Palo Alto High

1,992 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

Palo Alto High School, commonly known as "Paly," is a prestigious public secondary school located in the heart of Silicon Valley. Situated on a sprawling campus adjacent to Stanford University, the school serves a diverse and academically driven student body. It is consistently ranked among the top public high schools in California and the nation, earning widespread recognition for its rigorous academic curriculum, robust Advanced Placement (AP) offerings, and a strong emphasis on preparing students for enrollment in elite universities.

Beyond its academic reputation, Paly is known for its vibrant school culture and extensive extracurricular opportunities. The school boasts a rich history of student-led publications, award-winning performing arts programs, and highly competitive athletic teams. With its proximity to some of the world's leading technology companies and academic institutions, the school environment encourages innovation, intellectual curiosity, and high levels of student achievement, fostering a community that is deeply invested in both traditional scholarship and modern creative pursuits.

1,992

Total Students

118.8

Full-Time Teachers

16.8

Student/Teacher Ratio

12.7%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Palo Alto High
Demographic	Student Count
White	699
Hispanic	284
Black	43
Asian	718
Two or More	221
American Indian	4
Pacific Islander	21

Asian
718 (36.1 %)
White
699 (35.1 %)
Hispanic
284 (14.3 %)
Two or More
221 (11.1 %)
Black
43 (2.2 %)
Pacific Islander
21 (1.1 %)
American Indian
4 (0.2 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Palo Alto Unified
Phone:	(650)329-3701
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	1,992
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	118.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	16.8
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	232
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	20

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 9 468

Grade 10 464

Grade 11 486

Grade 12 574