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Nueva

“Learn by Doing, Learn by Caring”

San Mateo (Peninsula)Independent

Students
~370
Ratio
7:1
Tuition
$63k

Base tuition as published for 2025–26.

Admissions

Applications open
Late August
Application due
Beginning of January
Decisions released
Mid-to-late March
admissions@nuevaschool.org
Visit admissions site

What makes this school special

  • Founded for gifted learners, Nueva's upper school in San Mateo runs on project-based, design-thinking pedagogy — more than 85% of the curriculum is elective
  • No AP or IB by design; instead, self-directed Quest projects, January Intersession immersives, and an Innovation Lab for engineering and design
  • Social-emotional learning is a formal part of the program, not an afterthought
  • The school provides Caltrain passes to upper-school students; required trips add a $4,400 fee on top of tuition
  • Need-based aid reaches about 20% of students, meets 100% of demonstrated need with grants (not loans), and fully covers families under $150,000 in income

Academics

Curriculum

No AP/IB — project-based, 85%+ elective curriculum with design thinking

World languages

Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese

Signature programs

  • Quest (self-directed projects)
  • Intersession (January immersives)
  • Innovation Lab (design thinking & engineering)
  • Internship Program

College matriculation

Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Northeastern, Northwestern, Princeton, Stanford, UC Berkeley, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, MIT, Caltech, Tufts, Yale

See the full list

Athletics, arts & activities

Athletics · Private School Athletic League (CIF Central Coast Section)

Cross CountryVolleyballTennisBasketballSoccerGolfSwimming & DivingTrack & Field

Arts

Visual ArtsMusicPerforming Arts

Clubs & activities · 50+

Black Student UnionAsian/Pacific Islander American ClubLatino Student AllianceMuslim Student AllianceGSAJewish ClubSTEMinism ClubInvention StudioModel United NationsRobotics TeamTEDx ClubFuture Problem SolvingLiterary MagazineClimate Action TeamChess ClubCreative Writing Critique
See all clubs

Life there

Food

Daily lunch by the Epicurean Group, included in tuition

Learning support

Writing & Research Center for academic support

Notable alumni

  • Lisa Brennan-Jobs (writer)
  • Jesse Thorn (public radio host)
  • Debby Soo (OpenTable CEO)

Often on the same list

Crystal Springs Uplands School

Independent

The College Preparatory School

Independent

Lick-Wilmerding High School

Independent

Sources

  1. Nueva — Upper School Program — academic model, electives, programs
  2. Admissions FAQ — deadline, test policy, Caltrain passes
  3. Affording a Nueva Education — tuition, trips fee, financial aid
  4. Athletics — sports, league
  5. College Counseling — outcomes
  6. The Nueva School | Wikipedia — motto, founding, languages, notable alumni
  7. NCES PSS 2023-24 — student:teacher ratio estimated from PSS whole-school (966 students / 133.5 FTE teachers = 7.1)

Last reviewed July 2026