Boarding School Review - Established 2003

Woodside Priory School (Priory)

5.00 (2 reviews)
302 Portola Road Portola Valley CA 94028
Tel: (650) 851-8223
www.prioryca.org
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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Grades: (Boarding Students) 9-12
  • Grades: (Day Students) 6-12
  • Enrollment: 425 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $97,800
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $67,200
  • Acceptance rate: 30%
  • Average class size: 13 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 5
  • Source: Verified school update
Woodside Priory School (Priory) Photo #4 - Our classes are intentionally small and last between an hour and an hour and fifteen minutes, allowing students and teachers to engage deeply in intellectual discourse, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Woodside Priory School (Priory) Photo #5 - At Woodside Priory, we offer a competitive interscholastic athletic program. At the same time, we don't cut students from teams, so everyone has the opportunity to participate.
Woodside Priory School (Priory) Photo #6 - Priory's academic program engages our students rigorously and intentionally. Our robust curriculum engages students in meaningful intellectual discourse and encourages them to venture outside their academic comfort zones.
Woodside Priory School (Priory) Photo #7
Woodside Priory School (Priory) Photo #8
Woodside Priory School (Priory) Photo #9
Woodside Priory School (Priory) Photo #10
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About the School

  • 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. Priory strives to create a balanced experience for students where they can explore interests, develop passions, and discover themselves.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Grades: (Boarding Students) 9-12
  • Grades: (Day Students) 6-12
  • Enrollment: 425 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $97,800
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $67,200
  • Acceptance rate: 30%
  • Average class size: 13 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 5
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Woodside Priory School (Priory) ranks among the top 10 schools with > 400 students (out of 94 schools) for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size
Small student body (number of students)

School Overview

2026 School Data
Woodside Priory School (Priory)
Boarding School Avg.
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding)
9-12
8-12
Grades Offered (Day)
6-12
PK-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Religious Affiliation
Catholic
Non-denominational
Year Founded
1957
1906
Campus Size
50 acres
130 acres
School Calendar
View School Calendar
Last Day of School
Fri. May 28, 2027

Student Body

Enrollment
425 students
319 students
% Students of Color
63%
28%
% International Students
15%
21%
% Students Boarding
20%
66%
Offers Post-Grad Year
No
No

Academic Profile

Saturday Classes
No
No
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Casual
Average Class Size
13 students
12
* National Avg. »18
Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
7:1
ESL Courses Offered
No
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
80%
73%
Summer Program Offered
No
Yes
Accreditations
California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS-CA)
The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Schools) (ACS WASC)
Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA)
# of AP Courses Offered
22
18
Courses
Advanced Music TheoryArt History
Biology (Advanced)Calculus AB
Calculus BCChemistry
Computer ScienceDifferential Equations Honors
EconomicsEnglish Literature
Environmental ScienceFrench Language
Human GeographyMacroeconomics
MicroeconomicsMultivariable Calculus Honors
PhysicsPsychology
Spanish LanguageSpanish Literature
StatisticsStudio Art
U.S. Government and PoliticsU.S. History

Tuition & Financial Aid

Endowment Size
$15 million
$30 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
$97,800
(Includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend activities)
$71,900
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
$67,200
(Day tuition includes daily lunch. Additional fees include Student Store deposit of $600. Books are extra.)
$40,000
% Students on Financial Aid
16%
40%

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Admissions

Application Deadline
Jan. 5
Jan. 15
Accepts Standardized Application (SAO and/or Gateway)
Yes
No
Acceptance Rate
30%
64%
Director of Admissions
Kirk Gossman
Nils Leitz
Associate Director of Admissions
Stella Kailahi

Sports

# Interscholastic Sports Offered
12
17
Sports
BaseballBasketball
Cross CountryFootball
GolfLacrosse
SoccerSwimming
TennisTrack and Field
VolleyballWater Polo
School Mascot
Panther

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations
23
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Admissions AssistantsArt in Public Spaces
Associated Student BodyAthletic Therapy Assistants
Campus MinistryCommunity Ensemble
Daraja ClubGay/ Straight Alliance
Green Campus Action TeamInternational Club
School ReachSocial Justice Club
VEX RoboticsWeb Design
WomentorsYearbook


Arts and Music Programs:
Chamber ChoirConcert Choir
Fashion ShowImprov Club
Jazz BandMiddlesex Art Association
San Domenico Singers

College Matriculation

College Acceptance Rate
100%
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
View 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.
  • Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
    • Taylor Eigsti - Grammy nominated jazz pianist
    • Marc Fiore - Awarded 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Political Cartooning
Source: Verified school update
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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Woodside Priory School (Priory) cost?
Woodside Priory School (Priory)'s tuition is approximately $97,800 for boarding students and $67,200 for day students.
What schools are Woodside Priory School (Priory) often compared to?
Woodside Priory School (Priory) is often viewed alongside schools like Stevenson School, Cate School, The Thacher School by visitors of our site.
What is the acceptance rate of Woodside Priory School (Priory)?
The acceptance rate of Woodside Priory School (Priory) is 30%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 64%.
Who are famous alumni from Woodside Priory School (Priory)?
Woodside Priory School (Priory) famous alumni include: Taylor Eigsti and Marc Fiore.
What sports does Woodside Priory School (Priory) offer?
Woodside Priory School (Priory) offers 12 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball and Water Polo.
What is Woodside Priory School (Priory)'s ranking?
Woodside Priory School (Priory) ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Small student body (number of students).
When is the application deadline for Woodside Priory School (Priory)?
The application deadline for Woodside Priory School (Priory) is Jan. 5.

Student & Alumni Reviews

Review
Description

Class of 2013
5.00
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. . .

Class of 2014
5.00
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. . .
Submit Review for Woodside Priory School (Priory) Earn $20 by submitting your alumni review!

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Grades: (Boarding Students) 9-12
  • Grades: (Day Students) 6-12
  • Enrollment: 425 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $97,800
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $67,200
  • Acceptance rate: 30%
  • Average class size: 13 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 5
  • Source: Verified school update
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