Founded
2011
Summer School Offered
Yes
School Calendar
Student Body
Total Students
36 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
4 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
9:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
75%
Average Class Size
12 students
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
Jan. 15 / Feb. 1
Yearly Tuition Cost
$24,380
Tuition Notes
Financial aid is available. Learn more here:truschool.org
School Notes
- Please see our website for more details about our program (www.truschool.org).
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Tru cost?
Tru's tuition is approximately $24,380 for private students.
When is the application deadline for Tru?
The application deadline for Tru is Jan. 15 / Feb. 1.
In what neighborhood is Tru located?
Tru is located in the Community Center neighborhood of Palo Alto, CA.
School Reviews
5 12/22/2023
Small class sizes and calming vibes that inspire focused attention. Great teachers, and no guesswork about which teacher you will have, you know them all. The teachers are masterful at sparking intrinsic motivation, mediating conflicts, and encouraging socio-emotional development. The school is teacher-owned and teacher-led and this cascades into all of their decision making. They customize the curriculum to meet the needs of the class cohort every year. Emergent interests from the classes are transformed into projects, experiments, and plays. Our kids rummage through the garage to find materials for their projects and inventions at school. "Mom we need gear!" - "Can I use this?" - and so sweetly, they know what their friends are working on and help procure equipment and material for them too. Everything is hand-made, down to the scripts of the plays, the related songs, and the props. Even the jam at the fall harvest festival was made with fruit harvested from the trees at the school. It is through-and-through a low-waste DIY culture that preserves and respects material. No iPad apps. No project-in-a-box. Every invention is unique. No two art projects look alike. Personal style is recognized and celebrated. Because the other kids are so confident in who they are and how they come to school my kids are inspired to figure themselves out too. No cliques or feeling pushed out of friend groups. The community feels like one big group of friends. This is by design. Teachers endlessly engage in conversations and thoughtful pairings to help kids connect with each other so that nobody is left out. We transferred in and within days the kids felt safe, included, and comfortable.
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