Menlo School

What makes this school special

A standout applied-science program: the Whitaker Lab and its Applied Science Research course run cell culture, molecular biology, and protein biochemistry, ending in an independent research project
M-Term, a month-long experiential-learning block for grades 9–11, plus Global Learning study abroad and a Catalyst immersive semester

Academics

Curriculum

A largely shared ninth-grade year opening into electives, advanced courses and interdisciplinary offerings; depth over breadth

Advanced coursework

40 UC-approved honors courses

See the list filed with UC

World languages

French, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese

Schedule

Seven-day rotating block

Signature programs

Applied Science & Engineering (Whitaker Lab) with an Applied Science Research course
M-Term experiential learning (grades 9–11)
Catalyst Semester
Global Learning study-abroad programs

College matriculation

Stanford, UC Berkeley, Duke, University of Wisconsin, Cornell, Northwestern, Dartmouth, Washington University in St. Louis, Boston College, Brown, Harvard, Pomona, Notre Dame, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Yale

See the full list

UC admissions · For fall 2025 entry

applied: 113
admitted to at least one campus: 68
enrolled at a UC: 14

See UC’s data

What these numbers can and can’t tell you

Athletics, arts & activities

Athletics · WBAL, PAL, and WCAL

Baseball (boys)BasketballCross CountryFlag Football (girls)Football (boys)GolfLacrosseSoccerSwimmingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyball (girls)Water Polo

Arts

Studio ArtPhotographyMoviemakingInstrumental MusicVocal MusicDanceDrama

Clubs & activities

Mock TrialMenlo RoboticsInvesting ClubClimate CoalitionEthics in TechnologyBeekeeping

See all clubs

Life there

Tuition includes

Lunch
Bus and Caltrain shuttle transportation
Athletics
Most field trips and retreats

Food

Flik dining, lunch (included in tuition)

Learning support

Learning Support Program — Math and Writing Centers, coaching, and Student Success Plans

Notable alumni

Nick Woodman (GoPro founder)
Robby Krieger (The Doors guitarist)
Anthony Pritzker (businessman)
Ahna O'Reilly (actress)

Applying

Key dates

Applications open: Late August
Application due: January 5, 2027
Decisions released: March 12, 2027
Enrollment contract due: March 19, 2027

Tours and events

See the school's schedule

The application

Menlo requires the Renaissance Star assessment (Star Reading and Star Math), taken in person at Menlo on published dates each January. Only international and out-of-area applicants (outside the nine Bay Area counties) may arrange an alternative exam with the admissions office. The materials a family controls come due in early January; recommendations and transcripts follow by the end of the month. Menlo is need-blind and meets 100% of demonstrated need.

Application requirements

Online application
Kira video questionnaire
Writing sample (taken alongside the Star assessment)
Student interview
Three recommendations (counselor, English, math)
Current and prior-year transcripts

Testing

Renaissance Star Assessment required

Testing explained

Sources

Menlo at a Glance — founding, Upper School enrollment, ratio, class size, diversity, athletics
Affording Menlo — 2026-27 tuition and what it includes, aid reach
Application Process & STAR Assessment — Renaissance Star (Reading & Math) required, ISEE/SSAT only from international and out-of-area applicants; deadlines, requirements, need-blind aid
Daily Schedule — rotating block schedule
World Language — languages taught
Menlo Athletics — sports roster and leagues
Arts — arts disciplines
Applied Science & Engineering — Whitaker Lab research program
Learning Support — academic support
Student Activities & Traditions — clubs
Dining — Flik dining
Notable alumni — Nick Woodman, Robby Krieger, Anthony Pritzker, Ahna O'Reilly (Wikipedia)
Menlo School homepage — motto ("Inspiring lives of meaning, impact, and joy," the "Why Menlo?" tagline)
Bus schedules and Shuttle and transit schedules — the "five free bus routes", the Caltrain shuttle from Menlo Park station running 7:28 to 8:26 am, and the full stop list, which reaches no further north than Burlingame: no San Francisco route
Upper School — the academic model: a largely shared ninth-grade year opening into electives, advanced courses and interdisciplinary offerings, and the school's own "depth over breadth" framing
UC A-G course list — Menlo School — the 2026-27 course list the school files with the University of California: 40 UC-approved honors courses. The filed list also carries 17 AP-titled courses; the school's own Upper School science page describes courses that prepare students for AP exams rather than AP courses. The same filing names the languages the school teaches: Arabic, French, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish

Details checked August 2026