Woodside Priory School (Priory)
Woodside Priory is the only boarding school in Silicon Valley.
Located within 40 minutes of San Francisco and 10 minutes of Stanford University, the Priory is a coeducational boarding and day school for grades 9 through 12 as well as a coeducational day school for grades 6 through 8.
Situated on a 50-acre campus in the heart of Silicon Valley, Priory offers a 7:1 student/teacher ratio, a strong college and university preparatory curriculum, a vast performing arts program, and a competitive athletics program. The Priory strives to create a balanced experience for students where they can explore interests, develop passions, and discover meaningful activities.
Alumni Reviews Review School
- Review Description
- King's College London Priory has a high student-to-teacher ratio, which means that each and every student is taken care of by the teacher and the teachers really know the students well. It helps with accommodating individual student's needs. . .
- Brown University Our school is composed of about 20% boarding students and 80% day students in the upper school, meaning we are a smaller, very close-knit community within our larger school community. (The middle school is completely. . .
Top Rankings
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Woodside Priory School (Priory) ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 303 schools) for:
- Category Attribute
- Selectivity Low acceptance rates
- Student Test Scores High average SAT scores
- Student Test Scores High SSAT scores
| Definition of Terms | 2021 School Data | Woodside Priory | Boarding School Avg. |
| School Focus | College Prep | College Preparatory |
| Grades Offered (Boarding) | 9-12 | 9-12 |
| Grades Offered (Day) | 6-12 | 9-12 |
| School Type | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Religious Affiliation | Catholic | Non-denominational |
| Year Founded | 1957 | 1907 |
| Campus Size | 50 acres | 125 acres |
Student Body
| Enrollment | 375 students | 300 students |
| % Students of Color | 53% | 25% |
| % International Students | 10% | 20% |
| % Students Boarding | 20% | 70% |
| Average SAT Score | 1380 | * National Avg. »View |
| SAT range (25th-75th percentile) | 1260 - 1505 | - |
| Average ACT score | 29 | *National Avg. » View |
| Offers Post-Grad Year | No | No |
Academics and Faculty
| Saturday Classes | No | No |
| Classroom Dress Code | Casual | Casual |
| Average Class Size | 13 students | 12 *National School Avg. » 20 |
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 7:1 | 7:1 |
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 22 | 18 |
| ESL Courses Offered | No | Yes |
| % Faculty with Advanced Degree | 80% | 70% |
| Summer Program Offered | No | Yes |
Tuition Cost
| Endowment Size | $15 million | $25 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $71,975 (Additional fees are $1,600. Books are extra.) | $59,500 |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | n/a | $33,500 |
| % Students on Financial Aid | 20% | 40% |
| Avg. Financial Aid Grant | $40,945 | $25,000 |
| Merit Scholarships Offered | No | No |
Acceptance Rate
| Application Deadline | Jan. 9 | Jan. 15 |
| Accepts Standardized Application | No | No |
| SSAT Required | Yes | Yes |
| Average Percentile SSAT | 85% | - |
| Acceptance Rate | 20% | 58% |
| Director of Admissions | Matthew Lai | |
| Associate Director of Admissions | Cherie Baylis | |
Course Listings
| List of Courses Offered | Link to List of Courses |
AP / Advanced Courses
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 22 | 18 |
| Courses | Advanced Music Theory, Art History, Biology (Advanced), Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Computer Science, Differential Equations Honors, Economics, English Literature, Environmental Science, French Language, Human Geography, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Multivariable Calculus Honors, Physics, Psychology, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, Statistics, Studio Art, U.S. Government and Politics, U.S. History | |
Sports
| # Interscholastic Sports Offered | 11 | 16 |
| Sports | Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Water Polo | |
Extracurriculars
| Total Extracurricular Organizations | 23 | 23 |
| Extracurriculars | Club or Organization: Admissions Assistants, Art in Public Spaces, Associated Student Body, Athletic Therapy Assistants, Campus Ministry, Community Ensemble, Daraja Club, Gay/ Straight Alliance, Green Campus Action Team, International Club, School Reach, Social Justice Club, VEX Robotics, Web Design, Womentors, Yearbook Arts and Music Programs: Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Fashion Show, Improv Club, Jazz Band, Middlesex Art Association, San Domenico Singers | |
College Matriculation
| Year: 2013 - 2018 | 10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled) | |
| University of Southern California | 14 | |
| Santa Clara University | 13 | |
| New York University | 12 | |
| University of Colorado at Boulder | 12 | |
| University of California, Berkeley | 11 | |
| Chapman University | 10 | |
| Boston University | 9 | |
| Carleton College | 7 | |
| Northeastern University | 7 | |
| University of Oregon | 7 | |
| Link to Matriculation Data | ||
School Notes
- Located within 40 minutes of San Francisco and 10 minutes from Stanford University, the Priory is a coeducational boarding and day school for grades 9 through 12 as well as a coeducational day school for grades 6 through 8. Situated on a 50-acre campus in the heart of Silicon Valley, Priory offers a 7:1 student/teacher ratio, a strong college and university preparatory curriculum, a vast performing arts program, and a competitive athletics program.The Priory strives to create a balanced experience for students where they can explore interests, develop passions, and discover meaningful activities. Everything we do revolves around our Mission to assist students in becoming lifelong learners and stewards who will productively serve the world in need of their gifts and our five Benedictine values of Community, Hospitality, Individuality, Integrity, and Spirituality. Priory students are challenged to develop their fullest potential in the classrooms, on the athletic fields, in the performing and visual arts, and in service to the greater community around them. Priory graduates go on to attend schools all across the country, including bigger schools such as Stanford, Harvard, Yale, UC Berkeley, and UCLA, as well as smaller colleges like Carleton, Oberlin, Santa Clara, and Whitman.The Boarding Program embodies a family model with a full-time Residential Faculty dedicated to working with boarding students after school, in the evenings, and on weekends. The goal of the Boarding Program is to develop independent, responsible, and kind students who will engage in their communities. International in scope, the program attracts students from all parts of the world and throughout the western United States. Boarders enjoy the seamless interaction with the Priory's day students in and outside the classroom. This provides for a rich diversity of peers and experiences that create a strong, vibrant community.
- Woodside Priory School (Priory) accreditations: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), Western Catholic Education Association (WECA), The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Taylor Eigsti - Grammy nominated jazz pianist
- Marc Fiore - Awarded 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Political Cartooning
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